Performance Diesels

marcus_667 said:
i think there is a point with performance diesels , but ill get shot down in flames but in short i like the mpg/tax/insurance , and the torq's yo !
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Go and insure a 335d, it isnt any cheaper to insure than a 335i. There is a point to performance diesels, anyone arguing otherwise is a bit odd, but insurance isnt it and the tax isnt hugely difference anymore either.
 
[TW]Fox;17728040 said:
There is a point to performance diesels, anyone arguing otherwise is a bit odd
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They sell yes, but break it down to it core - Performance and economy do not go hand in hand.

As I know you agree the underlying factor in the decision to purchase a diesel is (rightly or wrongly) economy. If economy is massively important to you, why do you need something with such a health dose of performance too?
 
Joshy said:
They sell yes, but break it down to it core - Performance and economy do not go hand in hand.

As I know you agree the underlying factor in the decision to purchase a diesel is (rightly or wrongly) economy. If economy is massively important to you, why do you need something with such a health dose of performance too?
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So lets take the 335D and 335i then?

Almost identical performance, same insurance group, tax non ED model (as thats what I know about) D is 235 i is 425, economy average D 38 mpg i 32 mpg (from my cousin who has the i)

So based on that I can have the performance as and as I do a few miles a year the economy which is about 20% better saves me a few ££ as well. The 335d to me delivered the best of both worlds, I get the performance and when I need it the economy. Based on my set of circumstances the 335D meets my requirements and thats all that matters.
 
Best to compare the ED version of the 335i not the non ED version. The ED version has considerably lower CO2 than the non ED version and is thus in the same tax band as the 335d.

Also the performance isn't identical at all. The N54 powered 335i's do not make 306bhp, they often make more like 320 to 330ish bhp and numerous tests have seen stock cars doing 0-60 in as little as 5 seconds. By contrast its replacement, the single turbo N55, makes about book power. It's no co-incidence that the N54 remains in the model range but now develops more power with an iS badge on it.

Don't get me wrong - the 335d is a brilliant engine - but the 335i *is* quicker.

The 335i is something of a performance bargain. It's astonishingly fast for a regular 3 Series.

I'm still trying to find out more about the 335i's economy but I think 32mpg average seems to be pushing it. They seem to top out at 33mpg on a run, whereas the 335d is obviously much better.
 
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Performance diesels : enough performance when you want it, good economy when you don't.
They are a good mix of the both without really compromising each other.
 
Bull. To me, as a first car, a diesel is much more fun than a petrol since I get instant performance (relative to other prospective cars) at low revs compared to a petrol with a small displacement (say 1.2 or 1.4) which I would have otherwise bought.

Not to mention I get this performance without having bum-fun with the MPG figures. Which is very important as a poor student who may be living off pot noodles in the near future.
 
Should have or could have? I bet the cost of them from new isn't much different from petrol tbh, given the low mileage.

Also, a lot of company cars are bought diesel for tax reasons
 
Flibbles said:
To me, as a first car, a diesel is much more fun than a petrol since I get instant performance (relative to other prospective cars) at low revs compared to a petrol with a small displacement (say 1.2 or 1.4) which I would have otherwise bought.
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You get percieved performance - from the torques -, thats about it tbh.
 
You'd be surprised, very little turbo lag as long as I'm in the power band, and that's all I really need. Having test driven a fair few diesels before settling on this Focus, it's by far the best. So much so, I'm wondering if it's been secretly remapped prior to me buying it.

It's certainly a far better option than a 1.2 or 1.4 petrol and having to rag the nuts off it to get equivalent performance.
 
Works for me. :P I know 4 pot dervs are nothing special.

Sure I'd love to be able to afford to run a real petrolhead car but I had to draw the line somewhere.

The extra cost of parts isn't a major factor either since 1) I won't be keeping it that long and 2) I have free labour in the form of a brother.
 
[TW]Fox;17729840 said:
Shock as faster car costs more to insure.
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FR tdi is almost same power as the tsi

FR tsi figures
Power 150@5800 ps/rpm Torque 162@1250 rpm lb/ft

FR Tdi figures
Power 143@4200 ps/rpm Torque 236@1750 rpm lb/ft

both have similar 0-60times etc

but this is stock mines mapped and pumping out over 200 bhp the tsi would do similar im lead to believe
 
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Morba said:
Should have or could have? I bet the cost of them from new isn't much different from petrol tbh, given the low mileage.

Also, a lot of company cars are bought diesel for tax reasons
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These days some BMW petrol models are in the same company car tax band as the diesel.
 
Flibbles said:
You'd be surprised, very little turbo lag as long as I'm in the power band, and that's all I really need. Having test driven a fair few diesels before settling on this Focus, it's by far the best. So much so, I'm wondering if it's been secretly remapped prior to me buying it.

It's certainly a far better option than a 1.2 or 1.4 petrol and having to rag the nuts off it to get equivalent performance.
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And that's different to a turbo petrol how?
 
[TW]Fox;17731006 said:
These days some BMW petrol models are in the same company car tax band as the diesel.
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Those are completely watered down versions lacking in options and lesser powered, aren't they?
 
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