The big debate petrol or diesel?

Renault TwingoWhether buying a car, either new or second hand, you have many options, least of all what type of engine should you choose – Petrol or diesel.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Talking with a reputable approved Ford local dealer such as JenningsFordDirect will help you to decide what fuel type will suit your needs but what are the considerations?

In years gone by the diesel car was noisy and the scourge of the environment spewing dirty black exhaust fumes, however the lower cost of diesel at the pump and the fuel economy from the diesel engine made them a viable option for some. In recent years advances in diesel engine technology, cleaner fuel and the cost of diesel and petrol at the pump has narrowed the gap between the two engine types. If you are looking for a performance vehicle then there is no doubt that you should, or may even have no option but to, choose a petrol car. However for a general family car or run around a diesel often proves to be a more than capable alternative.

Experts at WhatCar? point to five key considerations or comparisons to make when choosing fuel type:

1. Initial purchase of the vehicle – Generally you’ll pay more for a diesel version of the same car.

2. Running cost – Currently diesel is about 6.6p per litre more than petrol. It will cost approximately £3.30 more to fill a diesel car than a petrol car but the diesel car will go further. It may cost 5% more to fill up but you may be able to travel up to 25% further.

3. Vehicle depreciation – Having already said that a diesel car will cost you more from new, you would hope that resale value would be higher. This is indeed the case and often diesel vehicles depreciate at a lower rate that their petrol counterparts.

4. Driving experience – The big difference between the diesel and petrol car in terms of performance is how each delivers its power. The torque of a diesel car is available at lower revs so you can change up earlier – this tends to make for a more relaxing drive. For a more exciting drive it is difficult to ignore the racier nature of most petrols especially if they have been tuned for higher performance.

5. Economy – It is a fact that a diesel car will use less fuel than the equivalent petrol model. The gap, however, may not be as big as official figure suggest. The WhatCar? real world true MPG test allows you to compare models.

The debate will rumble on and much is purely down to personal preference and circumstances. The best advice is to decide what matters most to you and take it from there. Visiting web sites such as Which or the AA will provide further information and useful calculators and tools to help you make the right choice.

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