Hi
Please could some-one tell me if a diesel Mercedes car is a good idea,I have a petrol one now,but there just seem's to be so many diesel one's for sale,and not sure if it would be a good idea to change.As there is such bad news about diesel cars.
I do very little mileage,maybe only about 5.000 a year.
for low mileage you don't want a diesel. There are lots for sale because people are shifting away from diesel because of the inevitable imminent government crack down. They are dirt cheap as a result. My advice is do not buy one and if you have one sell now while it's still worth a shilling.
If you're only doing about 5,000 miles a year a diesel is not for you, unless the mileage comprises a few long trips rather than lots of short ones, as diesels need a good blow-out every couple of weeks to keep the particle filters clear. If you're prepared to give it a good, hard run every couple of weeks you should get one at a bargain price and get the benefit of the better fuel economy.
I have one diesel car and one petrol car. Once the diesel car has come to the end of its life, I will replace it with a petrol model or a hybrid. I used to do a lot more mileage than I do now and I wouldn't touch a diesel if I were doing less than 15,000 miles per annum.
How can anyone claim that diesels are "cleaner" now? You only have to drive behind a smelly diesel vehicle or walk down a congested street in London with its diesel fumes to know that those particulates aren't doing anyone any good. Thank goodness for the new pollution charge in London.