Petrol or Diesel car?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

There's a difference between a delivery van and a car.

[Bruce]

The idea that people cannot tell that these cars have diesel engines is a complete myth.

My Audi A6 diesel (2.5 TDI V6) sounded like a truck. My Skoda Octavia sounds even louder, as did its predecessor (2.0 followed 1.9 TDi). All were noisy from new.

[Adrian C]

My four year old Octavia Mk1 diesel estate is a bit noisy, but nowhere near the racket of a London taxi - which round here is the first auditory experience that most folks have of a diesel car.

Ye soon get to tune the din out at cruising speed and it disapears under road noise - the latter I find more repetative and tiring. In mine (automatic) the gearbox doesn't change gear that much over most acceleration (except kickdown) so there is less of a racket from shifting.

However, The Octavia Mk2 (which I am rather keen to trade up to) is quieter.

[Bruce]

London taxis have been fitted with various engines in recent years. The VM engine is probably the worst for noise.

I can assure you, it isn't much quieter. It's usefully bigger and has a better ride, but the diesel is still noisy. If I am on call I sometimes have to go out in the early hours. Out of courtesy to my neighbours, during my on call periods I park the car away from our houses so I don't wake anyone up when starting.

My Merc is quieter, but it doesn't get used for the work I get called out to do. It still sounds like a truck when cold.

[Doctor Drivel]

So Le Mans has been won for the past 3 years in a row by an undriveable car?

[Doctor Drivel]

Please eff off as you are total idiotic plantpot.

[Adrian]

"Doctor Drivel" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Which is more down to a peculiar wrinkle in the congestion charge than any other merits.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Because they have such a long service life, many London black cabs have pretty crude engines of an old design. Although new ones should be better.

[Adrian C]

Bruce wrote: If I am on call I sometimes

That sounds jolly nice of you. Well done!

What you need is a diesel-electric...

Now, who made them?

[Doctor Drivel]

You must eff off as you are a total plantpot.

[Jules]

I think we've got about 162K on our '92 Toyota with no major mechanical ailments yet, but as it's a US car "economical" is highly subjective :-)

(actually, considering it's a 3L engine it doesn't do too badly for itself)

Urgh.

[Adrian C]

In mine, I can fill the cabin with a load of junk or bodies (living I should add) and still cruise motorways building speed and overtaking without shifting down gears and taking huge gulps of fuel from the tank. Doing that in the previous petrol car with near the same engine size (2 litre) and laden similary, the acceleration ability in gear is not as good.

However, if I were a driver in London (or any of the big cities) running around unladen and wanted a smaller lighter car, the entertainment choice would be petrol - and I'd trash the gearbox, run the traffic lights, flatten someone elses dog, advance 0-60 years in 10 seconds and be in the grave soon after the 11'th.

[Bruce]

runs two "black cabs" and much prefers the previous Nissan engine. He lives in an upmarket residential area and when working early mornings, his neighbours aren't pleased to hear his VM Motori R 425 DOHC start up. ;-)

[Bruce]

Thanks. I try to treat my neighbours with the consideration I would like from them. Mostly it works well. ;-)

The first Toyota Prius was available as a diesel-electric. The current and forthcoming new models are petrol only, and completely pointless.

[Appelation Controlee]

-------------------8><

Monotony is a sure sign that you're due a refresh:

[Man at B&Q]

[Doctor Drivel]

It was never diesel. The current models are brilliant in every respect. A true ground breaking car setting the trend.

[Doctor Drivel]

Get a Prius as they do not have an in-line gearbox. Brill to drive.

[Doctor Drivel]

cars 'take decades to become cost effective' Diesel cars can take decades to provide their owners with financial benefits, according to new research.

"According to research by car experts Parker's a BMW 318 diesel could take

28 years to recoup the extra cost."

"Buying a diesel Mini could take the driver up to seven years to break even. A Ford Mondeo diesel could take six years."

[clumsy bastard]

the sound isn't great, the vibrations minimal and the performance more usable as its at lower revs (I'm comparing my BMW 3 series petrol to the diesel version I hire abroad)