Petrol vs Diesel

[Daox]

Originally Posted by UFO

I'm very surprised the petrol gets mileage almost as good as the diesel.

Ditto. Do you have a website to compare ACTUAL user data vs just the government testing? That might show more accurate real world data.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Daox

Ditto. Do you have a website to compare ACTUAL user data vs just the government testing? That might show more accurate real world data.

I would love to find some real-world comparison data to use. I know from experience of UK official MPG that Diesels tend to get closer to the official figures in the real world and petrols struggle, even hybrids.

Perusing owners forums and owners reviews on places like Autotrader suggest Petrol owners struggle hard to get under 50 MPG averages. Diesel owners are thinner on the ground but some claim over 70.

[Piwoslaw]

If this car will be for short trips only, then go with petrol because of warm-up time.
Modern turbodiesels are so complicated, plus PSA doesn't allow more than 30% biodiesel.
A petrol is probably better suited for killing the engine.

I think the reason the petrol gets almost as good mpg's is weight: a diesel engine is usually heavier then a gasser of the same size, and here the HDi is 40% larger.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

You can make your own but I haven't seen a pump with B100. All Diesel here is 5% Biodiesel.

We don't usually have B100 (nor PPO) pumps either, though apparently you can buy it here and there from manufacturers.

B100 is widely available in Germany though.

Not sure if the HDi is Biodiesel friendly.

Not when equipped with a DPF.

According to PSA, it's B30 max - and then only if you halve the oil changes interval.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by UFO

I'm very surprised the petrol gets mileage almost as good as the diesel.

Some of the latest small (i.e. Aygo sized) petrol cars get above 50 mpg (US) as well.

Obviously those are the official EU figures.
Matching those isn't going to be easy.

Real world numbers by searching here :
Advanced search - Spritmonitor.de

Plenty of Citroen C1 petrol owners beat the figures.
Aygo owners seem to have a harder time.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

If this car will be for short trips only, then go with petrol because of warm-up time.

Thats my thoughts exactly. I need to get into a decent test drive to check out whether the hills issue is a killer for the Petrol. I don't mind going slower but I do mind having to stir pudding all the time.

Thanks for the B100 info. You can buy it here too, 90p a litre compared to 136 for 5% at the pumps. But outlets are not convenient.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by euromodder

Real world numbers by searching here :
Advanced search - Spritmonitor.de

Aha. Looking at the most common figure for the C1 Petrol it comes out at 54, the Diesel at 65 (fewer figures though) which is a sizeable difference. Buying new that would take quite a few miles to make up the difference in price but there seems to be no Diesel premium on used and there are no new ones anyway.

Add a block heater and the warm up issue goes ?

More pondering.

On the other side Mrs A may be offered the possibility of a company Hybrid, Auris or Prius.

[fidalgoman]

I as well prefer the diesel. One major issue is local availability. It is true that diesel trucks will be running even if the cars don't should there be a shortage of fuel, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to buy any. Considering the small MPG difference I'd buy whatever is more common (if it's a huge availability difference).

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Aha. Looking at the most common figure for the C1 Petrol it comes out at 54, the Diesel at 65 (fewer figures though) which is a sizeable difference.

The best of them are getting very comparable fuel consumption.

Add a block heater and the warm up issue goes ?

It speeds upthe warming, but won't make it go away.
Can you plug it in when you're away from home ?
If not, that halves the benefit.

My 1.6D is only warmed up after around 6 miles.

[320touring]

£800 got a W plate Lupo 1.0 MPI petrol from the auctions I was at today..

Thats gotta be a WIN above any PSA rubbish? or they did a 1.4 diesel..