Petrol or Diesel?

Tute · 11 May 2009 at 20:49

I've finally got some money together for a car. Which car isn't important right now - i'm going to look at some over the next few weeks.

What I can't come to a decision over is the old chestnut of getting a petrol or diesel car. I currently drive a diesel and I find it fine, but this will be my own car, so i'm going to make my own decision.

Standard issue responses of "it's smelly, it's noisy, it's gay" etc. will just be ignored. I want to hear people's honest opinions of this.

Thanks.

*finds safe cover and dons flame retardant suit*

peterattheboro · 11 May 2009 at 20:50

How many miles will you do?

General rule is below 20k a year, go petrol.

SoliD · 11 May 2009 at 20:50

How many miles a year you do will be the main question asked so provide this and what your budget of car is and we can give you some answers.

Petrol for me everytime though.

Tute · 11 May 2009 at 20:54

Basically, although I don't want recommendations as i'm going to try a few and form opinions, i'm looking at £6-7K and it's going to be doing 15-20K a year.

I want a hatchback only, and it needs 5 doors. And not be French. I'll test drive the usual suspects (Focus, Golf, Leon, Civic, Fabia, maybe A3?) and see what takes my fancy. Basically I don't have any rush to get this bought.

Can I ask how you arrive at the figure of 20K miles/year?

Janesy B · 11 May 2009 at 20:56

Tute said:
Can I ask how you arrive at the figure of 20K miles/year?

Because that's when going Diesel actually starts to make sense.

Tute · 11 May 2009 at 20:56

Janesy B said:
Because that's when going Diesel actually starts to make sense.

I would like to know why!

Hxc · 11 May 2009 at 20:58

The extra MPG you get offsets the extra cost of fuel and initial cost.

racerboy59 · 11 May 2009 at 20:58

Diesels cost more to buy, and diesel fuel is more expensive, that's why.

[TW]Fox · 11 May 2009 at 20:58

Tute said:
I would like to know why!

Well do the maths then. Work out how much it costs in petrol to do 20k miles and how much it costs in diesel, then see if the saving offsets the higher purchase costs and the horrible noise from the diesel.

racerboy59 · 11 May 2009 at 20:58

Hxc said:
The extra MPG you get offsets the extra cost of fuel and initial cost.

only if you do enough miles to justify it.

iaind · 11 May 2009 at 20:59

I really dont think the argument of 20k upwards for diesel holds up to many people.

That 20k figure would only work if you came here saying "I want a 2006 VW Golf GT sport with approx 30k miles" - because then you'd be spending more to get the same car in diesel form.

As I've tried to explain before, to some people the lower daily running costs is worth more than a lower mileage, a different number on the plate or a few gadgets...

For 15-20k a year I'd definitely be getting a diesel, out of the list I'd say Focus or Leon. Golf is good but might be a bit on the pricey side. Have you considered something bigger - Mondeo, Passat etc?

Hxc · 11 May 2009 at 20:59

racerboy59 said:
only if you do enough miles to justify it.

That was in reply to the "why 20k" question.

Janesy B · 11 May 2009 at 20:59

racerboy59 said:
only if you do enough miles to justify it.

Talk about going in circles

Jonners · 11 May 2009 at 20:59

Round here the price difference of fuel is 5p

95.9p vs 100.9p

racerboy59 · 11 May 2009 at 21:01

Hxc said:
That was in reply to the "why 20k" question.

oh right. cool. we're on the same page then

Tute · 11 May 2009 at 21:02

[TW]Fox;14055069 said:
Well do the maths then. Work out how much it costs in petrol to do 20k miles and how much it costs in diesel, then see if the saving offsets the higher purchase costs and the horrible noise from the diesel.

Well obviously it depends totally on what I get.

However as regards purchase costs, is this still the same for used cars?

Also, how do you put a price on noise?

[TW]Fox · 11 May 2009 at 21:02

iaind said:
I really dont think the argument of 20k upwards for diesel holds up to many people.

That 20k figure would only work if you came here saying "I want a 2006 VW Golf GT sport with approx 30k miles" - because then you'd be spending more to get the same car in diesel form.

As I've tried to explain before, to some people the lower daily running costs is worth more than a lower mileage, a different number on the plate or a few gadgets...

It never ceases to amaze me how people DONT get this.

Sure, you dont decide to buy a 2006 Golf GT TDI with 30k on the clock. You decide to spend £10k. But if a 2006 Golf petrol of the same spec/performance (I know VW petrol engines are crap but for the sake of argument pretend not) is actually only £9k, you get £1k change to spend on running costs.

How is that difficult to get your head around?

Just because you have a budget doesn't mean you must spend all of it, especially if you can get a car of the same age, condition, spec and mileage just with a different engine for less money.

Tute · 11 May 2009 at 21:04

iaind said:
For 15-20k a year I'd definitely be getting a diesel, out of the list I'd say Focus or Leon. Golf is good but might be a bit on the pricey side. Have you considered something bigger - Mondeo, Passat etc?

Considered them yes. Not a fan of the Passat at all. The Mondeo is a really nice car, nowt wrong with it but I prefer the looks of the Focus (and many of the other hatchbacks).

iaind · 11 May 2009 at 21:05

[TW]Fox;14055105 said:
It never ceases to amaze me how people DONT get this.

Sure, you dont decide to buy a 2006 Golf GT TDI with 30k on the clock. You decide to spend £10k. But if a 2006 Golf petrol of the same spec/performance (I know VW petrol engines are crap but for the sake of argument pretend not) is actually only £9k, you get £1k change to spend on running costs.

How is that difficult to get your head around?

Just because you have a budget doesn't mean you must spend all of it, especially if you can get a car of the same age, condition, spec and mileage just with a different engine for less money.

I get it completely, but my point has always been that people dont actually buy cars like that generally. Are you actually suggesting he spends £6k instead of £7, puts £1k in a savings account and transfers out the difference in cost in order to offset it?

I understand your point of view but I accept you dont understand mine - many people (including the OP I'm sure) do....

Tute · 11 May 2009 at 21:06

[TW]Fox;14055105 said:
It never ceases to amaze me how people DONT get this.

Sure, you dont decide to buy a 2006 Golf GT TDI with 30k on the clock. You decide to spend £10k. But if a 2006 Golf petrol of the same spec/performance (I know VW petrol engines are crap but for the sake of argument pretend not) is actually only £9k, you get £1k change to spend on running costs.

How is that difficult to get your head around?

Just because you have a budget doesn't mean you must spend all of it, especially if you can get a car of the same age, condition, spec and mileage just with a different engine for less money.

Right, i'm actually grasping it. You only needed to explain.

Out of interest Fox, are there ANY diesels you would consider recommending?