Quote from: snellgroveCant beat a simple petrol engine for ultimate durability as they are generally more relaxed engines.

huh?  Simpler? More relaxed?

A Diesel is a simpler engine,and itll invariably last longer because they are generally machined out of much better materials, and have tighter tolerances.  Im thinking of B-Series Diesels that have over 1,000,000 on them in Taxis, and you just know a 2.5 petrol (even a modern one) isnt going to have that type of lifespan.

Not like a modern sporty turbo-diesel though are they

Under immense stress compared to the likes that yll find in a Taxi

A taxi has a proper diesel engine, doing what its meant to be doing.. being reliable and economical.

people love modern diesels because they get this sudden kick at 2000RPM or thereaboutas as the turbo spools.

its not real speed though, it feels flippin fantastic, no doubt about it but watch the speedo. slooooooww, its not moving as much as a petrol

Petrol is more progressive, you dont feel the acceleration as much but again, watch the speedo whip around the gauge quickly into license losing stuff

:edit:

Again, I must point out.. petrol vs diesel? theres no winner, its impossible. it is completely dependant on the application it is installed in.

I jove driving cars, and a diesel that struggles to reach the red once its out of its 2000rpm wide powerband and feeling all asthmatic at not much below 5000rpm just doesnt do it for me the way a petrol grows and grows in power, and slams into the limiter - thats more like it, you get to drive that.. keep it in the power down a country lane making a great noise.  diesels all sound the same, and its not a nice noise.

.......of course the above is my opinion. surely a diesel being best or not, is down to user preference.

just be thankful we have the choice to buy either.

Well mine has just turned 150K and i dont take it easy.

 

just got all the way to conwy and back and TBPFH i am expecting a speed ticket or two
didnt notice a cuple of cameras onthe way up that i noticed coming back  :cry:

Ooops

chances are youll be ok... but then again.

On the way back, were the cameras 1) GATSOs and 2) pointing towards you?

if so, yes you may be in some bother as on the way up theyll be looking at the back of your car, and thats how they get you.

and even then you might be fine...  got to have film in, hasnt it !

Truvelo get you as you steam towards them, theres 3 lines on the road really close together, but RIGHT IN FRONT of the camera.  9 times out of 10 you can scrub the necessary off before you cross I had a close call with one once, but now looking @ them, I think you have to be blind or running away from the cops to get caught by one.

Quote from: Beaker

Quote from: snellgroveCant beat a simple petrol engine for ultimate durability as they are generally more relaxed engines.

huh?  Simpler? More relaxed?

A Diesel is a simpler engine,and itll invariably last longer because they are generally machined out of much better materials, and have tighter tolerances.  Im thinking of B-Series Diesels that have over 1,000,000 on them in Taxis, and you just know a 2.5 petrol (even a modern one) isnt going to have that type of lifespan.

The most complicated component of any engine? The *diesel* injector pump.

Look to the states for longievity - 1,000,000 miles on a 305ci or 350ci V8 is not uncommon.

we have these stinkin cameras appearing over here now that measure your average speed between two points.

Modern yankee V8s are pretty marvelous things, but while the block might go a million miles, youll have several gaskets blow, rings wear out, and valves blow through the cam cover before you actually gut up that high. Some of the new ones that shut down cylinders on the interstate to get 4 banger mileage are pretty damn cool though.

Ill take a diesel any day, as I drive like a granny with four cups of coffee in her from bingo night. Shame that the choices here with diesel are very limited. AFAIK, VW is the only passenger diesel over here. The Jetta TDI is pretty sweet, though, and has a very low clatter and clonk level.

Specs, is the name they go by.

gee whiz, I cant wait for them to proliferate a bit.

heck, it mgiht be worth buying a diseasel if theres too many cameras - driving for fun will be non existent

(ok, its hard to stick to 60mph on some of the roads round here, but theres a scary trend of roads that were 60, suddenly turning into 40s and 30s around here. Dorset is really slowing down )

If you asked me a year ago i would have said petrol straightway, but after the good old megane tdi and now my Zed, i lean over to the diesel now. Performance, reliability, economy (i average 52mpg on my way back from cardiff yesterday, that is bombing round B/A roads like stink) and I even like the roar you get form the engine sound really meat at high revs.