petrol vs diesel running costs - dont understand!

[daemon]

Foppo said:

Shaoxter said:

If you're looking at high mileage diesels (getting to 100k) then be very careful of the DPF and turbo, which both cost over £1k each to replace.

Unless you're doing significant motorway miles a petrol is a better option, another plus being that they don't sound like tractors.

Depends which diesel regarding sound.1.6 H.D.I.Engine in the Citroen very quiet,and plenty of pulling power.

.... and is prone to DPF and turbo problems...

[Pablo68]

Devil2575 said:

Pablo68 said:

BMW 335D approx 43mpg @70mph on a motorway. Diesel @£1.36 per litre = 14.24 pence per mile
BMW 335i approx 40mpg @70mph on a motorway. Petrol @£1.26 per litre = 14.19 pence per mile

Are you sure about those numbers?

My mate has an e46 330d and I had a 330i. While the diesel wasn't great on fuel it would still comfortably beat the petrol.

I'm absolutely positive about those numbers...over on F30 post we have been doing a load of comparative runs. The N55 335i is a remarkably efficient for a 3 liter turbocharged 6 pot petrol engine

[the_lone_wolf]

Wise said:

Unless you are doing 15,000 - 20,000 miles to make it worth while really

Can you define "worth while" in your opinion?

Also, the difference in petrol and Diesel prices are currently around 20% less than your calculations assume...

[anarki]

I'll put a very large blanket on this case

Sub 12k miles a year driving get a petrol*

Above 12k miles a year driving get a Diesel

• If said 12k miles a year = 3 days a week on the motorway doing a 80 mile round trip but very little town driving then get a Diesel

Either way I've had 8 years of doing +35k miles a year driving in boring Diesels but now have found a job which is close to home allowing me to enjoy a petrol car for once!

[Devil2575]

Pablo68 said:

I'm absolutely positive about those numbers...over on F30 post we have been doing a load of comparative runs. The N55 335i is a remarkably efficient for a 3 liter turbocharged 6 pot petrol engine

Comparative runs? So the same driver using both cars or are you talking about different cars and different drivers.

How a car is driven can make a large difference to the economy, even on an identical route. My wife struggles to get over 35 mpg out of her Mazda 6 diesel. I can manage 45 mpg without too much trouble.

[AC43]

Wise said:

These are a bit out of date but will give you an idea of the savings you would make...

Petrol @ £1.34 per L



Diesel @ £1.42 per L



Unless you are doing 15,000 - 20,000 miles to make it worth while really

So I am spending a grand total of £469 a year for the pleasure of running a petrol over the equivalent diesel. Or just over £9.00 a week.

Bargain. I spend more on newspapers.

I'd pay triple that :-)

[Wise]

the_lone_wolf said:

Can you define "worth while" in your opinion?

Also, the difference in petrol and Diesel prices are currently around 20% less than your calculations assume...

Well I went from a Clio 182 which returned about 36/7 mpg average (lots of motorway driving) and now in a bora tdi which is getting about 54/5 mpg average with the same driving but is only going to save me around £500-600'a year in fuel doing 15,000 miles a year.

It made it worth my while because I sold the Clio for more then the bora costs me... But if you are looking at a car like for like for example an e46 330d vs 330i msports of the same mileage, spec, condition etc the 330d is generally at least £1000 more then the petrol but usually a lot more. So not really worth going for the 330d if your buying the car purely down to the running costs...

Also it's only worth considering a diesel if your doing a lot of distance driving even my bora tdi 130 only manages 38-40mpg round town where's the Clio managed about 33mpg so the difference is a lot less....

That all being said am now on the look out for a 330ci since the m3 looks slightly out of reach just now

[the_lone_wolf]

Wise said:

Well I went from a Clio 182 which returned about 36/7 mpg average (lots of motorway driving) and now in a bora tdi which is getting about 54/5 mpg average with the same driving but is only going to save me around £500-600'a year in fuel doing 15,000 miles a year.

You only keep your vehicles for a year?

Over say three you're saving just over £2000 on fuel with the Diesel assuming 15k miles at 36mpg@130p/l and 54mpg@136p/l - even if you ignore the fact that the Diesel will retain it's proportionally higher value come sale time that more than covers the difference in purchase cost

Incidentally, we just filled up the 316 for the first time, managed dead on 30mpg, disappointed isn't the word, especially given half the tank was driving to London and back at a very sedate pace...

[Fastdruid]

AC43 said:

So I am spending a grand total of £469 a year for the pleasure of running a petrol over the equivalent diesel. Or just over £9.00 a week.

Bargain. I spend more on newspapers.

I'd pay triple that :-)

This is also my view.

£500 a year to not have a diesel? Where do I sign up. ;-)

[SonicHedgeHog]

I think one of they key things to remember about diesels is that they are hugely sensitive to driving style. If you rev the nuts off it the economy can be very mediocre, but if you drive for maximum economy the savings can be huge.

What is also clear is the claimed fuel economy figures for the current batch of petrol turbos are a total work of fiction.

[mikal83]

SonicHedgeHog said:

I think one of they key things to remember about diesels is that they are hugely sensitive to driving style. If you rev the nuts off it the economy can be very mediocre, but if you drive for maximum economy the savings can be huge.

What is also clear is the claimed fuel economy figures for the current batch of petrol turbos are a total work of fiction.

Hurrah a glint of light in the tunnel of petrol loving neandethals. My 1.4 civic averages 40 mpg, my oil burning C5 50..............!