As a known car nut who owns both petrol and diesel cars; I regularly get asked by work mates, friends, family etc for advice on buying cars. I have a pretty standard set of checks and I am interested to see how many other car nuts agree or disagree with my opinion.
RULES 1. Don’t buy any car under 1.4L (although there are a few notable exceptions to be considered on a case-by-case basis eg FIAT's multijet 1.3).
2. Don’t but a diesel over 2.5L (3.0 as an absolute maximum) because the efficiency benefits over petrol decrease as the cubic capacity increases.
3. A diesel engine MUST have the following: variable vane geometry turbo charger, common-rail, direct injection. Otherwise walk away.
4. Don’t buy a petrol car that insists on using super unleaded unless you are very rich. There is just no point in the stuff in my opinion.
5. Don’t opt for dual-fuel unless it you need it to make you feel less guilty about driving a car.
Bearing these points in mind ask the following questions: Q1: Do you drive under 15,000 miles per annum? Yes – buy a petrol No – go to Q2
Q2: Do you plan to buy a car with over 200 BHP? Yes – buy a petrol No – go to Q3
Q3: Can you put up with the dieselphobes slagging your car off? Yes – go to Q4 No – buy a petrol
Q4: Are you an overtly sporty driver who insists on revving your engine for the pleasure of it? Yes – buy a petrol No – buy a diesel
Originally posted by Dan1989: Although I would point out
A 5-Series 535d does more MPG than the equivalent petrol and its cheaper to buy in the first place.
And it still does 60 in 6.3 seconds and limited to 155
Good point and it is a car I rate very highly. I would have to class this as a 'notable exception' to my usual rules. Although I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that the 535d is actually a dual turbo version of the 3.0 engine so JUST creeps in under my 3.0L maximum rule.
1. Don’t buy any car under 1.4L (although there are a few notable exceptions to be considered on a case-by-case basis eg FIAT's multijet 1.3).
Disagree strongly. If it's a light car or has a real peach of a 1/1.2 litre in it, why not?
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2. Don’t but a diesel over 2.5L (3.0 as an absolute maximum) because the efficiency benefits over petrol decrease as the cubic capacity increases.
Again disagree, the VAG group and BMW diesels around 3 litres all strike me as good units. Equally I'd gladly buy a 2.7litre Citroen C6. Or the comparitve Jag.
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3. A diesel engine MUST have the following: variable vane geometry turbo charger, common-rail, direct injection. Otherwise walk away.
On a new car, yes. On an old, I don't care so long as it moves well and is relatively economical.
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4. Don’t buy a petrol car that insists on using super unleaded unless you are very rich. There is just no point in the stuff in my opinion.
Agree, but how many petrol cars do you run into that require super unleaded?
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5. Don’t opt for dual-fuel unless it you need it to make you feel less guilty about driving a car.
Agree
As for the questions, if you buy a car second hand the costs can work out even if you do low milages and If people take heavy loads/tow things a diesel is going to be better than a petrol.
I am always getting asked a for buying advise but i don't have a set of rules i ask what people want from their car then make suggestion, someone i know just wants a runaround for as little price as possible and will consider anything, the hardest part is filtering through the many car that can be considered!
Originally posted by biggbn: secondhand....buy the best qualtiy car you can afford....new...buy the best quality car you can afford...simple really......
In real terms you're right, unless you are stinking rich then you will shop by price, its the over-riding factor when people choose a car.
How many people would actually know what a variable geometry turbocharger is?
i should possibly have been more specific with that post....personally i have found that a better quality car, ie a saab, volvo, merc, bmw, honda etc.....will be a better ownership prospect both new and secondhand than a better specced 'cheaper' brand.....sure people will say, oh but they will cost a fortune if they go wrong...a- this is not always the case and b- they rarely go wrong if you buy well!!......id rather put my 500 quid or so into a saab 900, volvo 245, merc e class or the like than a mangy old escort or astra.....
for the questions, if you buy a car second hand the costs can work out even if you do low milages and If people take heavy loads/tow things a diesel is going to be better than a petrol.
I have discovered one snag to the diesel option mentioned.....to get a decent kerb weight for towing, many of the massmurderer cars, like pugs, etc are just too flimsy...even if they do have good diesels..
then there's the cheapo 4wd?
ok, they can tow...some can even carry heavy weights, but 4wd is a non-essential,power-sapping nuisance, and not overly comfortable on long hauls..(I'm talking the sub- 1K group)...so that leaves me with the likes of a big Volvo?
room aplenty...carries a big load....tows a heavy trailer...and gives comfort on ong hauls.....trouble is, the diesel version uses the likes of the VAG-Audi 5 pot..as used in the LT van?
and if I bought one of those, if I could find one, I'd best pull the head off and get it rebuilt properly..'cause they can be finicky.
ok, so there's the option of doing a home conversion..out of a passing tractor?
Originally posted by baldboy: Q1: Do you drive under 15,000 miles per annum?
Don't know why this one keeps getting quoted - many diesels are the same price for both types of engine and many have variable service intervals, so the low mileage/petrol, high/diesel is no longer really valid.
I would always say to people to go out there look around see what you like and test drive a few with different engines - decide what suits your style of driving and buy it - diesel or petrol, doesn't matter!
qj i love volvos, have owned several of them and currently run an old 164 (pics on t'other side...)...thinking about gettin it lpg converted cos it struggles to break 17mpg at the moment....
Originally posted by Roma: My advice: buy what YOU like!
But if we took this view then 50% of the road space would be filled by people (can't risk being sexist) who bought Peugeot 206's or Kia picanto's becuase they 'look pretty and come in a nice colour'
Arghhhhhhhhh
I am all for people choosing for themselves. But at least choose from a position of knowledge and understanding.
I just tell people looking for advice to buy a toyota corrolla or something, yeah a bit dull, but I won't lose friends by having them come back to me annoyed that the car I advised them to buy has blown a head gasket or something.
