Rav4 petrol or diesel - help me decide!

pointy shadow · 4 Jul 2010 at 23:56

I am going to be selling my current motor which is a very economical diesel and I have decided what car I want (4.2 gen Rav4 as I will be using it for very soft off roading) but I am undecided as to what fuel type I should buy and thought that I would ask the OCUK masses as my brain is hurting trying to work it all out.

I currently do a max of 350 miles a month which is mostly made up of short distance town journeys so most of my driving will fall under the urban category. The official figures for the 2.0 diesel are urban = 31.7mpg, extra urban = 46mpg and combined = 39.8mpg. The petrol is urban = 24.8mpg, extra urban = 38.7mpg and combined = 32.1mpg. According to a bit of calculation ( [[monthly mileage / official mpg] * 4.545] * price of fuel per litre the monthly urban figures work out at £76 for the petrol and £60 for the diesel. Does this sound about right or is it a bit more in the real world? The main reasons for the petrol are that I can get a lot lower mileage vehicle (say 50k on the clock instead of 80k) for my money but the trade off is that I have to fork out an extra £15 a month for the privilege plus I am not too sure how a petrol would handle on the soft roading side as I thought that the torque with the diesels was ideally suited to off roading.

One thing that I am a little confused about is that I always thought that you need to do 10,000 miles a year before it was financially worthwhile going for a diesel. From the figures above that clearly is not the case as I would save on fuel money every month if I bought a diesel so what is the script? I know that depreciation has not been factored in but can anyone shed some light please as I am stumped. If anyone has any real life experience of a 2nd generation Rav4 please post your experiences.

Thanks

P.S. before the inevitable wind up merchants start I can confirm that I am neither gay nor a hairdresser

Maz · 4 Jul 2010 at 23:58

It will be a lot harder to achieve the petrol quoted figures than the diesel quoted figures.

The diesel will hold it's value better, and is a nicer car to drive.

iaind · 5 Jul 2010 at 00:05

The quoted figures for breaking even are based on buying new, or at least equivalent cars. They don't tend to hold water when you have a budget that you're going to spend on either a petrol or diesel.

Saying that, I wouldn't bother with the diesel with your low mileage

[TW]Fox · 5 Jul 2010 at 00:10

2nd gen Rav 4 is what 2001-2005ish? So a used car. The saving is irrelevent as the diesel will cost more for the same age/mileage as the petrol - this is why you dont save any money. The £15 is nothing in the context of running a car.

I've not driven a Rav4, but I would imagine the differences to be as follows:

The diesel will be noisy, rattly and unrefined but will offer flexible power delivery which might suit your driving style.

The petrol will be smooth, silent (Infact Jap 4 pots in this sort of application tend to be virtually silent at idle, they are very good at this) but will need to be rev'd harder to get the power out of it and will be a less lazy drive.

I suggest you drive both and buy the one you like best. I'd be tempted with the petrol version really - as lets face it both of these are going to be slow anyway so you migth as well get the one thats really nice and quiet and refined around town, not the rattly taxicab version, but if you prefer the power delivery of the diesel, get that.

The last thing you want when just popping around town is that infernal din from the diesel permeating the cabin at the traffic lights, especially when you dont need the economy.

[TW]Fox · 5 Jul 2010 at 00:11

Maz said:
It will be a lot harder to achieve the petrol quoted figures than the diesel quoted figures

Sounds like a load of rubbish to me. Interestingly of the cars I've driven the ones I've had the most difficulty getting near quoted figures have been diesels, but I'm sure thats just co-incidence. Either way, I don't really see how you could say that.

iaind · 5 Jul 2010 at 00:16

IME petrols respond much more in fuel usage to driving style. A heavier right foot seems to have much more of an effect in a petrol.

The only reasons I can see to get the diesel in this case are that the power delivery may suit a bit of offroading. Also, if the diesel is more common then you might find it easier to find a good example

paradigm · 5 Jul 2010 at 07:33

[TW]Fox;16883271 said:
Sounds like a load of rubbish to me. Interestingly of the cars I've driven the ones I've had the most difficulty getting near quoted figures have been diesels, but I'm sure thats just co-incidence. Either way, I don't really see how you could say that.

I find it harder to achieve book figures on turbocharged engines of any fuel. N/A is a bucket load easier to manage.

Maz · 5 Jul 2010 at 08:12

[TW]Fox;16883271 said:
Sounds like a load of rubbish to me. Interestingly of the cars I've driven the ones I've had the most difficulty getting near quoted figures have been diesels, but I'm sure thats just co-incidence. Either way, I don't really see how you could say that.

Well it would sound like a load of rubbish to you, because well let's face it if Jeremy Clarkson didn't say it or you didn't read it in a magazine then it must be rubbish.

Petrol Rav 4's are horrendous on fuel compared to the diesel equivalent regardless of book figures, and I know this because a) I've driven loads of Rav 4s and b) I've owned a few of them.

antijoke · 5 Jul 2010 at 09:16

They aren't horrendous on petrol at all, you will get 20-25MPG depending on how heavy your right foot is.

Which spec RAV4 are you looking at?

DM · 5 Jul 2010 at 09:24

I would just buy the best condition car for the money you can find.

I dont like diesels, but that's just personal choice, by the sound of it you dont care one way or the other, so just buy the best car you come across.

[TW]Fox · 5 Jul 2010 at 11:08

Maz said:
Well it would sound like a load of rubbish to you, because well let's face it if Jeremy Clarkson didn't say it or you didn't read it in a magazine then it must be rubbish

Totally - I gave Jezza a ring (He doesnt normally mention fuel economy on Rav4's so I had to make a request) and told him what I'd read in 'What Softroader Monthly' and he was able to confirm it for me.

Not as reliable a source as somebody who couldnt sell enough new Mercs so now has to sell used stuff from a pitch people keep parking on, but it was good enough for me.

I mean when it comes to cars nobody knows as much a as a second hand car salesman - a position known for its accurate advice and breadth of knowledge.

Back in the real world, I was just saying that the concept that a diesel will meet its quoted figures but a petrol will be miles off was something that sounded like a load of rubbish to me, based on the diesels and petrols I've driven. If you've specific Rav4 diesel knowledge then great, share it. Preferably without the BS comments. I am happy to take criticism and even insults but please do me the favour of making them accurate.

antijoke · 5 Jul 2010 at 11:20

Neither RAV 4 will meet the quoted figures, I know this as I sold them, and none of them ever got to the quoted MPG figures.

Maz · 5 Jul 2010 at 11:25

[TW]Fox;16884388 said:
Totally - I gave Jezza a ring (He doesnt normally mention fuel economy on Rav4's so I had to make a request) and told him what I'd read in 'What Softroader Monthly' and he was able to confirm it for me.

Not as reliable a source as somebody who couldnt sell enough new Mercs so now has to sell used stuff from a pitch people keep parking on, but it was good enough for me.

I mean when it comes to cars nobody knows as much a as a second hand car salesman - a position known for its accurate advice and breadth of knowledge.

Back in the real world, I was just saying that the concept that a diesel will meet its quoted figures but a petrol will be miles off was something that sounded like a load of rubbish to me, based on the diesels and petrols I've driven. If you've specific Rav4 diesel knowledge then great, share it. Preferably without the BS comments. I am happy to take criticism and even insults but please do me the favour of making them accurate.

I sold plenty of new Mercs thank you very much, and I'll have you know my change in career was my choice and I'm in a better financial and social position because of it.

I'm not going to rise to the personal stuff, I mean coming from you - still living with mummy and daddy are we?

Grow up Fox.

The petrol Rav 4's are thirsty, regardless of what the quoted figures in the real world the lack or torque makes it difficult to achieve those figures unless you're going to drive slowly.

The diesel however is a better engine and much more suited to that particular car, a lot more low down torque which makes it easier to drive.

[TW]Fox · 5 Jul 2010 at 12:28

Maz said:
I'm not going to rise to the personal stuff,

Good - so lets stop bothering with it - after all, you initiated it!

I think for the sort of mileage the OP is doing the economy is of no concern at all. He should select the car he feels drives better.

pointy shadow · 5 Jul 2010 at 20:34

Wow, Thanks for all the responses guys. Plenty to think about.

Maz said:
Petrol Rav 4's are horrendous on fuel compared to the diesel equivalent regardless of book figures, and I know this because a) I've driven loads of Rav 4s and b) I've owned a few of them.

Thanks Maz, since you have owned a few what mpg will I get about town in a 2.0 diesel D4-D 5 door?

anticonscience said:
They aren't horrendous on petrol at all, you will get 20-25MPG depending on how heavy your right foot is.

Which spec RAV4 are you looking at?

Thanks Anticonscience, I am looking at either the GX or VX trim levels with the D4-D 2.0 diesel if possible. More than likely a 2003 model with FSH.

anticonscience said:
Neither RAV 4 will meet the quoted figures, I know this as I sold them, and none of them ever got to the quoted MPG figures.

What do you think tht I will get in town mpg wise with the petrol and diesel? Obviously the diesel will be more economic but there is still the curveball of it costing 10p a litre more than unleaded in the future as that was the difference last year up north. Currently unleaded is 3p a litre cheaper. How common is the DMF problem in your experience?

[TW]Fox · 5 Jul 2010 at 20:44

You will probably pay quite a bit more for the diesel - and with your mileage the fuel savings will never offset this.

Maz · 5 Jul 2010 at 21:45

Late 20s early 30s around town.

mjt · 5 Jul 2010 at 21:47

[TW]Fox;16888236 said:
You will probably pay quite a bit more for the diesel - and with your mileage the fuel savings will never offset this.

But if the diesel suits the car better (which I can understand), then surely it makes more sense.

griffo_001 · 5 Jul 2010 at 21:53

On the soft roading side, petrol or diesel will make little difference in the real world. It will be flummoxed by wet grassy hills, let alone anything that I would call proper offroading. This will mainly be due to the road biased tyres.

Traction control would help massively, but I can't see any information on whether the 2nd gen has it or not, if you can find one with it then go for it over one without

Gadge · 5 Jul 2010 at 22:08

Dont get a petrol Rav4. No point. Rubbish mpg and not as good to drive as the Diesel.