Viewing: Head vs Heart

***waynne*** · 22-10-2010, 08:13 AM

My head is telling me that Diesels are great, economical powerful torquey and fantastic. My heart is telling me that I want a petrol?

Am I alone? Can you help convince my heart that Diesels are a good idea? (Or perhaps you could help my heart convince my head that I'm better of with a Petrol!)

What is it about Diesels that is preventing me from making the jump!

**pgarner** · 22-10-2010, 10:18 AM

the noise

think my head will win next time and get the dervs

**ronniecalcutta** · 22-10-2010, 10:24 AM

Noisy days are gone Pgarner... you can go for your head Waynne, with a turbocharged engine...but I suggest to follow your heart, it'll keep disturbing you...

. Besides I think petrols are more friendly to modifications...

***HDi fun*** · 22-10-2010, 11:27 AM

You could always take a test drive and see whether your heart will allow the derv route. Unless you're after top dollar machinery like the sueprcharged Jag XF I think you'll get more performance per £ with derv.

**Yugguy** · 22-10-2010, 11:55 AM

f you're not concerned with mpg then go for a nice big petrol. If mpg is a concern but you still want some grunt, get a diesel and remap it.

Love my diesel but once I have the pennies it will be swapped for something automatic and V8

***HDi fun*** · 22-10-2010, 12:25 PM

Nothing wrong with an automatic diesel V8

**misenthrop** · 22-10-2010, 04:50 PM

You've really got to drive it before you decide. A modern diesel engine is every bit as refined and quite as a petrol one.

***HDi fun*** · 22-10-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misenthrop

You've really got to drive it before you decide. A modern diesel engine is every bit as refined and quite as a petrol one.

I like you

**fredkruger** · 23-10-2010, 12:54 AM

but its the sound you get from a petrol v8.exhaust vroooooooooom.even on a small engined petrol with a nice performance exhaust.

***HDi fun*** · 23-10-2010, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredkruger

but its the sound you get from a petrol v8.exhaust vroooooooooom.even on a small engined petrol with a nice performance exhaust.

I don't agree with you on that front when it comes to 4 cylinder diesel engines. The supercharger(s) can make them sound like gas turbine engines under firm acceleration with the hysterical scream they emit and they don't even need dump valves.

**claymore** · 23-10-2010, 08:36 AM

having had many diesels, i always go back to petrol, it's all to do with the power delivery. I just don't like it, even in a BMW 330, bags of torque but no rev range, and you still have that diesel exhaust note.

**RobBentley** · 23-10-2010, 09:20 AM

I'm a firm petrol fan.. again because of the power delivery and rev-range. I've had and driven numerous diesels, but I always end up coming back to petrol.

***HDi fun*** · 23-10-2010, 12:27 PM

I'd gravitate to diesel simply because I love the midrange clout.

**jarrus** · 23-10-2010, 02:42 PM

Yep, you've got to love the midrange clout that turbo diesels offer,

and diesels do sound good these days especially with a performance pipe, go on the Milltek website and find the A5 3.0 TDI clip on there, you'll be presently surprised, and the Astra 1.9cdti on there as well

***waynne*** · 23-10-2010, 10:23 PM

Don't suppose they do a dual fuel petrol/diesel option?

***HDi fun*** · 23-10-2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynne

Don't suppose they do a dual fuel petrol/diesel option?

Not yet!

Seriously though, you should consider derv with an open mind, especially if you're going to buy new/nearly new with manufacturers warranty.

I think that the current diesel technology is beyond reproach in performance, refinement and FUEL economy terms. But it's quite immature, especially considering the very prescriptive emissions control systems.

With a new car you can stick to the 30,000+ mile service intervals. It's this which attracts fleet operators. But if you're buying new and plan to keep the car 10 years, let's say, then I'd advise you service much more often. Let's say no more than 20,000 or one year between major services.

Common rail diesels (my 2002 model year 2.2 HDi was one of these) deliver stonking performance in stock tune. The fuel economy isn't bad. Note that I'm not saying it's sensational either.

The midrange thump is addictive and all the time engine desingers are getting cleverer, the usable rev range gets better. One thing diesels are not good at is pulling from sub 1000rpm, despite what others say. A petrol engine will do that quite happily, even if it does it slowly at first.

Long term running costs can mount up though. As I said, the technology is still green and wet behind the ears, despite its spirited and muscular on-road performance.

Basically I suggest that you go and try a few diesel models alongside similarly priced petrol ones and see which you'd rather drive day in, day out.

**jarrus** · 24-10-2010, 12:26 AM

I have seen technology where engine burn petrol and diesel together and the results have been astonishing, they burn at different ratios depending on engine load etc,

I've been looking for the article on the Internet and haven't found it yet,

I'll let you guy know as soon as possible

**turbonutter69** · 24-10-2010, 02:21 AM

Waynne you know you want petrol power.

**jarrus** · 29-10-2010, 12:00 AM

Diesel all the way, you know it make sense,

TN has never owned a good diesel so wouldn't know ;P

**MasterAuron** · 29-10-2010, 11:20 AM

Stick with petrol if you don't do man miles Waynne. Diesel as a fuel is more expensive to buy in the first place, and usually diesel varients are more expensive than their petrol counterparts. Thus, unless you do a lot of miles you might find running a derv more expensive.

Not to mention considerably less fun than a turbocharged petrol car. You get a big grunt of torque for about 2k rpm them it's all over and you have to change up. Get a good petrol turbo car and you'll get a big shove right through the rev range.

Also, if its Audi's you're looking at, they do sound like tractors. As do Fords diesel engines. They are without a doubt noiser than any petrol engine I've heard. BMW's offerings though are brilliant in terms of noise and refinement.

**turbonutter69** · 29-10-2010, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrus

Diesel all the way, you know it make sense,

TN has never owned a good diesel so wouldn't know ;P

He would and he has.

I've had a few Diesels actually and i've had a fair few Courtesy cars that was diesel this year alone. All being more or less brand new.
yeah they got the Torque but as already said no rev range at all. Pointless imo.

***HDi fun*** · 29-10-2010, 01:15 PM

I dunno they're all that bad. My 406 was redlined at 5300.

OK, it's not as high as the 7500-7600 in a decent petrol engine but still usable.

I'd still take diesel for my liking of mid range slam.

**jarrus** · 29-10-2010, 02:22 PM

That's not entirely true ma,

My old 306 will pull from about 2500 rpm to 5k easy, it just depends on what you buy,

I do like petrols but they are a bit "ordinary" in the tuning world, time for something different I think

**MasterAuron** · 29-10-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrus

My old 306 will pull from about 2500 rpm to 5k easy, it just depends on what you buy,

Lol I think you've just proven my point. My GT will pull hard from 2k to 6k, runs out of puff after that due to the standard turbo but it will still rev to 7300rpm, you'll have changed gear three times by then

**jarrus** · 29-10-2010, 02:52 PM

Not really, granted my current gearbox is rubbish but with a different gearbox ten I think things will change, 1krpm isn't a great del difference and if I install the piper cam then I'll be able to make power to 6.5k with diesel torque that would make for one quick car...