Diesel backlash

[Pan Pan]

david_h said:

Pan Pan said:

As pointed out previously, worrying about the difference between which fuel is more polluting, is a bit like worrying about which weapon might be used to kill us. It doesn't matter whether it is a bullet, and arrow, a poison dart, an axe, or even an anvil dropped on us from height the end result is exactly the same.
Try sitting in an enclosed space, with the emissions from a petrol engined truck being fed into it. Does anyone thing that the outcome will be great??
With other countries building coal fired power stations as fast as they can, does anyone really believe the difference between petrol and diesel vehicles is going to make much difference to air pollution levels in the overall scheme of things??

It is the concentration of diesel cars over petrol, where there are more particulates released, that is the problem. Large UK cities are suffering. Would be even better if we had a team network in London rather than diesel buses, feel sorry for the cyclists.

Not just diesel cars, diesel buses, diesel taxis, diesel electric locomotives, all of which take people into and around cities.
But if we will insist on banning diesel vehicles on pollution grounds, we must also ban people having houses, and businesses, and cinemas, and shops, and schools etc in cities as these produce the bulk of the pollution, especially the use of computers, which strangely we seem to be using to access this website????

[BGarside]

I drive maybe 6500 miles a year so have just bought a 2.5 litre petrol car which will maybe manage 30-35mpg on a run, to replace my existing diesel.

I'm still tempted to hang onto the diesel though as it's hard to overlook 55mpg on a long trip whereas the cost of fuelling the petrol will probably see me using the train more for trips much over 100 miles...

Have had 2 mapped diesel cars and been very happy with the performance/economy compromise they offer. The noise isn't great, but I'm not the sort of driver to rag the arse off my car all the time - I've grown up a bit since my 20s...

[voyds9]

ORD said:

So that means we should just put up with the pollution? Diesel is grossly under-taxed and a sea change is required if we want a rational system.

I think you'll find it's petrol that is overtaxed.


I drive approx 20,000 per annum. Last year blew the turbo in a diesel and had to get something quick, ended up with petrol.

Gone from ragging it to death and getting 56mpg. To driving like a saint and getting 42mpg. That's about a 25% reduction in economy, seems to be costing me about £15 extra per week.

[Flibble]

BGarside said:

I drive maybe 6500 miles a year so have just bought a 2.5 litre petrol car which will maybe manage 30-35mpg on a run, to replace my existing diesel.

I'm still tempted to hang onto the diesel though as it's hard to overlook 55mpg on a long trip whereas the cost of fuelling the petrol will probably see me using the train more for trips much over 100 miles...

The savings in MPG would surely be eaten up and then some by the additional cost of keeping two cars on the road.