Which do you prefer?

[Byard]

Petrol or Diesel?

I think the majority of people will say petrol, but is it just me that prefers to drive a diesel? Love the massive surge of torque and in-gear acceleration they give.

[ZOLLAR]

Byard said:

Petrol or Diesel?

I think the majority of people will say petrol, but is it just me that prefers to drive a diesel? Love the massive surge of torque and in-gear acceleration they give.

A poll would be good for this.

[kambites]

Depends on the purpose of the car.

I wouldn't want a diesel (or a turbo petrol, for that matter) in anything with sporty pretensions, but if I was spending my life on the motorway I'd certainly consider one.

[Corpulent Tosser]

Why not include electric as well ?

My answer would be "it depends"

My daily driver is an oil burner, my weekend/fun car is petrol, my hillclimber is petrol.

Which do I prefer driving ? Well most fun is the hillclimber, but I wouldn't want to drive hundreds of miles in it.

[Byard]

ZOLLAR said:

A poll would be good for this.

I tried to make a poll but couldn't see an option for it?

[ZOLLAR]

Byard said:

ZOLLAR said:

A poll would be good for this.

I tried to make a poll but couldn't see an option for it?

Ah I think you have to ask in website feedback for the option.

[ImDesigner]

Byard said:

Love the massive surge of torque and in-gear acceleration they give.

Try a good turbo petrol

[geeteeaye]

kambites said:

Depends on the purpose of the car.

I wouldn't want a diesel (or a turbo petrol, for that matter) in anything with sporty pretensions, but if I was spending my life on the motorway I'd certainly consider one.

Eh - what's wrong with turbo'd petrols?

[kambites]

geeteeaye said:

Eh - what's wrong with turbo'd petrols?

I don't like them. I didn't say there was anything wrong with them. I don't like engines with a decaying torque curve in a sports car; sporty engines should develop peak torque, or as close to it as possible, at the red line IMHO. And the red-line should be at 7000+ rpm.

Edited by kambites on Monday 28th March 13:01

[Johnnytheboy]

It obviously depends on what the car's for. As others have said.

[Debaser]

Petrol

[ambuletz]

I'd creep to the side of petrol. As much as the economy & torque of a diesel car attracts me, I don't know anything about them. I'm in that boat of people who doesn't know how reliable diesels are, have always been under the impression they need regular maintenance, and when things go wrong, are very costly to fix.

[ludicrous speed]

Diesel sucks tbh, yes it's good for fuel economy but the characteristics of a diesel engine are just nowhere near as fun as revving the st out of a petrol engine.

[RobCrezz]

Byard said:

Petrol or Diesel?

I think the majority of people will say petrol, but is it just me that prefers to drive a diesel? Love the massive surge of torque and in-gear acceleration they give.

The torque and in gear acceleration is due to them being turbo charged. Have you driven a turbo petrol? you get pretty much the same surge of torque and in gear acceleration, plus they still rev beyond 5000.

[Bolognese]

Petrol.

Diesels sounds rubbish and smell bad. Admittedly if you are doing lots of motorway miles then a diesel may be a good option but they are normally more expensive then the petrol equivalent to begin with so it would take a while to start saving the money.

[mnkiboy]

I'll vote for turbo petrol. My old Cupra had all the torque of a diesel, but the ability to rev through to 7000rpm, and with a much better soundtrack.

Though I must add I still traded it in for a diesel as fuel was getting too expensive.

[lost in espace]

I prefer mine to run on veg oil. Then I really love them.

[ewenm]

Diesel for the schlep up and down the motorway.
Petrol for the blats along b-roads and on track.

[BountyHunter]

kambites said:

I don't like them. I didn't say there was anything wrong with them. I don't like engines with a decaying torque curve in a sports car; sporty engines should develop peak torque, or as close to it as possible, at the red line IMHO. And the red-line should be at 7000+ rpm.

Edited by kambites on Monday 28th March 13:01

peak power near the redline yeah, but peak torque up that high leads to an engine that is totally inflexible.

if you want to try a good na powerplant with decent redline and nice characteristics then try an E36 or E46 M3 (S50 and S54). they make power all the way through to the redline, but peak torque is low enough that the car makes for an excellent driver at all revs and speeds.

[Oldandslow]

Petrol tastes better.