Petrol

[herkul]

I believe you should buy a car you like. You will have it a few years, so don't calculate cost difference if it is not very big.

 

Sometimes you should buy something for your better life. Especially when you are buying secondhand car you can't predicts all costs neither with diesel or petrol engine. And both are expensive when you have to fix it.

[El Dingo]

He he he... I love these little petrol v. diesel get-togethers!

 

Being serious and sensible for a minute, if all you are worried about is cost, then you have to do your own sums. It would be silly to believe that diesels are always the most sensible in every case. Sorry Tim - you are well respected on this forum, and are clearly a very knowlegable chap, but on this issue you're wrong. Our total life costs for the 2.3 Galaxy were still far cheaper than a diesel would have been, mainly because the initial purchase price was so low compared to a TDi version, coupled with a decent resale value (to another low-milage mum). For the high-milage Chairman of BT (that's BJ to you and me) a diesel makes sound financial sense.

The fact is that the bottom end of the used market prefers 'simpler' machinery and tends to avoid turbo diesels. Just like SeatKid said, new technology diesels are much more prone to suffering expensive failures - fine if you have a warranty.

I can't say it too many times! Do your sums! (If in trouble with sums, ask Nik to help.)

 

And petrols are so much nicer to drive!

(Although I do like the Volvo D5).

 

And don't forget to read the latest article on nano-particulates emmitted by diesels.

 

(I saw the funniest thing the other day... a A4 2.0 TDI cabriolet!!!) :angry2:

[big_kev]

i did 179 miles the other day and it cost me

[searcher]

(I saw the funniest thing the other day... a A4 2.0 TDI cabriolet!!!) :angry2:

There are loads of top end rag tops on the market nowadays, but keep it quiet as the Mrs wants a rag top and im trying to talk her into an old MGB but not avin much luck :) .

[El Dingo]

(I saw the funniest thing the other day... a A4 2.0 TDI cabriolet!!!) :angry2:

'There are loads of top end rag tops on the market nowadays, but keep it quiet as the Mrs wants a rag top and im trying to talk her into an old MGB but not avin much luck :) .

 

Oops, sorry Adrian.

Just don't let her read the forum. Easy! ;)

Edited May 12, 2008 by El Dingo

[tim-spam]

1) It would be silly to believe that diesels are always the most sensible in every case.

 

2) Sorry Tim - you are well respected on this forum, and are clearly a very knowlegable chap, but on this issue you're wrong.

 

3) And don't forget to read the latest article on nano-particulates emmitted by diesels.

1) I have never said that. For example, for someone buying in the 'banger' class, a large petrol car can be bought at extremely low prices compared with a diesel such that, on a purely financial basis, it makes sense. At the other end of the scale, I would expect a Porche GT3 (which I had a fantastic day driving around Donnington in a while back) to be fitted with a high revving petrol engine - which of course it is. Also for someone with a very low annual mileage, a petrol engined car may just make sense, although rising fuel costs are making this less and less likely (even with the 10p a litre price difference).

 

2) I have done the sums - see above. If buying new or newish, even a small car makes more financial sense as a diesel. In my case, I bought the Alhambra at 2 years old, and there was a petrol engined one next to it with a similar age and mileage at

[Bigjeeze]

For the high-milage Chairman of BT (that's BJ to you and me) a diesel makes sound financial sense.

 

 

 

Oi!!! Thats your bill up by another 50%!!!

 

Now up to 129K on my Mk2 - still going strong!!