Petrol daily drive works out cheaper to run than diesel equivalent?

[edge]

I stumbled across a link that took me to whatcar diesel vs petrol calculator ( http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/petrol-versus-diesel-which-is-cheaper-/248139 )

You enter alot of info including insurance per year, maintenance, mpg, buying price etc for each car.

It worked out the petrol model of cars i was looking are on average £2k cheaper than the diesel equivalent and do about 7 -8 mpg less.

It calculated that with current local fuel prices i'm about £500 a year better off running the petrol version.

Do you think petrol will stay cheaper than diesel for time to come?

Or with the money i save buying a petrol version should i look at putting it towards an lpg conversion? It will be an estate car so room will be limited but alot of modern cars tend not to have a spare wheel but a can of sticky jizz.

[AndyT]

I know several taxi drivers who have switched to petrol recently. Won't be long 'til the Gov catches on.

[Chris Wilson]

Be aware that most modern diesel and turbo diesel engines have the potential to be mind blowingly expensive to put right if one of the more complex parts of them goes wrong. I would consider this sufficient of a worry to not buy one if you intend to keep it outside its warranty period, or you are buying used and not warranted properly. I hear horror stories weekly from a pal who specialises in modern diesel engines, often about Peugeot ones Given modest annual mileage there's a lot to be said for an old RWD none gizmo ridden petrol engined car that might drink a bit of petrol but can be fixed cheaply and if not thrown away. It's a philosophy I have adhered to for years, with the bonuses of no self respecting person would nick it, and only the brave in their oldest clothes would ask for a lift in it. I see a lot of people with flash new (ish) cars that speak of urban cycles, CO emissions and suchlike, only to be seen months later blanching at some eye watering bill for something like a low tyre pressure warning light system fault.... I don't need one, I know they all leak on the rims and demand bi weekly pump ups, and weekly if going far or fast

[RobSheffield]

10 years ago they used to say you needed to do 16k a year for Diesel to be worth it, after you took into account increased price of Diesels at the time. Since economy and purchase prices will have drastically altered since it probably is cheaper to go Petrol now.

[edge]

It has opened up a whole new batch of cars for me to look at.

I like the accord but the diesels in my budget are only manual. But the the 2.0 and 2.4 petrols seem to go for next to nothing and are auto's. I mean stupidly cheap as if something is wrong but i thought these would be bullet proof cars?

 

The avensis diesel we have now has only ever wanted a cv joint £70 and now its in having new rear brake lines £220 as they are corroded and i paid £1700 for it nearly 4 years ago. The more research i do the more problems i find with modern stuff.

I see more newer cars broken down than old bangers. Its now normally a french car, vw or some form of fiat.

And like you said chris newer diesel repairs seem rediculous, i dont think my sister got change back from £1k when the injectors went on her 530d.

[dr_jekyll]

this is why im buying a 4ltr 32v v8 as my daily. lol

[Gaz6002]

Petrol is often cheaper for people doing lower mileage. We've run the same story as WC here: http://www.parkers.co.uk/News/Motoring-Costs/Petrol-v-diesel---what-makes-more-sense/

 

Also, have a look at our cost of motoring tool to compare new cars with each other: http://car-costs.parkers.co.uk/ (I am sad enough that I could spend days sitting there comparing new cars with each other. Office Top Trumps FTW)