Is anyone buying new petrol cars?

Rowley Birkin QC

Just back from Joe Duffy BMW to get a recall job done on my car.

In the whole yard, brochure and showroom there was 1 single petrol car. Literally everything else was diesel.

Is anyone out there buying petrol cars anymore?

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

I buy petrol. I passionately hate diesel cars and will never buy one during my period of sojourn upon this earth.

MadYaker

Nobody is buying petrol BMWs, but a few people are buying other petrol cars with small engines. Stuff like corsas, yaris, fiestas etc.

RandomAccess

Good few MK7 Golfs with TSi badges around Dublin.
I think we will start to see a bit of a swing away from diesel as the default choice due to a good bit of negative coverage in the media about reliability and total cost of ownership not adding up to savings.

Comhrá

I bought a new Audi A3 Saloon 1.4 TFSI last Feb. I was warned by various sales people about residuals and so forth, but I only do < 8000 km per year so didn't want a diesel.

In 2016 I'm hoping to get a new A4 and I'm hoping my petrol A3 will still have a good trade-in value. I agree the smaller-engined petrol cars should hold their value better than say, 2.0L models.

I prefer petrol all the way. Almost as economical as the diesels too.

Big Wex fan

I've heard that some people have bought diesels and then run into problems because they are only using it for tricking around the place. With the modern pollution control systems they need a good long spin to burn off the particulates properly.

NIMAN

Big Wex fan wrote: »

I've heard that some people have bought diesels and then run into problems because they are only using it for tricking around the place. With the modern pollution control systems they need a good long spin to burn off the particulates properly.

But very few salesmen will tell you this.

As for the original question, according to 2014 stats, 25.2% of new car sales were petrol.

http://www.beepbeep.ie/stats/

mgbgt1978

I guess we will see a lot more petrol cars coming on stream as Ford introduce their 1 litre EcoBoost engine into the Modeo and Focus.

Should be interesting to see how well this engine stands up vs the diesel models.

MadYaker

1 litre engine in a mondeo?? How much does a new mondeo weigh? I know its a turbo but surely a 1.0 would have to work it's arse off to move a mondeo which would mean much faster wear and tear.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if these engines are being designed to last the warranty and then whatever happens, happens.

Voodoomelon

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Just back from Joe Duffy BMW to get a recall job done on my car.

In the whole yard, brochure and showroom there was 1 single petrol car. Literally everything else was diesel.

Is anyone out there buying petrol cars anymore?

I hope so, i'll be buying someones 760 in 2018!

I wish somebody could explain why they buy a diesel BMW. There is a car with elegance that sounds like a delivery van.

Hachiko

MadYaker wrote: »

1 litre engine in a mondeo?? How much does a new mondeo weigh? I know its a turbo but surely a 1.0 would have to work it's arse off to move a mondeo which would mean much faster wear and tear.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if these engines are being designed to last the warranty and then whatever happens, happens.

or less than the warranty, them eco boost ford fiestas with 120 or whatever hp will be lucky to get to the warranty period before blowing up.

I was in Ireland a week ago and saw that practically every car was a diesel, that was during quite extensive driving across the south.

NIMAN

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

I guess we will see a lot more petrol cars coming on stream as Ford introduce their 1 litre EcoBoost engine into the Modeo and Focus.

Should be interesting to see how well this engine stands up vs the diesel models.

AS someone who is thinking of changing, I have considered a small petrol car like the 1.0 Focus or the 1.2 Golf, but I am reading too many stories about exaggerated mpg claims and that they are very thirsty.

porsche959

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Just back from Joe Duffy BMW to get a recall job done on my car.

In the whole yard, brochure and showroom there was 1 single petrol car. Literally everything else was diesel.

Is anyone out there buying petrol cars anymore?

25% of all new cars are petrol-engined. However for cars of engine capacity of 3 litres over, only 1% are petrol.

Small engined petrol cars still sell in substantial quantities.

Lex Luthor

wife traded in her 2liter diesel for a 1.4 kia ceed recently (petrol), doing small mileage these days so makes sense long term

lomb

Deleted User wrote: »

I wish somebody could explain why they buy a diesel BMW. There is a car with elegance that sounds like a delivery van.

Because buying a new car is all about showing that you have something new and clean and your not a skanger. Buying a premium car shows the same but you want to show you have more money it doesn't necessarily mean you know anything about or like cars. Fact is most people who really like cars cant afford them new or don't want to throw their money away.
In the UK lease rates are very low for these vehicles so it much of a muchness if you lease a new Golf or a Bmw price wise.

NIMAN

Buying petrol would make a lot of sense for a lot of people, but if the Irish obsession with low car tax rates and diesels continues as it is, I wouldn't fancy trying to find a buyer when I come to sell in the future.

lomb

NIMAN wrote: »

Buying petrol would make a lot of sense for a lot of people, but if the Irish obsession with low car tax rates and diesels continues as it is, I wouldn't fancy trying to find a buyer when I come to sell in the future.

Doesn't matter, used cars are worth very little anyway percentage wise after a few years. Buy whatever you like is my opinion. I wouldn't factor in residuals as you might as well consider there to be none. That's a good starting point in new car purchase:pac:

DMW22

Ireland is completely obsessed by mpg.

I recently bought 09 MKV VW GTI and when I landed into work all I was asked was 'Is it 130 or 150bhp?' I looked at them with this face and replied saying it was 200bhp with a 2 litre turbo petrol engine and all they could do with this face :eek: was say 'That must be fierce hard on petrol, why didn't you get a diesel'. This usually cued me walking away while shaking my head. I didn't buy it expecting diesel economy but since I don't do the mileage I couldn't justify buying a tractor.

I'm delighted I bought it as I've wanted one since I started driving and a month on I still find myself just standing back and looking at it but the most important thing is it keeps a smile on my face.

Gavman84

Iv my petrol Accord for sale for a week now and not a single text or call. I think it being petrol is going to make it harder to sell than I thought. I'll hold onto it if needs be mind not giving it away it's lovely and needs nothing.

BMJD

MadYaker wrote: »

Nobody is buying petrol BMWs, but a few people are buying other petrol cars with small engines. Stuff like corsas, yaris, fiestas etc.

charging between €2350 and €2652 per year in motortax is effectively banning decent petrol engines, it's beyond ridiculous

NIMAN

BMJD wrote: »

charging between €2350 and €2652 per year in motortax is effectively banning decent petrol engines, it's beyond ridiculous

But didn't you know, they are helping us save the planet.

Sure we now live in a world where they are banning powerful vacuum cleaners ffs.

Hachiko

tax rate for petrols is insane in Ireland, its keeping me away from ever wanting to work in the place.

derry

NIMAN wrote: »

But didn't you know, they are helping us save the planet.

Sure we now live in a world where they are banning powerful vacuum cleaners ffs.

Well hospitals found that certain people would use powerful vacuums and end up coming to hospital to helped remove the hose from their dangly parts .So the EU introduced less power full vacuums to save on hospital costs from people that cant help shoving things into places they should not really shove them (just kidding )

No the EU communist run monster has gone mad and will expect us all to go around in a 200cc trabant next


derry

Atlantic Dawn

Within 5 years I can see a big reverse to petrol again, people are getting shocking bills for DPF issues and larger service bills than the petrol models. In the meantime the bargains for used petrol cars in this country are incredible, hard to keep a straight face when buying, all good.

Rowley Birkin QC

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Within 5 years I can see a big reverse to petrol again, people are getting shocking bills for DPF issues and larger service bills than the petrol models. In the meantime the bargains for used petrol cars in this country are incredible, hard to keep a straight face when buying, all good.

Bargains at the moment are unreal but noone has bought my new car for me and taken the hit on depreciation.

Any kind of 5-7 year old interesting petrol car is likely to command a rarity premium in the next few years methinks.

It was gas today to see one couple picking up their diesel car from some work, being told it was due a service in 10,000km and them saying we'll see you in 2016!

NIMAN

Hachiko wrote: »

tax rate for petrols is insane in Ireland, its keeping me away from ever wanting to work in the place.

Not all petrols.

The rates are quite low for the new range of small turbo charged ones likes the Ford Ecoboost or the VW Tsi.

flossy1

I went to change my 09 petrol civic . All I could hear was, Pity its not a diesel , wanted to buy another petrol civic ,was told to buy a diesel that if i bought petrol one when I go to change it agin I would get hard to' trade it in' So I bought a Jazz , I love it Easy on petrol, Easy to park , you sit high and not on floor , Will hold it's value

3rdDegree

I have a 1.8 petrol '06 Mazda 6. I know very little about cars, but I live in Dublin driving approx 35km per day, of which almost all is slow city driving. Surely most Dublin drivers are like me and for us to buy a diesel would be insane?

I always thought you had to drive diesels on to get value for money and to avoid engine problems - or is that no longer th case with modern diesels?

Cheers

BMJD

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Within 5 years I can see a big reverse to petrol again, people are getting shocking bills for DPF issues and larger service bills than the petrol models. In the meantime the bargains for used petrol cars in this country are incredible, hard to keep a straight face when buying, all good.

I don't mind shocking bills if I can save €20 a year on the tax!

Hachiko

NIMAN wrote: »

Not all petrols.

The rates are quite low for the new range of small turbo charged ones likes the Ford Ecoboost or the VW Tsi.

I want nice large n/a cc engines, not small ones with a turbo. owning the former in Ireland is a bit of a joke.

NIMAN

Agree, but hey, what you gonna do about it.
I miss my 2litre MR2

porsche959

Deleted User wrote: »

I wish somebody could explain why they buy a diesel BMW. There is a car with elegance that sounds like a delivery van.

To be fair, a car like a 520d makes sense for a sales rep or other person that does high mileage.

I'd like someone to explain to me why they would buy a diesel Porsche or Maserati (shudders). If you ask me such an automotive contradiction could only be bought by an idiot with too much money.

NIMAN

Hey, but the tax would be cheaper on a diesel Porsche! (the Irish way of thinking).

Hachiko

save 200 euro joe...!

porsche959

lomb wrote: »

Doesn't matter, used cars are worth very little anyway percentage wise after a few years. Buy whatever you like is my opinion. I wouldn't factor in residuals as you might as well consider there to be none. That's a good starting point in new car purchase:pac:

Bit hyperbolic to say there are no residuals.

After 3 or 6 years, both the % and value drop is much higher on, say, a BMW 7-series than on a Toyota 1.4D Econobox.

Now personally I have no interest in ever buying a 1.4D Econonobox, new or secondhand, but they make a rational purchase for the average motorist who just wants to get from A to B.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Bargains at the moment are unreal but noone has bought my new car for me and taken the hit on depreciation.

Any kind of 5-7 year old interesting petrol car is likely to command a rarity premium in the next few years methinks.

It was gas today to see one couple picking up their diesel car from some work, being told it was due a service in 10,000km and them saying we'll see you in 2016!

But in reality they'll be back within a few months as the engine light will have come on.

We're a nation of feckin sheep, people who do no mileage pay €2000 more for a diesel car to save €200 a year in tax.

My office colleague is a classic example. She drives 2km to work and 2km home, she visits mum/dad at weekends (60km) and whatever other bit of pottering about she does. She was telling me she was trading her 06 mini 1.6 petrol in for a 2012 Polo 1.4 TDi. I was advising her against it saying a petrol version would be cheaper and give less problems but she wouldn't listen, all her friends had diesels and so she needed one too. She's had it approx 10 months now and it's been back to the dealer at least 6 times since she got it. It runs like a faulty cement mixer, the engine light is constantly on and the car is jumpy and horrible to drive. Her DPF needs attention and its developed a sensor fault of sort. I tell her 'I told you so' at every opportunity.

Hachiko

sums up probably a lot of people in Ireland that....

porsche959

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

But in reality they'll be back within a few months as the engine light will have come on.

We're a nation of feckin sheep, people who do no mileage pay €2000 more for a diesel car to save €200 a year in tax.

My office colleague is a classic example. She drives 2km to work and 2km home, she visits mum/dad at weekends (60km) and whatever other bit of pottering about she does. She was telling me she was trading her 06 mini 1.6 petrol in for a 2012 Polo 1.4 TDi. I was advising her against it saying a petrol version would be cheaper and give less problems but she wouldn't listen, all her friends had diesels and so she needed one too. She's had it approx 10 months now and it's been back to the dealer at least 6 times since she got it. It runs like a faulty cement mixer, the engine light is constantly on and the car is jumpy and horrible to drive. Her DPF needs attention and its developed a sensor fault of sort. I tell her 'I told you so' at every opportunity.

I hope this person is young enough to have missed the property bubble, by the sounds of it she would have bought a €300k apartment in 2006 in Bulgaria "because all my friends are doing it".

porsche959

If Porsche ever bring out a diesel variant of the 911, we can call time on Western civilisation and say "we're done, folks."

CiniO

porsche959 wrote: »

I hope this person is young enough to have missed the property bubble, by the sounds of it she would have bought a €300k apartment in 2006 in Bulgaria "because all my friends are doing it".

Was buying €300k apartment in 2006 in Bulgaria a bad business?

porsche959

CiniO wrote: »

Was buying €300k apartment in 2006 in Bulgaria a bad business?

I suspect buying an apartment almost anywhere in 2006 was a "bad business", I think Bulgaria was particularly over-heated and corrupt IIRC, or that was the reputation it had?

The "petrol??? shure you'd be mad to buy a petrol car" mantra strikes me as redolent of the "shure rent is dead money" and similar mantras spouted during the property bubble - classic groupthink. Not unique to Ireland by any means, but we seem to be particularly susceptible to it.

v10

Deleted User wrote: »

I wish somebody could explain why they buy a diesel BMW. There is a car with elegance that sounds like a delivery van.

This is why I chose diesel for my BMW ..


In my opinion the petrol make no financial sense. I also have a delivery van, and it sounds very different to my car !

NIMAN

That is the exception to the rule of petrol versions being cheaper than diesel equivalent.

Voodoomelon

DMW22 wrote: »

Ireland is completely obsessed by mpg.

I recently bought 09 MKV VW GTI and when I landed into work all I was asked was 'Is it 130 or 150bhp?' I looked at them with this face and replied saying it was 200bhp with a 2 litre turbo petrol engine and all they could do with this face :eek: was say 'That must be fierce hard on petrol, why didn't you get a diesel'. This usually cued me walking away while shaking my head. I didn't buy it expecting diesel economy but since I don't do the mileage I couldn't justify buying a tractor.

I'm delighted I bought it as I've wanted one since I started driving and a month on I still find myself just standing back and looking at it but the most important thing is it keeps a smile on my face.

I've had large engined petrols for the last 6 years and I could count on one hand the amount of people who have said " you know what, you're dead right" when I tell them my logic, my low annual mileage, better reliability, great power, massive spec and minimum depreciation.

There aren't enough hands in the county to count the amount of people who have said the opposite. Goons.

My sister was in the market for a 2007ish Focus and she got one of the SIX 1.6 petrol models for sale in the country. She'll be better off too with the driving she does, maybe 10k miles a year.

Idbatterim

I constantly get remarks in work about my E46 325ci bm, oh things must be going well etc :rolleyes: yeah, your new or nearly new mondeo, passat etc are losing more in a year in depreciation that my nearly £60,000 2003 uk import is worth... yeah the tax is probably E800 more (but what are they losing on depreciation & interest if applicable?) insurance was less than E300 last year TPFT, D,14, 29 y.o male. Put E20 a week into her, who cares about fuel economy when you do no mileage?

Hachiko

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I've had large engined petrols for the last 6 years and I could count on one hand the amount of people who have said " you know what, you're dead right" when I tell them my logic, my low annual mileage, better reliability, great power, massive spec and minimum depreciation.

There aren't enough hands in the county to count the amount of people who have said the opposite. Goons.

My sister was in the market for a 2007ish Focus and she got one of the SIX 1.6 petrol models for sale in the country. She'll be better off too with the driving she does, maybe 10k miles a year.

nuts, i passed a few filling stations in towns last week and could not even see petrol on sale ffs

Chris_Heilong

Hachiko wrote: »

nuts, i passed a few filling stations in towns last week and could not even see petrol on sale ffs

I dont think it will ever come to that,
still many cars on the road are petrol, all my family drive petrol(4 cars) and alot of the cars 10 years or older are also petrol so Im not worried about us abandoning the green pump anytime soon.

Hachiko

i saw at least 1 place that only had diesel, that or they were coy on availability on petrol. it had a big sign out front with 'Diesel' xxx Eu written on what looked like cardboard, with no mention of petrol at all, from what i experienced i was not at all surprised with the glut of diesel cars on the roads.

Simonigs1.0

DMW22 wrote: »

Ireland is completely obsessed by mpg.

I recently bought 09 MKV VW GTI and when I landed into work all I was asked was 'Is it 130 or 150bhp?' I looked at them with this face and replied saying it was 200bhp with a 2 litre turbo petrol engine and all they could do with this face :eek: was say 'That must be fierce hard on petrol, why didn't you get a diesel'. This usually cued me walking away while shaking my head. I didn't buy it expecting diesel economy but since I don't do the mileage I couldn't justify buying a tractor.

I'm delighted I bought it as I've wanted one since I started driving and a month on I still find myself just standing back and looking at it but the most important thing is it keeps a smile on my face.

Same thing happened to me. Landed into work in my RCZ last month, and the look of near disgust on people's faces when I told them it wasn't a diesel but a 1.6 turbo petrol, was priceless.

Rowley Birkin QC

Simonigs1.0 wrote: »

Same thing happened to me. Landed into work in my RCZ last month, and the look of near disgust on people's faces when I told them it wasn't a diesel but a 1.6 turbo petrol, was priceless.

I'm not too bad that way, boss drives a 3.0 petrol Jag and keeps bugging me about buying a proper (6 cylinder) BMW!

But yeah, a lot of people are horrified at the sheer thought of a petrol car these days, pity.