Diesel or petrol?
I would appreciate some advice regarding the annual running costs of diesel versus petrol. We have been running two diesel cars. My Audi A4 is 08 registered diesel - currently just under 42,000 miles on the clock. My wife has an A3 Cabriolet diesel - 09 plate just had its first service at 18,000 miles. We are in our 60s - now thinking of how to reduce motoring costs. We are big Audi fans
Asked on 21 January 2010 by DH, Spaldwick, Cambs
Answered by
Honest John
Depends how long you run them for. But between years 4 to 6 these are some of the typical expenses you could face with a 2011 model diesel car that you would be very unlikely to suffer with a petrol engined car: Replacement Diesel Particulate Filter: £500 - £1,300.
Replacement Dual Mass Flywheel and Clutch: £1,000 - £1,500. Replacement Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve: £500 - £750. Replacement turbo: £1,500 - £2,000. Replacement turbo intercooler: £500 - £1,000. So basically a diesel saves maybe 10 - 20mpg and saves maybe 20% on your fuel.
But the cost of that could be £6,000 over 6 years. So unless you do mega miles, or get rid of your car at 3 years old, a sensible size, sensible output petrol engine makes more sense. (I get 49mpg out of a petrol engine.)
Replacement Dual Mass Flywheel and Clutch: £1,000 - £1,500. Replacement Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve: £500 - £750. Replacement turbo: £1,500 - £2,000. Replacement turbo intercooler: £500 - £1,000. So basically a diesel saves maybe 10 - 20mpg and saves maybe 20% on your fuel.
But the cost of that could be £6,000 over 6 years. So unless you do mega miles, or get rid of your car at 3 years old, a sensible size, sensible output petrol engine makes more sense. (I get 49mpg out of a petrol engine.)
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