📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Reduced mileage - bad for my diesel car?

2»

Comments

  • fred246
    fred246 Posts: 3,620 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    AdrianC wrote: »
    Because of not having to be fixing blocked DPFs.



    Because they got blinded by low VED and high MPG and didn't think about the other costs.

    They haven't got a DPF. What other costs?
  • fred246 wrote: »
    They haven't got a DPF. What other costs?
    Diesel costs more than petrol,
    With two cars of equal spec, one petrol and one diesel, the diesel ones often cost more to buy,
    Depending on the make and model, servicing costs can often be higher for diesel vehicles,
    With the way diesels are currently being demonised, the depreciation on one will probably be higher than for a petrol equivalent.


    As the OP is only going to be using a relatively small amount of fuel due to only doing about 100 miles per week, the overall extra costs involved in buying and running a diesel may well wipe out any potential savings from the extra mpg over a petrol car.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,356 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Diesel costs more than petrol,
    With two cars of equal spec, one petrol and one diesel, the diesel ones often cost more to buy,
    Depending on the make and model, servicing costs can often be higher for diesel vehicles,
    With the way diesels are currently being demonised, the depreciation on one will probably be higher than for a petrol equivalent.

    Diesel cars are typically 40% more economical than petrol equivalents, the difference in the price of fuel is not even 5%.
    They already own the car.
    Servicing costs are comparable, a diesel car doesn't need new spark plugs and leads every 30-40k for example, both have fuel filters, air filters and cambelts although a diesel is more likely to be chain driven so not need that.
    Its pretty much bottomed out in its value.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Tarambor wrote: »
    Diesel cars are typically 40% more economical than petrol equivalents, the difference in the price of fuel is not even 5%.
    They already own the car.
    Servicing costs are comparable, a diesel car doesn't need new spark plugs and leads every 30-40k for example, both have fuel filters, air filters and cambelts although a diesel is more likely to be chain driven so not need that.
    Its pretty much bottomed out in its value.


    But as my comment wasn't referring to the OP but was a general reply to the "why do people buy diesels" &"what other costs" comments.
    As to your other points.


    Yes, diesel is currently only about 5% more than petrol but do you honestly think that is going to remain that way as the government have made it very clear that they want to try to get privately owned diesels off the road.


    Servicing costs are similar but in general, diesels do cost more. I know for a fact that both Ford and VW charge more for a diesel service.


    I've been driving petrol cars for close to 40 years and have only once had to change plug leads and modern spark plugs seem to last an awful lot longer than they used to.
  • loskie
    loskie Posts: 1,761 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    As someone has said, especially coming into winter pay special attention to the battery, lights and rear screen heater on etc will drain it and your short journey may not be enough to keep it topped up.
    If you have a charger use it or buy one from the likes of Aldi/LIDL. Dont wait till you break down and need a battery, plan ahead, buy one online from a motor factor, loads cheaper.
    Keep screenwash strong mix, engine may not get hot enough to thaw it out.
  • Mercdriver
    Mercdriver Posts: 3,898 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    But as my comment wasn't referring to the OP but was a general reply to the "why do people buy diesels" &"what other costs" comments.
    As to your other points.


    Yes, diesel is currently only about 5% more than petrol but do you honestly think that is going to remain that way as the government have made it very clear that they want to try to get privately owned diesels off the road.


    Servicing costs are similar but in general, diesels do cost more. I know for a fact that both Ford and VW charge more for a diesel service.


    I've been driving petrol cars for close to 40 years and have only once had to change plug leads and modern spark plugs seem to last an awful lot longer than they used to.

    So as many of us (including myself) are guilty of doing, your comment was not entirely relevant to the OP ;)
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,622 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Home Insurance Hacker!
    loskie wrote: »
    As someone has said, especially coming into winter pay special attention to the battery, lights and rear screen heater on etc will drain it and your short journey may not be enough to keep it topped up.

    I replaced my battery after 7 years, but only because between my OH and I we had left the lights on overnight 3 times, and totally drained the battery.

    My motoring is mainly short journeys.

    It does take a while though to get any heat from the heater, about 10 minutes.
  • DD265
    DD265 Posts: 2,223 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    The car is in for a service next week, so I'll ask him to double check the battery, brakes and suspension are all in good nick whilst it's there.

    Right now it gets serviced twice a year based on mileage and I'm not averse to keeping that schedule up if that's best for the car but at the same time why spend money unnecessarily? :)

    I'm also going to need to find another good mechanic when we move, as it is a bit ridiculous driving 70 miles to get to the garage and probably not a good idea if something is actually wrong. :p

    As for economy, I was under the impression that diesels are better suited to high mileage drivers and not so much the shorter journeys or stop start traffic. In terms of other costs, it's cheaper to run than my two petrol bangers were because they weren't as well maintained, plus my driving style has evolved to be more economical (and slower, and safer!).
  • like the cost of moving house the cost of changing a car are expensive

    as others have said, keep the car , your engine is good for double what its already done and not prone to the problems that occured post 2006 when accommodating emissions controls became the issue.

    don't see why you need to pay special attention to the brakes suspension etc as these will be noticed, if needed, in the next MOT. I would drop your service to once a year as even during your previous commute once a year would have done using quality engine oil

    use the money you would have used looking for something else to either pay off the mortgage or saving for the eventual change of car
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.8K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 599.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.1K Life & Family
  • 257.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.