Is there really much difference between petrol and diesel?
Discussion
Im sure this has been done to death, but anyway, running a 3.0 v6 is destroying me, i did about 20 miles on the motorway today at no more than 80mph, and the car did 1/8 of a tank.
Its an ST220, and dont get me wrong, its quick, but is it really that much quicker than some of these 150bhp diesels? I know bhp matters little, its the torque that matters, but am i really gaining much more by running this big petrol?
The only advantage is that i live in the sticks, and its a massive single carriageway country road in and out, its the onyl road. Its a bus route and full of old people, but there's only 2 places in a 6-7 mile stretch where you can overtake, and the mondeo is great at overtakes.... but am i deluding myself? Am i basically just paying big money for a car geared to use its power for higher top end speeds?
Its an ST220, and dont get me wrong, its quick, but is it really that much quicker than some of these 150bhp diesels? I know bhp matters little, its the torque that matters, but am i really gaining much more by running this big petrol?
The only advantage is that i live in the sticks, and its a massive single carriageway country road in and out, its the onyl road. Its a bus route and full of old people, but there's only 2 places in a 6-7 mile stretch where you can overtake, and the mondeo is great at overtakes.... but am i deluding myself? Am i basically just paying big money for a car geared to use its power for higher top end speeds?
I have to be honest, I drive my petrol (VX220 Turbo) and diesel (BMW 120d) in different ways, but when it comes to overtaking, the 1er is more than capable. On motorways it's a great deal more efficient - the VXT gets around 40mpg, which isn't to be sniffed at, but the BMW gets a remarkable 55mpg. It also sits in the power band for a diesel, so if you need to overtake, there's no need to change down.
I'm a bit wierd in the sense that I love the delivery of a diesel - one big lump that, if you change gear at the right revs, will keep on lumping you all the way through its delivery. I think something with a bit of grunt would suit you quite well. You haven't even got to pay a shedload for it, an Octavia VRs is a very competent car and you can pick one up for less than £3k.
I'm a bit wierd in the sense that I love the delivery of a diesel - one big lump that, if you change gear at the right revs, will keep on lumping you all the way through its delivery. I think something with a bit of grunt would suit you quite well. You haven't even got to pay a shedload for it, an Octavia VRs is a very competent car and you can pick one up for less than £3k.
All too often it comes down to the bottom line - cash in your pocket. Larger petrols etc are great but hardly practical for most of us with the current fuel prices, however do you want the compromises of diesel? All of which have been discussed in length before.
Convert to LPG and halve your fuel costs. You'll keep that lovely characterful V6 and providing you are happy with the Mondeo and don't just fancy a change, it's what I'd personally do. Probably would work out cheaper too than selling your current car and buying a diesel.
If you must then I would suggest looking at something like a Volvo S60 D5, great car with great mid range thump and I prefer them to the usual Audi/BMW recommendations.
Acheron said:
Im sure this has been done to death, but anyway, running a 3.0 v6 is destroying me, i did about 20 miles on the motorway today at no more than 80mph, and the car did 1/8 of a tank.
Try 70 instead. I stick to the limit on Motorways in my 3.0 inline six - weighing more than your ST220 - and it averages high 30's to the gallon.Thats a range of 550 miles or so to a 70 litre tank.
Modern diesels are just well suited to the way most people drive - not scorching fast off the line but plenty of shove there without revving the hell out of it. Thus they can feel faster than they are.
Biggest plus for me is filling up every 500 miles rather than 300. As for whether it makes financial sense - a lot depends on whether with the mileage you do and the length of those journeys (until they're warmed up, diesels aren't that economical) a diesel will actually save you much money at all. Don't forget diesel is between 4 and 6p a litre more expensive these days.
Biggest plus for me is filling up every 500 miles rather than 300. As for whether it makes financial sense - a lot depends on whether with the mileage you do and the length of those journeys (until they're warmed up, diesels aren't that economical) a diesel will actually save you much money at all. Don't forget diesel is between 4 and 6p a litre more expensive these days.
Fox- said:
Acheron said:
Im sure this has been done to death, but anyway, running a 3.0 v6 is destroying me, i did about 20 miles on the motorway today at no more than 80mph, and the car did 1/8 of a tank.
Try 70 instead. I stick to the limit on Motorways in my 3.0 inline six - weighing more than your ST220 - and it averages high 30's to the gallon.Thats a range of 550 miles or so to a 70 litre tank.
Think you should get it checked over or you have an inappropriately heavy right foot. I get 22mpg round town and spirited driving in NSLs so I hardly pootle.
If its all AOK then maybe you should look at the 2.2 TDCI version with a remap?
ETA - just under 40 miles on 1/8 tank is about 20mpg in the Jag...
Edited by renrut on Tuesday 24th May 13:43
My family and I recently travelled 85 miles to Centreparcs in convoy with my mate and his family for a week. They were in his 4 year old A4 2.0TDI 170, we were in my daily snotter, a nearly 10 year old Avensis 2.0 petrol.
Now, I know being in convoy was probably beneficial to fuel economy slightly, but he was very surprised that the petrol had managed 46mpg, when his diesel had only managed "high thirties" as he put it.
Bearing in mind his wife has only been averaging 6k miles a year, and mostly around town at that, he is now seriously considering a petrol powered Audi.
Now, I know being in convoy was probably beneficial to fuel economy slightly, but he was very surprised that the petrol had managed 46mpg, when his diesel had only managed "high thirties" as he put it.
Bearing in mind his wife has only been averaging 6k miles a year, and mostly around town at that, he is now seriously considering a petrol powered Audi.
Fox- said:
Acheron said:
Im sure this has been done to death, but anyway, running a 3.0 v6 is destroying me, i did about 20 miles on the motorway today at no more than 80mph, and the car did 1/8 of a tank.
Try 70 instead. I stick to the limit on Motorways in my 3.0 inline six - weighing more than your ST220 - and it averages high 30's to the gallon.Thats a range of 550 miles or so to a 70 litre tank.
Although I just have a petrol 2l
the difference in fuel consumption at just over 80mph and 70mph is Massive! I'm talking maybe 15mpg
at 4k and above it downs petrol like anything
Classic Grad 98 said:
My main gripe with diesel is the sluggishness off the line. Once your rolling the power often falls to hand easier than with a petrol engine once you're used to the gear ratios and narrow power band.
You sound like an ideal diesel candidate to me.
This.You sound like an ideal diesel candidate to me.
The new uber 350 Merc is horrible off the line.
V88Dicky said:
My family and I recently travelled 85 miles to Centreparcs in convoy with my mate and his family for a week. They were in his 4 year old A4 2.0TDI 170, we were in my daily snotter, a nearly 10 year old Avensis 2.0 petrol.
Now, I know being in convoy was probably beneficial to fuel economy slightly, but he was very surprised that the petrol had managed 46mpg, when his diesel had only managed "high thirties" as he put it.
Bearing in mind his wife has only been averaging 6k miles a year, and mostly around town at that, he is now seriously considering a petrol powered Audi.
There is something seriously wrong with the A4. We have the 140bhp version in our Octavia and about 1 month ago we drove in convoy from Winchester to Whinfell Forest. I didn't calculate the exact consumption but the trip computer said 61.9mpg and I had a fair bit left in the tank when we got home.Now, I know being in convoy was probably beneficial to fuel economy slightly, but he was very surprised that the petrol had managed 46mpg, when his diesel had only managed "high thirties" as he put it.
Bearing in mind his wife has only been averaging 6k miles a year, and mostly around town at that, he is now seriously considering a petrol powered Audi.
alock said:
V88Dicky said:
My family and I recently travelled 85 miles to Centreparcs in convoy with my mate and his family for a week. They were in his 4 year old A4 2.0TDI 170, we were in my daily snotter, a nearly 10 year old Avensis 2.0 petrol.
Now, I know being in convoy was probably beneficial to fuel economy slightly, but he was very surprised that the petrol had managed 46mpg, when his diesel had only managed "high thirties" as he put it.
Bearing in mind his wife has only been averaging 6k miles a year, and mostly around town at that, he is now seriously considering a petrol powered Audi.
There is something seriously wrong with the A4. We have the 140bhp version in our Octavia and about 1 month ago we drove in convoy from Winchester to Whinfell Forest. I didn't calculate the exact consumption but the trip computer said 61.9mpg and I had a fair bit left in the tank when we got home.Now, I know being in convoy was probably beneficial to fuel economy slightly, but he was very surprised that the petrol had managed 46mpg, when his diesel had only managed "high thirties" as he put it.
Bearing in mind his wife has only been averaging 6k miles a year, and mostly around town at that, he is now seriously considering a petrol powered Audi.
I've averaged 50mpg from the last few tanks in my 170bhp octavia vrs, with about half the mileage cruising on the motorway at 75 ish. At motorway speeds it's actually quicker accelerating than the 37mpg 200bhp petrol version (that'll be the 350nm torque then), but as mentioned by someone above they're a bit sluggish of the line in comparison due to lack of grunt before the turbo's wound up and a pretty short first gear.
Different driving experience to a petrol due to the narrower rev band but 6 speed box in a lot of diesels these days makes a difference.
Different driving experience to a petrol due to the narrower rev band but 6 speed box in a lot of diesels these days makes a difference.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 24th May 14:56
Acheron said:
Im sure this has been done to death, but anyway, running a 3.0 v6 is destroying me, i did about 20 miles on the motorway today at no more than 80mph, and the car did 1/8 of a tank.
Similar to what my 1.8 Mondeo does. But without the speed. Piece of s
t.Don't get conned by the diesel brigade. They're really not getting 55mpg, their in-gear times are woeful, and you smell like a engine fitter every time you refuel. Plus their engines sound like a skeleton w
king in a biscuit tin.Stick with the V6, get it remapped and a cheeky Blueflame exhaust so you can go even faster and make a better noise.
1/4 of a tank gets me about 80-90 miles in town in my VR5 2.3 petrol. So that's 25mpg roughly. I generally get 30+ mpg out of town when I am not too enthusiastic. Liberal application of the throttle brings the consumption down to city driving levels.
Sounds like you might have to have the car checked out
Sounds like you might have to have the car checked out
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