Petrol or Diesel?

Tute · 3 Jun 2009 at 17:32

It would have to be the 170 I think, as if I went for a vRS it would be straight in for a remap.

I'm willing to take back the "brutal" statement - that's what it felt like for me, but please remember that my car experience is poor. I've not even had my licence 12 months yet!

LiE · 3 Jun 2009 at 17:35

Torque kicked in y0!

peterattheboro · 3 Jun 2009 at 17:35

Avoid the ST170 unless you're like 50 and the insurance is dead cheap. It's Group 15 for not a particularly fast car.

Tute · 3 Jun 2009 at 17:37

peterattheboro said:
Avoid the ST170 unless you're like 50 and the insurance is dead cheap. It's Group 15 for not a particularly fast car.

Insurance is crazy for it. Over £1500 compared to under £800 for the vRS, and £650 for the 2.0 Focus.

mr tommo · 3 Jun 2009 at 17:43

Personally I dislike diesels.

The noise is the one major factor for me.

I would however have one if I was to go for something like a Range Rover for example.

Tute · 3 Jun 2009 at 17:46

mr tommo said:
Personally I dislike diesels.

The noise is the one major factor for me.

I would however have one if I was to go for something like a Range Rover for example.

Was silent, even more so than the Focus.

[TW]Fox · 3 Jun 2009 at 17:49

The problem with diesels is the BS and hype surrounding them, which is perfectly illustrated by the discussion we are now having about the Fabia. Objectively, it is a small hatchback powered by a 130bhp 4 cylinder diesel engine.

Yet it's being described as having 'brutal acceleration', it 'goes like absolute stink' and now apparently it is also 'silent'.

The thing is, its none of these things yet its suprising the amount of diesel owners who actually seem to think that these things DO apply to cars like this :confused:

Silent? Perhaps if you are deaf.

Tute · 3 Jun 2009 at 17:57

[TW]Fox;14208122 said:
The problem with diesels is the BS and hype surrounding them, which is perfectly illustrated by the discussion we are now having about the Fabia. Objectively, it is a small hatchback powered by a 130bhp 4 cylinder diesel engine.

Agreed.

Yet it's being described as having 'brutal acceleration', it 'goes like absolute stink' and now apparently it is also 'silent'.

All things that I think it has. Yes Fox, it's one of those "opinion" things that you sometimes read about. Everyone has one.

The thing is, its none of these things yet its suprising the amount of diesel owners who actually seem to think that these things DO apply to cars like this

So you actually think it's a poor car? I tried asking you about it on MSN and I got told that you didn't like it because it's a "small hatchback with a rattly diesel engine". That, quite simply, helps nobody.

I'm trying to make an informed decision by going at this with an open mind. I've spent most of my miles in a diesel, yet I learnt in a petrol. So i'm really not biased on this, despite what most of you probably think.

I'm just a novice compared to many of you who have driven lots of different cars. I just want some solid, objective, decent advice with good arguments and reasoning.

Is that too much to ask?

Instead I get this whole "It's noisy" "It's smelly" "It diesel" - how about the fact that I don't give one about those? I've been driving for ten months, at the moment it would be nice to just own something that can take me from A to B. I don't care if it plays a symphony with the tappets, or smells, because i'm after making sure the car does the important things properly.

That is, it's reasonably quick, good on insurance and running costs, fun to drive, and reliable.

Rant over.

Silent? Perhaps if you are deaf.

I'm going to ignore this.

mr tommo · 3 Jun 2009 at 18:00

Tute said:
Was silent, even more so than the Focus.

I think you miss the point. It's more the lack of petrol sound I detest.

Grad · 3 Jun 2009 at 18:05

The Fab gives you a fair old kick in the back and you're thinking "wow this car shifts!", and then you look at the speedo.....

Don't get me wrong it's a decent enough performer for a small shopping car but "brutal" it's not. Add to that the inadequate brakes and the whole package becomes less enjoyable.

Janesy B · 3 Jun 2009 at 18:18

No tute it is fact that a 130bhp car is not brutal regardless of it being powered by diesel, petrol or horse poo. It's still 130bhp.

Tute · 3 Jun 2009 at 18:18

Janesy B said:
No tute it is fact that a 130bhp car is not brutal regardless of it being powered by diesel, petrol or horse poo. It's still 130bhp.

I've already covered why I said that. Are you going to just dwell on it or actually offer some advice?

[Edit] Actually, just forget it. I've had enough. RTM'd for the thread to be locked.

Grad · 3 Jun 2009 at 18:20

Tute said:
I've already covered why I said that. Are you going to just dwell on it or actually offer some advice?

I'll offer some - don't buy the Fabia

Oh and you say fully specced - what does it have above standard?

Jez · 3 Jun 2009 at 18:21

Tute said:
I've already covered why I said that. Are you going to just dwell on it or actually offer some advice?

[Edit] Actually, just forget it. I've had enough. RTM'd for the thread to be locked.

Jesus christ;

Janesy B · 3 Jun 2009 at 18:23

I am sure I offered advice along the lines of, unless you do mega mileage, a diesel offers no advantage over a petrol engine. When taken up about the fact that a 130bhp car is not brutal you put it down to opinion. A 4 pot 130bhp hatchback is not brutal by any stretch of the imagination and that is cold hard fact.