4-Cylinder Petrol or 6-Cylinder Diesel
Discussion
Given that last year more than half the cars sold new in the UK were Diesel and if you search Autotrader for cars under 3 years old you get a roughly 50/50 split, what about a debate rarely seen. Should you take the 4-cylinder turbo petrol or the 6-cylinder turbo diesel? It's almost as default as an MX-5 to suggest a mapped 335d as a car of choice and nobody could deny they are good cars but ultimately it is still a Diesel. For the last three years I've lived with a 3.0TDI and it's a great car but you can still tell it's diesel and however good the sound proofing that rattle is still there at times (of course at others it's blissfully quiet and it sounds great working hard).
So let's say you walk into a BMW showroom. You want a 3-series, one that's quicker than the standard 320d. You're mulling over a 328i or 330d... both automatic since you can't have a manual 330d. By the time you add auto there's about £2700 difference with the 328i cheaper. Petrol costs you £150 more in tax over 3 years, leaving £2550 for extra fuel. Sure the 330d could well be a little faster (much of the advantage probably negated by the auto box) but the 328i weighs 185kg less over the front wheels...
Of course in this case the two are closely matched and I know there are other examples where the figures stack up the other way, but as a company car or a private purchase I wonder how many people are defaulting to "Diesel is the answer" without thinking it through.
What do you think?
So let's say you walk into a BMW showroom. You want a 3-series, one that's quicker than the standard 320d. You're mulling over a 328i or 330d... both automatic since you can't have a manual 330d. By the time you add auto there's about £2700 difference with the 328i cheaper. Petrol costs you £150 more in tax over 3 years, leaving £2550 for extra fuel. Sure the 330d could well be a little faster (much of the advantage probably negated by the auto box) but the 328i weighs 185kg less over the front wheels...
Of course in this case the two are closely matched and I know there are other examples where the figures stack up the other way, but as a company car or a private purchase I wonder how many people are defaulting to "Diesel is the answer" without thinking it through.
What do you think?
Well if nothing else some interesting points being made. I'm actually not intending to buy either car but find it interesting to consider the sheep like way society is currently working... for example if you search for "up to 1 year old" BMW 3-Series on Autotrader you find 79 Petrol against 635 Diesel. Changing a 3 series into 5 series makes it even more significant with 5 Petrol playing 296. Some 5-10 years ago the Diesel was the exception and a little bit different, now it is clear that for most larger cars the Petrol model is the exception.
I personally think that whilst Diesels have become much quieter and more accepted by society, we have actually learned as a group to accept more gruff sounding cars in return for greater fuel economy. For me it was a interesting comparison to note how many company car drivers would plump for the 330d when in fact the 328i is barely slower (I accept it is slower but still quicker than most) and actually potentially has a significant tax advantage too. Also interesting to see the comment about the comparatively poor refinement of 6 cyl diesel S-Class et al as I'm not sure I see the benefit of this class of car without exceptional levels of refinement.
I personally think that whilst Diesels have become much quieter and more accepted by society, we have actually learned as a group to accept more gruff sounding cars in return for greater fuel economy. For me it was a interesting comparison to note how many company car drivers would plump for the 330d when in fact the 328i is barely slower (I accept it is slower but still quicker than most) and actually potentially has a significant tax advantage too. Also interesting to see the comment about the comparatively poor refinement of 6 cyl diesel S-Class et al as I'm not sure I see the benefit of this class of car without exceptional levels of refinement.
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