Diesel engine cars

As ever, it depends on your annual mileage, journey length, and whether you like the sound of a diesel. 

A modern diesel doesn't damage the population's health if it's generally used out of town and on journeys of 20 miles plus. A petrol engine 'might' be worse for the planet if used on the motorway. 

I've had diesel saloons for over eleven years, but a year ago my commute dropped from 500 miles per week to forty. If the car needs some expensive repairs and starts to feel worn out, I'll probably buy a petrol car. I'd miss the twin turbo diesel torque though. 

I love my diesel as the overall blend of performance and economy really works for me.

Would i buy another ? With the tide turning against diesel probably not. I'll keep this for a few more years and then look to go electric. 

I suspect many cities are likely to follow Paris and ban or restrict/penalise diesel vehicles. Might be a factor depending on where you live. I have a feeling Govt will penalise diesel fuel vs petrol too as well at some point.

Personally I'd now go petrol unless I did a lot of long journeys. Resale value of diesels is further eroding the price/economy benefits. I won't change my (brilliant) Volvo diesel until I'm ready to do so but I suspect it will be my last oil burner. I note Volvo have said they will no longer develop the diesel engines in their range; this generation will be their last.

Modern turbo petrol engines are pretty efficient-and quite torquey too.

Bruce

I have a diesel car (I have petrol as well)      I probably won't buy another for all the reasons we read about,  plus I am distrustful of the actual emissions of the latest Euro-6 diesels in operating conditions.  I read reports that some comply under the Euro regulation test conditions whereas they fail to do so quite dramatically on real life road test conditions.

At the moment my next car will be a petrol hybrid,  I would for sure go for a full all electric,  but the range is nowhere good enough for one of my regular journeys.

I went through that same debate earlier this year.  I had a 2.1 4-cyclinder diesel in a C-class Mercedes.  It was very economical, had plenty of torque and would cruise quietly.  But when cold and at idle is was clattery and you could feel the vibration. When the revs climbed is wasn't exactly sonorous. Being 4 years old and not to the latest EU emissions standards there was also the prospect of extra tax/levies.  So I was very tempted to switch back to petrol. However when I looked at petrol alternatives I found there was little choice in the Mercedes range of interest to me. In recent years it seems many manufacturers have pushed diesels and scaled back petrol models.  In the end I went for a replacement with a V6 diesel which has an 'adblue' tank to reduce emissions to the latest EU standards.  I've had this diesel engine previously and knew of its sweetness and willingness to rev. In short, it's a peach. While not as economical as my C-class it is averaging 35 mpg and I do mostly short trip around town so I'm fine with that. Road tax is even cheaper.

I figured that its going to take authorities some years to work out a policy for achieving (another) step-change in vehicle emissions and then there will be quite an implementation period before diesels become prohibitively taxed or banned.  My guess is 5 to 10 years. By then I'll probably have changed the car again so I think plumping for a diesel now isn't really buying obsolescence.  

We had a diesel BMW X5. It was OK, but we wouldn't buy another one. I doubt we'll buy another ICE at all. Our next car and every one after that is more than likely going to be fully electric.

Nearly all of my driving is long distance, on motorways and open A-roads, and almost never in towns and cities. For me, Diesel is a no-brainer given the huge difference in fuel consumption. It seems to me that the fact that it has fallen out of favour is down to the fact that climate change denial is rife, and with carbon emissions all but disappearing from the political agenda it is very convenient for governments, especially as they will no doubt hike up punitive taxes on diesel drivers to boost their tax revenues.  

I just love my diesel and would buy another one any day. I find VW's decision to stop offering diesels in North America a miserable decision unless they could offer 800 km autonomy electrics in the very near future.

Diesels are lovely cars to drive in many ways but have always been marginal in terms of emissions. They're essentially dead in two of the three largest markets, China and the U.S and dying in the third, Europe. As has been said above, hybrid and electric are the future with very efficient gas as the transitional form. I would not tecommend a new diesel purchase unless you plan to drive your car to to the end of it's life. The other factor favoring electric cars and not often mentioned is a total lack of noise and vibration compared to gas and diesel. They also require so little routine maintenance that here in the US you're starting to hear concerns about a cratering of the auto repair business.

Car345- Your 800km battery and superfast charging are in the very near future, say five years. 

Clay Bingham posted:

Diesels are lovely cars to drive in many ways but have always been marginal in terms of emissions. They're essentially dead in two of the three largest markets, China and the U.S and dying in the third, Europe. As has been said above, hybrid and electric are the future with very efficient gas as the transitional form. I would not tecommend a new diesel purchase unless you plan to drive your car to to the end of it's life. The other factor favoring electric cars and not often mentioned is a total lack of noise and vibration compared to gas and diesel. They also require so little routine maintenance that here in the US you're starting to hear concerns about a cratering of the auto repair business.

Car345- Your 800km battery and superfast charging are in the very near future, say five years. 

 

5 years would be ok as my car will then be over 200,000km.  

As for concerns about the auto repair business, I have also heard complaints a few years ago when synthetic oil started to replace mineral oils but I have not seen any mechanic shops going out of business!

Thanks for all your comments, i think I will stay with petrol.

I have a 2014 Golf gtd. it’s fine, I’m happy with it and intend to keep it a few more years. 

They knew 20 + years ago about diesel particulates and that they give you cancer. From that info I have never and will never own one. I’d rather drive a petrolp car which I know is killing us but no one ignores its death rating and pretends its somehow kinder than an alternative.

Southweststokie posted:

Thanks for all your comments, i think I will stay with petrol.

Stick with what you know. It's safer.

Electric is still in its infancy, so too soon to buy at present. It's an unknown. And at present the range/refuel time/location is inadequate

Diesel is my choice here in the UK because of its economy and reliability.

In Canada its petrol. Simply because diesel fuel, until recently, wasn't quite so readily to be found.

winkyincanada posted:

We had a diesel BMW X5. It was OK, but we wouldn't buy another one. I doubt we'll buy another ICE at all. Our next car and every one after that is more than likely going to be fully electric.

Not sure how long ago you owned one; we've a diesel X5, a pretty new one, and it's a brilliant car for our needs - carting two dogs & a fair bit of kit on the 300 miles up & down to the Lake District from Suffolk, sometimes though severe weather, in relaxed, fast, comfort. Petrol vehicle's not a viable option in the circumstances. 

Don Atkinson posted:

Southweststokie posted:

Thanks for all your comments, i think I will stay with petrol.

Stick with what you know. It's safer.

Electric is still in its infancy, so too soon to buy at present. It's an unknown. And at present the range/refuel time/location is inadequate.

Diesel is my choice here in the UK because of its economy and reliability.

In Canada its petrol. Simply because diesel fuel, until recently, wasn't quite so readily to be found.

"And at present the range/refuel time/location is inadequate" ........ for for long distances, but not for of day-to-day driving for very many people. Don spends a good portion of his life driving long distances so prefers to be able to re-fuel quickly. For a lot of the rest of us, the convenience of being able to charge at home, rather than visit gas stations, is more important than having short delays on the occasional long journeys we do. A car that travels 30,000 km (19,000 miles) per year averages just 82 km (50 miles) per day. The new Nissan Leaf (for example) has triple that range. The new Chevy Bolt has more than 5 times that range, as do base-model Teslas.

All cities have stated an intent to ban, no more than hot air.

And there we have a great example of when 'average' is of little use. 

If the owner does one journey per week of 300 miles, they're going to find the convenience of the electric car on the other six days of little comfort.  

winkyincanada posted:

Don Atkinson posted:

Southweststokie posted:

Thanks for all your comments, i think I will stay with petrol.

Stick with what you know. It's safer.

Electric is still in its infancy, so too soon to buy at present. It's an unknown. And at present the range/refuel time/location is inadequate.

Diesel is my choice here in the UK because of its economy and reliability.

In Canada its petrol. Simply because diesel fuel, until recently, wasn't quite so readily to be found.

"And at present the range/refuel time/location is inadequate" ........ for for long distances, but not for of day-to-day driving for very many people.Don spends a good portion of his life driving long distances so prefers to be able to re-fuel quickly. For a lot of the rest of us, the convenience of being able to charge at home, rather than visit gas stations, is more important than having short delays on the occasional long journeys we do. A car that travels 30,000 km (19,000 miles) per year averages just 82 km (50 miles) per day. The new Nissan Leaf (for example) has triple that range. The new Chevy Bolt has more than 5 times that range, as do base-model Teslas.

It's a bit more than that winky.

I have one vehicle in Canada, A CRV. It's versatile. Good for local trips as well as long journeys. As Tony points out above, "averages" are of little use.

Even on "days out" from Vernon, I often drive well into the Monashees, park up for the day to go hiking then return in evening. The roundtrip range has to be guaranteed in all weathers on both dirt roads and surfaced roads.

Likewise in the UK, a day trip to, say Snowdon, to walk the Horseshoe, needs the return range. There are not enough recharge points in the Llanberis Pass !

Versatility is important.

Tony Lockhart posted:

And there we have a great example of when 'average' is of little use. 

If the owner does one journey per week of 300 miles, they're going to find the convenience of the electric car on the other six days of little comfort.  

Yes, that's absolutely true. We would do a one-day journey that out-distances the 240 km range of a Nissan Leaf perhaps once a year. So for us, 3 X the average range is just fine. (Personally, I would hate a life where I had to drive 300 miles in a day every week)

Don Atkinson posted:

winkyincanada posted:

Don Atkinson posted:

Southweststokie posted:

Thanks for all your comments, i think I will stay with petrol.

Stick with what you know. It's safer.

Electric is still in its infancy, so too soon to buy at present. It's an unknown. And at present the range/refuel time/location is inadequate.

Diesel is my choice here in the UK because of its economy and reliability.

In Canada its petrol. Simply because diesel fuel, until recently, wasn't quite so readily to be found.

"And at present the range/refuel time/location is inadequate" ........ for for long distances, but not for of day-to-day driving for very many people.Don spends a good portion of his life driving long distances so prefers to be able to re-fuel quickly. For a lot of the rest of us, the convenience of being able to charge at home, rather than visit gas stations, is more important than having short delays on the occasional long journeys we do. A car that travels 30,000 km (19,000 miles) per year averages just 82 km (50 miles) per day. The new Nissan Leaf (for example) has triple that range. The new Chevy Bolt has more than 5 times that range, as do base-model Teslas.

It's a bit more than that winky.

I have one vehicle in Canada, A CRV. It's versatile. Good for local trips as well as long journeys. As Tony points out above, "averages" are of little use.

Even on "days out" from Vernon, I often drive well into the Monashees, park up for the day to go hiking then return in evening. The roundtrip range has to be guaranteed in all weathers on both dirt roads and surfaced roads.

Likewise in the UK, a day trip to, say Snowdon, to walk the Horseshoe, needs the return range. There are not enough recharge points in the Llanberis Pass !

Versatility is important.

Like I said, it is a good portion of your life that you spend in the car.

tonym posted:

winkyincanada posted:

We had a diesel BMW X5. It was OK, but we wouldn't buy another one. I doubt we'll buy another ICE at all. Our next car and every one after that is more than likely going to be fully electric.

Not sure how long ago you owned one; we've a diesel X5, a pretty new one, and it's a brilliant car for our needs - carting two dogs & a fair bit of kit on the 300 miles up & down to the Lake District from Suffolk, sometimes though severe weather, in relaxed, fast, comfort. Petrol vehicle's not a viable option in the circumstances. 

We had it few years. It was the last version of the model just before the current "shape". Easily the most unreliable vehicle I have owned in 30 years. But nice to drive, for sure. Internal room for cargo in the back was actually significantly less than the Toyota RAV4 that it replaced. We bought a roof box.

I like mike also own a diesel and a petrol, ... a BMW 320D efficient dynamics with its measured average 65mpg, and a Skoda Citigo, for the small journeys and the kids use... a cracking car and great for some Suffolk country lanes where bigger cars can be a drawback... however I will probably go hybrid on my next... ideally I would like diesel/electric hybrid as you would get the best of both worlds... I do need the range and comfort for my semi regular trips from Suffolk down to the Berner Oberland.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I like mike also own a diesel and a petrol, ... a BMW 320D efficient dynamics with its measured average 65mpg, and a Skoda Citigo, for the small journeys and the kids use... a cracking car and great for some Suffolk country lanes where bigger cars can be a drawback... however I will probably go hybrid on my next... ideally I would like diesel/electric hybrid as you would get the best of both worlds... I do need the range and comfort for my semi regular trips from Suffolk down to the Berner Oberland.

Are electric cars all dual-voltage ? eg 240V Europe and the UK or 110V N America ?

Does it matter ?

It doesn’t matter for charging points which use a different standard.