Petrol or Diesel?

iaind · 11 May 2009 at 22:41

Generally a diesel is a completely different driving style. Buckets and buckets of low end torque, a bit of a whollop with the turbo but it doesnt last long.

My TDCi mondeo doesnt use any oil at all (was 3/4 on the dipstick after the a service and 3/4 the day before the service after) and costs the same to service as the petrol.

Try driving the cars you like and see what you think - if you have any notion that a diesel will be slow, take a Golf 2.0 TDI 170 out for a spin

[TW]Fox · 11 May 2009 at 22:43

iaind said:
Generally a diesel is a completely different driving style. Buckets and buckets of low end torque

And this is the problem with diesel drivers, OMG THE TORQUE. Yes, and how much of it actually makes it onto the tarmac, given the fact they are all out of steam at 4000rpm?

iaind · 11 May 2009 at 22:46

And this is the problem with petrol drivers, completely oblivious to the fact that diesels might be a decent drive too..

Most people arent hooning it about all the time but being able to slow down for speed bumps without changing down or getting up a hill without slowing down make a better drive for some people than lots of revs and power.

Remember Fox - not everyone is like you with the same priorities and tastes...

james.miller · 11 May 2009 at 22:47

[TW]Fox;14056030 said:
And this is the problem with diesel drivers, OMG THE TORQUE. Yes, and how much of it actually makes it onto the tarmac, given the fact they are all out of steam at 4000rpm?

serious question - is this a problem when/if they are geared accordingly?

Lopéz · 11 May 2009 at 22:47

Mr Jack said:
Personally I really like the way my diesel drives; others may differ. The notion that petrol vs. diesel is a major point of consideration is odd to me. The difference between a petrol engine and a diesel engine is small compared to the differences between different cars.

The difference between diesel and petrol variants of almost anything I have ever driven has been hugely noticable.

iaind · 11 May 2009 at 22:49

The difference is always pretty significant and your preference will depend almost entirely on your driving style. I've owned both petrols and diesels, and while I've enjoyed the petrol cars more, I personally think the diesels tend to suit me better.

InvaderGIR · 11 May 2009 at 22:49

iaind said:
And this is the problem with petrol drivers, completely oblivious to the fact that diesels might be a decent drive too..

Most people arent hooning it about all the time but being able to slow down for speed bumps without changing down or getting up a hill without slowing down make a better drive for some people than lots of revs and power.

Remember Fox - not everyone is like you with the same priorities and tastes...

:/

I do this in my petrol, what's your point?

I used to hoon my diesel, again, I don't see your point.

[TW]Fox · 11 May 2009 at 22:49

iaind said:
And this is the problem with petrol drivers, completely oblivious to the fact that diesels might be a decent drive too..

Yes, I'm utterly oblivious as to how diesels drive. It's not as if I drive one of the best diesel engines of the past decade on a weekly basis or anything and have its petrol equivilent to compare it to back to back, is it.

Far better to only ever drive ONE type of engine and then prattle on about how great it is with no real long term experience of the alternatives.

[TW]Fox · 11 May 2009 at 22:51

james.miller said:
serious question - is this a problem when/if they are geared accordingly?

It's not a problem - but it's also not the huge advantage dieselfans seem to think it is. The fact, say, a 530d has 410nm whereas a 530i has 'only' 300nm is rather cancelled out by the fact the 530i revs to almost 7000rpm whereas all the go has gone from the 530d once you pass 4000rpm. Remember the effect a gearbox has on torque..

The_Dark_Side · 11 May 2009 at 22:52

Lopéz said:
The difference between diesel and petrol variants of almost anything I have ever driven has been hugely noticable.

If you drive it in a spirited manner then I'd agree, but in everyday driving a modern diesel is just about the same to drive as the petrol equivalent IMO mate.

Mr Jack · 11 May 2009 at 22:53

Lopéz said:
The difference between diesel and petrol variants of almost anything I have ever driven has been hugely noticable.

More noticeable than the difference between different cars you've driven?

Get in a 3l petrol Camry, then hop into a 2l petrol mondeo and you'll notice a world of difference. Toddle over to the Honda R-Type and everything changes again. All without changing what kind of fuel you're burning.

The_Dark_Side · 11 May 2009 at 22:54

[TW]Fox;14056107 said:
It's not a problem - but it's also not the huge advantage dieselfans seem to think it is. The fact, say, a 530d has 410nm whereas a 530i has 'only' 300nm is rather cancelled out by the fact the 530i revs to almost 7000rpm whereas all the go has gone from the 530d once you pass 4000rpm. Remember the effect a gearbox has on torque..

What's the difference in performance between the 330i/330d and 530i/530d?

iaind · 11 May 2009 at 22:54

InvaderGIR said:
:/

I do this in my petrol, what's your point?

I used to hoon my diesel, again, I don't see your point.

Yours is a larger 6 pot petrol though isnt it? If you look at the lower end, comparing a 2.0 4 pot petrol to a 2.0 4 pot diesel, a lot of 2.0 petrols will struggle doing things I do in my diesel. Dropping to 15mph in third and pulling away again without a fuss for example.

You can hoon any car you like, but I think petrols tend to lend themselves it it a bit more

Dandle · 11 May 2009 at 22:56

[TW]Fox;14056107 said:
It's not a problem - but it's also not the huge advantage dieselfans seem to think it is. The fact, say, a 530d has 410nm whereas a 530i has 'only' 300nm is rather cancelled out by the fact the 530i revs to almost 7000rpm whereas all the go has gone from the 530d once you pass 4000rpm. Remember the effect a gearbox has on torque..

Doesnt alter the fact the deisel can still put down more torque onto the road than the same petrol. The current 530d is torque limited in 1st and second where the current 530i which has about 50bhp more isnt even with 7000rpm redline. Its not as cut and dry as people like to make out with that arguement.

[TW]Fox · 11 May 2009 at 22:56

The_Dark_Side said:
What's the difference in performance between the 330i/330d and 530i/530d?

I've not driven the current generation 330i or 530i (I dont think they exist anymore because everyone blindly orders a diesel) but with the previous generation the 530i is quicker than the 530d - by about a second to 60 and 4-5 seconds to 100mph.

I'm hardly one who thrashes his car to the limiter in every gear either so you don't need to drive it like a Type-R to notice the extra performance - its just... more urgent. Not that the 530d is slow, it's not, and not that its without its advantages, it most certainly isn't, but frankly I see little reason to chose the diesel over the petrol*

*The diesel comes with free fuel because I never fill it up, I dunno if that counts

InvaderGIR · 11 May 2009 at 22:57

Mine is a 6 pot, which does make it easier yes, but I used to drive 4 pots the same. I guess I'm just odd.

Dandle · 11 May 2009 at 22:59

The_Dark_Side said:
What's the difference in performance between the 330i/330d and 530i/530d?

The 530i 0-60 is 6.3 for manual and 6.5 for the auto.
and 530d 0-60 both auto and manual is 6.8s.

The_Dark_Side · 11 May 2009 at 22:59

^^^ @ Fox.
IIRC you don't cover many miles/month in your car (I'm sure I read a post of yours that stated it was something like 350 miles?) so you chose the petrol version. Perhaps if your mileage was more like the national average you'd see why the diesel makes sense?

IIRC aren't the Beemer petrols/diesels almost the same list price when new also?

iaind · 11 May 2009 at 23:00

[TW]Fox;14056091 said:
Yes, I'm utterly oblivious as to how diesels drive. It's not as if I drive one of the best diesel engines of the past decade on a weekly basis or anything and have its petrol equivilent to compare it to back to back, is it.

Franky, I have no idea what you drive aside from your 530, my point was really that opinions are opinions. There IS more torque with diesels and it IS useable - if you prefer it and choose to drive in a manner than exploits this, is completely up to you

Far better to only ever drive ONE type of engine and then prattle on about how great it is with no real long term experience of the alternatives.

I've driven plenty of different petrols and diesels, owned several of both too. My earlier point about costs/spec etc didnt seem to hit the mark but I tried to explain another point of view that you might want to consider. Also, the OP sounded like he wasnt familiar with diesels so I did my best to describe the significant differences, if thats OK?

iaind · 11 May 2009 at 23:02

The_Dark_Side said:
^^^ @ Fox.
IIRC you don't cover many miles/month in your car (I'm sure I read a post of yours that stated it was something like 350 miles?) so you chose the petrol version. Perhaps if your mileage was more like the national average you'd see why the diesel makes sense?

IIRC aren't the Beemer petrols/diesels almost the same list price when new also?

I imagine the average mileage of the average new 5 series buyer is very high too...