Diesel or Petrol?

[Aruffell]

Hi all,

Is the general consensus still that when buying a car, diesel is only needed for people who drive 12,000 miles or more per year?

Looking to change cars soon, and short of buying a Tesla Model S P100D, I've got to look at normal engine-driven cars

I've had a diesel for around 6 years now and the mrs has had a diesel for the past 2 years.

My years range, where I may do 20k in one year and 8k in another, so I guess I should look at the average.

For reference, looking at a 530d touring for me and a 218d/220d/220i for the mrs.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

 

[Armageus]

It's not just mileage, but how you do them.

Short journeys are the main issue with DPFs on diesels, so if you are only doing <10 mile journeys then no a diesel isn't the answer.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

As above tbh

The missus mum has a Leon diseasel with a dpf, shes done about 6k a year and all short journeys. Suffice to say that she lives with the EML on now as Seat wanted about 1500 to sort out the DPF

 

[Aruffell]

We live in a village so even though we sometimes do short journeys, it's 11 miles to the nearest town/city along the A2 doing 70mph for most of the journey.

Andy

 

[xs2man]

It also really depends on what age cars you are looking at. New cars, with new car warranties, I wouldn't care at all. Older cars outside of warranty, then it may be worth weighing up your options.

The 530d in the F11 guise is a fantastic car though. I would heartily recommend them. Even diesel haters like Fox are beginning to like them (he is on his second 530d now). I never had one single issue with the DPF in the 46k I did in mine (over about 2.7 years). Also sounds like your use profile is similar to mine, in that you live in a small village, so have a decent run to get anywhere really (although I have at least 8-10 miles before I can get to any dual carriageway). So wouldn't worry too much about DPF issues.

 

[Aruffell]

It also really depends on what age cars you are looking at. New cars, with new car warranties, I wouldn't care at all. Older cars outside of warranty, then it may be worth weighing up your options.

The 530d in the F11 guise is a fantastic car though. I would heartily recommend them. Even diesel haters like Fox are beginning to like them (he is on his second 530d now). I never had one single issue with the DPF in the 46k I did in mine (over about 2.7 years). Also sounds like your use profile is similar to mine, in that you live in a small village, so have a decent run to get anywhere really (although I have at least 8-10 miles before I can get to any dual carriageway). So wouldn't worry too much about DPF issues.

Was looking at 2015/16 2 series and for the 5 series, whatever budget permits. I'm still toying with various ways of purchasing.

I own my own business so have the choice of cash purchase, finance, lease, business lease, pool cars etc...

I think I'm better of buying personally due to fuel claim and no company car tax, especially on a 3 litre.

From my house to town involves driving for about 1 minute at 30mph and then onto a 60mph B road, then onto a 70mph dual carriageway.

Will be bought from BMW so will definitely have warranties etc...

Andy

 

[Nasher]

Depends how long the commute is. I'd always take a petrol over a diesel if I can, because petrols generally just drive better, feel much more lively and make the right noise

 

[Aruffell]

Depends how long the commute is. I'd always take a petrol over a diesel if I can, because petrols generally just drive better, feel much more lively and make the right noise

Me and the Mrs both work from home, but I do have to go to meetings here and there and family live 35 miles away too.

 

[Akagi]

As above tbh

The missus mum has a Leon diseasel with a dpf, shes done about 6k a year and all short journeys. Suffice to say that she lives with the EML on now as Seat wanted about 1500 to sort out the DPF

First thing I'd do if I bought a car with a DPF, is gut it... Stupid things. Clean air is overrated anyway.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I had not a single problem with the DPF on my last 530d despite doing 5-6 mile trips from cold most days. I barely even felt it regenerating. It just.. worked. Older ones though? Not sure how reliable they are.

I'd pick petrol over diesel but with a 5 Series Touring you'll find that very difficult anyway and I'm really beginning to wonder what a 535i offers over the later 530d's now the soundproofing is so extreme you can barely hear anything let alone the engine.

It just seems to do everything... really well.

I never thought I'd be saying this

 

[Aruffell]

I had not a single problem with the DPF on my last 530d despite doing 5-6 mile trips from cold most days. I barely even felt it regenerating. It just.. worked. Older ones though? Not sure how reliable they are.

I'd pick petrol over diesel but with a 5 Series Touring you'll find that very difficult anyway and I'm really beginning to wonder what a 535i offers over the later 530d's now the soundproofing is so extreme you can barely hear anything let alone the engine.

It just seems to do everything... really well.

I never thought I'd be saying this

Ha, embrace the diesel

So just checked MOT history and in my 320d i've averaged about 9500 miles a year and the mrs in her Kuga has done about 9300 miles per year.

Andy

 

[Aruffell]

See looking at 2 almost identical 2series, one being a 218d and the other being a 220i, they are around the same price to buy (£11 difference) with almost the same mileage.

Question is, which would hold its value better and be easier to sell in a few years time? The diesel?

 

[shadow_boxer]

That's an interesting point Fox about your milage. Been eyeing up F10's but been put off the diesels due to only having a short commute (6 miles) and sadly the number of 6 cylinder petrols is so low. How long were you doing that sort of mileage for? Would you envisage any issues if you were to do it long term?

 

[paradigm]

I had not a single problem with the DPF on my last 530d despite doing 5-6 mile trips from cold most days. I barely even felt it regenerating. It just.. worked. Older ones though? Not sure how reliable they are.

Echoes my findings with the A4. Even though I've averaged 11,000 miles a year, for most of that time I was driving 5~ miles to work Monday-Friday.

Yes, sometimes I would park up and the fans would keep going whilst it cooled down from a DPF regen, but I never once saw a single error or warning light.

 

[[TW]Fox]

See looking at 2 almost identical 2series, one being a 218d and the other being a 220i, they are around the same price to buy (£11 difference) with almost the same mileage.

Question is, which would hold its value better and be easier to sell in a few years time? The diesel?

The 220i is the better choice, I am really not a fan of the 4 cylinder diesels and still find them unrefined and irritating.

That's an interesting point Fox about your milage. Been eyeing up F10's but been put off the diesels due to only having a short commute (6 miles) and sadly the number of 6 cylinder petrols is so low. How long were you doing that sort of mileage for? Would you envisage any issues if you were to do it long term?

I do do it long term - I do very little mileage commuting (3k a year?), most of my mileage is longer non-commute trips. I've had occasional months where I've done an entire tank just commuting though, does about 23mpg

 

[Aruffell]

The 220i is the better choice, I am really not a fan of the 4 cylinder diesels and still find them unrefined and irritating.




I do do it long term - I do very little mileage commuting (3k a year?), most of my mileage is longer non-commute trips. I've had occasional months where I've done an entire tank just commuting though, does about 23mpg

Would the 220i be easier to sell or would the 220d be easier to sell?

I've had a 320d m sport for a couple of years now and find it to be lovely, just not gutsy enough.

Andy

 

[Akagi]

Map it.

 

[rodenal]

Don't do the above. Just buy a better car to start with where you can

To answer your question about resale it's very likely you would find it easier to sell a 220d privately than its petrol equivalent. If you tend to trade cars in i can't see there beigna huge difference at the end, but just have a look at say 1 series diesel vs equivalent petrol values with the same mileage a few years old to give you a feel if there aren't enough older 2's

 

[Akagi]

Nothing wrong with mapping a turbo diesel if the engine and drivetrain are in good condition. Its a much better idea than selling it and buying another car when there is performance to be gained from what you have... For not much money might I add!

 

[shifty_uk]

Much prefer petrols, for refinement alone. Sadly the market for big execs is very much diesel to stay so the next car will be a six cylinder one, at least they don't sound as poor.