Diesel or Petrol? And what car do you love/hate?

**Velvet Chain** · 23-06-2012, 09:53am

I have to get a small car soon - don't need anything big because there are only three of us. I'm shocked at the price of petrol/diesel here (been able to fill the tank of my jeep up for $50 approx £31 whilst abroad) so am looking at something economical for the time being as in the process of setting up two businesses so money is tight.

What would you go for -Petrol or a Diesel? And is there any specific car that you have hated or loved?

Thank you.

**katz568** · 23-06-2012, 10:31am

Depends how many miles per year you do regarding the petrol/diesel debate. I read something recently that if you do more than 10,000 miles for a second hand car, or 6,000 miles for new car then diesel is more economical.

Sorry can not help with the small car, I drive a 307sw at the moment due to the kids/dog.

**donna-j** · 23-06-2012, 10:45am

We have a Diesel CMax. Love, love, love it. Fabulous car. It was the most fuel-efficient bigger car we could find as OH does 110 miles/day. It is less to tax and run than my petrol Polo. We got a fabulous deal on it - 8k at 18 months old as it had relatively high mileage (33k).

Don't assume a smaller car will be cheaper to tax and run - check carefully.

**Velvet Chain** · 23-06-2012, 10:57am

Oh I will Donna-j, and I should say that my idea of a small car is an average family sized car not fiesta or anything like that (which i consider micro cars!!!), I use the word small because I don't want a Range Rover or anything like that - so smaller than a range rover, bigger than a fiesta!

I'd say mileage wise around 10k a year would be about right as I will be using it for business and so will DH until he gets a motorbike.

Cmax looks good, I am a fan of Fords from a long time ago (have a soft spot for Focus's).

**donna-j** · 23-06-2012, 11:00am

My mum has a Focus, my brothers share a Focus, my in laws have a Focus and we have big Focus (the CMax). Do you think we like them???

Mind you, I think my mum misses the giant cars she had in the Middle East.

Actually I love the new Fiesta and we will probably get a diesel one for OH and his commuting when my Polo finally gives in (I will keep the CMax for pottering about with the kids as it is now past 100k miles).

**Mrs B** · 23-06-2012, 11:02am

Honda Civic. Had several Hondas over the years and they are so reliable, cheap to run and a pleasure to drive.

**DDM** · 23-06-2012, 11:12am

I have always found diesels easier to drive, but I learnt in a diesel and have driven more diesels than petrols so I guess it depends what your preference is.

I really love my Land Rover, but I appreciate that they aren't to everyones tastes.

I had a Focus CC before I had youngest, which was lovely to drive, but it was petrol so I never really felt that comfortable with it.

ETA I think it also depends on what you are using it for and the sort of place you live, i.e city driving or out in the sticks.

**Velvet Chain** · 23-06-2012, 11:17am

See I have driven both petrol and diesel and tbh i haven't noticed a whole lot of difference, I guess at the moment I am thinking about the fuel costs etc. I love big jeep type cars (its all i've been driving for the last four years in the ME) but i don't *need* a car that big at the moment and I have to be practical financially re the fuel required.

I am very tempted to go for a focus....and I've also seen a nice Golf estate. The focus is diesel and the golf petrol, roughly around the same price to buy but I think the focus will give me more mpg than the golf.

**Miss Frosty** · 23-06-2012, 11:27am

Before our diesel Q5 , we had an A3 and it was fantastic . It was also diesel and was very fuel efficient , drove like a dream and I loved it

**-x-greeneyes-x-** · 23-06-2012, 11:31am

Mini Cooper

and it's petrol. I put in £20 a week over half a tank.

**alex** · 23-06-2012, 11:33am

Ford S-Max (7 seater) diesel

**lisnic** · 23-06-2012, 11:35am

I have a petrol BMW x3 it's a guzzler though but I do like it

Mil needed a small economical car and got a Mazda - think a 2 it's great on fuel and tax she likes it

**S-J** · 23-06-2012, 02:41pm

Diesel for me

**JoGee** · 24-06-2012, 10:31am

Mini One Diesel

Gets 51mpg. I hardly ever have to go the petrol station. Free car tax too.

**cheeky_biscuit** · 24-06-2012, 10:36am

That sounds good JoGee.
The most economical Car we've had has been a diesel fiesta.
Love our merc though, gets about 30-40mpg so not incredibly economical. It's a c class estate, diesel 2.7 or 2.8l turbo.

**Lilacgirl** · 24-06-2012, 10:39am

Don't know about petrol or diesel.
For a small car - my last 2 have been Nissan Micras which are very safe (about the safest in their class I believe) and economical to run too.
I had my Micra in the UK 2006-2012 with no issues at all. Only sold because of moving overseas.My friend had a Corsa and it cost her thousands upon thousands in issues (electric windows kept coming down, big leaks, engine problems etc).

**Velvet Chain** · 24-06-2012, 05:42pm

Well I think I have decided on a diesel, going to check out the ford focus this week, did see another nice one but it was green and I hate green so could never have a green car!!!

Thanks for all the suggestions, i think the Micra and Corsa would be too small for me however, I don't think I would be comfortable with a car that size - too used to driving larger vehicles. I test drove a Skoda Fabio i think it was, and that was actually a really nice drive - and is about as small as I could comfortably go.