Would you still go Diesel...
Discussion
gizlaroc said:
I had the E350d estate for a year and 25k miles and then had the E350 petrol.
The E350 petrol was amazing, I kept it nearly 3 years, and put 80,000 miles on it.
The E350d averaged 34mpg over that time, OBC said 39mpg, but calculated was 34mpg.
The E350 averaged 31mpg over that time, OBC said 31 and it was spot on.
The refinement on the E350 made it feel properly special, plus it was really smooth and quiet up to 3000rpm, but then from 3000-7000rpm it came alive and sounded great.
306hp meant it felt quick too, the E350d did as well, but not in the same league as the petrol.
The 530d F11 though I would still take over the E350, a better package all round, more comfy, more dynamic, better infotainment, much nicer seating position, just a better car.
Plus doing 30000 miles a year you will get a proper 40mpg plus average.
Nice one thanks.The E350 petrol was amazing, I kept it nearly 3 years, and put 80,000 miles on it.
The E350d averaged 34mpg over that time, OBC said 39mpg, but calculated was 34mpg.
The E350 averaged 31mpg over that time, OBC said 31 and it was spot on.
The refinement on the E350 made it feel properly special, plus it was really smooth and quiet up to 3000rpm, but then from 3000-7000rpm it came alive and sounded great.
306hp meant it felt quick too, the E350d did as well, but not in the same league as the petrol.
The 530d F11 though I would still take over the E350, a better package all round, more comfy, more dynamic, better infotainment, much nicer seating position, just a better car.
Plus doing 30000 miles a year you will get a proper 40mpg plus average.
aeropilot said:
I'd be more concerned about picking the right engine option for your journey profile, rather than worrying about any perceived demonsiation of diesel.
Your journey profile doesn't suit a diesel, so as long as you can afford the extra cost of the fuel for the 40i, its probably your better option.
However, if you want the 7-seat option, then that is going to be your priority in finding a suitable X5. It maybe that many 40i buyers were not 7-seat option buyers, and there maybe more 30d 7-seat specced X5's around?
Spot on mate, there are LOTS of 30d's but not many 40i's with 7 seats and the spec etc i want. Found a couple, but not many. Your journey profile doesn't suit a diesel, so as long as you can afford the extra cost of the fuel for the 40i, its probably your better option.
However, if you want the 7-seat option, then that is going to be your priority in finding a suitable X5. It maybe that many 40i buyers were not 7-seat option buyers, and there maybe more 30d 7-seat specced X5's around?
But price wise, nothing shifting at moment.
I recently purchased my first diesel car. Until recently I was in the "I'm never buying a diesel" camp. I was looking for a large family estate with enough power to transport 4 people and their luggage on long journeys in comfort, yet economical enough and within a reasonable budget (under 5k). There was literally nothing on the market that would fulfill that brief and run on petrol. The gasoline alternatives were either underpowered, or gas-guzzling (and relatively old). Don't get me wrong, I'd love a V8 petrol, but for sensible, affordable family motoring there simply aren't any good petrol alternatives on the second hand market.
I bought another diesel car a few months ago. I replaced my old E320 CDI with an S320 CDI as despite only doing 11-12k per year, it's all motorway driving and done in long stints. I barely do any town driving.
Also with big saloon cars, unless you're prepared to run a V8 as a daily car, these older Mercs tend to be better in a diesel. The 3.0 V6 diesel in my S Class does a genuine 40mpg and is the comfiest thing I have ever sat in. A re-map will see it pushing 280bhp/470lbs-ft and I'll be very happy with that for what I need it for.
Also with big saloon cars, unless you're prepared to run a V8 as a daily car, these older Mercs tend to be better in a diesel. The 3.0 V6 diesel in my S Class does a genuine 40mpg and is the comfiest thing I have ever sat in. A re-map will see it pushing 280bhp/470lbs-ft and I'll be very happy with that for what I need it for.
2018 got my first diesel As a family car (new 520d touring) it is superb- quiet, refined, comfy, quick enough- 4 people and luggage up did nearly 1000 miles on one tank in cruise to south of France. (600 miles+ normally) I do 22k miles a year in it.
It was heavily discounted so £50k list purchased for £38k- magnificent- inside it is leagues and leagues above a Tesla costing 3 times more.
In time if there is a 5series fully electric I’m sure that will be fine... but that is probably a while away.
I want a nice interior and feel and none of the electric only options have that. Nor are there any estates.
It was heavily discounted so £50k list purchased for £38k- magnificent- inside it is leagues and leagues above a Tesla costing 3 times more.
In time if there is a 5series fully electric I’m sure that will be fine... but that is probably a while away.
I want a nice interior and feel and none of the electric only options have that. Nor are there any estates.
Monkeylegend said:
Mercedes are even worse than BMW in terms of desirable petrol engines, apart from their V8's of course.
I would love an E350/400 petrol but there are well documented issues with these Mercedes engines, and the E400's come with bone jarring 19 inch wheels that crack everytime you drive over a pothole, so that leaves the diesels as the better option, and a whole lot better value for money if you want to own long term.
Nothing really wrong with the E350/400, the earlier cars could have issues, but they are pre September 2011. I would love an E350/400 petrol but there are well documented issues with these Mercedes engines, and the E400's come with bone jarring 19 inch wheels that crack everytime you drive over a pothole, so that leaves the diesels as the better option, and a whole lot better value for money if you want to own long term.
I presumed I would swap my E350 (M276) for an E400, however, they didn't bring it to the UK, we got the ramped up E43 with the AMG tax for servicing, black interior and as you say silly firm suspension and 20" rims.
gizlaroc said:
Monkeylegend said:
Mercedes are even worse than BMW in terms of desirable petrol engines, apart from their V8's of course.
I would love an E350/400 petrol but there are well documented issues with these Mercedes engines, and the E400's come with bone jarring 19 inch wheels that crack everytime you drive over a pothole, so that leaves the diesels as the better option, and a whole lot better value for money if you want to own long term.
Nothing really wrong with the E350/400, the earlier cars could have issues, but they are pre September 2011. I would love an E350/400 petrol but there are well documented issues with these Mercedes engines, and the E400's come with bone jarring 19 inch wheels that crack everytime you drive over a pothole, so that leaves the diesels as the better option, and a whole lot better value for money if you want to own long term.
I presumed I would swap my E350 (M276) for an E400, however, they didn't bring it to the UK, we got the ramped up E43 with the AMG tax for servicing, black interior and as you say silly firm suspension and 20" rims.
In a lot of circumstances they’re just better engines than the alternative petrol engine.
I drive a large verity of cars at work and for example a Ford 1.0 Ecoboost will be weak, lacking torque and thirsty where as the TDCI will be faster, more flexible and use less fuel.
Same with the small VAG petrols v the TDIs.
For performance driving a nice petrol engine is unbeatable but for daily drivers with a sensible budget diesels just work.
I drive a large verity of cars at work and for example a Ford 1.0 Ecoboost will be weak, lacking torque and thirsty where as the TDCI will be faster, more flexible and use less fuel.
Same with the small VAG petrols v the TDIs.
For performance driving a nice petrol engine is unbeatable but for daily drivers with a sensible budget diesels just work.
Brett748 said:
I
Same with the small VAG petrols v the TDIs.
I disagree there. Same with the small VAG petrols v the TDIs.
The 1.4tfsi in the A3 was so much nicer all round than the 2.0tdi on the ones I was given, nicer clutch, lighter up front, and both returned the same MPG on my 45 mile each way commute.
Then you had the fact that the tfsi was £1400 cheaper and after 3 years was worth £200 more, meaning for someone doing 10k miles a year you were saving what you were putting in the tank meaning the tfsi was basically free to fuel.
I hated the diesel in manual guise, really hated it.
Jim on the hill said:
mikal83 said:
Dog Star said:
ruprechtmonkeyboy said:
Society is now 'anti-diesel' and that won't be changing.
No it isn't; it's only among a bunch of string backed glove wearing, adenoidal car bores on an internet forum who are all trying to "fit in" - I suspect they're all top helmsmiths, who all love the control of a manual gearbox and love the "sense of occasion" when they fire up the V8 engined "weekend toy" 
I think the truth is that they're all sat in their bedroom wearing rigid grey Y fronts.
Having said that, I do think we should let DieselHeads in from time to time. As long as they play nicely. And don't talk about towing. :-)
Kierkegaard said:
Diesel = kills people
Petrol = kills planet
I'd rather kill the planet as I won't be here in 50 years time (or less).
I can see why people would want to kill people though.
Tough one.
People should try this simple experiment. Sit in a closed garage for a few hours, with a petrol engine car running in it, Then come back and tell us all how they got on with it.Petrol = kills planet
I'd rather kill the planet as I won't be here in 50 years time (or less).
I can see why people would want to kill people though.
Tough one.
P.s that was a rhetorical request, because they wont be coming back.
AC43 said:
Jim on the hill said:
mikal83 said:
Dog Star said:
ruprechtmonkeyboy said:
Society is now 'anti-diesel' and that won't be changing.
No it isn't; it's only among a bunch of string backed glove wearing, adenoidal car bores on an internet forum who are all trying to "fit in" - I suspect they're all top helmsmiths, who all love the control of a manual gearbox and love the "sense of occasion" when they fire up the V8 engined "weekend toy" I think the truth is that they're all sat in their bedroom wearing rigid grey Y fronts.
Having said that, I do think we should let DieselHeads in from time to time. As long as they play nicely. And don't talk about towing. :-)
What the true dummies don't seem to realize, is that as soon as the diesel haters manage to get rid of diesels, it is petrol engine cars that will then be in the firing line for being banned. if diesel haters think that diesel can/will be banned , but petrol cars will not, they are thicker than thick.
Since I drive both petrol, and diesel, this is a situation I am not keen on.
Still, they say the best way for someone to defeat a group, is to divide it, and conquer (in this case the group being people who like ICE vehicles), and that is what the diesel haters, are helping the anti car lobby to achieve, the elimination of ALL ICE vehicles, both diesel and petrol.
Given 98% of the worlds commercial engines (not cars) in ships, lorries, heavy plant, generators etc are diesel then demonising it in cars is utterly pointless as it will make almost diddly squat difference to the use of diesel.
I for one will continue to buy diesel in my big estate car for as long as its the best solution to my usage profile. At present Electric, Petrol or Hybrid does not come close.
I for one will continue to buy diesel in my big estate car for as long as its the best solution to my usage profile. At present Electric, Petrol or Hybrid does not come close.
I'd only go diesel now if I was doing significant mileage. I recently changed from a 1.5 diesel Ford Focus, to a 1.4 petrol Seat Leon. On the same commute, the Leon is averaging 48-50mpg (measured on a tank), versus 56-58mpg in the diesel Focus. Not an insignificant difference, but the upside is I'm now driving something much smoother, quieter and with a more flexible powerband. The biggest bonus will be in winter - during the depths of winter, the Focus never reached full operating temperature on my commute, meaning no warm air into the cabin.
We recently leased a Kia Sportage for my wife and chose petrol even though it's not a very common choice for a vehicle of that type or size. This was partly due to the fact that an equivalent diesel lease was £70pm more expensive, hugely offsetting the mpg saving as typical mileage is low. In saying that, the 1.6 turbo petrol only averages high 20s mpg (33-35 on a long run), which is difficult to stomach sometimes.
We recently leased a Kia Sportage for my wife and chose petrol even though it's not a very common choice for a vehicle of that type or size. This was partly due to the fact that an equivalent diesel lease was £70pm more expensive, hugely offsetting the mpg saving as typical mileage is low. In saying that, the 1.6 turbo petrol only averages high 20s mpg (33-35 on a long run), which is difficult to stomach sometimes.
NewUsername said:
Given 98% of the worlds commercial engines (not cars) in ships, lorries, heavy plant, generators etc are diesel then demonising it in cars is utterly pointless as it will make almost diddly squat difference to the use of diesel.
Except we don't see many of those in urban areas, and where we do we're starting to see the electrification/reduced pollution of busses, rubbish lorries and last-mile delivery vehicles.Evanivitch said:
C7 JFW said:
Diesel only seems worthwhile if:
- 20k miles per annum (or more)
Which is still only an 85 mile round trip commute. Well within the realms of EVs on sale today. Even a PHEV with charging both ends (like my employer provides) will cover that in many cases mostly on Electric.- 20k miles per annum (or more)
- Why would I waste my time searching for chargers after attending a client site when I don't have to
- I'm trying to think of an appealing electric car that's £30k and considered a 'drivers' car.
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