Which should I choose: petrol or diesel?

When choosing your next car one of the biggest decisions to make is whether you are going to buy a diesel or a petrol. How do you know which one is the best for you? And which offers you the best value for money?

It is an important decision and does not only affect what you pay at the pump, but also your future motoring. The fuel you use can also have an impact on your vehicle's economy, your budget, MOT and ultimately, the performance of your vehicle. 

Firstly, are petrol cars cheaper than diesel? And simply the answer is generally yes, they are. however, when thinking about your initial outlay, you must consider the longer financial impact your choice can make on your wallet. A diesel car uses between 15-20% less fuel than its petrol counterpart, especially if you are making shorter journeys. Of course, this makes a diesel more environmentally friendly because it produces less CO2.Even so, diesel engines produce more soot particles and other harmful by products such as Nitrogen Oxide, another harmful pollutant. However, new regulations have meant that diesel cars have rigorous emissions testing and have SCR systems fitted.

On first glance at the petrol pump, you can see that diesel is the more expensive fuel, but do not be fooled, with lower running costs a diesel is more economical.

Another factor you may want to consider with any car running on diesel is the road tax. Again, this is based on CO2 emissions and the amount you pay in tax can vary depending on the age of your car.

Of course, petrol cars have their own advantages. They are cheaper to buy and also cheaper to maintain because parts are readily available.

Also, the type of fuel you use can affect the performance of your vehicle. Diesel engines, because of their compression ratio, make more noise than a typical petrol engine. Petrol has the advantage of being more responsive and powerful. They have a higher torque giving them better acceleration.

Your choice really depends on what you are going to use your next vehicle for. Is it going to be a short journey around town type of car, then the obvious answer is that you should consider a petrol fuelled car, but if it is longer journeys a diesel offers a more economical ride.

Here at Bob Davies Cars, we can help and give you the opportunity to road test both types of vehicles and make that decision much easier.