Diesel cars v Petrol

Gettingtherequickly

Hi

I am starting to think about changing my car and am half thinking about a diesel one.

However, I drive less than 10,000 miles per year and am not sure about the merits on this type of mileage. I know that in recent years they have become more environmentally friendly and in fact, having looked on line at what I may potentially buy, due to the lower CO2 emissions, the tax is cheaper than the car I have currently, which is only an Astra, so not exactly a guzzler.

I realise I am the only one who can make the decision, but it would be nice to have comments/opinions of those who changed from petrol to diesel, those who swear by diesel and those who will only drive petrol. I don't need to make a decision anytime soon, but would like to factor any suggestions in.

Thanks

dannyrst

In before DPF issues.

burlington6

I'm a big fan of diesels and drive one every day but at that sort of mileage, I'd stick with petrol

jbainbridge

It's not just about the mileage - what type of journeys do you do? If you frequently do longer journeys i.e. 10 - 20 miles plus a diesel should be ok. Lots of short journeys will cause problems with the DPF and a petrol would be the right choice.

gamston

the DPF is really a pain if you do short journeys
I got mrs a zafira diesel which has a DPF, I fitted an indicator light so she knows when DPF is running (as zafira's clean DPF using fuel if cleaning cycle not finished it dumps fuel into the sump)
there are times she's coming home from the shops when light comes light and has to take the car on a 8-10 mile 50mph run

ElefantEd

Electric might suit you, depending on the type of journeys you typically make.

walwyn1978

At that kind of mileage I'd be leaning petrol. One of our cars is diesel and it does 19-20k a year. The other only does 10k and I went petrol for that reason.

Plus, modern diesels as already mentioned have long term issues like DPF to budget for if you're keeping the car for a few years or if it's a used car when you buy it, unless it's pre-DPF.

Unless you're unusual and your 10k is made up of less regular but long journeys, I'd go petrol.

DKLS

If I had a long commute with plenty of motorways I would reluctantly consider a diesel, anything under 10k is a petrol for me. I prefer the power delivery and driving style of petrols.

bigjl

gamston wrote: »

the DPF is really a pain if you do short journeys
I got mrs a zafira diesel which has a DPF, I fitted an indicator light so she knows when DPF is running (as zafira's clean DPF using fuel if cleaning cycle not finished it dumps fuel into the sump)
there are times she's coming home from the shops when light comes light and has to take the car on a 8-10 mile 50mph run

How did you fit the light?

Seems like a great idea as the biggest cause of diesel in the sump is due to the engine being switched off part the way through a Regen

Herzlos

If you're unsure I'd go petrol. It'll cost a little bit more in tax and fuel, but will be simpler should it go wrong, and you should get a lot more for your money.

I don't do huge miles, but I went diesel for the pulling power, and I do a longish trip at least once a week to give it a run.

takman

I have a diesel and I would be unlikely to ever have a petrol car again as I do at least 17,000 miles a year and the shortest journey I do is 7 miles (I use my bicycle for short journeys; like when I go to work). I also tow a caravan so I like the higher torque of the Diesel engine but still giving over 50MPG. But my car doesn't have a DPF so I don't have to worry about that. But even if it did with the journeys I do I wouldn't have to worry about it.

If I was doing less milage (and didn't get cheap diesel) I would have a petrol turbo car again.