[rauldsouza]

Originally Posted by balderash_12

True, but have factors like higher resale value for particular variants/ fuels been considered?
For example, the Swift diesel commands a higher resale value than the petrol. The VDi variants in particular is very popular. Same goes for European diesels.

You need to consider that insurance premiums for diesel cars are higher based on the premise that they are intended to crunch more miles.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by rauldsouza

You need to consider that insurance premiums for diesel cars are higher based on the premise that they are intended to crunch more miles.

Not really d'souza. The insurance premium is calculated on the IDV and not on the type of fuel. Crunching miles is left to the individual buyer and the type of fuel alone doesn't determine the total number of km a car does.
If you use your car for commercial purpose, you will log a lot more mileage.

[arindambasu13]

In today's day and age, when diesel is increasingly becoming the lesser preferred choice of fuel, it makes very little sense to purchase a diesel variant if there are competent petrol variants of the same/ similar car available.

Think about it- less that a couple of years back, the price disparity between diesel and petrol was Rs. 20 and maybe even more in Bangalore and most other cities. Petrol vehicle owners used to feel let down every time they stopped to refuel and noticed the huge difference in price with respect to diesel. For the last year and a half or more, the difference has gradually but very surely shrunk to about Rs. 4- Rs. 5 today. Basically, nothing significant. The primary motivation of buying a diesel car i.e. huge difference in fuel costs, are rendered null and void today, and I am pretty sure that at some time in the very near future, diesel may even get costlier than petrol- given the government's bent of mind towards discouraging diesel passenger vehicles. Not to mention the various regulatory disincentives in other forms which are bound to set in with respect to diesel vehicles within the next few years.

The only motivation could be that certain diesel cars are fun to drive, more so than the petrol variant - in which case, the enthusiast may opt for the diesel variant only from that perspective. Or possibly, if the monthly running for the vehicle is very high. Even then, the future of diesels the world over seems to be bleak, and for me, that is probably discouragement enough for investing in a diesel car today.

[pavi]

Originally Posted by balderash_12

True, but have factors like higher resale value for particular variants/ fuels been considered?
For example, the Swift diesel commands a higher resale value than the petrol. The VDi variants in particular is very popular. Same goes for European diesels.

But the future of diesel cars are completely uncertain, more inclining towards their demise, the resale is definitely going to take a hit. There may be additional yearly green tax implementation on diesel cars (just an assumption). Most probably the resale of diesel cars is going to take a big hit in future. There may not be much takers for diesel cars (even used) in the future.

[balderash_12]

Originally Posted by pavi

But the future of diesel cars are completely uncertain, more inclining towards their demise, the resale is definitely going to take a hit. There may be additional yearly green tax implementation on diesel cars (just an assumption). Most probably the resale of diesel cars is going to take a big hit in future. There may not be much takers for diesel cars (even used) in the future.

Oh yes! Definitely. Their current resale is higher for sure (at least that is the general trend seen) than petrols. This will mean bad news for used car ‘stealerships’ You will be surprised to know how many Maruti Swift and Dzire diesels are in demand!

[pavi]

Originally Posted by balderash_12

Oh yes! Definitely. Their current resale is higher for sure (at least that is the general trend seen) than petrols. This will mean bad news for used car ‘stealerships’ You will be surprised to know how many Maruti Swift and Dzire diesels are in demand!

I agree. But considering the fact that usually people use their diesel cars for at least 5 years, I think the resale story climax may be entirely different for some one buying a diesel car now taking resale into consideration.

[balderash_12]

Originally Posted by pavi

I agree. But considering the fact that usually people use their diesel cars for at least 5 years, I think the resale story climax may be entirely different for some one buying a diesel car now taking resale into consideration.

True. Now with the NGT band looming over the place, the whole equation changes. Even buying a new diesel car is questionable.

[Prowler]

I see lots of diesel hating posts interspersed with the 'end of the world' for diesel engines here. I don't see how large cars, trucks, buses, tractors and power generators are going to face extinction in the foreseeable future. Diesel engines are far more fuel efficient than their comparable petrol engines. That is why all those massive engines are powered by diesel.


Modern diesels are actually less polluting than the engines of the last century. Real world comparison : A petrol engined Tata Safari has a typical fuel efficiency of about 6-8 km whereas its diesel counterpart has a figure of 9-15 km.



Personally there is nothing to beat the torque generated by a diesel mill at a relatively low rpm.

[rajshenoy]

Originally Posted by Prowler

I see lots of diesel hating posts interspersed with the 'end of the world' for diesel engines here. I don't see how large cars, trucks, buses, tractors and power generators are going to face extinction in the foreseeable future. Diesel engines are far more fuel efficient than their comparable petrol engines. That is why all those massive engines are powered by diesel.

It is the torque that favours diesel heart on bigger(heavier) vehicles, and I don't think that is going to change anyway.

We know that the BS-VI compatible Diesel engines will end up being more dearer due to additional technology needed. However For a fleet operator buying a people mover, this will hardly mean anything because there isn't a petrol alternative(CNG may not help in tank range)

What will happen though is the death of diesel powered small cars.

Another interesting bit is to see if the ratio tilts in favour of sedans(vs SUV) as they are inherently more fuel efficient (Eg: Honda city vs Hyundai Creta).

[tarik.arora]

I think there are more than one ways of looking at it:

a) Certain cars offer much better diesel engines than their petrol avtaar's (case i20), in which case, it totally depends on your preferences.
b) There are vehicles (majorly SUVs) that are only offered with a diesel engine: see if you really need this particular car
c) Monthly running based: For people who travel less (say less than 20k kms a year), a petrol car makes more financial sense in the current situation. For people who travel much more, a diesel will make more financial sense. For fence sitters, i will suggest petrol, looking at the uncertainty around diesel.
d) For those who don't give a damn- do whatever tickles your heart

I am also of the opinion that Diesel is not going anywhere in the next 15-20 years. For all the EV halla that the government is making, i dont see any tangible steps from their side. For those who are following the FAME-II scheme, the government has not allocated anything for the private car buyer. Such is the seriousness!

BS-VI is definitely the death bed for small diesel engines, but only because of financial concerns and nothing else. You will never be able to recover the 2-2.5 lacs rupees premium that you pay upfront and thus these engines will die. I don't see engines above 1.5-litre dying this early, they are here to stay for long. And as long as they stay, their resale will also stay.

Lastly i will repeat one thing: For those who take decisions based on the finances involved, please go ahead with a petrol car if you are a fence sitter in terms of monthly running. For everyone else, the choice is pretty clear.

[civic-sense]

I bought my first diesel car last year after driving petrols for about two decades. After a year's running, I don't think that I am sold to diesel. Not yet.

Yes, the low end power delivery is good and the mileage is better, that's it. The biggest fly in the ointment is the narrow power band. Couple that with a manual gearbox, you will curse it in the city. The sheer joy you get revving a petrol engine is sorely missed here.

[pavi]

Originally Posted by civic-sense

Yes, the low end power delivery is good and the mileage is better, that's it. The biggest fly in the ointment is the narrow power band. Couple that with a manual gearbox, you will curse it in the city. The sheer joy you get revving a petrol engine is sorely missed here.

You are definitely ‘unusual’ in a good sense. It is good to know that you are not fooled by the ‘more torque at lower but limited rpm range’. The fun of driving a torque less (as diesel guys call it) free revving higher redline petrol engine is something else when compared to a Diesel engine. It’s like saying a DCT is more fun as it is more convenient to drive. Petrol engine needs to be worked upon, but when you do it in the right way, you are in for a terrific treat.

[PrideRed]

Originally Posted by pavi

You are definitely ‘unusual’ in a good sense. It is good to know that you are not fooled by the ‘more torque at lower but limited rpm range’. The fun of driving a torque less (as diesel guys call it) free revving higher redline petrol engine is something else when compared to a Diesel engine. It’s like saying a DCT is more fun as it is more convenient to drive. Petrol engine needs to be worked upon, but when you do it in the right way, you are in for a terrific treat.

The problem however is that the exciting petrol are limited in number. In most cars, the diesel counterparts are more powerful, comes with a turbo and has lot more torque. i20,Jazz,Figo,Polo,Ciaz,Ecosport etc. the petrol is no match to its diesel counterpart. Only few cars like Baleno(Petrol is almost there with diesel) and City where the Ivtec simply blows out the Idtec. The current crop of petrol cars are no match to 10-20 year old counterparts like 1.6 IKON/Fiesta,1.6 Corsa,1.6 Palio,1.6 Baleno or the 1.5 City.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by pavi

...Petrol engine needs to be worked upon, but when you do it in the right way, you are in for a terrific treat.

The problem with that, there's barely any petrol engine (except the Suzuki K12) in the budget segments (under 10 Lacs) that are any fun no matter how much you wring their neck.

The Hyundai 1.2 works decently in the i10 but lame on i20, Ford's 1.5 Dragon is only available in AT on the Figo twins. The 1.2 Dragon is apparently better than the older 4-cylinder, not driven it enough so can't comment. Honda's 1.2 is a hoot on the Brio on the highway (about to be discontinued) but lame on the Amaze/Jazz/WRV.

The smaller 0.8L & 1L motors are just A-B commuter motors.

I lean towards petrols too, but there aren't many great petrol motors below a million rupees so I understand why enthusiasts have moved to the smaller diesels for their dose of driving fun.

P.S. The JTP twins are new so I didn't mention them. Definitely an enthusiasts' choice going forward.

[artemis_fowl]

How many of us are facing this dilemma? The Compass is available only with a petrol AT or diesel MT (petrol MT sales are negligible). People who want an AT only have the petrol
Adding to that, the Trailhawk seems indefinitely delayed. And even if it is launched, not everyone will buy the car only for the diesel AT alone. The price difference is too much for that.