Buying a diesel, what's different from petrol?

M

Muffinb

Registered User
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Ok apart from the obvious being the fuel!

I believe the diesel engine will be more costly to repair as it takes longer, ie timing belt...

What else?? Am I just saving money of the fuel to end up paying for it in higher maintenance costs???

Insurance & tax the same??
Yearly service more expensive?

Anyone know??
 
Re: Buying a diesel, whats different from petrol?

Hi there

I have two cars - one being petrol, the other diesel.

The diesel is way more economical. Same price for services, the fact that one is diesel and one is petrol does not effect the price of the maintenance at all.
 
Re: Buying a diesel, whats different from petrol?

Mechanic told me that the timing belt on it would take twice as long and cost about 800 euro.... I presumed that the other stuff would be as expensive maybe its just the timing belt though?!

How much more fuel efficient is it, twice, one third, any idea??

Im thinking of buying a 2l diesel automatic and Im driving a 2L petrol at the mo so hoping to halve my fuel bills!! I reckon I get 260 miles from 50-55 euro , how would your do??

Thanks for the reply!
 
My diesel is 1.9 and 45 Euro gets me 630 miles exactly.

My timing belt was done last week for 75 euro (mechanic friend did it for me at cost price) - 800 is scandalous!!!
 
Diesel Mondeos 2001 version don't a timing belt but chain which doesn't need to changed every x amount of miles.
 
I own a suzuki diesel and I am told that I dont have a timing belt just a chain that doesnt require servicing for quite some time!!
 
Every engine is different, some will taker longer than others to change the timming belt. If fact most tasks on all cars will have variable tasks.

Diesel engines have numerous advantages over petrol engines from the top of my head some these would be

- Efficiency, in diesels more of the fuel is converted to useable energy hence the mpg is much higher. Put your hand over the exhaust of a petrol and compare that to a diesel you will find the petrol exhaust much hotter. This is due to more of the hest being converted to power.
- Reliabilty, damp electrics generally do not trouble diesels and a heavier construction of the engine means they can keep going for longer also there is less to go wrong
 
Ancutza said:
Once you drive a diesel you'll never want to drive a petrol car again.
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Absoolutely agree with that.

I have a Peugot 308Tdi, wife has the petrol version of it, (she does far less mileage then me). We've found no difference in servicing costs between the 2

As for mileage, I drive around 600km a week and normally top the tank up on a monday morning and have change out of €40
 
If you buy a newer diesel which is road taxed under the CO2 table, you could pay a lot less than a petrol car - I'm hoping to change my 07 petrol (1.5l - road tax 360 per year or so) for an 09 diesel (nissan note 1.5l - 104 road tax per year) if the price is right!
 
don't do it.....gotta be better options than the Nissan Note
 
Thanks everyone for such positive replys!! delighted with that!!

Im going to test drive & get it checked over and hopefully buy this week!!
 
Ancutza said:
Once you drive a diesel you'll never want to drive a petrol car again.
Click to expand...

I second this. I was driving a 1.4 tsi petrol car up to a couple of weeks ago and was costing me average 35/40 for 500kms. I switched to 2.0 tdi and 500km costs around 25. I did a stretch on the N7 yesterday and my fuel consumption which shows up on the computer dash was 4.7L per 100km. That is excellent. I dont think I would go back to a petrol car again.

Prior to the 1.4 petrol I had a 1ltr runaround. I never measured the fuel consumption on this but was putting 25 per week petrol into it and doing similar mileage.

I took a bit of a bump in the insurance though as I went from 1 ltr to 2 ltr.
 
I think its worth mentioning that there is more to a car than its fuel consumption, which is a rather drab measure (though totally practical).
I drove a diesel for a week recently, 2.0 TDI Avensis - hated it. Turbo lag was the most thing I disliked, didnt like the sound of a diesel, fuel consumption was the only plus.
 
Important to check the oil regularly on a diesel. You will change up a gear sooner on a diesel (about 1750-2000 reves Vs near 3000 revs on a petrol). Also with the turbo, don't give it full welly until it's up to normal operating temperature and allow the car to idle to about 30 secs before turning off the engine.
 
FLANDERS` said:
I think its worth mentioning that there is more to a car than its fuel consumption, which is a rather drab measure
Click to expand...
Different criteria for everyone, of course. But I'll go with drab next time if it gives me more total mileage and cuts tax and fuel bill in half!
 

You were unfortunate in that you drove probably one of the worst diesels out there.Fuel consumption is no great shakes either!!
 
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