"You can't tell it's a diesel"

Rilot · 30 Jan 2011 at 13:45

I'm really starting to get annoyed with this statement. I hear it so frequently now that I'm beginning to wonder if people are deaf.
I drive a 730d which is one of the most refined diesel cars on the planet and believe me, you CAN tell it's a diesel. It's obvious from the rattle and the vibration when it's started. Once on the move it's obvious from the rattle under acceleration. When not accelerating it's obvious from the flat drone from the motor.
To hear people say the above about a 4cyl diesel motor in a 320d is utterly beyond me.

I'm guessing the above statement is because they would really like a petrol car but can't afford the fuel bills. At least I'm honest about why I bought a diesel. Fuel economy and midrange torque for motorway cruising. Plus it was the right price with the right spec. I'd give my high teeth for a 5 litre V8 but it's not appropriate for the milage I do. Are people just ashamed to admit that they aren't rolling in money or something?
I would never try to convince anyone, let alone myself, that it drives, sounds or behaves anything like a petrol car.

Grinds my gears.

clv101 · 30 Jan 2011 at 13:49

Rilot said:
I'm really starting to get annoyed with this statement.

Sounds like you need to chill out a bit. No point getting annoyed! Lots of people talk lots of rubbish about lots of things - don't let it get to you, life's too short.

RSClio · 30 Jan 2011 at 13:51

I have a little confession!!

My parents have an Astra (Booo!! Ha) CDTi and on the motorway and city driving I much prefer it to my Clio so refined and quite. Sitting at 80MPH in 6th inside its a nice drive! No clatter or tractor noise. The Astra must have some good soundproofing as when you hear it start up outside its horrific. Bag of spanners in a washing maching comes to mind.

PMKeates · 30 Jan 2011 at 13:54

I also find it funny when people say diesels are quieter lol

RSClio · 30 Jan 2011 at 13:57

PMKeates said:
I also find it funny when people say diesels are quieter lol

I don't think anybody says that. I think its a given fact diesels are a lot louder than the petrol counter parts.

My example is mine only. Guess the decatted Miltek is scewing my judgement. The enigne is quiter without a doubt.

Cosimo · 30 Jan 2011 at 13:57

PMKeates said:
I also find it funny when people say diesels are quieter lol

You haven't been in mine.

NickXX · 30 Jan 2011 at 13:59

clv101 said:
Sounds like you need to chill out a bit. No point getting annoyed! Lots of people talk lots of rubbish about lots of things - don't let it get to you, life's too short.

This.

TBH, the downsides of a diesel really never bothered me. You get used to the louder idle, and I never really noticed it in my 330d.

Diesel engines do have their own merits outside of purely cost for some people. There will however always be the hardcore-petrol brigade who will flatly refuse to acknowledge this.

Nomisf · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:03

I've just given up my derv for a smaller petrol, and while I will fully admit it was a clattery and expensive to put right (common rail) - I do just have a soft spot for they way it drove, around town especially.

NickXX · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:03

Also, didn't Top Gear test the e60 petrol and diesel, finding the diesel to be quiter at a cruise?

RSClio · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:08

NickXX said:
Also, didn't Top Gear test the e60 petrol and diesel, finding the diesel to be quiter at a cruise?

I can imagine it does. Such a lower RPM at motorway cruise speeds than a petrol counterpart. Can't say I have tested this out but it would make sense? I guess people prefer the sound of a petrol engine, which I understand but judges peoples minds?

NickXX · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:09

Found it:

PMKeates · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:11

News just in: straight six engines are quieter than V8s!

Dup · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:16

My mate has a tunes CTR which isn't too loud, but the lady over the road loves to complain about the noise it makes.

Funny thing is, his car is much quieter than most diesels are from inside my house. Of course towards the redline it's a different story, but low down in the revs it's no contest. All the common diesels are noisy and irritating to the ear. I can't stand it personally.

Lashout_UK · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:16

A lot of the modern PSA 1.6 turbodiesels are very quiet too, had a few that, without telling them, passengers couldn't tell if it was a petrol or diesel.

Kenai · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:19

In fairness, a lot of the general public probably can't tell the difference between a 320d and a 320i, you need remember just how utterly car ignorant the vast majority of people are.

NickXX · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:20

Kenai said:
In fairness, a lot of the general public probably can't tell the difference between a 320d and a 320i, you need remember just how utterly car ignorant the vast majority of people are.

...and to be fair, the e90 320i sounds like a bag of spanners at idle too, like most modern petrol BMWs.

Kenai · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:26

Well the point wasn't specific to those two particular cars, it's just the 320d had already been mentioned

MOOGLEYS · 30 Jan 2011 at 14:59

My Diesel does not shake at idle and is not noisy at all on the motorways.. I can hear the turbo whine over the engine noise. You can tell its a diesel but its hardly a tractor. If BMW diesels are as bad as you are making out thank god I got a Vauxhall....

GT3 · 30 Jan 2011 at 15:14

A new Jag XJ diesel cruised past me at 30mph and I genuinely couldn't tell if it was a petrol or diesel, it was barely audible.

Slogan · 30 Jan 2011 at 15:14

You can definitely tell the difference between a petrol and a diesel but it's not something that particularly annoys me. If I drove a convertible or around town with my window down all the time, then my diesel might annoy me, but as I don't, it makes no difference.

And despite seemingly general consensus, it doesn't shake itself to bits at traffic lights either.