Do real men drive Diesel passenger cars?

[Matty]

My dad (and by fathering children I hope that qualifies him as a man) has been a long time diesel fan: 1977 Merc 300D, 1994 merc C250D (non-turbo ). both as slow and painful as cancer. well built cars though...

But he's just now got a C200K - no more oil burning.

Diesel makes no sense when it costs more than premium...

[Asteroid]

Diesel makes no sense when it costs more than premium...

It does, though the saving is small there still is a saving over an equivalent petrol car. Remember diesel has a higher energy density than petrol, and add to that the vastly better fuel economy means you will use signifigantly less diesel than petrol.

Asteroid

[blimpyboy]

I agree with Asteroid, diesel has a higher calorific value then petrol per litre, and there are no pumping losses at part throttle from low pressure in the intake manifold.

You might be considered soft if it's not a turbo diesel tho :D

[a777]

Why? :w:

In London, yes.
In Sydney, no.

Using the quoted combined cycle the 530d gets roughly 38mpg (ie 7.5l/100km)
Using the quoted combined cycle the 530i gets roughly 30mpg (ie 9.3l/100km)

Prices for Sydney according to NRMA are 113.0 unleaded, and 133.8 diesel.

If you do 10,000km per year:- 530d=$1004 vs 530i=$1051
If you do 20,000km per year:- 530d=$2007 vs 530i=$2102
If you do 50,000km per year:- 530d=$5018 vs 530i=$5255

Hardly seems worth the effort!

[Asteroid]

Yeah but petrol is for girls.

Asteroid

[Matty]

It does, though the saving is small there still is a saving over an equivalent petrol car. Remember diesel has a higher energy density than petrol, and add to that the vastly better fuel economy means you will use signifigantly less diesel than petrol.

Asteroid

you might still save on fuel economy, but you pay for it upfront at purchase price. And the trade-in price on the C250D was $9k, so it's not like it's retained any more value...

besides, diesels are still dirty, oily and noisy.

[The Pupat]

Didn't Fifth Gear do a comparo where they came to the conclusion that at least on lighter cars (non-4wd) that the saving for diesel wasn't worth it and you'd barely (if at all) make back the extra purchase price.

But that said the 530d is supposedly faster than the 530i so it could be a goer.

[a777]

But that said the 530d is supposedly faster than the 530i so it could be a goer.

Not according to bmw.com.au

530i = 190kW/300Nm = 0-100 in 6.7sec
530d = 160kW/480Nm = 0-100 in 7.2sec

[The Pupat]

Not according to bmw.com.au

530i = 190kW/300Nm = 0-100 in 6.7sec
530d = 160kW/480Nm = 0-100 in 7.2sec

not much in it though

[bernie-rx7]

Read this!! Audi are the goods!!!

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?i...l%3Den%26lr%3D