Ignoring MPG, reasons to drive a diesel or not?

[haynes]

So if the choice of diesel vs petrol is cost neutral is there any reasons to have diesel or petrol over the other?

OK I said ignore mpg but I just cant get away from the fact that the extra mpg will be really quite liberating and I suppose remains the strongest pull in its favour otherwise I would have dismissed it by now. Also In my old age I tend to drive quite lazily and relaxed, not pulling that many revs and might benefit from the extra low down grunt.

Taking the same car with similar BHP from a turbo diesel or petrol, from a driving experience how do they really relate? Are diesels soulless or can you derive any driving pleasure from a diesel? Are they just smelly, rattling and prone to catastrophic DPF failure? Or do you ever glance back at your diesel with fondness and think, I really love that car?

[pilchardthecat]

Oh god no.

Please, no.

[falkster]

You can get some pretty quick diesels now and there isn't the stigma that was once attached to buying one - that said I've only had one and now drive 5.5 petrol!!

[ciaranthemurph]

They are crap. I'm going back to petrol shortly, even the long range isn't doing it for me any more.

[Ecosseven]

The mid range shove is very useful for daily driving and overtaking. Other than that the main reason I drive a diesel is MPG.

[Krikkit]

Cost aside they make reasonable mile-munchers on the motorway - combine it with a slushbox and let the miles drift by.

[okie592]

I drive a diesel the only thing i enjoy is the torque and the sound of the turbo. Its only a 110bhp so its not fast but i do enjoy being able to over take similar petrol cars.

I would rather have a bora 1.8t petrol turbo, but mpg was a must at the time.

Other than that i see no reason too drive a derv, unless you crash it the fuel tank wont expload.

[The Black Flash]

Not, because you miss out on the joy of a nice, fast, blipped downshift.

[George7]

I've driven a few diesels. I like the driving experience they give; lots of torque and generally pull very well, but I think I'll always prefer petrols. I also hate the smell diesel cars make.

[Wafflesmk2]

Im gonna say this and leave, before the pistonheads keyboard warriors come down on me with the might of their flaming keyboards with all their fury....

Diesel is more fun.

At least for me, anyway. I like the shove of torque which gets you moving, it just feels good. I know they are kidding me that im going faster than i am, but i like it.

I also like the noise of a diesel. I can imagine it being even more fun if you get a decent bmw diesel or similar.

Diesel master race.

Ok PH;

[Johnnytheboy]

With cost not an issue and for a fixed bhp, a diesel would be my choice for day to day driving every time.

But petrol at the weekend.

[Ikemi]

I believe some of the replacement parts for modern diesels, such as injectors and fuel pumps, are ridiciously more expensive than the petrol equivalents. Not a deal breaker, but worth noting all the same ...

[ArnageWRC]

It would seem that Audi's success at Le Mans hasn't persuaded people that Diesels can be enjoyable, quick, etc

[mister.t]

I like the TD5 in my Disco. 5 cylinders at full chat sounds pretty cool, it's much better in water than the equivalent V8, as well as being an awful lot more reliable (talking from experience!)

[jmorgan]

Great for motorways. Love em, the little un is nippy as well.

Something else for the weekend though.

[toon10]

Unless you tow heavy things, MPG is pretty much the only reason to buy a diesel car, even if some modern diesels are as quick as petrol version, the sound and lack of revs kills the experience.

Having said that, I actually think some heavy cars and SUV's, 4 x 4's, etc suit diesel engines. In such cars, sporty driving isn't really a priority and it's nice to have the low downs slug of torque to get the heavier machine off the line.

Driven many diesels, never even considered buying one with my own money.

[okie592]

alot of cars now have a forced induction sibling, im looking into buying A 9-3 1.8t insted of the 1.9tdi

currently run a 1.9tdi bora, and it does 500 miles to a tank, where as the 1.8t petrol on the same sort of drive gets about 380. doesnt seem worth it tbh.

[Johnboy Mac]

I'd prefer to tow with a diesel auto that a petrol. Other than that petrol all the way.

[mk1matt]

For a fun car, petrol every time. For everything else I'm not so sure.

For example the 1.9tdi int he wife's Galaxy does the job perfectly well. I know they do a 2.8 V6 version, but having had the same engine in a Golf VR6 I know it likes the revs, so I'm not sure it's well suited to the big bus.

[Motorrad]

Diesel cars contribute to world peace isn't that reason enough?
Won't somebody think of the children?