need help with a new car: Diesel v petrol, which one!!!

[snookhams]

We have been looking for a new car for some time without any luck, we want another Zafira, but an Automatic (couldn't go back to a manual now), but all the automatic zafira's are diesel! I have never owned a diesel in my life and DH doesn't even drive! any help would be gratefully recieved.

 

[Frances999]

I have had the same make and model of car for a few years now (getting a new one every year) and this year switched to a diesel version after much persuasion from DH. Having had it for a while, I can't honestly say I have noticed any difference except for the (slightly) increased fuel economy. It still has the same excellent handling and power/acceleration, despite it being an ML320 CDI compared to the larger engine ML350 petrol I had before.

I would definitely take it for a test drive and see what you think for yourself. I think it will be fine

 

[magicmouse2]

We have a people carrier diesel engine. (we would love an automatic now after having them at WDW have become lazy ) Only difference is lightly noisier engine but the fuel is much cheaper. no regrets had the diesel for 2 years now.

 

[slinky101]

Don't know where you live Magicmouse, but diesel is dearer than petrol all over the UK now.
DH has a 1998 2 litre diesel Vectra and i have a 2002 1.2 Punto.
Fuel economy is almost equal. Diesel is 3p/Litre more expensive BUT Diesel engine has done 130,000 miles and will probably go for 100,000 more.
Petrol engines tend to become less reliable and less efficient after 70,000.

Hope that helps you.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

I don't know when Frances got her current Zafira Diesel, but the new model Zafira's that came out a few months back now have the brand new Vauxhall common rail Diesel engine that is also in the Meriva (which I'm looking at getting at the end of the year), and the Astra etc.
This engine is leaps and bounds ahead of the old workhorse diesel engine they used to have. Its smoother, quieter, more economical and more powerful.
In reality you wouldnt really know the difference between it and a petrol engine as a driver now. You would of course benefit from the better fuel ecomonmy (although dearer fuel costs). Im hoping the chancelor will address this pricing difference in the budget to help hauliers. Diesel is cheaper in the rest of europe than petrol I understand.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I would go for a Diesel, especially if you are planning on keeping the car for a few years as the engine's just go on and on with very little maintainence required.

 

[Frances999]

I don't know when Frances got her current Zafira Diesel.

I don't have a Zafira. If you read my post you will see that I was referring to an ML. I was simply offering my view, as I have owned a petrol and diesel version of the same car (an ML), and snookhams was also looking at staying with the same car (a Zafira) but switching to a diesel.

 

[Cyrano]

I've a Citroen Picasso diesel and would not even think about going back to petrol

 

[Tron[ADS]]

I don't have a Zafira. If you read my post you will see that I was referring to an ML. I was simply offering my view, as I have owned a petrol and diesel version of the same car (an ML), and snookhams was also looking at staying with the same car (a Zafira) but switching to a diesel.

Sorry, I didnt read it properly atall. Didnt mean to offend.

 

[Cochise]

Just been to a family funeral, my cousin works for a gas company all over the world and was talking about the way they are dealing with fossil fuels these days. Over the last couple of years they have been working on turning gas into diesel fuel and are now trying to perfect changing coal to gas and obviously the already sorted process of converting to diesel from there. So the big companies seem to be pinning alot on diesel for the long term.

Also his company have just won the biggest contract for "any" job in the world ever (Weird i know but the figure he stated was unbelievable) and that is to build and run a new gas port in Qatar. All this gas is apparently heading for the UK in the long term so maybe this will relieve gas prices here over the years.