Rich Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 For someone doing about 15k a year what is the difference in total ownership of petrol vs diesel? A4 or 3 series for example? I'm not just talking of fuel costs, but servicing, purchase and insurance? Over the duration of the year it seems to be quite small, leaving the performance advantages/disadvantages of each the main considerations? What does everyone else think? Likewise what is the real difference between 30 mpg and 50 mpg on the wallet? (this is personal car not a company car) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snail Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 1 gallon is approx 4 litres (i think). 15k / 50 (mpg) = 300 gallons = 1200 litres @ 90p a litre = £1080 15k / 30 = 500 = 2000 litres @ 87 = £1780 Thats at expensive fuel prices. Obviously, if that mileage is mostly motorway, then the diesel will really be the best choice, but otherwise, its wether the £700 difference will make a difference in servicing/purchase cost/depreciation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I would like to say i have drive petrol and diesel VW's day in day out. I prefere driving and working on diesels. I love 150 BHP Bora sports which i prefere over the new GTI's FSI Turbos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a4tdi130 Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Definitely depends on the type of driving. If the majority is motorway, I would get a diesel. If the majority is stop/start rush hour, city driving, then petrol. Mostly for one reason - diesel turbo lag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] If the majority is stop/start rush hour, city driving, then petrol. Mostly for one reason - diesel turbo lag. [/ QUOTE ] Exactly why my next car will be a petrol. I love my diesel but the turbo lag does become a bit tiresome when you do as many urban miles as I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrsaku Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Diesels will probably cost more to buy but will keep their value better. The diesel engines in general last longer too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Well most of my driving is motorway/A road driving and it is in gear acceleration I prefer. But I have to admit I hate the diesel sound, although I can't decide what would be best as my next car as I'd need a high performance petrol to get the acceleration I like. I think in all a compromise might be on the cars.....a v6 diesel! More torque so more accleeration, although you pay at the pumps. My main reason for asking is that I had an S3 and am now in a diesel Focus. The S3 used to get approx 30, the Focus gets anything between 45-50. I was expecting massive Fuel savings, but I'm actually only putting about £5 a week less in (£10 on a bad week)! I admit I have to push the Focus more to make it move, but the computer is still normally above 45mpg. Considering the difference in performance I'd prefer to go back to something like the S3! Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I do 30,000 miles/yr in a petrol. I tend to get 30+mpg from the 3.0, so the running cost difference isn't huge, and its an acceptable compromise (for me) I wouldn't enjoy driving a diesel as much.... unless it was a 535d or similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I do a lot of town driving and could never go back to a manual/diesel combo again, they just don't go in that situation at all. Regarding diesel vs Petrol on a new car I would say petrol everytime, but buying a used one then I would think the premium you have to pay on a diesel would outweigh the fuel savings, even on a moderate car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I do hate my ST24 (WHEN I FILL IT UP) 20mpg i am getting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Well the sort of petrol car I was probably considering (at least until finances allowed bigger and better) would be Saab 9-3 Aero, 1.8t/2t A4 Sline, or 330i as I've never had a V6 petrol, although I'm aware that will be more thirsty. With motorway driving I reckon I could manage 35, maybe slightly higher from the Saab/A4, which reduces the gap slightly. Really can't decide what would be the best route..hence my post! I keep thinking, if I can have a better car but the fuel costs me an extra £40-50 a month then its worth it..but then the thought that the diesel will be cheaper AND faster for most of my driving!! I suppose I need to find some proper acceleration comparisions 0-60, 30-50,40-60, 70-90 and so on, then decide which I'd be more happier with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Well the sort of petrol car I was probably considering 1.8t/2t A4 Sline [/ QUOTE ] Have you looked at the 2.0 TFSI A4? 200 PS, 149 mph and 7.3 secs 0-62 with a combined cycle of 35.3 mpg. Pretty attractive IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Have you looked at the 2.0 TFSI A4? 200 PS, 149 mph and 7.3 secs 0-62 with a combined cycle of 35.3 mpg. Pretty attractive IMO. [/ QUOTE ] Seconded! It's the best value-for-money vs performance engine in the new audi line up IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Well the sort of petrol car I was probably considering 1.8t/2t A4 Sline [/ QUOTE ] Have you looked at the 2.0 TFSI A4? 200 PS, 149 mph and 7.3 secs 0-62 with a combined cycle of 35.3 mpg. Pretty attractive IMO. [/ QUOTE ] Thats what I meant by 2t!!! Of course I'd prob wait for 2nd hand values to drop (i.e. 1 year old) as I'm fed up with new car depreciation at the moment! Plus, if its 35 combined, I may be able to push nearer 40 since most driving is motorway. Oh and I have to admit I really like the look of the facelifted S Line, but also compare the Saab 9-3 Aero 210bhp and again 35 mpg approx. But how would either compare to a 330d on the motorway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 christ, I get at best 30mpg from my 90bhp 1.6 litre hatchback, I really need a more modern car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] christ, I get at best 30mpg from my 90bhp 1.6 litre hatchback, I really need a more modern car! [/ QUOTE ] Thats probably due to the same "problem" I had when I first got the Focus.....you end up ragging it to get it to move!! I find when I'm driving a more powerful car normal driving hardly makes the car sweat yet you still have the ability to go fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Rich, yep thats probably it. I've been dropping into the low 20's since my car developed a misfire under full throttle as to get any decent acceleration you have to run it to the rev limiter on half throttle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Rich, yep thats probably it. I've been dropping into the low 20's since my car developed a misfire under full throttle as to get any decent acceleration you have to run it to the rev limiter on half throttle. [/ QUOTE ] Yep the misfire probably isn't helping! I'm like it in my focus and all the hire cars work get me! They are always petrol 1.6 and 1.8, which after petrol or diesel turbo's just feel slow! Plus of course its a hire car, so I rag it everywhere and end up with much worse mpg! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I'd frankly be scared of ragging a 1.6 Focus if its fitted with the same suspension as the LX model I tested at the weekend! It felt...... unstable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichTT Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Diesels should be banned-Dirty/Noisy /smelly and worst of all slow. Dont succomb to fashion-buy petrol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I know exactly what you mean! I had an Edge, with the sport suspension and changed it to the ghia with no sport suspension! Even with the sport suspension it rolls all over the place! When I first got the edge model I went round a corner (that I comfortable did 70 in the S3) at 60 and nearly needed a change of underwear! But you do get used to it and I agree the car rolls all over the place but does grip. Even so my next car will have stiff suspension! With the ghia I'm considering a trip to Elite (local max power location) and having some stiffer springs added. Can't be bothered with the suspension hassle though! Also most of my driving is motorway, so a soft ride is nice, but I have noticed the car wonders more, which I put down to the softer/lighter suspension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrsaku Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Is this a back from the past response? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 RichTT - you are either 10 years out of date, or off your rocker mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Diesels should be banned-Dirty/Noisy /smelly and worst of all slow. Dont succomb to fashion-buy petrol! [/ QUOTE ] Yeh right on! Stick with your petrol Austin Maestro - the diesel is ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Don't be fooled by the 35mpg combined claim on the 2.0T. Mine has now done 3800 miles and most of my driving is round town. I get 22.9 for the majority of these miles. My old 1.8TQ used to get 25mpg on the same routes. If you sit and 60mph on an A road you will get 35mpg but I have never seen it higher than that despite trying my best to keep revs low. Overall combined MPG from new according to the DIS is 23.7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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