Diesel V Petrol?

Question

I accept diesels are more economical if you do motorway mileages (as my dad does.) But, is there any point having a diesel if you do town driving only, i.e. school runs and shopping? I'm talking about 2.0L petrol V 2.0L diesel for town driving only. Would there be any significant mpg advantages?

I myself have a 2.5L Ford Cougar petrol, which is ok as i take a bus to work so its only for weekends.

MarkEverest, You are a stinking liar! 50mpg on the motorway maybe, but in town? I think not.

And people, please tell me like for like examples only i.e. a modern 2.0L diesel is obviously going to give you more mpg if your previous car was an older 3.0L turbo petrol.

Answer 1

there are major differences in the way diesel and petrol engines work and one of the biggest ones to consider based on your question is the use of "Choke" with a cold engine.

As you are only doing short "school runs and shopping" any petrol engine would proably spend it's life on choke where a diesel engine doesn't have one.

The worst thing for any engine is lots of short journeys, but a diesel will cope much better. A diesel will still give you very high Mpg under these conditions, but a petrol will struggle to.

You only have to compare the fuel statistics from any vehicle to see how true it is.

The link takes you to the ford focus specs pages

Answer 2

Buying a diesel will no doubt give you the satisfaction of getting more mpg. Consider most diesel models can cost up to £3000 more than there petrol equivalent, so unless you travel more than 20,000 miles a year stick with a petrol.

Every one says diesel is the future fuel, rubbish. Get a clean economical petrol car with good resale and you will save £'s.

I dont mean to be rude surely the bus is more fun than a Ford Cougar.

Answer 3

Diesel each and every time. i'm getting round 40mpg round city even as commuting (little site visitors) and round 55mpg on a lengthy run with 2 adults. Thats from a properly maintained 1994 Vauxhall Corsa a million.5 quick Diesel.

Answer 4

Definitely go for Diesel - more low-range torque then a petrol, better fuel economy and the (now very minimal) performance difference you won't even notice around town anyway.
Incidentally, if you do stick with petrol, 2L is far too big for town driving - a 1.2 or 1.4 would be perfect and would save you money on Tax as well.

Answer 5

Diesel.

I would tend to side with Mark, 50+ mpg around town is quite feasable, if you drive sensibly and not race up to red traffic lights like many people do while putting their make-up on.

Further to that, many diesel cars will run on Vegetable oil. I'd like to see you try that with a petrol car and with the way things are going in the world - who has all the oil?

Answer 6

A diesel car will use approximately 25% less fuel around town, and 40% on a run than it's petrol equivalent.

Answer 7

Diesel , my Honda civic is coming in at 50mpg and I get car tax for less due to low emmission, I would never go back to petrol, I do alot of town work as well as motor way and I made the choice after comparison against my wifes petrol car less cc than mine , mine being 2.2cc hers 1.3 and I still get more,

Answer 8

Diesel every time.

Susan drives in town only, Chrysler Neon 2.0 petrol, about 15mpg. I have a Vauxhall Zafira 1.9CDTi, 50mpg.

Just a bit of difference.

Answer 9

when i had a petrol car i was spending about £50 a month now i have diesel and am only spending £30, so for me diesel is better

Answer 10

You would get good Miles per gal pluse less repair and mantance cost. The downside is not all fueling ststions offer diesel. I say go for it. PS a diesel engine lasts a long time. 300,000-500,000 is not unusaly.