Petrol vs Diesel - has the formula shifted?

HWG

Given that you're doing a relatively low mileage then the money saved by going diesel might be less than you think.

A few months ago, I spent ages putting together a spreadsheet with real-life MPGs trying to figure out which car would be cheapest to run.
I was looking at quite low mileage and short journeys too, and the effect of different MPGs was dwarfed by the difference in cost of buying and insuring the different cars. As an example, the difference in 35 and 40 MPG only added up to something like a hundred quid a year for me.

You might be better off not hunting for the lowest MPG. Choose a sensible car for your needs, and focus on purchase price, insurance group and age.

Goudy

I am not overly convinced of Plug in's.
Sure they are good if you use them "in range", but after that they turn into a normal petrol with the disadvantage of lugging a heavy flat battery and unpowered electric motor around.


I would target a self generating Hybrid, much more in keeping with a normal car's usage as it generates as you drive rather than having to plug it in.


As you seem to like the SUV style, perhaps something like a Kia Niro, a two year old should still have 5 years warranty. The Toyota C-HR Hybrid is still a bit pricey, but very similar.


For a small hatchback, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid is hard to beat.

AdrianC

A plugin hybrid charges the battery as you drive, too - the primary difference is that it has a much larger battery and higher-performance motor, as the "self-charging" <spit> is only intended to be a short-distance low-speed EV.

Yes, that larger battery means heavier. On a Prius, the difference is about 155kg, about 10% of the plug-in's kerb weight.

HWG

Goudy wrote: »

I am not overly convinced of Plug in's.
Sure they are good if you use them "in range", but after that they turn into a normal petrol with the disadvantage of lugging a heavy flat battery and unpowered electric motor around.

I agree. I'm a huge fan of hybrid and electric cars, but I did some sums on some plug-in hybrids (I do love a good spreadsheet) and it seemed like the economic "sweet spot" was really narrow.

On short journeys, you just run off the battery and lug a big heavy engine around for nothing. On long journeys it flips round.
I guess the use-case was regular commuting within the battery's range (which would offer really good savings) and occasional long trips where you'd use the engine. But the poor economy of the small engine and heavy battery wiped out the savings in almost all of my scenarios.

Shame, because I love the idea, but I'd be better off with a Prius, a diesel, or a sensible petrol.

edde

Arklight wrote: »

It's not £250 where I am. More like £300 to £400.

I don't think a timing chain breaking is common at all unless you own a BMW. A chain breaking will instantly trash an engine and no decent manufacturer will sell cars with that issue.

Timing chain stretch possibly is. But my last car had done 135,000 miles with no problems when I traded her in. That's £1000 of cambelt changes I never had to worry about.

A cambelt isnt a deal breaker, but it was another cross against diesel.

Few people keep a car between two cambelt changes. Most cambelts last 60k many to 100k so even if you buy just before a cambelt and sell just after thats a lot of miles where the price of a cambelt is pennies relitive to other costs.

Chains do break though yep bmw have issues but they aren't alone. Chain failures vs serviced cambelted cars I think cambelt come out ahead.

edde

Elika0215 wrote: »

I know they seem to be reliable so when comparing Hybrid with Petrol, is it reasonable to increase the starting mileage when searching used deals? I didn't explain that very well;

So, petrol searches say up to 15k is like searching hybrids with 22k for instance.

Difficult to say, forget looking at low milage anyway imo. You pay a fortune when buying and don't get it back by the same amount when you sell

A quick checks shows 3 yr old. Phevs for 12~13k with normal milage that's not bad value

BikingBud

Why not focus on the smallest and cheapest for your day to day requirements and then hire a larger more comfortable car when required for the longer journeys.

Why sink capital into something the you will not need or benefit from frequently?

BTW I am definitely a petrol fan, last diesel I had was some time ago (2006) and really do not see the "benefits" of driving a tractor.

Intent is for next car to be EV but I plan on changing probably in 4-5 yrs, only got 20k on a car I bought to cover over 100k.