What's best for towing - diesel or petrol?
I am due to change my car next year and will also be buying a caravan that will weigh about 1500kg. Therefore, I need something that is fairy economical when not towing and comfort is a priority.
I plan on keeping the car for around 6/7 years or so and I know of the negative aspects of diesels but hoping you can give me some pointers to what I should be road testing.
When not towing I do mostly short trips to work, about 15 miles a day with longer runs once a month or so. My budget is about £18,000 but can stretch a bit for the right motor. What do you recommend?
I plan on keeping the car for around 6/7 years or so and I know of the negative aspects of diesels but hoping you can give me some pointers to what I should be road testing.
When not towing I do mostly short trips to work, about 15 miles a day with longer runs once a month or so. My budget is about £18,000 but can stretch a bit for the right motor. What do you recommend?
Asked on 18 December 2014 by Paul P Kenny
Answered by
Honest John
The long term costs of a diesel over 6 - 7 years, involving replacements of dual mass flywheel, diesel particulate filter, EGR, etc. outweigh the benefits of the greater economy of a diesel and the superior torque at low revs.
But these days turbo petrol engines have plenty of torque at low revs and are much smoother and nicer to drive. Exceptions might be some of the new exhaust manifold in head diesels and though they have been around for some years now it is still to early to tell what the long term reliability will be.
But these days turbo petrol engines have plenty of torque at low revs and are much smoother and nicer to drive. Exceptions might be some of the new exhaust manifold in head diesels and though they have been around for some years now it is still to early to tell what the long term reliability will be.
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