diesel cars pros and cons

[searchlight]

A dealer told me there's no point in buying a 2nd hand diesel unless I was doing around 15,000 miles per year. I only do half that. He said such a low mileage would not be good for the car. What do you think?
Thanks

[ubasses]

as diesel is so much more expensive than petrol you have to do a high mileage every year before the extra mileage you get out of the diesel will break even

[New Judge]

I think that diesel engines are for lorries, railway locomotives and ships.

[rov1100]

Having driven both types I would stick clear of diesel. Not only is it smelly,extremely obnoxious if you get any on your skin from filling, etc, but is carcogenic if breathing in the fumes. Repairs can be very costly. Also the price of diesel is now higher than petrol so nulling the effect of a higher mpg.

[barney4444]

I do 3000 mls a year got a diesel avensis and love it, no smells, never let me down, so you buy the car you like and dont get bogged down with peoples prejudices....

[paddywak]

we've had focus estate diesels since we got Max nearly 10years ago, averaging around 10,000 miles a year and I've never had any complaints at all about them. When I told my mates I was getting a diesel I got all the usual comments about tractors etc and shortly after taking delivery we went up to Berwick on Tweed fishing and the lads were well impressed with the performance. On the way back we swapped drivers so they could "test drive" the car and now two of the three other drivers also drive focus diesels the third is going through belated boy racer spell since his divorce and drives an MG

[TWR]

What the dealer told you as bull sht Searchlight, regards doing less mileage is bad for a car, the pillock does not know a lot does he / she?

[ladybirder]

The Dealer is right. You would be wise to heed his advice. If you don't believe me read what the AA has to say about it or google it.

http://www.theaa.com/...s-guide/cbg_fuel.html

[joko]

diesel is not smelly, nor does it hurt or stain your skin...

these are all very old prejudices that are no longer founded.

it may be more expensive...but you get more miles to the gallon...

[ladybirder]

Agree joko, but you have to do a lot of miles to get your money back.

[welshlibranr]

My OH swears by diesel cars, as long as they have to work!.....he says that if you do low mileage they don't do well, he does lots of miles with his work, and would never buy a petrol car, he gets higher mpg and better reliability he says!........but if you just drive slowly around town, not a good idea!...his words, he's an auto fitter, so maybe he does know what he's talking about!.......me I drive around town and local mainly, so I have a petrol, suits me fine!..........horses for courses I suppose!...........

[joko]

id say diesel smells a bit like turps, is clear and a touch oily...

[Hopkirk]

New Judge is spot on, as usual.

[R1Geezer]

you should steer clear of diesel but for not for any of the reasons given here. The car sounds like a 10 ton truck but more importantly, like front wheel drive, it is the work of satan!

[Hopkirk]

Front wheel drive on a motorbike would not be wise, I agree - but in a car it's the best choice for most.

[Maydup]

Mine's a diesel and I do about 10,000 miles a year. (Average mileage)

The pros are that it starts first time every time all winter long.
It does good miles to the gallon ratio.
It does not smell
It is not noisy - you wouldn't know its diesel if I didn't tell you!

The cons are that diesel is not cheap anymore
If the injectors go it can be expensive but you can shop around and get a good fix.

To be honest I probably do agree with the dealer now that the price of fuel does not offer a benefit . I wouldn't necessarily bother next time. Modern cars start so much better these days and I'm not sure there is much to be gained now.

[RATTER15]

Rov1100, I think you are living in the past lol

We have a Diesel, it never misses a beat, and economical, quiet and never smells.

[R1Geezer]

wouldn't know it's a diesel! PMSL, if you're mutton perhaps! I've got a bet running with mate that if I can't tell if a car is a diesel standing next to it with my eyes shut, i'll buy it for him! He hasn't come close! I can hear one coming from the end of my road. Not smelly, not noisy? perlease, denial methinks!

[tali1]

Vast majority of new luxury cars are diesel
2nd hand diesel -it all depends on any extra premuim over a similar bhp petrol car -in most cases there is very little -so the 15,000miles shouldn't really factor