Petrol vs Diesel

[iCraig]

Hi,

What are peoples opinions of petrol powered cars versus diesel powered cars?

As I am now in the market for a new to me car, I am seriously thinking about the pros and cons of both. And as this next car is going to be a long termer (think atleast 7+ years doing 12,000+ miles a year), I don't want to have a car that will have lots of things to go wrong.

My personal feeling at the moment is diesels maybe more economical but when you factor in DPFs, DMFs, and MAFs over the mileage aswell as turbos etc. It starts to look less and less appealing especially the length of ownership I want to get.

What do you think the pros and cons are of diesels vs petrols?

Craig

[Flip]

I have a diesel and have had no problems with the Malaysian Armed Forces.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

My days of owning vehicles where I could open the bonnet and feel happy about diagnosing/repairing/replacing anything under there are long gone, so now I accept the fact I need to lube up when having repairs done.

Given that fact, I choose Diesel for the better fuel consumption (and therefore tank range), although the gap is closing on newer petrol cars and with Diesel being more expensive now, I think it's really down to choosing a car for its driving experience rather than what's under the bonnet.
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[iCraig]

[iCraig]

[Faldo]

[Faldo]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Diesel is a better on fuel than petrol (but part of that is because diesel fuel contains 15% more energy by volume than petrol - if they ever tax fuel based on energy content then diesel will rocket in price).

Petrol cars have MAF sensors as well. However they are not that expensive or difficult to change. We had one go on our 156 about 18 months ago (and it is a common sensor fitted to a load of other cars). Ironically the easiest test to check if the MAF sensor is the problem is to disconnect it and if the car suddenly runs fine then the MAF is faulty.

Dual mass flywheels seem to be a large bill waiting to happen. Their life spans seem to be very variable depending on how they are driven as well. Not sure I would want the risk of one, although seems to be getting more common to just replace them with a solid flywheel.

However the thing that puts me off diesels is the power delivery. All the torque is at low revs and drops off rapidly, so while power increases with revs the umph you feel in any gear is dropping away as the revs increase. All the umph is at revs I don't care about, and where I want it (at high revs that I will use when I want the umph) there is stuff all. Basically teases you will umph at low revs and then fails to delivery when you want it.

All the est

Keith
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[Phoenix]

[iCraig]

Funny you should mention the power delivery Keith, as its something I do like.

I love the Astra in the way it has power from 1800rpm to 3200rpm, which is where I spend most of my time on motorways and A roads.
Only thing I do hate it when you're accelerating from a stand still and floor it, its out of first in matter of seconds and it can be quite tedious keeping it in the power sometimes.

All its torque does come in handy in snow and slippery conditions as the car just moves off in 1st, 2nd and 3rd with no throttle at all...

Its beginning to be to a massive decision for me now, as I have about £6000 to spend on a new car, and I don't want to be forking out in a few years for DMFs, turbos, expensive glowplugs or common rails bits that cost £££! But I do love the fuel economy in the short term, and I have to wonder which will be the cheapest in the long term?

I know one thing, the Mondeo is out of the list, I just don't like the back end and the fact all 2000-2007 models have DMFs and seemingly have problems with them.

Its now between the Honda Accord, Volvo V70, Vauxhall Vectra, Toyota Avensis and Mazda 6. Although I haven't a clue which yet...

[L4Isoside]

Though I'd miss the revvy petrol of me astra, but th 2.0 diesel I now drive seems to have the power right where I want, and need it.

Makes overtaking easier, even just makes general driving easier!

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Petrol > Diesel.
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[colin1]

[0ddball]

High performance diesels (and no i'm not talking about a lame 150bhp Golf TDi) can be rapid and i'd choose one over petrol. But overall i agree, they have a boring power delivery and feel quicker than they really are.

[mr.kris]

DIESEL = WIN!
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[rac3r]

BMW's 535 and 335d are awesome and also easy to tune for some crazy performance!
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[iCraig]

Bleurgh BMWs!

[JonB]

Most exciting diesel I have driven is the Black edition Mercedes CLS 350. 0-60 in 6.5 seconds which weren't too shabby.

I have no option but to have a diesel as it's company policy, but can't wait to get my 170bhp golf GTD instead of the 105bhp 1.9 golf i've got right now.
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[jay12329]

I've had a couple of petrols and a couple of diesels over the last few years.
Diesels seem to be better for my everyday driving. Pull from low down, and good fuel economy.

Petrols I've had a 1.8 focus, and 1.6 focus and a 1.6 307. The 307 just got 30mpg on my commute, when my 170bhp diesel golf will hit 45 most days, with 55 when i really try. Thats a mix of town, single carriageway A road and motorway. Its a no brainer in my world!

I'm due a new car soon and the only petrol on my short list to try is a 1.6 focus. Only to compare against the diesel focus as Ford diesels are a little agricultural, especially when compared to the VAG lump i currently have.

Top of my list for new car is an Octavia VRS, as I like the engine but need a bit more room than the golf.

HTH
J

[rac3r]

[JonB]

Company car. Won't be happening!
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[rac3r]

[Kickstart]