Diesel power is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. However is it actually worth the additional initial buying cost over a petrol model?
We all know diesel is more costly at the pump than petrol. But it’s acceptable when you get excellent fuel frugality.
Well, the price of diesel over petrol isn’t as black and white as you might think. There are numerous other issues to contemplate.
Petrol burning makes additional sense in certain replicas of car, if you do your enquiries. Statistically, you would have to travel 60,000 miles on average to break even. The best way to dig deeper is to way up the pros and cons of each.
|
Diesel Pros |
Petrol Pros |
|
Cheaper to tax |
Petrol vehicles are cheaper to buy |
|
Keep their value for a long period of time |
Cheaper at the pump |
|
Can carry heavier loads |
Better acceleration |
|
Vehicles last longer |
Clean fuel |
|
Can run on biodiesel which produces less CO2 |
Smoother and quieter |
|
Diesel Cons |
Petrol Cons |
|
Louder |
Requires more revs to pick up speed |
|
Filters needs to be cleaned more often |
Loses value quickly |
|
Dirty fuel |
Produces more CO2 emissions |
|
Require more power to start the engine |
Less miles per gallon |
|
Slower acceleration |
Not as reliable |
So, overall there are many factors to consider, each have their benefits and drawbacks. However, overall it depends on how you use your vehicle. If you travel long distances, a diesel car would be more cost effective in the long term. But, if you only use your vehicle for short trips, a petrol car would be more cost efficient.
Interesting Fact: New research has shown that car flags (like the ones many people attached to their car for the World Cup) cause you to use more fuel. This is because the flag creates extra drag on your vehicle. The more things that are ‘dragging’ your vehicle, the more energy it will need to use. The same thing happens with roof racks on vehicles.