Howard talks LPG

[ED Classic]

Originally Posted by schmidty

Dude have you ever owned a diesel? It's a false economy. I'm going to use a 100 series cruiser as en example, but the same applies to passenger sedans etc.

To purchase a TD cruiser, you're up for $13,000 extra over the cost of the same model and spec with a petrol engine. It doesnt matter what make / mode you buy, the diesel always comes at a hefty premium.

So after you've forked out all of the cash to buy the cost saving diesel, you'll find out that the servicing need to be carried out twice as often in most cases. Generally diesels need the oil and filter done every 5000ks, and a regular service every 10,000ks.

Most efficient and drivable diesels are turbo charged. This will almost double your insurance costs in most cases, as now the vehicle is classed as being high performance. My in laws pay $1600 per year for full comp on a TD 100 series with both drivers over 50, rating 1, and living in a rural area. On their policy its listed as a high performance turbo charged vehicle.

The 80 series they had prior to the 100 series did the big end after 240,000ks and the cost of rebuilding the engine and injector pump was just under $12,000!!!!!!!!!

Modern diesels will not forgive poor maintenance, and God forbid you own 1 when something breaks! Get an injector die on your TD5 Discovery, you'll need to replace all 5, and a cost of just under $5K!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure diesels are economical each week at the pump, but there is a lot more cost associated with doesels than just filling them up. If all you do is drive it, great, but add up the cost of ownership and in most cases they dont make a great deal of economic sense, well not to the point that they are streets ahead of a petrol engine.

Of course there are always exceptions.

Or you can look at the Golf which is only 3 grand dearer than a petrol both been 2.0 litres, the diesel a Turbo and for that 3 grand you get another 250-300km per 55 litre tank about 700km in the petrol to 900-1000 in the diesel and the diesels faster, has much more useable power and servicing is the same. Get the petrol coverted to gas and suddenly that 3 grand becomes nillified and I dont like your chances of having the same power of the 2.0 petrol which is already slower than the diesel. Its not hard to see why they are becoming so popular and why Holden is only 12 months away from a diesel Commode. I seriously hope Ford doesnt get left too far behind and gets one into the Territory soonish.

If you get the 1.9 Diesel Golf its cheaper than the 2.0 petrol not much slower and the economy is endless.