Who is right? Petrol or diesel?

TerryFayed

I am sure this has been asked many times before but here goes. My gf is looking for a car for about 10k. She does about 250 k a week which is only 13 k a year. Some say it is a no brainer that she should get a diesel while others say it should be petrol all the way. What do you think?
Also any recommendations for small car with economy/ reliability the obvious selling points. She has no interest in car being fast or highest spec etc.
Thanks in advance.

whomitconcerns

Petrol for that mileage.

TerryFayed

Ya would have thought so. Can't understand why a mechanic would have said diesel was no brainer

TerryFayed

Motorway driving to and from work at 40 km each day

Jesus.

TerryFayed wrote: »

Motorway driving to and from work at 40 km each day

That changes it somewhat. I'd go Daysul boss

TerryFayed

Really? Still very low mileage I would have thought

MuppetCheck

TerryFayed wrote: »

Really? Still very low mileage I would have thought

It's not the total mileage, it's all about how it's clocked up. Stop start driving isn't great for newer diesels but they'll happily do the same distance on a motorway.

TerryFayed

Ok looks like it could go either way but possibly leaning towards a diesel now

Red Kev

Need more info as to what kind of car she's buying, Polo size, Golf, Passat etc. The type of engine may affect tax so it's an annual cost you need to consider.

She's probably better off with a diesel, it should have less depreciation and will be easier to sell when the time comes. Diesels generally has higher maintenance costs though. I'd say over a few years at that money and mileage there wouldn't be a huge difference.

Seweryn

I wouldn't go blindly on a specific engine type, but rather look around for a good example.
The chances are you will get a better petrol engined car for the same money, or if you are looking at same model year cars you will save a few grand buying petrol. The savings will go a long way towards the extra running cost (if there are any).

Scottie99

Electric

Noccy_Mondy

Get a hybrid prius and be done with it :P

Certainly electric is great for this low mileage. Great deals on the leaf in the uk. But you got to pay for the home charger or if the portable 10 amp charger works for you then even better, you'd have to use an extension lead.

TerryFayed

She is thinking of small car such as Fabia or an Ibiza. She doesn't give a shi*e about cars but just never wants to see a Focus again

corktina

for low mileages I'd choose petrol and for larger mileages I'd chose petrol too

TerryFayed

Well it would be much easier helping her buy a car so if she was you

matt70iu

I'd go petrol. Then again....I'd go petrol regardless.

I'm not a fan of Diesel having been burned by their high maintenance costs on more than one occasion! Injectors, head gasket, particle filters etc

bazz26

40km round trip on motorways per day is fine for a diesel.

But she needs to sit down and do the maths to see if diesel is financially viable with her mileage. Work out how much a petrol car will cost per year including the purchase price, depreciation, fuel etc. not just the headline mpg figure. Then do the same calculation for a diesel model. When she has both worked out then see how long it will take her to break even on the total cost of ownership for the diesel over the petrol.

Gazzmonkey

TerryFayed wrote: »

I am sure this has been asked many times before but here goes. My gf is looking for a car for about 10k. She does about 250 k a week which is only 13 k a year. Some say it is a no brainer that she should get a diesel while others say it should be petrol all the way. What do you think?
Also any recommendations for small car with economy/ reliability the obvious selling points. She has no interest in car being fast or highest spec etc.
Thanks in advance.

It may be a good idea to consider a newer type diesel as the running costs can be very low when CO2 emissions are brought into it. You mentioned a budget of around 10k? for that cash you could get a nice 2008 Audi A3/A4 2.0 TDI which only cost €280 for road tax which compared to my 1.6L petrol costing €512 for road tax, it's a bit of a bargain. But you might find a better deal with other diesel cars if you shop around though.

osheen

I've been driving daysul cars for years due to company car being diesel. Recently I've had my sisters 2l petrol accord and I have to say if I had the choice I'd go petrol. soooooo much nicer

deandean

I Suggest a 2009 approx honda civic 1.3 petrol.

Non diesel and almost 50mpg if driven carefully.

Best of both worlds.

robertxxx

Get a push bike ffs. I do 36 Km a day easy.

BorneTobyWilde

Diesel are more complex , funny how that changed as they once were as reliable as the sun rising. I dunno what diesel car you could get with low tax band and be reliable for 10k ?

MuppetCheck

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

Diesel are more complex , funny how that changed as they once were as reliable as the sun rising. I dunno what diesel car you could get with low tax band and be reliable for 10k ?

Focus 1.8 diesel for 9k and leave a grand for a dmf at some stage?

cabb8ge

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Focus 1.8 diesel for 9k and leave a grand for a dmf at some stage?

If the Focus have wet belt engine (not the chain equipped one that most would expect) some €€€s might also be needed for issues with that, premature fail not uncommon

Some 1.8s in Ford are the wet belt engine, not the 1.8 that came from old Fiesta/Escort.

cabb8ge

I think there are some good petrol options to be considered if lady not interested in spec, badge and whistles and bells

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer maybe
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Lancer/1.5-INTE/713243715997110/advert?channel=CARS

I like them, but I like japanese cars and even though 2010 registration the car does show signs of 90s, lot of people not like.