Why are people buying expensive diesels?

[gizlaroc]

ZX10R NIN said:

on the S4's drink problem I agree, the D3 sits in the 55+mpg range on long runs, the 340i should be an interesting comparison a friend has one on order so I'll wait with interest, my brother had a 335i before his M3 & averaged 29mpg over a year but a good car overall

Yeah, I averaged that too on the 335i, but I did used to hammer it at times. I also had a 120d auto at the same time which is what I used to rack the miles up in.
That is also part of the problem, generally I think most agree that if you do a lot of motorway work you buy a diesel, a lot of the time we buy petrol as our fun car, knowing we will only do 10k miles a year or so, this can skew the average figures too.

I used to see mid 20s in my E320 estate, 2001 car, I bought it as we had just had my son, plus we had rescued a rather large Weimaraner as well, and the 335i touring was just too small for the buggy, the dog, the car seat and taxing around my then teenage daughter and her mates.
However, I then started using it for work, doing my 90 mile round trip between my shops moving stock, and suddenly a car that would often see mid 20s started to get 36/37mpg easily. On a couple of trips it broke the 40mpg mark. The 320cdi that replaced it never saw more than 48mpg, so again around 20% difference, and on shorter trips the 320cdi could go as low as 25mpg itself, especially in winter.

So I do think often we don't compare apples with apples.

[AreOut]

gizlaroc said:

Yeah, I averaged that too on the 335i, but I did used to hammer it at times. I also had a 120d auto at the same time which is what I used to rack the miles up in.
That is also part of the problem, generally I think most agree that if you do a lot of motorway work you buy a diesel, a lot of the time we buy petrol as our fun car, knowing we will only do 10k miles a year or so, this can skew the average figures too.

I often find myself having a go in my petrol car when I want just to have fun, couldn't imagine doing that in a diesel.

[Elysium]

I think it depends on the type of car.

I cant see the point of a 2 seat diesel sports car.

In the same way a large petrol 4x4 makes no sense to me as a powerful diesel will suit that car so much better.

I would also favour diesel in a large cruiser (5 series or A6 upwards).

[Ares]

AC43 said:

Well it's that and the "diesels don't smoke or smell" part which is patently untrue as anyone with a nose, some taste buds and a set lungs in London can tell you.

I've also got eyes and when I look at the back bumper of my neighbour's silver CLS 320 CDI I can see plenty of soot there.

Maybe on part load on a motorway they are fine but in a city they definitely pump out plenty of soot.

Thats a CLS 320 that will be at least 5 years old.... "5/6 yr old car in not running clean shocker."

...and that's London where Good Vehicles/Buses/Taxis outnumber 'normal' cars by some margin.

But you use the arguments you see fit.


Turning both my oil burner and my wife's mini on and leaving them running on a cold morning...the Mini's petrol plus sulphur smell is far more noticeable than the diesel smell.

Saying all diesels belch out smoke is as accurate as saying all petrol cars belch out unburnt petrol smells. Only in old versions.

[Ares]

neil1jnr said:

MPG

That is the only reason I assume people buy diesels. You can't afford to run a petrol (or think you can't) so you buy diesel. Just like I did for commuting, an old clattering shed.

.

After 1,001 pages.... That is still wrong. HTH.

[Ares]

daemon said:

Devil2575 said:

You tried one model from one manufacturer and on that basis you are going to write off every make and model that has ever and will ever be made.

And therein lies the problem with the diesel haters - base their entire world view of diesels on the very subjective view and experiences.

Its seems to go along the lines of "i cant understand why people would buy a diesel because i had one once and it was awful therefore diesel drivers must be stupid or not enjoy driving"

Yes. And pretty much without exception it was a sub-2l, 4-pot, stty diesel in a st car.

It's a bit like saying I once drove a Petrol Perodua Nippa. God awful, never by another petrol care in my life. These guys that spend £70k on a petrol powered Porsche are stupid stupid stupid.

[ORD]

Bad example as the diesel Porsches (a) are an insult to the marque and (b) are not terribly good.

BMW is a much better example - the best diesel engines and some very so-so petrol engines.

[Ares]

ORD said:

Bad example as the diesel Porsches (a) are an insult to the marque and (b) are not terribly good.

BMW is a much better example - the best diesel engines and some very so-so petrol engines.

The (group sourced) 4.2 V8 is good. Can't understand why they haven't already put it in the panamanamanamera. Works great in the Cayenne.

And I'm quite sure you'd get flogged for suggesting BMW's diesel engines are comparatively better than their petrol variants.

[The Wookie]

ORD said:

Bad example as the diesel Porsches (a) are an insult to the marque and (b) are not terribly good.

BMW is a much better example - the best diesel engines and some very so-so petrol engines.

I'll have you know my car has it's roots in the very origins of the marque...



As for the diesel not being terribly good, you're entitled to your opinion but frankly it's bks.

[ORD]

I'm entitled to my opinion and plainly right. The Porsche diesels are just Audi engines. And they are often worse than the Audi counterpart, which is an embarrassment.

[The Wookie]

ORD said:

I'm entitled to my opinion and plainly right. The Porsche diesels are just Audi engines. And they are often worse than the Audi counterpart, which is an embarrassment.

Oh yes, your opinion always appears to be right. There's no debating that after perusing this thread

[ORD]

The Wookie said:

ORD said:

I'm entitled to my opinion and plainly right. The Porsche diesels are just Audi engines. And they are often worse than the Audi counterpart, which is an embarrassment.

Oh yes, your opinion always appears to be right. There's no debating that after perusing this thread

Of course I think my opinion's are right; otherwise, they wouldnt be my opinions.

[TurboHatchback]

Ares said:

Thats a CLS 320 that will be at least 5 years old.... "5/6 yr old car in not running clean shocker."

6 years old? The humanity! That's still basically new, why should it be running any differently? I see soot coming from even brand new diesels under heavy load.

[The Wookie]

ORD said:

Of course I think my opinion's are right; otherwise, they wouldnt be my opinions.

Oh right, I thought you believed they were fact. My mistake.

[ORD]

scherzkeks said:

Don't forget petrol also purifies the air, and real driving purists always go for the soft top version of any sports car.

You're making stuff up now!

[Ares]

TurboHatchback said:

Ares said:

Thats a CLS 320 that will be at least 5 years old.... "5/6 yr old car in not running clean shocker."

6 years old? The humanity! That's still basically new, why should it be running any differently? I see soot coming from even brand new diesels under heavy load.

Humanity?

...because the CLS320 Cdi stopped production in 2010 and its engine is at least 5yrs older still? It's been the 350 since 2010.

Old engines of any fuel will deteriorate. Plenty of 4 yr old taxis are fully knackered by 4yrs old. Age is NEVER kind to an ICE.



And I simply don't believe you. If you see brand new cars giving out soot then report them (and if it is so common, video it). Its a bigger story than the VW fixing. IF true.

[ORD]

Ares said:

TurboHatchback said:

Ares said:

Thats a CLS 320 that will be at least 5 years old.... "5/6 yr old car in not running clean shocker."

6 years old? The humanity! That's still basically new, why should it be running any differently? I see soot coming from even brand new diesels under heavy load.

Humanity?

...because the CLS320 Cdi stopped production in 2010 and its engine is at least 5yrs older still? It's been the 350 since 2010.

Old engines of any fuel will deteriorate. Plenty of 4 yr old taxis are fully knackered by 4yrs old. Age is NEVER kind to an ICE.



And I simply don't believe you. If you see brand new cars giving out soot then report them (and if it is so common, video it). Its a bigger story than the VW fixing. IF true.

You seriously think he is lying?! I see it plenty too, especially higher-powered Mercs and BMWs. I guess they are carrying out a DPF re-gen, but I dont know.

[TurboHatchback]

Ares said:

TurboHatchback said:

Ares said:

Thats a CLS 320 that will be at least 5 years old.... "5/6 yr old car in not running clean shocker."

6 years old? The humanity! That's still basically new, why should it be running any differently? I see soot coming from even brand new diesels under heavy load.

Humanity?

...because the CLS320 Cdi stopped production in 2010 and its engine is at least 5yrs older still? It's been the 350 since 2010.

Old engines of any fuel will deteriorate. Plenty of 4 yr old taxis are fully knackered by 4yrs old. Age is NEVER kind to an ICE.



And I simply don't believe you. If you see brand new cars giving out soot then report them (and if it is so common, video it). Its a bigger story than the VW fixing. IF true.

Age has very little effect on engines bar rubber bits deteriorating, usage (accelerated by poor maintenance) wears engines. 5/6 years is not remotely old, I would expect a 5/6 year old engine in a privately owned car to be just about run in and operating absolutely perfectly unless it commutes 200 miles a day or is never maintained. Frankly I'd expect a 15yr old engine with 150k+ miles to be running perfectly and as well or better than the day it came out the factory if it was maintained properly, it's a bizarre idea that somehow engines will become knackered after a few years use.

[anonymous-user]

ORD said:

scherzkeks said:

Don't forget petrol also purifies the air, and real driving purists always go for the soft top version of any sports car.

You're making stuff up now!

Look at his car history, then decide how seriously you want to take him

[Ares]

ORD said:

Ares said:

TurboHatchback said:

Ares said:

Thats a CLS 320 that will be at least 5 years old.... "5/6 yr old car in not running clean shocker."

6 years old? The humanity! That's still basically new, why should it be running any differently? I see soot coming from even brand new diesels under heavy load.

Humanity?

...because the CLS320 Cdi stopped production in 2010 and its engine is at least 5yrs older still? It's been the 350 since 2010.

Old engines of any fuel will deteriorate. Plenty of 4 yr old taxis are fully knackered by 4yrs old. Age is NEVER kind to an ICE.



And I simply don't believe you. If you see brand new cars giving out soot then report them (and if it is so common, video it). Its a bigger story than the VW fixing. IF true.

You seriously think he is lying?! I see it plenty too, especially higher-powered Mercs and BMWs. I guess they are carrying out a DPF re-gen, but I dont know.

Yes. I've not seen a 'new', ie. sub 24month old car, "belching out soot", especially not a Merc or BMW. The odd taxi, and some ropey old stboxes, yes. But I also see knackered old petrol cars belching out white smoke too.