Credit crunch cars: petrol or diesel?
Nowadays we are all trying to save a little where we can and, even if you don’t drive thousands of miles a year, the cost of running a car can have a significant impact on your bank balance. One false economy, however, is not having your car serviced – a regularly serviced car is more efficient, more reliable and will always save you money in the long run.
In terms of which type of car to choose - and leaving the cost of purchase to one side - there are several factors to take into account when weighing up petrol versus diesel:
Car tax
Due to their improved emissions, diesel cars find it much easier to squeeze into the lower tax brackets than their petrol equivalents. The difference can be quite staggering: the diesel powered Volkswagen golf 1.9 tdi BlueMotion sneaks in at just £35 per year for example, whereas its 1.6 petrol counterpart comes in at £150 per year. Indeed, some diesels - such as the VW Polo BlueMotion - are so green that they are exempt from tax altogether.
Fuel prices and economy
Recent months have seen the traditional difference between petrol and diesel prices eroded. Whereas diesel has typically cost around 10% more than petrol, the difference is now as little as 1%. This means that right now having a diesel – which is typically around 30% more fuel efficient – will save you money on fuel. The AA put the cost per mile of running a diesel at 7.59p, and the cost of running a petrol car at 9.41p.
Performance and noise
The days of diesel cars being seen as the unfortunate heavier and noisier cousin of the sleek petrol option are long gone. Although perhaps a decibel or two louder, modern turbocharged diesel engines are easily a match for their petrol equivalents in terms of performance. They also offer improved torque at lower revs, thus making them a good choice if you are towing. Having your car regularly serviced will also ensure that its performance is maximised and both its noise and environmental pollution is minimised.
Repairs and parts
As diesel cars cost more than petrol, it figures that the cost of replacement parts for repairs will be higher. In their Motoring Costs 2009 survey, the AA put the cost per mile of replacement parts for a diesel at 2.29p, versus 1.85p for petrol.
Servicing
Diesel Cars can be slightly more expensive to service, but may also need servicing slightly less often. Over time the cost of servicing is likely to be similar for diesel and petrol, and ensuring that your car is serviced regularly will save you money in the long run.
Overall, the AA survey puts the cost of running a diesel at 15.25p per mile, and the cost of running a petrol at 17.49p per mile. So the diesel wins out - the main difference being the cost of fuel, and the improved efficiency of a diesel. Once you factor in the cost of buying a diesel, however, it could take you several years to see the overall benefits of the day-to-day savings of running a diesel.