What are the pros and cons of diesel over petrol

[Tom]

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

Acceleration figures are meaningless in everyday driving tbh. The advantage of the 330D is the top speed, the tremendous grunt in low revs, and the economy, all of which knock the spots off most other cars.

 

[xane]

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.

Work is either diesel (bus) or sweat (bike), I would be mad to get a scooter around here, most of their drivers die young with lorry tyremarks over them.

In any case, I have a 7yo son I have to taxi around

The car in question is a Chrysler PT Cruiser, it comes in 2.0 petrol or 2.2 diesel, second hand prices don't really reflect the difference, its more the mileage, so I have a choice.

Also, afaik, the diesel engine in it is the same as the Mercedes.

 

[Ivan]

Apart from looking ugly it seems ok, read a review that said something about the noise getting through into saloon, so i figured it might not be soundproof. Its easy to fix, just very inconvenient.

 

[Tom]

The car in question is a Chrysler PT Cruiser, it comes in 2.0 petrol or 2.2 diesel, second hand prices don't really reflect the difference, its more the mileage, so I have a choice

I quite fancied one of those, the only thing that put me off was a lack of climate control. Quite a bit of space, and a comfortable ride. I wouldn't count on anything like handling ability, but it doesn't sound like you're interested in that anyway, so who cares.

Ignore all that crap about city diesel, super diesel, etc. Just stick normal diesel in it, and it will be fine. Use semi-synthetic oil instead of mineral, if its anything like mine you'll have to check the level every 5000 miles or so, with a change every 10k.

You'll probably find the 2.0 petrol gutless, I think they do a 2.5 which will be much better.

 

[Frizz]

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

Nope, if you've got $160,000, get a lingenfel(d?)ter Corvette.

Quarter Mile in under 9 secs.

 

[Ivan]

Nope, if you've got $160,000, get a lingenfel(d?)ter Corvette.

Quarter Mile in under 9 secs.

Heh considering Dragsters do 1/4 mile in just over 7 seconds at top speed 177 mph thats not too bad

 

[~Yuckfou~]

Nope, if you've got $160,000, get a lingenfel(d?)ter Corvette.

Quarter Mile in under 9 secs.

However the first bend you get to will see you in a hedgerow/ditch, and the bike is faster.

 

[Frizz]

However the first bend you get to will see you in a hedgerow/ditch, and the bike is faster.

Nope, if you'd actually seen any videos of it, you'd know that it's quicker than just about any road car on Laguna Seca, plus it out accelerates the hayabusa (also as seen in video evidence).

 

[GekuL]

I bet the Hayabusa feels faster though, probably a lot more fun too. That's just before you kill yourself ofcourse.

 

[~Yuckfou~]

One of the car programmes last year (5th gear or something) put a Hayabusa up against a Jordan F1. Iirc the Jordan won 2-1, the bike had to bail on one runs because he ran out of road to stop, the car had better brakes.
I doubt the Vette is faster than a Jordan.
Throd might be able to shed more light on this.
The Hayabusa is £8,500.

 

[Bodhi]

Bikes are for cocks tho, so I don't know why we're discussing them in a car thread.
Anyway, diesel is OK if you want to get from A-B and don't mind sounding like a tractor. I personally never plan on buying one until I am forced. I borrowed a Bora Sport 130 TDi when my car was having some work done - i was expecting to be blown away by it. However, it was only really quick for about 500rpm - the rest of the time my Golf GTi (with less power and torque) would annihalate it. And the Bora sounded like a taxi. My Golf doesn't.

1-0 to the petrol Golf then.

Oh and Tom, compare like with like. Remember your diesel has a hulking great big turbo on it - try out accelerating a 1.8 litre turbo petrol car. I think you might lose. Badly.

 

[Bodhi]

However the first bend you get to will see you in a hedgerow/ditch, and the bike is faster.

And that's less of an issue on the bike with it's paltry two contact points with road how exactly?

 

[old.user4556]

I'd like a shot of a bike, incredibly fast machines but with one small drawback

In reply to Bodhi's "like for like", that's fair enough; but no diesel out there "like for like" or minus the turbo is going to be as fast as a petrol since all modern diesels need turbos n such to be as good as petrols.

Still, they're good cars.

 

[~Yuckfou~]

And that's less of an issue on the bike with it's paltry two contact points with road how exactly?

Two contact points and a fraction of the weight.

You'll notice the comma in my statement. I was making two points.
1: The car will handle like shit, due to it's US origins. I'm sure you will agree to that, as I believe you know your cars.
2: The bike will be faster.

Incidentally I didn't bring bikes into this, but I did argue their case once introduced. I don't ride a bike anymore, but I still don't think bike riders are cocks. Thats like saying all Golf drivers are cocks because some are.

 

[Nerual]

Getting back to the point.. One thing to remember about diesel engines is that you will pay more to insure a diesel than you would a petrol. What you have to figure out is whether the amount you save on fuel is greater than the extra you would pay for your insurance if you went for the diesel.

 

[~Yuckfou~]

..... you will pay more to insure a diesel than you would a petrol.... .

I didn't know that. Whats the reasoning there?

 

[xane]

Insurance is the same in this particular case, regardless of Petrol 2.0 or Diesel 2.2 versions, they are both Group 12 (ouch!)

 

[TriGGer]

I work for a large uk car manufacturer, and the new range of common-rail diesels are proving to be the most popular models, and with 1.9 cdti's producing 150hp, its easy to see why. They're extremely quiet and smooth to drive. The likes of OPC etc are all experimenting with tuning diesels for better performance and economy, as economy alone just doesnt sell cars anymore. They see the diesel as a great source of untapped income.

Just my 2p's worth.

 

[~Yuckfou~]

Trigger, my coffee mug has your sig on it