Diesel cash guzzlers: It can take 28 years for them to be cost-effective

I know I'm pouring petrol on a fire (oh the irony) here, but lets take a look at this from a different angle:

Audi Q7:
3.6 FSI Combined 22.2mpg (280hp) RRP: £39,930.00
3.0 TDI Combined 28.8mpg (240hp) RRP: £39,830.00
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.


Range Rover sport (HSE spec):
3.6 TDV8 Combined 25.5mpg (272hp) RRP: £46,372.13
4.2 supercharged V8 (390hp) Combined 17.8 mpg RRP: £50,166.92
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.


Ok so you might like to consider a 4x4 a "special case". Lets try a BMW instead
then:

BMW 7 series (closest engine match I can see)
730d SE (245hp) RRP: £53,730
740i (326hp) RRP: £57,080
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.


While the millage quoted for the posted small-medium cars is in the 10,000-12,000/annum region, I would argue that diesels make a lot more sense for your average fleet sales rep, clocking up 40,000+ miles/year up and down the motorways where diesel is going to return an even greater economy difference to the petrol.



Twaddle. In the right environment diesel makes a lot more sense than petrol. Small/medium family cars are not the right environment.
To be fair those cars quoted are hardly comparable performance wise.
 
I know I'm pouring petrol on a fire (oh the irony) here, but lets take a look at this from a different angle:

Audi Q7:
3.6 FSI Combined 22.2mpg (280hp) RRP: £39,930.00
3.0 TDI Combined 28.8mpg (240hp) RRP: £39,830.00
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.


Range Rover sport (HSE spec):
3.6 TDV8 Combined 25.5mpg (272hp) RRP: £46,372.13
4.2 supercharged V8 (390hp) Combined 17.8 mpg RRP: £50,166.92
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.


Ok so you might like to consider a 4x4 a "special case". Lets try a BMW instead
then:

BMW 7 series (closest engine match I can see)
730d SE (245hp) RRP: £53,730
740i (326hp) RRP: £57,080
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.


While the millage quoted for the posted small-medium cars is in the 10,000-12,000/annum region, I would argue that diesels make a lot more sense for your average fleet sales rep, clocking up 40,000+ miles/year up and down the motorways where diesel is going to return an even greater economy difference to the petrol.



Twaddle. In the right environment diesel makes a lot more sense than petrol. Small/medium family cars are not the right environment.

errrrrrrr So to post cars that are not even close to equal in performance then say they "break even straight away". like lol....
 
If you drive the petrol like a loon vs a diesel like a loon the diesel will be more forgiving.

[TW]Fox;13365701 said:
I have never found this to be the case. Plus why would you want to drive your average diesel like a loon? Driving a Focus TDCi hard is about as rewarding as overclocking your microwave.

I won't respect myself in the morning, but i agree with Fox, the output of a diesel engine is all wrong for giving it beans. Of the lights you'll have the petrol car, until you hit 4500rpm when the power drops off and the gearing is all wrong for 2nd to give you another burst of acceleration. The only time you can enjoy a b-road is when there is nobody else around as it takes a bit of concentration to keep the engine in it's "response" range and as soon as you get somebody slower in your way you take twice as long as a petrol as you don't have the instant umph of a petrol engine.

At my end of the market (1-2k pre-loved) if i wanted to go out for a blast i take the wifes 1.2 sxi corsa over my turbo diesel every time. And that's considering i hate the Corsa.






*comments should be read with the understanding that the poster is off his breasts on painkillers and will be making even less sense than usual.
 
I'm tempted to open a cupboard and move the Breville to one side and dust off the popcorn maker for this one.
 
Audi Q7:
3.6 FSI Combined 22.2mpg (280hp) RRP: £39,930.00
3.0 TDI Combined 28.8mpg (240hp) RRP: £39,830.00
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.

Considerable performance difference from larger, more powerful petrol engine.

[quote[
Range Rover sport (HSE spec):
3.6 TDV8 Combined 25.5mpg (272hp) RRP: £46,372.13
4.2 supercharged V8 (390hp) Combined 17.8 mpg RRP: £50,166.92
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.
[/quote]

Enormous performance difference from much more powerful petrol engine.

BMW 7 series (closest engine match I can see)
730d SE (245hp) RRP: £53,730
740i (326hp) RRP: £57,080
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.

Considerable performance advantage again - the 7 has only just come out so we've yet to see the whole model range. There is a 730i coming out which will be circa £52k.

Twaddle. In the right environment diesel makes a lot more sense than petrol. Small/medium family cars are not the right environment.

And unless you cover considerable distances each year, neither are executive saloons, especially with the ultra efficient, ultra refined smooth petrol engines everyone is ignoring these days.
 
These figures don't seem to take into account resale values. From what I can see similar specced diesel models hold there value significantl better than the petrol version, even more so in the current climate. And if the trade in difference is factored in you often more than save any extra cost from new.
 
I won't respect myself in the morning, but i agree with Fox, the output of a diesel engine is all wrong for giving it beans. Of the lights you'll have the petrol car, until you hit 4500rpm when the power drops off and the gearing is all wrong for 2nd to give you another burst of acceleration. The only time you can enjoy a b-road is when there is nobody else around as it takes a bit of concentration to keep the engine in it's "response" range and as soon as you get somebody slower in your way you take twice as long as a petrol as you don't have the instant umph of a petrol engine.

At my end of the market (1-2k pre-loved) if i wanted to go out for a blast i take the wifes 1.2 sxi corsa over my turbo diesel every time. And that's considering i hate the Corsa.

*comments should be read with the understanding that the poster is off his breasts on painkillers and will be making even less sense than usual.

WTF you smoking?

The gears arent that short in diesels you know.

And as for a B road, you would be cruising along doing 60mph in 4th gear say in both the petrol and the diesel. Which will have more power available in that gear to overtake. Pretty sure its going to be the diesel and you would have to change down in the petrol.

Unless you have a large/sports orientated engine any n/a petrol will be fairly gutless when just cruising along whereas a diesel is going to have plenty of power on tap.

Bit of concentration to keep it in its power band? Not needed just stick it in one gear and you are fine, and besides, isnt that what people want to do? Change gear and have fun? Keep the turbo spooling / VTEC / MIVEC on the aggressive cams etc............

Diesel makes a perfectly good car to cruise along in day to day. There are better cars for having fun in, but for a normal day to day car for commuting in I can see perfectly well why they are used.
 
These figures don't seem to take into account resale values. From what I can see similar specced diesel models hold there value significantl better than the petrol version, even more so in the current climate. And if the trade in difference is factored in you often more than save any extra cost from new.

And while diesel cars have traditionally held their value better than petrol ones, that is no longer such a major factor because they are now common.
A Parker's spokesman said: 'In the trade the premium for diesel small used cars has all but disappeared, and on mid-size cars it's about £400.'

Apparently. Not sure myself but.. spending more so you get more back seems a bit daft.
 
The Parkers guide says I'll save £3.50 a week running a 2.0tdci Mondeo rather than my Cosworth Scorpio. <sarcastic>Woot</sarcastic>. And I don't think I'll find a 2.0tdci Mondeo for £900!
 
WTF you smoking?
And as for a B road, you would be cruising along doing 60mph in 4th gear say in both the petrol and the diesel. Which will have more power available in that gear to overtake. Pretty sure its going to be the diesel and you would have to change down in the petrol.

I don't understand what diesel "enthusiasts" have against changing gears.
 
The Parkers guide says I'll save £3.50 a week running a 2.0tdci Mondeo rather than my Cosworth Scorpio. <sarcastic>Woot</sarcastic>. And I don't think I'll find a 2.0tdci Mondeo for £900!

Upgrade in quality though.

If all you cared about was the money then you could drive a Citroen LX 1.5D or a 205 1.8D for super MPG / low running costs but not much else besides.
 
I don't understand what diesel "enthusiasts" have against changing gears.

He was saying that diesels dont have that instant umph that petrols do.

Plenty of in gear power in a diesel so you dont need to change down a gear like you would in a petrol.

You can change down if you want to though! :)
 
[TW]Fox;13366338 said:
Apparently. Not sure myself but.. spending more so you get more back seems a bit daft.

I'm not really seeing that supported in the real world though. I wouldn't want to suggest the articles authors are simply supporting their own case here though ;)
 
I know I'm pouring petrol on a fire (oh the irony) here, but lets take a look at this from a different angle:

Audi Q7:
3.6 FSI Combined 22.2mpg (280hp) RRP: £39,930.00
3.0 TDI Combined 28.8mpg (240hp) RRP: £39,830.00
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.


Range Rover sport (HSE spec):
3.6 TDV8 Combined 25.5mpg (272hp) RRP: £46,372.13
4.2 supercharged V8 (390hp) Combined 17.8 mpg RRP: £50,166.92
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.


Ok so you might like to consider a 4x4 a "special case". Lets try a BMW instead
then:

BMW 7 series (closest engine match I can see)
730d SE (245hp) RRP: £53,730
740i (326hp) RRP: £57,080
Time to break even: Before driven off the forecourt.


While the millage quoted for the posted small-medium cars is in the 10,000-12,000/annum region, I would argue that diesels make a lot more sense for your average fleet sales rep, clocking up 40,000+ miles/year up and down the motorways where diesel is going to return an even greater economy difference to the petrol.



Twaddle. In the right environment diesel makes a lot more sense than petrol. Small/medium family cars are not the right environment.

This is about the worst post i have ever ever seen. NONE of those cars are on a level playing field at all, the Range Rover especially, supercharged 4.2 V8 petrol vs a 3.6 diesel indeed :p

Your argument here is actually just showing that less powerful lower end models are cheaper. Groundbreaking stuff :)
 
I'm not really seeing that supported in the real world though. I wouldn't want to suggest the articles authors are simply supporting their own case here though ;)

It's based on a press release issued by Parkers who appear to exist purely to comment on used car prices so I guess its up to you who you feel is more credible.

But, lets assume for one minute its true - diesels are worth more at resale. This will be because of higher demand for diesel cars, and this is because the public is uneducated. They assume diesel is cheaper and buy it regardless without doing any of the maths. This increases demand for diesel cars, which compounds the problem. I've done it - my first car was a diesel because hey, its diesel, it will be cheaper obviously?! Like I can afford to run a petrol car, so I bought a diesel without even looking at the petrol cars. Great. Saved me nothing at all.

If I decide to get an LCI 530i M Sport next I am going to have a proper mission to actually find one because people just dont buy them, even though they are faster the 530d, cleaner than the 530d, smoother than the 530d, more reliable than the 530d, cheaper on company car tax than a 530d and are only 6mpg less efficient on the combined cycle than a 530d.

I wonder how many 530d drivers even know the 530i is still available, let alone actually looked at it?

It just seems that in this country you have to have a diesel, cos, its like, cheaper. Even though its not..

Buying a diesel to save money has become a bit like buying a Prius to save the environment. And, like the Prius owners tell people they did it to save the world, people driving diesel Astras genuinelly try and convince themselves it wasn't a compromise and that their noisy, clattery hire cars really are awesome :/
 
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Is the UK strange in having diesel prices higher than petrol?

Not interested in the relative strengths of each, but seems to me every country i've visted has Diesel going at a cheaper rate. here in Gib its 74p/l for 98, 68p/l for 95 and 59p/l for diesel..

[Ninja Edit] - ignore post...have had a look at other EU countries just now, seems diesel is pretty 50/50 whether its a few cent higher or lower.
 
Is the UK strange in having diesel prices higher than petrol?

Not interested in the relative strengths of each, but seems to me every country i've visted has Diesel going at a cheaper rate. here in Gib its 74p/l for 98, 68p/l for 95 and 59p/l for diesel..

[Ninja Edit] - ignore post...have had a look at other EU countries just now, seems diesel is pretty 50/50 whether its a few cent higher or lower.

Taxation is the main component in fuel pricing
 
[TW]Fox;13366753 said:
The duty on ultra low sulphur diesel and unleaded petrol is exactly the same. The price differential is due to refining capacity imbalances between diesel and petrol.

I was talking about international price differences :)
 
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