Diesel or Petrol
57 replies
JVB66 replied on 19/12/2019 18:58
huskydog replied on 19/12/2019 19:03
Posted on 19/12/2019 18:50 by JVB66But most households with only one driver keep their costs far lower by having less or one versatile vehicle with the cost savings to match
EmilysDad replied on 19/12/2019 19:24
Posted on 19/12/2019 18:50 by JVB66But most households with only one driver keep their costs far lower by having less or one versatile vehicle with the cost savings to match
Posted on 19/12/2019 19:24
I get what you're saying, but running a Smart for work (50 miles round trip) I feel is cheaper in the long run than running a leviathan gas guzzling 4x4 tank on a daily basis and SWMBO has her own car. Maybe in a few years time when on a pension things might be different
EmilysDad replied on 19/12/2019 19:28
Posted on 19/12/2019 19:03 by huskydogI’m not like most people as well ( as I’ve been told) ,I am the only driver but I’ve got 3 vehicles
Lutz replied on 19/12/2019 20:46
Posted on 19/12/2019 10:09 by JVB66That's not the experiance I have had with the petrol version of the identical diesel version we now have
as posted earlier, both have turbo
Petrol may have the same bhp but not the torque of a diesel that a decent tow car requires
Posted on 19/12/2019 20:46
First of all it's horsepower that gets the car and caravan over the hill, not torque.
That aside, but the latest generation of turbo petrols, such as the 6cyl. BMW engine, develop maximum torque at well below 1500rpm, which is about the same as the equivalent diesel and with upwards of 450Nm of torque, there's plenty of that, too.
Conqueror2 replied on 20/12/2019 07:12
Conqueror2 replied on 20/12/2019 07:18
Posted on 19/12/2019 18:17 by LutzThose were the old turbo petrol engines that were tuned for performance only. Modern ones tuned for economy can easily match the bhp and torque characteristics of a diesel.
Posted on 20/12/2019 07:18
Lutz....My thinking is very much in line with your comments. As petrol engines now more effective, and torque powerful, they seem to be suitable for towing. Diesel are ideal but petrol suitable. The residual value of diesels are possibly on a downward slope due to environmental issues.
Are you able to be specific as to which tow car you have, weight of your caravan and consumption, with and without caravan.
With regards
replied on 20/12/2019 08:25
63ellsbells replied on 20/12/2019 09:06
Posted on 19/12/2019 17:18 byMy previous merc with a V6 3l engine gradually built up to 26.2 mpg after 8 years. The present E220 Estate has gradually climbed in 4 years from 26 until on the last trip just over 30. That was measured brim to brim over 2430 miles towing 1500kg and with the car heavily loaded and a roof box on
Posted on 20/12/2019 09:06
Pretty decent figures there David I would say, for a big estate. I don’t often check my mpg, but I think I’m getting around 26mpg whilst towing. Not sure about solo but my long term trip meter is showing around 22,000 miles with averages of 36mpg and 42mph. It’s the Audi version of the Merc, with the 3.0V6 BiTDi so 320bhp & 650Nm - more than happy with the diesel 
Conqueror2