10,000 miles per year - is a Diesel Worth it?

Road-Hog

Just curious for views on the above, I've been told by a number of ordinary joe soaps as well as one or two from the motor trade that unless you are doing over 25k miles per year that a diesel is not worth it due to:

• the 'diesel particulate filter' issue
• the additional cost and frequency of maintenance over petrol engines
• the premium associated with their cost over petrol

the obvious counter argument is along the lines of:

• diesel is on average 10c per litre less expensive than petrol
• on average you get 45 to 50 miles per gallon for mixed driving i.e. short stop start trips as well as some longer 60 mile plus round trips
• lower co2 emissions and hence lower road tax rates.

Would I be made to purchase a post july 2008 say 1.6 diesel for mondeo/focus or vw jetta/Passat if I only do around 10k miles per year??

Rob Thomas

It's not as simple as a mileage issue. Most smaller cars are now just as economical on petrol engines as diesel. There are so many other things to consider.

The premium cost is not something I think is relevant. The resale usually produces a relative mark up.

The truth is that some cars are just better in diesel. Example VAG models. No one really buys a petrol A4 or Golf. Simply because they are rubbish compared to others on the market. But a diesel Golf or A4 is probably as saleable as it gets when you are moving it on.

My own view is that in smaller cars.. Fiesta, small Hyundais etc, generally petrols up to 1.2 are the way to go but once you get above a mid size car where you would need above 1.4 you need a diesel in this country. Regardless of mileage.

JohnBoy26

Road-Hog wrote: »

Just curious for views on the above, I've been told by a number of ordinary joe soaps as well as one or two from the motor trade that unless you are doing over 25k miles per year that a diesel is not worth it due to:

• the 'diesel particulate filter' issue
• the additional cost and frequency of maintenance over petrol engines
• the premium associated with their cost over petrol

the obvious counter argument is along the lines of:

• diesel is on average 10c per litre less expensive than petrol
• on average you get 45 to 50 miles per gallon for mixed driving i.e. short stop start trips as well as some longer 60 mile plus round trips
• lower co2 emissions and hence lower road tax rates.

Would I be made to purchase a post july 2008 say 1.6 diesel for mondeo/focus or vw jetta/Passat if I only do around 10k miles per year??

It's the type of use the car will be subjected to that should be focused on rather than the mileage per annum.

For example you will have no issues related to usage if a lot of your 10k miles is done on open road or motorways.

It would be a different story if you were doing that 10k miles in lots of stop/start situations though, the same goes if you are doing more such as 25k per annum in the same scenarios.

martin gillespie

The AA and other motor mags recon if you are not doing big millage and don't run the car at 70 mph at least once a week , it don't make sense.

Markcheese

martin gillespie wrote: »

The AA and other motor mags recon if you are not doing big millage and don't run the car at 70 mph at least once a week , it don't make sense.

So to all the guys with diesels who never go near a motorway ( there aren't many motorways down wesht) .... Ye're fecked !!