petrol vs diesel running costs - dont understand!
Discussion
Ive read and been told that anything over 10k miles a year then a diesel will work out cheapest. But does it?
Im looking for a used car and what i normally do with anything is look at the make/model i want and then go from there. So lets just say for this example:
1.6 petrol ford focus
vs
1.6 diesel ford focus
if i do 5k miles a year then it'd still be better value wouldnt it?
cheaper tax on the diesel is a definate.
diesel is more expensive per littre and you get more mpg - so you wont be going to the petrol station and buying as much.
Am i missing something? are parts more expensive? diesels have more problems?
Sorry if this is a stupid question or if its been debated to death before but i just cant seem to understand it.
Im looking for a used car and what i normally do with anything is look at the make/model i want and then go from there. So lets just say for this example:
1.6 petrol ford focus
vs
1.6 diesel ford focus
if i do 5k miles a year then it'd still be better value wouldnt it?
cheaper tax on the diesel is a definate.
diesel is more expensive per littre and you get more mpg - so you wont be going to the petrol station and buying as much.
Am i missing something? are parts more expensive? diesels have more problems?
Sorry if this is a stupid question or if its been debated to death before but i just cant seem to understand it.
Normally offset in the cost to buy.
Diesels have better residuals so the argument goes that with the money you saved over buying the diesel in the first place you may be better off.
It depends on the content of those miles too. For instance, diesels take longer to warm up than the petrol equivalent so for just pottering around town, the petrol is more suited.
I got my mum out of a 2.2d X-Type and into a 1.0l Focus on the last point. Fuel is cheaper and it gets 5-10mpg more on her normal driving routes.
Diesels have better residuals so the argument goes that with the money you saved over buying the diesel in the first place you may be better off.
It depends on the content of those miles too. For instance, diesels take longer to warm up than the petrol equivalent so for just pottering around town, the petrol is more suited.
I got my mum out of a 2.2d X-Type and into a 1.0l Focus on the last point. Fuel is cheaper and it gets 5-10mpg more on her normal driving routes.
Diesel cars tend to cost more to buy in the first place.
And, 8p difference per litre x 4.54 = 36p per gallon worse off for diesel.
As the miles done increases the difference in fuel cost to savings from higher mpg negates the difference in fuel prices until you get a +ve (saving) over X miles.
And, 8p difference per litre x 4.54 = 36p per gallon worse off for diesel.
As the miles done increases the difference in fuel cost to savings from higher mpg negates the difference in fuel prices until you get a +ve (saving) over X miles.
I think the main point is that modern diesels have components which have a strong tendency to fail if not properly warmed up. If you use a modern diesel solely for short trips, the chances are you'll be on first name terms with whoever who buy particulate filters from.
If you do 5k miles a year by driving one 70 mile trip every week, a diesel makes sense. If you do a five mile each way commute every day, it doesn't.
If you do 5k miles a year by driving one 70 mile trip every week, a diesel makes sense. If you do a five mile each way commute every day, it doesn't.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 7th January 14:17
I'd be interested to see how this situation changes in say, 10 years time when there are hardly any petrol cars for sale in certain categories - try finding a nearly new petrol Passat for example and you'll find many orders of magnitude more have a diesel engine.
Plenty of ~2003 petrol cars around, how many 2013s will there be in 2023?
Plenty of ~2003 petrol cars around, how many 2013s will there be in 2023?
Toaster Pilot said:
I'd be interested to see how this situation changes in say, 10 years time when there are hardly any petrol cars for sale in certain categories - try finding a nearly new petrol Passat for example and you'll find many orders of magnitude more have a diesel engine.
Plenty of ~2003 petrol cars around, how many 2013s will there be in 2023?
My theory: the price of diesel will sky rocket making them all redundant. Everyone will buy new petrol/electric cars. Then a scrappage scheme will sort most of the remaining "old" diesels. The diesel Passat will become a cult icon and Next will sell t-shirts with them on.Plenty of ~2003 petrol cars around, how many 2013s will there be in 2023?
bicycleshorts said:
My theory: the price of diesel will sky rocket making them all redundant. Everyone will buy new petrol/electric cars. Then a scrappage scheme will sort most of the remaining "old" diesels. The diesel Passat will become a cult icon and Next will sell t-shirts with them on.
Ooo, better keep my 1999 Skoda Felicia diesel then, future classic 
Servicing cost are usually higher on Diesels - another factor
you can also pay more for insurance as well.
A study by Which (a few years ago now admittedly) proved you NEVER got your money back particularly from higher end diesels like Audi and BMW.
you can also pay more for insurance as well.
A study by Which (a few years ago now admittedly) proved you NEVER got your money back particularly from higher end diesels like Audi and BMW.
Edited by sparkyhx on Tuesday 7th January 14:47
swisstoni said:
When did DPFs come in approx.?
From Wiki;Particulate filters have been in use on non-road machines since 1980, and in automobiles since 1985.[citation needed] Diesel engines during combustion of the fuel/air mix produce a variety of particles generically classified as diesel particulate matter due to incomplete combustion.
kambites said:
I think the main point is that modern diesels have components which have a strong tendency to fail if not properly warmed up. If you use a modern diesel solely for short trips, the chances are you'll be on first name terms with whoever who buy particulate filters from.
If you do 5k miles a year by driving one 70 mile trip every week, a diesel makes sense. If you do a five mile each way commute every day, it doesn't.
Thats kind of what i was looking for in the least technical kind of response.If you do 5k miles a year by driving one 70 mile trip every week, a diesel makes sense. If you do a five mile each way commute every day, it doesn't.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 7th January 14:17
I agree with all the posts. I sort of knew that petrol would be cheaper but on paper, couldnt work out how.
plus, ive ever only owned petrol cars. imo, much more fun to drive
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