Diesel dilemma ....

[Fab Foodie]

Been considering a cheap and frugal new car to replace the (8yr old 150k miles) C8 and fitting the bill is the Dacia Logan MCV with the Renault 1.5dCi diesel engine which is very frugal ~80mpg compared to my C8's 40mpg. My average mileage is around 20k per annum so frugality and running cost has an impact. Most of this is motorway stuff, very little urban (we have a petrol C1 for that). I'm also a cyclist and would like to be as Green as reasonably practicable.

Now there is a big spotlight on diesel. Whilst low in CO2 it is high in NOx and particulates, bad news in the urban environment - but I don't drive much there.
Should I consider Petrol? They are less economic and not so good for hauling weight around unless a larger size.

Thoughts?

 

[BrumJim]

Arguably neither is good, its just a question of least worst.

I'd say the rule of thumb is Diesel for long distances, Petrol for shorter, hybrid for heavy urban duties, although I have no research to back this up.

Diesel is more efficient when idling and generally compared to petrol. However it needs to get hot and NOx causes problems in urban environments anyway. Hence hybrid, where stop-start traffic involves no use of fuel burning seems like a good option.

 

[Tin Pot]

Diesel has always been worse for the environment, known since the 70s or before.

8yrs/150k, is less than 20k per year, you aren't going to be saving a significant amount with diesel (IMO).

Overall you'd be better with just one petrol car, if that's possible.

Edit - not that I'm preaching BTW (see avatar)

 

[tyred]

I don't think there is any real advantage in diesels unless you're doing mega miles.

Petrol cars are lighter, easier on tyres, brakes and suspension components and generally nicer to drive as they have less weight in the front end.

They are also usually easier and cheaper to maintain nowadays as diesels engines have become very complex.

 

[earlestownflya]

i'd stick with a petrol..other than the environmental issues,a diesel mechanic friend of mine says modern diesels are very troublesome

 

[earlestownflya]

I don't think there is any real advantage in diesels unless you're doing mega miles.

Petrol cars are lighter, easier on tyres, brakes and suspension components and generally nicer to drive as they have less weight in the front end.

They are also usually easier and cheaper to maintain nowadays as diesels engines have become very complex.

spot on

 

[sight-pin]

I'm just wondering if they will slap more tax on diesel with the latest reports.
Now days cars are so complicated it's really horses for courses, but years ago diesels didn't breakdown so often, but when they do expect a large bill, the injectors alone cost a fortune.
Best way is buy new or nearly new and out it for another before the guarantee runs out, but that's just my opinion.
Edited.

 

[Joffey]

My old diesel is great around town or motorway - (Audi A4) - I don't think there will be a massive difference between petrol or diesel - just get the car you like the best.

 

[Drago]

Any economy gain is largely negated by the maintenance costs of DMFs, DPFs, increased tyre wear etc. I don't mind old skool diseases, IDI jobs, but modern ones bring such unnecessary complexity that over the life of the vehicle the savings are marginal if you're lucky.

Petrol, maintain it well, drive it sympathetically, it's liable to be more reliable and not much less economical to run over the life of the vehicle, and much nicer on long motorway runs.

 

[sight-pin]

lol

 

[stephec]

FF you can have my VW Golf diesel for £20k. It's got all the extras including a piece of software that cheats Americans (I'll throw that in for nothing).

Has it got go faster stripes?

 

[tyred]

FF you can have my VW Golf diesel for £20k. It's got all the extras including a piece of software that cheats Americans (I'll throw that in for nothing).

Does it have a nodding dog and furry dice?

 

[stephec]

The regulators made me take them off.

What about a big wing on the back?

 

[stephec]

Yes, it doubles up as a table when I'm in need of some pies and a couple of glasses of Sauvignon.

Surely it's got to be KFC and Stella?

Has it got wide low profiles and a body kit that means you have to go over speed humps at 2mph?

 

[stephec]

Sadly it hasn't got those but I am particularly proud of its software. It's really special. Apparently it can detect when the car is on a test machine and it switches the engine completely off fooling the testers into thinking it's got zero emissions. The clever bit is that it also has a avi file which sounds like a car running.....it goes brrmm brrmm. The regulators get fooled every time.

You're not really selling it to me, even if it had an exhaust pipe so wide that it sounds like Concorde going supersonic.