Facelift What fuel will your next car use?

tiktok_78

tiktok_78

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I currently run a 2.0tdi A3, when I replace the car, I am unsure whether to go for another diesel, or a performance petrol (as a last hurrah before getting a Gen 2 or 3 EV).

Hybrid doesn’t work for me (I buy used and regularly drive 300 miles plus at a time).

I am curious what other users are thinking of changing to and if they think diesel is on it’s way out?


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Had diesel cars in the past and personally wouldn’t have another......well maybe new S4 at a push

Now driving a BMW 225xe hybrid after coming from an S3. Saving a fortune in fuel and it’s no slouch by any means. But it’s a bit boring if I’m honest, acceleration is quick but it sounds rubbish!

I wouldn’t rule out hybrid just because u drive 300miles in one go. Yes the electric range might not be great, but I’m getting high 50’s mpg and you can regen as you drive.


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I've ran diesels since 2002 but was told no more by the lovely wife as the polar bears are in trouble. I opted for a 1.5 petrol A3 and love it. Admittedly it does not have the performance of the S3 owned by many, but it'd difficult to fault. As an every day drive it has enough get up and go and returns mid/high 40's mpg on average. On a run you can get high 50's even into the 60's if driven like a vicar, it pulls my 1200kg caravan with ease, is cheap to insure and tax.
Until hybrids offer what I need, towing up to 500 miles in one go, or hydrogen fuel cells are available it looks like I will be running what I have for the forseeable future.

Colin
 
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Always had petrol, always will until forced to do otherwise.

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I won't be giving up performance petrol cars until I'm forced in to a milk float.

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AlS3BE said:
This anti diesel is just political BS. They had to pick on something cause they weren’t achieving targets.
New euro 6 diesels are very clean and now after diesel gate the next gen emission control systems are even cleaner than petrol.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....els-found-to-be-71-cleaner-than-petrol-models
Click to expand...

It is but unfortunately councils will make ill informed decisions like Bristol have, them banning diesel in the centre is actually happening. In theory you could drive a V8 petrol in every day with no issues but a euro 6 is a no no, I’m surprised they were able to get the ban through so quickly, it’s going to hurt a lot of people financially and kill the city centre.
 
I must admit I do not like "normal" caravans. The terms "gin palace" and "white wobbly box" spring to mind. When I saw an Eriba back in 2001 I decided I needed one to replace our trailer tent and was hooked. This one is a 2017 and a bit different to what you would call a c"r"v"n.
P1030797 1600
 
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That's like posting a nude picture of your wife when she's got a massive zit on her *rs*!
 
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Petrol.

I've had 2 Diesels in the past, back when the Labour government were pushing Diesels hard. A Golf GT sport and a Tiguan 170 TDI R.

But neither car got anywhere near the mpg I expected, so went back to petrol and performance cars. All future cars will be petrol untill they stop selling them. Working from home means no daily driving, so Diesel doesn't even come into it now.

I have my late father's Tuscon TDI at the minute. Yeah, it's ok, but get's about 80 miles more out of a tank than my S3 does. And I drive the S3 way harder. Maybe on longer runs it'd improve that figure. But filling up, and getting that Diesel smell, just turn my stomach. Even wearing the plastic gloves, you still get the smell of Diesel on your hands. Awful.
 
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Petrol, the devil's engine just doesn't cut it for me...
 
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I cannot abide diesel. The noise, the stench, the vibration, the owners wilful display of Scrooge like tightwad slavery to mpg whilst sacrificing so much else.

No, I always prefer the sound, power delivery, and “soul” a decent petrol engine brings to the party that a diesel just can’t muster.

Same goes for gearboxes, a good manual brings a level of involvement and interactivity to driving that’s just completely missing with a self shifting box.

Sadly, in this age of artificially shaped torque curves and ubiquitous use of turbo chargers, the fizz and the playfulness of the petrol engine has been muted. Yes they make more power, but they lack the fun a naturally aspirated engine has, and everyone seems to have forgotten what decent throttle response feels like.

I was looking recently for new car with a sporting fun character, a naturally aspirated engine, and a manual box. Any of the above ruled Audi out immediately, the decision to neuter the S4 & S5 with a Diesel engine was unforgivable. The S4 used to have a V8, how did they lose their way so badly?

Of the cars that fitted the non-turbo, manual petrol requirement, there was a choice of 8. That wasn’t my shortlist, that was how many cars that fit the bill were available in the UK market in total. 8. Decent driving experiences are being usurped by a tidal wave of mediocre SUV’s.

Many that were available were way above my price range, effectively halving the choices.

I was all set to order a new 30th anniversary MX5 RF. Despite the underpowered hairdresser reputation, the MX5 is essentially the last pure driving experience from a mainstream car maker that you’ll find under £30k. They are delightful tactile and communicative little cars, if you can, have a go in one. They are more fun than a fleet of Audi’s, and will show you how ‘wrong’ modern cars have become.

My new car arrived this week. It fits none of the criteria above. In fact it’s probably the greatest act of automotive hypocrisy I’ve ever perpetrated, because it’s overweight, not a petrol, has (lord help me) black wheels, a glass roof (so the gods of a decently low centre of gravity can look upon me with disdain), it’s an auto, and I’ve always hated American cars.

4BA3992B 85A4 4D78 81A3 6DA0B49FEC77
 
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GSB said:
I cannot abide diesel. The noise, the stench, the vibration, the owners wilful display of Scrooge like tightwad slavery to mpg whilst sacrificing so much else.

No, I always prefer the sound, power delivery, and “soul” a decent petrol engine brings to the party that a diesel just can’t muster.

Same goes for gearboxes, a good manual brings a level of involvement and interactivity to driving that’s just completely missing with a self shifting box.

Sadly, in this age of artificially shaped torque curves and ubiquitous use of turbo chargers, the fizz and the playfulness of the petrol engine has been muted. Yes they make more power, but they lack the fun a naturally aspirated engine has, and everyone seems to have forgotten what decent throttle response feels like.

I was looking recently for new car with a sporting fun character, a naturally aspirated engine, and a manual box. Any of the above ruled Audi out immediately, the decision to neuter the S4 & S5 with a Diesel engine was unforgivable. The S4 used to have a V8, how did they lose their way so badly?
Click to expand...

That's the sad thing isn't it? Anything tasty these days comes with an Auto box. For me, I want a hatch or Saloon with AWD, and a manual gearbox. What cars on sale today fit that criteria? None !

If I wanted FWD, there are plenty out there. And out of that lot, only the Fiesta ST appeals. But it doesn't suit everything I need my car to do. So it would be a compromise.

It looks like the next Golf R, & Audi S3 will be DSG only. A35 AMG? Auto only. The only car that will probably fill my required criteria is the next Focus RS. But as that has not been confirmed, or even spied, there is no guarantee Ford will even build it. And if they do, it's a couple years away anyway.

I don't `need` to change cars, but the S3 is 5 years old next march, and I'd like to swap now while it still holds some decent value. So it looks like it's Auto gearbox for my next car. But I feel an auto box is better suited to an SUV. Hence the test drive of an X3. But if BMW gave that a nice 6 speed manual, I'd go manual.

The choice is being taken away from us, and all cars are becoming the same. All cars in the same segment are all about the same speed too. So it just comes down to exterior and interior style which will make some people's minds up. And as most styling is all very Vanilla these days, PCP payment will probably swing it for most.
 
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Would obviously consider electric for environmental reasons. They are not where they need to be yet though or at reasonable prices.

I do like the Tesla’s so maybe a model 3.

Never have and never will own a diesel.
 
I don't understand the hate towards diesel, yes they have different characteristics to petrol, and petrol is definitely the superior fuel but diesels are fun in their own way, punchy down low, nice torque and in my experience good MPG even with spirited driving. Saying that I don't think I'm going back to diesel any time soon.
 
The_Ironist said:
Would obviously consider electric for environmental reasons. They are not where they need to be yet though or at reasonable prices.

I do like the Tesla’s so maybe a model 3.

Never have and never will own a diesel.
Click to expand...

In terms of pricing an AWD long range Model 3 is not a million miles away from a decently spec’d S3 saloon. The key differences being that the Model 3 isn’t quite so nicely built (although they’re much better screwed together than I was expecting), is slightly bigger, slightly quicker, and doesn’t chew through £70 worth of super unleaded every 300 miles. If you’re willing to charge overnight and use a smart tariff the model 3, even when driven in much the same manner as the S3, will cost you less than £9. Throw in a few free fill ups at Sainsbury’s, the office, hotel car parks and shopping centres and your fuel costs plummet. Mine have dropped by £3000 per year

That extra cash means the electric vehicle is more accessible than it would seem to be at first glance.

Be warned though, from an on-line community perspective, Tesla fans are a bit ‘weird’...
 
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Kayobong said:
I don't understand the hate towards diesel, yes they have different characteristics to petrol, and petrol is definitely the superior fuel but diesels are fun in their own way, punchy down low, nice torque and in my experience good MPG even with spirited driving. Saying that I don't think I'm going back to diesel any time soon.
Click to expand...

All depends on your milage. If I was up and down the motorway every day doing big miles a year, then a Diesel would make sense.

Probably why Audi have gone Diesel on the latest S4, S5, S6, as more appealing to company car drivers.
 
GSB said:
I cannot abide diesel. The noise, the stench, the vibration, the owners wilful display of Scrooge like tightwad slavery to mpg whilst sacrificing so much else.

No, I always prefer the sound, power delivery, and “soul” a decent petrol engine brings to the party that a diesel just can’t muster.

Same goes for gearboxes, a good manual brings a level of involvement and interactivity to driving that’s just completely missing with a self shifting box.

Sadly, in this age of artificially shaped torque curves and ubiquitous use of turbo chargers, the fizz and the playfulness of the petrol engine has been muted. Yes they make more power, but they lack the fun a naturally aspirated engine has, and everyone seems to have forgotten what decent throttle response feels like.

I was looking recently for new car with a sporting fun character, a naturally aspirated engine, and a manual box. Any of the above ruled Audi out immediately, the decision to neuter the S4 & S5 with a Diesel engine was unforgivable. The S4 used to have a V8, how did they lose their way so badly?

Of the cars that fitted the non-turbo, manual petrol requirement, there was a choice of 8. That wasn’t my shortlist, that was how many cars that fit the bill were available in the UK market in total. 8. Decent driving experiences are being usurped by a tidal wave of mediocre SUV’s.

Many that were available were way above my price range, effectively halving the choices.

I was all set to order a new 30th anniversary MX5 RF. Despite the underpowered hairdresser reputation, the MX5 is essentially the last pure driving experience from a mainstream car maker that you’ll find under £30k. They are delightful tactile and communicative little cars, if you can, have a go in one. They are more fun than a fleet of Audi’s, and will show you how ‘wrong’ modern cars have become.

My new car arrived this week. It fits none of the criteria above. In fact it’s probably the greatest act of automotive hypocrisy I’ve ever perpetrated, because it’s overweight, not a petrol, has (lord help me) black wheels, a glass roof (so the gods of a decently low centre of gravity can look upon me with disdain), it’s an auto, and I’ve always hated American cars.

View attachment 194654
Click to expand...

I’d be really interested to see how well you’ve got on with this a little down the line!
 
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GSB said:
I cannot abide diesel. The noise, the stench, the vibration, the owners wilful display of Scrooge like tightwad slavery to mpg whilst sacrificing so much else.

No, I always prefer the sound, power delivery, and “soul” a decent petrol engine brings to the party that a diesel just can’t muster.

Same goes for gearboxes, a good manual brings a level of involvement and interactivity to driving that’s just completely missing with a self shifting box.

Sadly, in this age of artificially shaped torque curves and ubiquitous use of turbo chargers, the fizz and the playfulness of the petrol engine has been muted. Yes they make more power, but they lack the fun a naturally aspirated engine has, and everyone seems to have forgotten what decent throttle response feels like.

I was looking recently for new car with a sporting fun character, a naturally aspirated engine, and a manual box. Any of the above ruled Audi out immediately, the decision to neuter the S4 & S5 with a Diesel engine was unforgivable. The S4 used to have a V8, how did they lose their way so badly?

Of the cars that fitted the non-turbo, manual petrol requirement, there was a choice of 8. That wasn’t my shortlist, that was how many cars that fit the bill were available in the UK market in total. 8. Decent driving experiences are being usurped by a tidal wave of mediocre SUV’s.

Many that were available were way above my price range, effectively halving the choices.

I was all set to order a new 30th anniversary MX5 RF. Despite the underpowered hairdresser reputation, the MX5 is essentially the last pure driving experience from a mainstream car maker that you’ll find under £30k. They are delightful tactile and communicative little cars, if you can, have a go in one. They are more fun than a fleet of Audi’s, and will show you how ‘wrong’ modern cars have become.

My new car arrived this week. It fits none of the criteria above. In fact it’s probably the greatest act of automotive hypocrisy I’ve ever perpetrated, because it’s overweight, not a petrol, has (lord help me) black wheels, a glass roof (so the gods of a decently low centre of gravity can look upon me with disdain), it’s an auto, and I’ve always hated American cars.

View attachment 194654
Click to expand...

The anniversaries were coming out a little pricey but I’ve moved to a GT+ RF, I needed the hard top for commuting on the motorway . I absolutely love driving it, puts a smile on my face every time.
 
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I do 7k miles a year, just bought a V10 :) Last of a breed and so far what an engine and for me the right call.
Derv will always be available (and sensible) for higher milers, where I live in France vast majority of cars are small diesels and in the countryside almost 100% are small diesels, diesel still has a future and won't be taxed out of existence.

A lot of conflicting messages coming in the industry at the moment (Audi S models derv, RS6/RSQ very big very powerful petrol, BMs producing 5/600bhp even before the new M3 etc yet next AMGs are 4 cyl?).

My plan was to buy electric when I got rid of my S3 but lifes to short to wait.
 
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Thanks for the opinions, it has been a really broad set of responses ranging from 'I would never drive a diesel' to 'what's the issue with diesel?'

I'm no closer to picking a new car. It would make more sense for our two car household to have an electric and a diesel vehicle, this would cover my Dover / Cornwall trips and provide a viable alternative for the rest of the time. (This won't happen as my wife will not relinquish her Z4). Maybe in a few years.

For now, I may just run my A3 up to 100K+ miles over the next four years and then make a change. I no longer find driving fun or exciting in the UK (I prefer motorbikes), so I just want something comfortable that I can drive for 5 hours without feeling tired.

S3's are fun, but having had a V8 S4, would it really be as much fun...
 
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tiktok_78 said:
S3's are fun, but having had a V8 S4, would it really be as much fun...
Click to expand...

The S3 will be lighter and probably quicker. So yeah, it'll probably be more fun, as it doesn't have the weight of the V8 slung out in front of the front axle.
 
tiktok_78 said:
Thanks for the opinions, it has been a really broad set of responses ranging from 'I would never drive a diesel' to 'what's the issue with diesel?'

I'm no closer to picking a new car. It would make more sense for our two car household to have an electric and a diesel vehicle, this would cover my Dover / Cornwall trips and provide a viable alternative for the rest of the time. (This won't happen as my wife will not relinquish her Z4). Maybe in a few years.

For now, I may just run my A3 up to 100K+ miles over the next four years and then make a change. I no longer find driving fun or exciting in the UK (I prefer motorbikes), so I just want something comfortable that I can drive for 5 hours without feeling tired.

S3's are fun, but having had a V8 S4, would it really be as much fun...
Click to expand...

It was always going to be a tricky question to answer and that provoked arguments from both sides of the fence. However, diesel owners usually like petrol and electric whereas petrol car owners usually hate diesel. I think only 1 or 2 petrol car drivers replied in favour of diesel but added the usual small print “if the miles are over 12k per year”. Only you will know mate. Iv had all types of cars, and been based all over the world. The argument that diesel is going extinct is really a Little Britain argument and very very narrow minded. If you ever go abroad to Europe you will see that most cars are diesel and that governments still subsidise diesel as a fuel. In Austria for example it is 1.17e per little but petrol is 1.25e. The argument should be that the internal combustion engine is going, not just diesel. My family all live near Bristol, the first city to ban diesel cars from the centre. If you look at the maps of the zone that it is affecting,it really is a great plan. However, there is 1 road where you can drive to the main centre car park which is free for all cars, to allow all traffic to park in the centre. This car park is below Cabut circus, bristols central shopping area. In 25yrs of living in Somerset I have never driven in Bristol city centre. My sister lives dead centreis Bristol and has a Fiat 500 diesel. Never driven to the centre. All you need is a car park and good connections.

All arguments need a little context, hence the reason why diesel is being vilified in the UK.

Back to the topic. My next car will probably be a Tesla. I regularly drive from Switzerland all over Europe. Having a Tesla will not hinder me doing that as the infrastructure is excellent and the range good and always increasing. If you have doubts over range then you can easily check online if you can do your journeys and what the recharge wait would be. You will be surprised at the results.
 
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I bought my S3 as a combination of ‘probably last hurrah for internal combustion before going electric’ and what some might call mid life crisis.
 
Petrol without a shadow of doubt.
No interest in EV at all. A small hybrid element I would consider - if it were part of an S3/ RS3 for example but no way a full electric.
The Tesla's are leading the field but there are many reports of really poor build quality and worse Dealer back up.
God help those Drivers in a harsh UK winter too stuck stationary on a motorway, as heaters and cold weather massively drain those batteries.
Until solid state batteries arrive (circa 2030) the current batteries will always have their limitations (yes even the mighty Tesla's).
Until then I will 100% stick with trusted Petrol cars - which are WAY more economical than they have ever been.
I don't do that many miles but I when I do, having a full tank of petrol and not having to carefully plan my trip for charging stop off's is a positive.
Finally, the sound of a car is important to me (even in this world of reigned in soundtracks) so only a petrol car can provide this too.
 
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It's not just diesels that are being/ have been knocked.
I have a petrol A4 1.8Tquattro that I bought new in 2004. It is a small-ish engine in a heavy 1445 kg car
227 grms for emissions - kindly backdated by George Brown (Chancellor at the time ) so suddenly was classed as a wicked polluter during the period between ordering and collecting the car.
I pay £400 per year tax - to do 3k- 3.5k miles ( at average 31 - 36 mpg not hanging about)and cannot drive in various places without it costing me a further fortune.

OK I like the car
OK I love wife's S3 saloon, same mpg MUCH faster and much cheaper to tax.

The trouble is politics (at all levels ) get involved and sense and knowledge and sense go out the window......

Yes I could manage on a range of 100 miles for my few-ish local journeys but the other journeys are 200- 500 miles at a time.

Oh - in an area like I live in ( 1950s 60s houses) there are not that many/few driveways, no ( or very few) garages attached to houses and no chance at all of running an extension cable across the footpath and plugging in a car ! :cry:

My saving grace is that I'm probably a lot older than many of you -- so I have less time left of having to put up with the grief :grinning:
 
wab172uk said:
All depends on your milage. If I was up and down the motorway every day doing big miles a year, then a Diesel would make sense.

Probably why Audi have gone Diesel on the latest S4, S5, S6, as more appealing to company car drivers.
Click to expand...


Company cars aren't that much of a perk anymore and you get an absolute rodding up the poo pipe for having one due to company car tax imposed, especially if it's a diesel.

The higher the P11D value the greater the rodding is as you may know.

Diesel S4, S5 and S6 will be a fortune, especially when paying tax at 40%.
 
Petrol for as long as the Regs allow it then older cars for me, again petrol!

TX.

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wab172uk said:
That's the sad thing isn't it? Anything tasty these days comes with an Auto box. For me, I want a hatch or Saloon with AWD, and a manual gearbox. What cars on sale today fit that criteria? None !

If I wanted FWD, there are plenty out there. And out of that lot, only the Fiesta ST appeals. But it doesn't suit everything I need my car to do. So it would be a compromise.

It looks like the next Golf R, & Audi S3 will be DSG only. A35 AMG? Auto only. The only car that will probably fill my required criteria is the next Focus RS. But as that has not been confirmed, or even spied, there is no guarantee Ford will even build it. And if they do, it's a couple years away anyway.

I don't `need` to change cars, but the S3 is 5 years old next march, and I'd like to swap now while it still holds some decent value. So it looks like it's Auto gearbox for my next car. But I feel an auto box is better suited to an SUV. Hence the test drive of an X3. But if BMW gave that a nice 6 speed manual, I'd go manual.

The choice is being taken away from us, and all cars are becoming the same. All cars in the same segment are all about the same speed too. So it just comes down to exterior and interior style which will make some people's minds up. And as most styling is all very Vanilla these days, PCP payment will probably swing it for most.
Click to expand...
When we reach "peak EV" they will all be doing 0-60 at about 3s so not even performance will be a factor! Which grey soundless box would Sir like ...

TX.

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It will help with the population figures as well...………. nobody will hear them all as they silently wiz up behind you.
 
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probably electric. The new VW ID Vizzion looks good. 300bhp equivalent so no slouch 0-60 in 5 seconds. so a bit slower than my S3 but I could tolerate that with work paying for all my refills :)
 
wab172uk said:
That's the sad thing isn't it? Anything tasty these days comes with an Auto box. For me, I want a hatch or Saloon with AWD, and a manual gearbox. What cars on sale today fit that criteria? None !
Click to expand...

Each to their own and that’s what makes us who we are.

I like a manual on quiet roads and still get to drive one periodically. Roads are so overcrowded now that there is less freedom to drive to the road unless at unsociable hours. Had my fill of traffic queues in a manual long ago.

DSG in manual mode 95% of the time these days. 10 years ago I would never had said that (and it isn’t an age thing).
 
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