Why are people buying expensive diesels?

Why are people buying expensive diesels?

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Discussion

daemon

35,724 posts

196 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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nick heppinstall said:
I've just ordered a Mk3 Skoda Superb Estate. Petrol of course :-)

Most of my daily trips are a few miles back and forward to work and with around 7k a year diesel just doesn't make sense for me.

Plus I just like petrol engines better :-D
What engine size, out of curiosity?

willmagrath

1,207 posts

145 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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marmitemania said:
I'm proud to say I have never and never will own a Diesel car. I conducted a 210 mile round journey with around 10 miles of town driving on top in my Focus snotter (see best of bargin basement thread) its a 2.0 petrol saloon with 163,000 miles on it and it completed the whole journey on exactly 1/2 a tank which is around £32 to £35 tops of fuel. That was four up with a boot of bags and 70+. The sooner diesels are dropped the better.
Thats not very good though. Thats around 37mpg at £1.20 a litre (i may be wrong), which for a boring 2.0 saloon at a cruise isn't very good. My 130,000 mile Fabia vRS diesel with 175hp (compared to your 130hp) and 300 ib/ft of torque (compared to your 128 ib/ft) averages, when full of stuff and people, 58mpg at a 75mph cruise and 40mpg minimum when hooning around. Which, to me, just seems like a no brainer if you;re doing long journeys on motorways.

Obviously, a petrol is a lot more fun, revvier and sounds better though.

Ollie123

Original Poster:

121 posts

153 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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Well I'm glad its not just me so thanks for the reassurance.

Would hate to think I'm being a stubborn ahole! Diesel is for the weak.

marmitemania

1,566 posts

141 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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I keep coming back to this same statement. 'Why do we not have diesel Bentley's and Rolls Royce's' ? I tell you why because no one would buy them. And don't say they are in a different league, we have diesel porsche's and Jaguar's that a not so much cheaper. DIE Diesel DIE !!!!!

nick heppinstall

8,054 posts

279 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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daemon said:
What engine size, out of curiosity?
280 :-)

David87

6,648 posts

211 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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I can see arguments for both sides. Clearly petrol is better in driving terms, but the range of a big diesel is something I see as a big plus point. Filling up on a super long journey is not something I am fond of. A car that can do 800+ motorway miles is a very good thing.

Muzzer79

9,806 posts

186 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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Really don't understand the anti-diesel-ness on here in general

Some people like diesels. They have lots of torque, good range good performance and pretty equivalent performance

Some people like petrols. They sound good, Rev higher and are arguably smoother

Horses for courses. It's weird that some people think their choice is the only one that everyone should follow.

MrAverage

821 posts

126 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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I drive a turbo petrol; 2 litre 150bhp-177ft/lbs my oh drives a turbo diesel 108bhp-192ft/lbs and i cant help but feel that hers is 'faster' when i drive it. It gives more sensation of speed (maybe the gruff noise its makes?). I dont really care one way or the other about petrol vs diesel and both have there uses but for everyday use i prefer the diesel. It does 51mpg (overall since we've owned), £30 a year tax and we got a £3500 discount when buying it so it has been an awful lot cheaper to run than its petrol alternative.

if i wanted a fun/sporty car id go petrol all the time but as a car i spend most of time in id go diesel everyday of the week i like the effortless power delivery and fuel consumption. i like the gruff sounding noise of diesels.

horses for courses n all that, just get what you want!

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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Perhaps some people aren't you and prefer diesels for 101 different reasons.

Chiefbadger

417 posts

197 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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I've spent the last 18months in an A6 ultra as I simply couldn't get what I wanted with a petrol engine. First diesel I've ever owned and probably the last. I can see why they're popular but for anyone who's into driving I just find it so lacking. It is fairly refined at motorway speeds, will happily do 45mpg fully loaded at 80+ as a recent trip to the continent proved, and is acceptably quick in terms of motorway traffic. Unfortunately it still sounds like a tractor and every time my wife pulls up outside the house I wish I'd got rid of it sooner. Fortunately I have an S4 replacing it next week!

Jonno02

2,246 posts

108 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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I drive over 2,500 miles a month to and from work. I have a 2 litre diesel leon. It has good power and it's very quiet and comfortable. In many car models, diesels do hold their value far better. On a journey to Liverpool last month, we got 850 miles to the tank and didn't need to refill once.

However, with moving into a house 2 miles from work in the next few months, I'll be looking to change back to petrol.

I couldn't care less what somebody else chooses to drive. The missus prefers diesels to petrols and so she goes for them, purely for personal preference. Not everybody is looking for POWER POWER POWER. Some are.

Edited by Jonno02 on Monday 31st August 20:55

Ollie123

Original Poster:

121 posts

153 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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Muzzer79 said:
Really don't understand the anti-diesel-ness on here in general
Its not really anti diesel is it, most of us accept they have their place just not in £50k+ cars.

If you bought a house for £5 million pounds you wouldn't want it decorated in furniture from Ikea would you.

Also is the range argument even valid? Something like a Panamera has a 100litre tank, and in some cars such as the Audi A8 the 4.2 TDi only returns mid 20's in real life so hardly good considering the draw backs.

AlmostUseful

3,276 posts

199 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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Sump said:
I've found that anyone who says they prefer the power delivery of diesels is just deluding themselves as they can't afford a decent petrol engine.
Couldn't agree more, although I don't make any claims about power delivery, the only reason I have a 330D touring is because I can't afford a 335i!

51mes

1,498 posts

199 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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nick heppinstall said:
280 :-)
Whaat sort of lead time were they quoting - tempted myself for one of those, or a ex dem v60 polestar?.


Jim the Sunderer

3,238 posts

181 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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Some people just want to rattle their hemorrhoids away in a clattery motor while poisoning the lungs of children.


MPG and road duty may have something to do with it too.

Vizsla

922 posts

123 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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David87 said:
I can see arguments for both sides. Clearly petrol is better in driving terms, but the range of a big diesel is something I see as a big plus point. Filling up on a super long journey is not something I am fond of. A car that can do 800+ motorway miles is a very good thing.
Shirley in 800+ miles you must stop now and then for stretch legs/drink/food/pee?

How long does it take to fill up - 5mins tops? Sorry, but don't see the problem.

nick heppinstall

8,054 posts

279 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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51mes said:
Whaat sort of lead time were they quoting - tempted myself for one of those, or a ex dem v60 polestar?.
Not bad at the mo... I ordered on the 23rd August and have a ( hopefully ) build date of week 39.

chrispj

264 posts

142 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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sealtt said:
I run a new SDV8 Range Rover Vogue... ...sounds fine - only ever hear the engine at full power, gives a nice little purr
That is because you have about half a ton of soundproofing between you and the engine, no? Have you stood outside the car and listened to the tractor sound as everyone else hears it? wink

oop north

1,592 posts

127 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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Interesting this as both my business partners have / had diesel Panameras. One does low ish mileage and has changed to a RR Sport diesel. His s class Mercs were diesel too. He doesn't do high mileage and I have no idea why he has diesels - all to do with (perceived) running costs, I think, but he is really mostly bothered about appearance and most people have no idea whether his cars are diesel or petrol - though they would probably thing diesel is best innit?. The other one does 25k miles a year so he has more of a reason... previously had Merc CLS diesel (did 170k + miles over faux years in it). Again he is more bothered about image so as long as the wheels are large and it looks bling he is not really fussed about the fuel type

carl_w

9,154 posts

257 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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jamieduff1981 said:
I'm with the OP here.

I find it absurd that it's acceptable to lose a lot of money on a new car but it's not acceptable to spend a small amount more on fuel.
Yes but if you buy a large engined petrol you will lose a load of money come resale (no-one wants them) *and* spend a load of money on fuel.