What are the pros and cons of diesel over petrol

[xane]

Simple question really, I live in London, I am thinking of getting a car that comes in both petrol and diesel versions, I want some advice from those who have had experience with both.

 

[nath]

Wouldn't it be better to go for LPG or duel fuel? no congestion charge and dirt cheap petrol (for now).

 

[Ivan]

basically diesel <provided the fuel is trustworthy> : less kick than petrol, but more economical both price per galon and miles per galon. As well as substantially longer lifespan <diesel>.

edit : had experience with diesel mercedes engine, the hum is weird but otherwise i hardly noticed any difference in performance.

 

[Will]

From what I remember, diesel is more suited to stop/start city driving, and used to be a lot cheaper. LPG is the cheap option nowadays though. I'd recommend checking MPG figures though, since most diesels now are turbo-diesels are turbo-diesels, which may cancel out some of the advantages.

 

[Tom]

Diesel pros:

Better economy than petrol
More torque (ie will pull more weight) than petrol
Don't have to change gear to overtake (for above reason)
Lower company tax
Lower VAT scale fuel charge

Diesel cons:

Noisier than petrol, although modern diesels hard to tell difference
Most of power concentrated in low revs, get past 5k and drop off in power, petrol has power from about 1.5k - red line
Soot from exhaust (when flooring it)



My advice Xane, is to buy a modern diesel, preferably a VW group engine, unless you want a sporty number. If you're carrying a family around, diesel is much better.

 

[Hashmonster]

if u do do the swap to the dark side then just make sure u dont accidently put in the wrong fuel... happens a lot to new diesel owners! :/

 

[Tom]

Wouldn't it be better to go for LPG or duel fuel? no congestion charge and dirt cheap petrol (for now).

LPG conversions reduce luggage capacity and most are unsafe (due to poor installations). Dual fuel cars (like the Volvo BiFuel) are so much more expensive, its only worth considering as a very long term investment for high mileage owners.

 

[Dr_Weasel]

if u do do the swap to the dark side then just make sure u dont accidently put in the wrong fuel... happens a lot to new diesel owners! :/

I thought unleaded and diesel had different sized nozzles so you cant put the wrong one in.

Or is it just that diesel wont fit in an unleaded hole?

Ive never driven a diesel so Im not sure.... Infact my new RX8 should be delivered in two weeks so with 20mpg and driving 90 miles a day, Im going to be visiting petrol stations a damn sight more.... But I should get to work faster!

 

[old.user4556]

Basically what Tom said.

I toyed with the idea of a modern TDCi as my next car, but i'm tempted by the stupendous performance of the Clio 182.

G

 

[GDW]

basically diesel <provided the fuel is trustworthy> : less kick than petrol, but more economical both price per galon and miles per galon. As well as substantially longer lifespan <diesel>.

edit : had experience with diesel mercedes engine, the hum is weird but otherwise i hardly noticed any difference in performance.

Actually diesel is more expensive than petrol per litre if you check.

Diesel is less enviromentally friendly if that means anything to you Xane.

 

[Gumbo]

I have a Diesel car for the first time after many many sporty petrol ones. It is slow, very slow, but cheap to run, very cheap.

I only bought it as I got a very cheap deal buying an ex company car, and I knew that I'd probably not need my own transport for the commute after 6 months or so, which is right as it turns out

So, I shall shortly be selling my Xsara diesel at a small profit, and sticking my RS back on the road whilst I look around and try to decide on what silly car to waste my money next.

 

[Ivan]

Actually diesel is more expensive than petrol per litre if you check.

Diesel is less enviromentally friendly if that means anything to you Xane.

I do live in different country, but i assumed diesel would be cheaper as it is 1/2 cheaper than petrol in Moscow.As for environmetally friendly, as long as your car is in mint condition you are much much more friendly than a spray deodorant

 

[Hashmonster]

Or is it just that diesel wont fit in an unleaded hole?

I think this is the case mate - as i know of someone that did the petrol into diesel

I currently own a CTR and the petrol station is my second home!

 

[Tom]

I think that overall, diesel is more environmentally friendly than petrol, but most of that is down to miles per gallon.

Diesel engines can run for short periods on petrol, so its not the end of the world if you put half a tank of petrol in by mistake. Just keep topping it up with diesel every chance you get, and it will be fine.

I drive an Audi 1.9Tdi, 110BHP, it will beat any similarly sized car with a 1.8 litre petrol engine on the motorway with ease. For my next car, I'm looking at the BMW 5-series estate, with a 3.0 litre diesel engine. Reckoned to be the best diesel in the world.

 

[Hashmonster]

it will beat any similarly sized car with a 1.8 litre petrol engine on the motorway with ease.

Tom i dont get statements like this? i guess your meaning in gear accerleration hey? surely not top end..?

 

[Tom]

In 5th gear, on the motorway, I can out-accelerate most similarly sized petrol engined cars. Most petrol cars have to change down to 4th and get the engine revving to about 6k before they can beat me. Thats not me being big-headed, but just my experience of driving it for the last 4 years.

 

[Hashmonster]

In 5th gear, on the motorway, I can out-accelerate most similarly sized petrol engined cars. Most petrol cars have to change down to 4th and get the engine revving to about 6k before they can beat me. Thats not me being big-headed, but just my experience of driving it for the last 4 years.

ahhh righty

Funny in mine all the fun stuff starts to happen at 6k rpm... gotta love VTEC

 

[~Yuckfou~]

In work we can either have a company car or opt out. I opted out a while ago because I wanted a convertable roadster type car, the company will only buy 4 seaters. Our per mile fuel allowance is poor, so most of the guys drive diesels, I'm more or less the exception. I get the piss taken because it actually costs me more to run my car than the allowance I get paid. I really don't care because I get to have fun evenings and weekends, it's how I choose to spend my money, not in the pub for example.
Anyway they are always looking for ways to prove their cars are faster/more powerful. The evidence:

Petrol:
Fast 0-60
Fast top end
Better HP
Not economical

Diesel
Slow 0-60
Low top end
Lower HP
Economical
Higher Torque

So diesels are more torquey and more economical, thats it.
But the fuel stinks, you get it on your hands at the pump unless you wear the gloves supplied (I'm a suit). They are noisey and they are smokey, even the new ones.
In summary if money is your driver get a diesel, if performance is more important get the petrol.
I have never been out accelerated by a diesel, at any speed, many have tried. BTW I drive an auto/tiptronic not even a full manual.

 

[jaba]

Youre all forgetting the important point here; diesels sound like fucking great transit vans! it is a horrible noise! My friend has got a nice new VW 1.9tdi Bora, only a year old. He started it up and it sounded like a damn tank had just rolled into the parking lot, now me starting up my nice 1.8i petrol BMW, it purrs sweetly at me and smiles waiting to be driven.

Diesels: for tank drivers and hippies

Petrol: for teh win!!11!

Hehe, please excuse the small mindedness

 

[SoWat]

My current car is a Mondeo 2ltr TDCi (130hp), and apart from the rattle when it first starts, it's quieter than some petrol engined cars I've driven. It also goes like the proverbial off a shovel which was quiet a surprise!

The newer common rail diesels are altogether different beasts to their predecessors, so do bear that in mind when you go for the inevitable test drives.

 

[old.user4556]

Diesels: for tank drivers and hippies

Petrol: for teh win!!11!

Hehe, please excuse the small mindedness

You've never driven the BMW 330D then? 0-60 in 7.5 secs (rapid ) but with the luxury of 50 mpg and bags of torque.

Horses for courses though, I'd personally prefer the 3 litre petrol but if i was doing a lot of miles i'd prefer the 3 litre diesel. Motorway driving would be such a breeze.

G

 

[JBP|]

well around here deisel is 1p per litre more expensive than unleaded,

i personally prefer petrol engines to deisels having driven both

best bet would be to test drive both versions of the car you intend to purchase and see which you prefer

 

[xane]

Thanks for replies.

I was thinking that diesel is not appropriate for city driving, but looks like I am wrong. If I can get better low-end acceleration and better MPG from the 10-40 mph range than maybe that's what I'd better go for.

 

[Tom]

What car are you considering Xane?

 

[]AC[dRuM]

For teh ultimate ride, that gives you top notch fuel economy to boot, get a Suzuki Hayabusa and wave goodbye to anything else

..if you don't mind spending 10 - 13 grand on a bike that is If your a London dweller (which I was for years) then I would recommend the Aprillia SR125.

This is of course motorbikes / scooters not cars but still if economy is your main concern, the SR125 is a must have for town travel, venture out onto the motorway and the Hayabusa will laugh at anything

 

[RandomBastard]

LPG wont last much longer imo, goverments lifted its tax freeze, itll shoot up now.

Oh and the fun stuff in my car starts at 4k rpm and continues up to 9krpm

 

[~Yuckfou~]

You've never driven the BMW 330D then? 0-60 in 7.5 secs

Slower than the 330 petrol

it's quieter than some petrol engined cars I've driven.

To you, but to people outside your car it sounds like a london cab.

Xane, I didn't notice that you were in London. If I had to travel frequently on relatively short trips in the city I would absolutely buy a scooter/small bike, you will save hours over a week. Then get something sporty for the weekends, maybe an Elise/Caterham or similar.

I'm just off to pick up my new V6 petrol toy!

 

[old.user4556]

Slower than the 330 petrol

Come on, by less than a second! 7.5 (i think BMWs figures are actually 7.2 for the diesel, 6.5 for the petrol) for diesel is impressive.

 

[Arindra]

Diesel gives people near you asthma and cancer, as well as deafening everyone around you.

Petrol slowly floods the norfolk broads.

You pays your money you takes your choice.

(Also, if the car is more than about 3-5 years old, diesel will handle like shit, newer common rail diesels you can barely tell the difference)

You have to test drive a diesel extensively though, just to be sure you are happy with the power lag you get from the turbos most of them have. A lot of people never learn to live with turbos.

I was thinking that diesel is not appropriate for city driving, but looks like I am wrong. If I can get better low-end acceleration and better MPG from the 10-40 mph range than maybe that's what I'd better go for.

Diesels are fine for city driving per se; but less good for short trips, which a lot of city driving happens to be.

You've never driven the BMW 330D then? 0-60 in 7.5 secs

Pfft. Even my mondeo has better acceleration numbers than that.

 

[old.user4556]

Diesel gives people near you asthma and cancer, as well as deafening everyone around you.

Petrol slowly floods the norfolk broads.

You pays your money you takes your choice.

Life sucks eh.

Pfft. Even my mondeo has better acceleration numbers than that.

You drive the Mondeo ST220 then?