Diesel MPG

[tonymcb]

Did anyone watch despatches on channel 4 on Monday night.

The Big Car Con

They were talking about how diesels were so unclean to run and that the government got it all wrong in encouraging new car buys to opt for diesels.

They also said that the MPG stated by the manufacturer was not true and that the majority of true on the road figures were on average 22% less than quoted.

They reckon the price of diesels cars will plummet and be taxed to the hilt in the very near future.

This has put the nail in the coffin for me and swayed my decision to go for the New Volvo V40 T2 T3 T4 petrol engines.

What are other members thoughts on this issue.

[volvorocks]

I agree, petrol is the way to go. In fact a lot of fleets are going petrol as they are more cost effective for the term of ownership.

Problem is, is if one wants a large or largish 4X4 type SUV type vehicle, the only option sometimes is diesel.

Regards

[V40CC]

When a petrol is doing near to 60mpg like I do in my D2 I will start to look at petrol again.
I have used diesel cars for the last 10 years now and have found them to be cheaper to run and better to drive in every day driving condition.

Diesel is expensive and bad if you do lots of short journeys.

[andymcp]

Very new to V40 ownership but this evening had a 130 mile drive in snow, cold and headwind loaded up with 4 on board plus dog and a full boot. Without trying we got 58mpg from the D2. Petrol, I'm sure, would have been woeful...

[tonymcb]

I have clocked up 20,000 miles in 3 years.

My commute to work is 5 1/2 miles to work start stop through city barely reaching 30/40 mph.

I own a V50 D5 geartronic 180 bhp which is showing 27.8 mpg at the moment.

Don't get me wrong I love the 5 cylinder grunt but I don't think I am doing the car justice as I don't do enough miles to get the car to heat up to regenerate the PDF.

I haven't got an issue with paying for higher diesel prices, £285 road tax but I am just waiting for the day when the dreaded PDF dies.

My dilemma is there are loads of diesel V40 autos for sale but very few petrol models.

Also I guess when it comes to sell, the diesel will be much more easier to sell on.

Can anyone justify buying a V40 diesel for my next car purchase, or do I go ahead and buy one anyways and possibly have lower than stated mpg and do damage to the PDF.

Help

[civilservant]

Originally Posted by tonymcb

My dilemma is there are loads of diesel V40 autos for sale but very few petrol models.

Also I guess when it comes to sell, the diesel will be much more easier to sell on.

Can anyone justify buying a V40 diesel for my next car purchase, or do I go ahead and buy one anyways and possibly have lower than stated mpg and do damage to the PDF.

Help

Just recently purchased a used D3. I was seeking a petrol version but did not want to drive 150+ miles to see the nearest available petrol version.

I just ensure that I take a trip on the motorway periodically to regenerate because most of my driving is local.

Quite bizarre that most V40s are diesel.

[andymcp]

Originally Posted by civilservant

Just recently purchased a used D3. I was seeking a petrol version but did not want to drive 150+ miles to see the nearest available petrol version.

I just ensure that I take a trip on the motorway periodically to regenerate because most of my driving is local.

Quite bizarre that most V40s are diesel.

We started off looking for a petrol V40 but by the time we had finished looking it was pretty clear the diesel was the favoured model, and the BIK rates suggest fleet buyers were probably the reason. I do enough miles in my V60 that taking the V40 now and again should solve the DPF concerns and its miles higher on economy so there's a secondary benefit on expenses. That's if I can convince Nrs McP to let me have the car for a day or two...

[volvorocks]

Originally Posted by andymcp

Very new to V40 ownership but this evening had a 130 mile drive in snow, cold and headwind loaded up with 4 on board plus dog and a full boot. Without trying we got 58mpg from the D2. Petrol, I'm sure, would have been woeful...

What would you call woeful though?

Wifes trip statistics are sitting at 37mpg, which includes a load of idling whilst fiddling with things and checking things out. (don't quite understand the screen stats yet!).Furthermore thus far 95% of her driving has been around town, start stop, cold engine, 2 mile drive, stop then cold engine then start again. Trip computer is around 29mpg each reset. She is on her 3rd tank.

I am pretty sure once motorway miles, or long B road miles are undertaken, then 45+ would easily be seen,(she got nearly 40 from my D5 60) which would be around 50mpg in the comparable diesel?

Interestingly, and I have said this regards XC60 D5 as well that mpg on the computer trip 'instant' readout is generally higher(=better) in 5th gear than 6th

Glad you like your car btw, although I have decided I don't like you anymore as yours is very high spec.....

Regards

[bradams]

What's a "PDF"? I thought I had heard/seen most things about cars, but that's a new one on me.

[andymcp]

Originally Posted by bradams

What's a "PDF"? I thought I had heard/seen most things about cars, but that's a new one on me.

I may have typo'd - it's a DPF. Diesel Particulate Filter.