Do people hate diesels?

Soldato
Joined
26 Aug 2005
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I've noticed that a few people I know have made a few comments on diesels and I've also noticed how Clarkson hates them. My question is, why exactly? A 535D does the top gear track at 1.31.8, the same as an M3. Yes, they are loud etc. But why do people have this theory of them sucking?
 
I don't like them

prefer the refinement of a petrol engine and really hate the power delivery of a diesel, just as you then they are about to take of it all just dies
 
guess its peoples preference of how they want the car to respond to putting your foot down, yes a diesel will go, but its not exactly the revviest of things about


each to their own, i havent driven enough cars to really draw an opinion on this matter though
 
Low redline, small powerband, horrible noise.......

Performance cars and diseasal doesn't mix IMO.
 
I drive Mondeo diesel which is my first diesel but I prefer petrol for few reasons:

1) Not as front-heavy nose as diesel - Focus 1.6 TDCI, for example, is actually heavier than Focus ST 2.5!

2) For the reason above, it is much easier to throw car around country lanes from where I live.

3) Less wear on front tyres due to lighter petrol engine - I have noticed that when I got my first diesel!

4) Easier and more enjoyable to drive.

I will probably go back to petrol for the next car. No matter how much diesel has improved over the years, petrol still rules!
 
.:MBK:. said:
tell that to the audi endurance race teams...

Why would I want to do that? I'm talking about my own personal preferance of what I consider a performance car should be. I don't care how many endurance races Audi are winning, the characteristics of a derv engine just don't appeal to me for a drivers car.
 
I drove the Jaguar S-Type 2.7 Twin Turbo Diesel the other day.

It was the most undieselike sounding diesel I've driven yet - even with the window open it was very quiet and refined. Excellent.
 
I like the one in our Jeep because it, well, makes it sound like a tank coming down the road when it accellerates :D

It's a bit agricultural though, being a big (2.7) four pot - but I don't mind it really, goes well :)

I don't think I'd like one in a lightweight, or 'performance' car though, the delivery would be a little off putting.
 
If I'm honest though it does make sense in the Estima, no matter how many people are in it or how loaded up it is, it has the exact same 'performance'.
 
They stink when you're following them with the windows/sunroof open, they stink when they go past you in the morning when your doing the green thing and cycling to work, they stink when you start them up in an enclosed space like a garage. All in all they stink! :D
 
haha in some cases thats very true, got stuck behind an escort diesel on the way back from work, hot day so sun roof open, windows down, the result was a car full of the smell of diesel fumes
 
Few things ive noticed since swapping a 1.6 for a 1.8 tdci are,

1.Tdci understeers more because of the weight.
2.Overtaking below 50mph is annoying because you have to change gear when your half way past.
3.Wheel spins in 3rd in the wet
4.Only does 45 in 2nd, 65 in 3rd

On the upside.. I love the power delivery and accelleration, the power on up hill climbs is great, will do 65mpg at 70-80mph on the motorway
 
i went to diesel mainly because of the money saved. however i do enjoy the low down torque and some modern diesels dont 'alf go too...

wouldnt say people 'hate' them though... :confused:
 
Friends got a leon 1.9tdi, chipped to 150bhp and silly amount of torque. Had a wee race against my other mates golf gti 1.8t and he was all over him the gti didn't have a chance!
 
Yeh and with a re-map you can get an extra 20-30 hp easy (dunno about the torque but its deffinatly a lot better)
 
I've gone from a 1.8 16v petrol to a 1.9 Tdi. for everyday driving I prefer the way the power is delivered from a diesel.
 
When I had my petrol I had to take it to at least 5k RPM to get any kind of half decent acceleration and when I did I got like 25-30 MPG, all my power now is at 3k and I still get 40 mpg
 
I've not tried any particularly powerful or modern diesel cars, in fact only four: an XUDT powered 306 saloon, a Clio dCi 80 and Megane dCi 80, of which both use the same engine, as well as a C220 CDI Coupe.

The problem wasn't power, (though all of them were slow), just the way it was delivered. In everyday driving its great, just prod the pedal in whichever gear you're in and it pulls along without protest. But if you feel like some performance motoring, put your foot down and all the power comes in straight away - and then disappears within a couple of seconds.

I like letting a high revving petrol engine swing round into a 6500rpm+ redline before nailing it into the next gear, hear the valves bouncing out of their seats :D

Unfortunately, too many people nowadays drive diesels under the impression that they will have money coming out of their ears afterwards. Truth is, unless you're a taxi driver or otherwise live in your car theres not much financial logic to prefer one over a petrol.

Sometimes I see £50k oil burners and think what on earth went through the owners mind when they bought it - any savings will be spare change in comparison to depreciation, insurance, let alone the original purchase price of the car.

Another thing I hate is how they always chuck out a sooty cloud of smoke when flooring it before the turbo has had a chance to spool up. Driving a 1.6 Primera, unfortunately I am all too used to being left behind in that familiar cloud of black smoke, but at least my GA16DE can bounce off the limiter at 6700rpm before having to change up :)
 
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