small diesel cars, way of the future?

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Fair comment I don't know what you drive, but on my Nissan service intervals are the same on the petrol models. Injectors don't last as long as what? spark plugs? The fuel pump (more accurately compressor) may wear, but I've never had one start to go at less than 150K miles, plenty of petrol cars are on new fuel pumps at that stage. And any turbo'd car, petrol or diesel, if the turbo lets go it can be big money (waits for a rant from Ralph about BMW turbos ).

I'm not having a pop, just I don't think the 'expensive to service' argument stands up.

Diesel injectors dont last as long as petrol injectors I meant, in my experience anyway. Again, only earlier diesels its called a fuel pump, or fuel distribution pump, nowadays its common rail injection more like a petrol. Generally most petrol cars don`t have a turbo but diesels need one otherwise their gutless, so you its 1 less thing to worry about on a petrol.

As I said earlier, I admit the difference between petrol and diesel in terms of costs and the way they drive is not as vast as it used to be, but I also do not agree with diesels automatically being cheaper to run than a petrol, and i`d be willing to bet that most people who run a diesel car, especially as a second car, are wasting money.

Edit : ( BTW its a Shogun Sport i have )

Originally Posted by G

They do however cost more to buy, the petrol zetec s fiesta is £15k the diesel is £16.5k. But that is soon made up with the extra efficiency, lower emissions, cheaper road tax and significantly more mpg.

The reason some diesels are cheaper to tax is because the road tax system in this country is totally ludicrous. Diesels pump out more CO, particulates and soot. And they stink like melted plastic !

Edit : I stand corrected, maybe, its NOX not CO

[G]

Originally Posted by Miss_Undaztood

The reason some diesels are cheaper to tax is because the road tax system in this country is totally ludicrous. Diesels pump out more CO, particulates and soot. And they stink like melted plastic !

I am afraid you are very very misguided in your views.

Originally Posted by G

I am afraid you are very very misguided in your views.

Well, rightly or wrongly, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, most of mine come from my own experience of from talking to car owners.

Personally, I still prefer the way a petrol car drives too.

Lastly :
http://www.parkers.co.uk/News/Motori...el-calculator/

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by thefallenangel

Has anyone on here got one of these cheap wonderous vehicles?

Chap I used to work with had a Citreon C3, IIRC 1.3l with a high pressure turbo. Thing was stupidly economical, was regularly returning 70mpg. He was at one point making money out of claiming fuel allowance for his company milleage...

[Wideboy]

a few years back i had a pug 106 XND 1.5........ 160 miles on a tenner easy

was a straight diesel no turbo but i can say I've driven slower petrols. Was a good car never missed a beat but you had to put up with the odd electrical fault every now and again but that's typical pug oh and they were awkward as buggery to work on

[tigersaw]

I've got a diesel Yaris. It can make 60mpg on a run, tax is £30 and service has been under £200 proper dealer and all. Its nippy enough too at 0-60 in just over 10 seconds so can't grumble about anything really.
Oh yes I can, the heater is rubbish.

Originally Posted by Miss_Undaztood

Well, rightly or wrongly, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, most of mine come from my own experience of from talking to car owners.

Personally, I still prefer the way a petrol car drives too.

Lastly :
http://www.parkers.co.uk/News/Motori...el-calculator/

Might I point you to the fiesta website which lists carbon output of the cars:
http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/Fiesta/Fu...ndCO2emissions

My mums fiesta is the 1.6 diesel putting out an almost unbearable 107g/km of carbon.

Now look at the smallest engined petrol, the 1.25 putting out 127g/km.

Damn those horrible carbon spewing atmosphere detroying diesels... oh hang on a sec, the diesel is nearly 16% cleaner! and that is in a best to worst comparison. The 'big' diesel is also has the most useful power being the quickest accelerating 31-62 time of all the engines.

Originally Posted by ravingdavis

Might I point you to the fiesta website which lists carbon output of the cars:
http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/Fiesta/Fu...ndCO2emissions

My mums fiesta is the 1.6 diesel putting out an almost unbearable 107g/km of carbon.

Now look at the smallest engined petrol, the 1.25 putting out 127g/km.

Damn those horrible carbon spewing atmosphere detroying diesels... oh hang on a sec, the diesel is nearly 16% cleaner! and that is in a best to worst comparison. The 'big' diesel is also has the most useful power being the quickest accelerating 31-62 time of all the engines.

As I said, I was wrong, its NOX that diesels spew out. Either way, I still dont like the smell, or noise of a diesel.

AND! Surely this is going off topic a wee bit ?
My original point was to actually do the calculations on which is cheaper to run, and not to just blindly assume that diesels are cheaper for everyone.
You`ll be advocating diesel motorbikes next, lol

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Miss_Undaztood

Personally, I still prefer the way a petrol car drives too.

I know what you mean, but I would wager that if you drove the right Diesel you'd change your mind. I did...

Our Focus Tdci is just as much fun and enjoyable to drive as my Golf GTi was. In some ways especially on the motorway its actually nicer.