Thread: Diesel vs Gas

Been driving Citroen diesel cars for over 20 years now and I'd hate to go back to petrol/gas. Currently have a 2 litre HDI Xsara Picasso and get 56-60 mpg on a British gallon. I've NEVER had an engine problem with them. Change the oil and filters regularly seems to be most of what they need.

I suppose I have to say I've never got more than about 150k miles from them but that's because every car I've had bar the current one and the previous Xsara saloon had been wrecked by other idiots running into them! My previous Xsara I sold to a friend's daughter as her first car about six years ago and it's going strong still. Must be heading to 200K by now.

I have read that British and European diesel is cleaner than the American stuff though. Quite a few people run older diesel cars on cooking oil rather than diesel as it's a lot cheaper! I'm told that the HDi engines don't like it as the viscosity id different and the on board computers shut the engine down!

Gareth

Originally Posted by JDCAL29

Here's the next topic for discussion.

I'm getting a manual transmission in this full sized truck when it happens.

Dodge quit offering a manual in 2008.
Ford, GMC, and Chevrolet quit offering it even earlier.
Toyota Tacoma offers manual in the 2011 - but it's a mid size
Nissan Truck? - probably not happening.

Do I get an older truck, or go with the '08 Dodge or the newer mid sized Tacoma?

I see you live in Minnesota. Back in the '70s I was living in Chisolm and working at the United States Steel taconite facility in Mountain Iron. American Bridge was erecting buildings there to process the taconite and I was working in the gang there. Nearby in Keewatin, on another construction site, the workers went through the parking lot with sledge hammers and destroyed every foreign made vehicle they found. Smashed and burned. Your question brought that event back to my memory.

Anyway, I would get a USA made vehicle regardless of new or used. With the state of the economy being what it is every little bit helps. I'd look at the gear ratio of the rear end too. A 410 might be better for towing heavy weight but a 373 will give better acceleration and mileage. I've driven many manual trans cars, trucks and vans throughout my life. I used to prefer them but have had knee problems come up that made me wish I'd chosen an automatic. My van , of course, is automatic and with a V8 is plenty gutsy to do whatever is needful.

This has to do with Fords as that is what I know...

It takes almost 200,000 miles to break even on the price difference between the big gas engine and the diesel last time I did the math,, That does not include the other costs that are higher then a HD gas engine...
Towing, check the stats most HD gas trucks tow more than the diesels but a diesel does it easier.

The new automatics like the one Ford has are pretty much bulletproof, the new tow/haul modes work better for uphill, downhill, and even in the snow and sand...
The new tow command modules stop a truck and trailer safer then ever before..

Now honestly don't take my word for it, get off the computer and go test drive them and see for yourself...

But if I were buying one knowing what I know I would buy the big huge gas guzzling one just because of the overall costs on the diesels... The truck will probably wear out way before either engine does....

Here is what I have learned in the past 10+ years in the Car Biz, most people that buy HD trucks do not need HD trucks

Originally Posted by MickR

I would vote diesel over petrol any day. You get far better mileage, you do lose power but gain back that in torque. and torque equates to better towing ability in a variety of conditions. Ride has nothing to do with whether or not you have a diesel or petrol, rather, that has to do with suspension setup.
I've owned both Petrol and Diesel vehicles and will never go back to Petrol if I can avoid it. I definately recommend a TDI. Current main vehicle for the family is a Toyota TDI V6 manual, but I would just love to get a TDI V8 Troop carrier from Toyota. Go any where and take anything I need in something like that. Spend the rest of my life out bush if I could.


Mick

With cars you dont get any better milage any more. Ford's new fieste and Focus are at or just short of 40 mpg.

I should probably clarify that my statement is based on 4WD's. I thought that was what the OP had in mind as well. I could have been mistaken on that point. Cars may get a similar mileage in a comparison, however 4WD's in Diesel get better mileage than their Petrol counter-parts. Well, they do in this part of the world. Standards for vehicles vary from country to country.


Mick

MickR you're absolutely right the more of the posts I read the more it sounds like he's looking for a truck not a car and possibly a AWD. I originally misunderstood the post.

At least you Aussies have a diesel hilux. I'd kill for one of those...

The Hilux is good mate, but the Landcruiser ute (78 series) is better (and costs more too). Don't they import the Hilux to the US? That would really suck!


Mick

Originally Posted by Devilpup

With cars you dont get any better milage any more. Ford's new fieste and Focus are at or just short of 40 mpg.

Just for comparisons sake the Diesel Fiesta which is EU only still,, gets 65 but again the cost of the engine imported into the US, to US diesel standards, makes the price/mileage equation a nogo for Ford...

Are diesel standards lower in the US??? If so, that too must...be an annoyance.


Mick