Is there such a thing as a desirable diesel?

[white_goodman]

Are there any diesel cars that you actually desire to own or is a desirable diesel an oxymoron?

I understand why diesels are so popular i.e. if you're a high mileage user, they tend to offer better fuel economy and tax breaks (I'm sure that many companies may still insist on diesel company cars).

10 years ago, diesel made a lot of sense. Your average NA petrol was pretty gutless, high RFL and poor fuel economy. When I bought my 2008 Polo, the 1.4 TDI over the 1.2 or 1.4 petrol was a no-brainer for me, even though that 3-pot diesel was a pretty agricultural device, it was a lot punchier, fantastic fuel economy and very low RFL. However, recent experience with a couple of hire cars (Golf 1.2 TSI and Focus 1.5 diesel) has shown that small, turbocharged engines can be both punchy and economical (45 mpg average) and much more refined than the average 4-pot diesel. Actually and I say it as a big VW fan, the Focus was probably the nicer car but in spite of its engine rather than because of it. Yes, it was more economical but only 5mpg more so and pretty unrefined. The Ecoboost Focus would have been a much nicer car in my opinion. So yes, if you have to have diesel, you can get some pretty nice cars with 4-pot diesels but they are good cars in spite of rather than because of their engines in my experience.

For me however, the big V6 and V8 diesels do have some appeal. Big range, big torque and more refined. In a less nimble, more luxury-orientated car, they make a lot of sense and in many cases, the petrol alternative for comparable performance may well be in single figures fuel economy-wise.

I would happily drive an Audi A6 Bi-TDI/BMW 535d/640d, Merc E350/CLS350 Bluetec, Jag XF 3.0d etc or the large diesel-powered SUV equivalents (X5, F-Pace, Touareg, XC90, Land Rover etc).

So, is there such a thing as a desirable diesel or is the alternative fuel always the PH choice?

[white_goodman]

Interesting reading and some good points. By the sounds of it, some of you drive diesels that I think that I would like (640d, A8 etc). I quite like the Golf 7 and would be quite happy to drive a Golf GTD. Having a diesel engine doesn't turn it into a bad car but would I have one over a GTI? Probably not. As some others have said though, I have never really understood the point of the V8 petrol supercharged Range Rover. For me, a Range Rover would be a comfortable, long distance car or a tow car and the V6/V8 diesel fulfills this brief better. The supercharged V8 doesn't make the Range Rover a sports car and the fuel range must be terrible! That engine in an F-Type or even an XF though? Yes please!

I've always been fairly intrigued by the 5-pot Alfa and Volvo diesels too.

The one 4-pot diesel that I might consider through choice though is one of these. They're probably a bit pointless but I like the quirky looks of the 3 door/coupe (reminds me a bit of the original RR) and the diesel (probably auto) version would probably be quite a nice, economical commuter that could deal with the uncleared, snowy roads around here pretty well in winter. Again, for this particular vehicle, I don't really see the benefit of the petrol version over the diesel. All a bit academic though, as they're a little out of my price range at the moment.

[white_goodman]

culpz said:

Funny you should say that about the Range Rover as that is definitely a car which is suited to a diesel engine. The petrol version is just daft and is really quite pointless as i know Mr Clarkson also said when reviewing those daft, big-engine'd, petrol SUV's.

Also, as much as i do like petrol, the 1.4 TFSI unit in my B9 A4 makes no sense whatsoever. The turbo lag is horrendous, the noise isn't particularly great, it's not fast or particularly fun to rev out, the list goes on. A diesel lump is more more suitable for it IMO.

To be fair, I'm sure that the Cayenne Turbo S and X5M handle really well and would be quite good fun but the RR is definitely more luxury than sports car.

[white_goodman]

RobM77 said:

For me, my non engine related car requirements pretty much make a BMW 3 series my best choice, but the petrol models, bar the M3, are hateful laggy things. There are much nicer petrol engines on the market, but the cars don't suit me as well for various reasons.

For me, I don't like diesel, but it's just another ingredient to throw into the mix and there are other things that I find far more important in a car (which end is driven, what gearbox a car has, how it handles etc), which tend to take priority. Modern diesels, especially BMW ones, are of course a lot better than diesels of old.

Edited by RobM77 on Friday 14th October 12:23

You make a good point. A new 4-pot diesel 3-Series or Jaguar XE is likely a nicer (more desirable?) car than many similarly-sized petrol powered cars. Can you also get a diesel manual C-Class now? Whereas I don't have an issue with your preference for RWD, I'm not sure if it's the be-all-and-end-all on all types of car. Would most hot hatches e.g. Fiesta ST, MINI Cooper S be "better" for being RWD? They certainly wouldn't have the same feel and the new (RWD) Twingo certainly hasn't been highly praised for its handling. Also in smaller cars, practicality can be an issue i.e. compare the Golf and 1-Series in terms or rear and boot space. The 1-Series does OK because it's a BMW and the badge appeals to many but the Golf sells better probably because it's more practical. If I was in the market, with the possible exception of the M135i, I would choose the equivalent Golf over the 1-Series for this reason. However, I accept that on 3-Series sized cars and bigger, RWD (or AWD) is more desirable.

[white_goodman]

I think that these two diesels (Merc G350 Blutec and Jaguar F-Pace 3.0d S) are both pretty darn desirable!

[white_goodman]

Dave Hedgehog said:

nope

but they are if you fit the V8 petrol engines (or the V12 in the G Wagon)

I agree that the V8 petrols are nicer engines but in a Mercedes saloon or an F-Type. A complete waste of time in these two vehicles. The diesels seem like a better match for the cars. That doesn't make them undesirable though.