Just hoping for a few quick points from people of the advantages vs disadvantages of being a Fiesta Diesel owner?

Well I can see that anybody with a diesel is lucky at the mo as it's cheeper then unleadeded :( .

The only diesel I have ever driven was a Peugeot a while back. After that experience I never want to own one again. I know they have gotten better over the years, and in many ways they are better than petrol engines (cheaper to fuel, more economical, more torque etc), but I just can't bring myself to choose one when it comes down to it. I think I was ruined as a child by Thomas the Tank Engine. Not the diseasal! :P

My parents currently drive a 2 year old focus CC 2 Litre diesel. Looks lovely, still sounds like a van to me.

Damn you ringo star, you have ruined me

I went from a petrol Focus, to the current baby, a Fiesta tdci Titanium, and I love it! I think it's just personal preference at the end of the day, some like, some dislike, and that's alright! We're entitled to our own opinions :) but for us, we wanted a car with cheaper road tax, better fuel economy etc..

..but for us, we wanted a car with cheaper road tax, better fuel economy etc..

Since the taxation bands were revised, my 1.6 petrol Fiesta (band C) now only costs £35 a year to tax like the diesels!

Not sure if its the same for the other petrols but I'm guessing it is?

The new generation diesels are a lot better than the old ones. My Brothers 2005 Focus TDCI. is a grate car. The only time that you notice that it is a diesel is when it is at low revs.

However a 1999 Escort diesel That my brother in law had, was a very nosy car with a lot of rattles.

It did not age nowhere near as well as the 1998 petrol version that my parents owned.

Since the taxation bands were revised, my 1.6 petrol Fiesta (band C) now only costs £35 a year to tax like the diesels!

Not sure if its the same for the other petrols but I'm guessing it is?

Has this happened recently? the revision of the tax bands, because back in March when we bought our Fiesta, the petrol tax price list was saying it was £120 per year for the same spec car, and correct me if I'm wrong, it still says this on Ford's website.

Has this happened recently? the revision of the tax bands, because back in March when we bought our Fiesta, the petrol tax price list was saying it was £120 per year for the same spec car, and correct me if I'm wrong, it still says this on Ford's website.

I've only got the 1.25 petrol and mine is £120

I've only got the 1.25 petrol and mine is £120

Yeah, how can this be then!! I'm intrigued now, lol.

So just to confirm...how much is a MK7 Zetec S to insure for the year?

Since the taxation bands were revised, my 1.6 petrol Fiesta (band C) now only costs £35 a year to tax like the diesels!

Not sure if its the same for the other petrols but I'm guessing it is?

Its band B thats £35,band C Is £120 I think.

The 1.6 petrol is 139g emmisions,you need to be sub 120g to get band B.

Dave

The tax bands have all changed although the corresponding price changes did not come into effect due to the public outcry about it even though the majority of the smaller engined newer cars would have gone DOWN in price.

The 1.6 Ti VCT should, if they bring the revised pricing in next year, go down to £110 pa although knowing the government it will probably stay the same the those dirtier engines will go out correspondingly.

With regard to what engine I would have - well clearly I am a petrol person - and for the relatively low mileage I do I am not sure I would be able to recoup the initial purchase difference let alone any fuel costs as while someone has already commented about diesel currently being cheaper but it is usual more expensive.

As for insurance - I know I am not getting the ZS but I can get fully comp with only £250 excess for just over £200pa

So just to confirm...how much is a MK7 Zetec S to insure for the year?

How long's a piece of string?

Back to the original question.

If you want to be frugal and look after the pennies, buy a diesel, just as long as you do the mileage to benefit from it.

I have spent roughly £120 more in the approx 6 months I've had the car because I bought petrol instead of diesel, that's taking into account tax and fuel economy based on the Ford figures. But, because the diesel engine costs £600 more I would only start to gain money after 3 years owning a diesel and to be perfectly honest, to me, it's not worth it and I prefer petrol engines to diesel and always will.

Well, I've had 3 cars so far. Two being diesels. 1st one being a Peugeot 309 1.9D, very rough but a very durable engine. And second is this Focus. I only choose diesel because I do a lot of motorway mileage. So it really helps when it comes to using fuel. And even though diesels have bigger engines, they are reasonable to insure. My Focus only being group 4.

But, I can't really argue with my friends when they make fun of it, because they're right. First time they heard the engine the first thing they said was "sounds like a taxi".

PS: 'Bout time us diesel owners can pay the same price as petrol at the pumps. :P

I have to wonder whether any of the "petrol" people have had a test drive in the 1.6 TDCI. If you had then you'd know that the noise in the cabin is no different to the petrol (and yes I have driven both versions).

As for performance my 1.6 TDCI is as quick if not quicker than my 2.0L petrol Hyundia Coupe was. On the motorway it is stunning and will accelerate with ease if you decide the fast lane is needed for overtaking.

Economy is out of this world. I have achieved 75.1mpg on a trip of 220 miles. As a general rule though mine is averaging 52-56mpg and most of that is short trips.

This is my first diesel having been a "petrol" man all my life and I can honestly say that it will take a special car to make me go back to petrol.

I have to wonder whether any of the "petrol" people have had a test drive in the 1.6 TDCI. If you had then you'd know that the noise in the cabin is no different to the petrol (and yes I have driven both versions).

As for performance my 1.6 TDCI is as quick if not quicker than my 2.0L petrol Hyundia Coupe was. On the motorway it is stunning and will accelerate with ease if you decide the fast lane is needed for overtaking.

Economy is out of this world. I have achieved 75.1mpg on a trip of 220 miles. As a general rule though mine is averaging 52-56mpg and most of that is short trips.

This is my first diesel having been a "petrol" man all my life and I can honestly say that it will take a special car to make me go back to petrol.

I have test driven the TDCI, as it was the only Zetec S one dealer had at the time. Although whilst the car is moving at speed there is no notable difference inside the cabin so long as you have the windows up, whilst idling in traffic and starting up there really is.

I think it is well worth the diesel if you clock up miles or use the motorway on a regular basis, especially as 3200+rpm in a petrol really does burn quickly. Now that diesels have caught up with petrol and need regular servicing on the same schedule it really depends on whether it will work out cheaper for you to pay more for the car now, and save money later by covering enough miles.

That and you weren't corrupted by Thomas the Tank Engine

There seems to be a £400 - £600 price difference at the moment looking on a few different sites, diesels being the more expensive

The only diesel I have ever driven was a Peugeot a while back. After that experience I never want to own one again. I know they have gotten better over the years, and in many ways they are better than petrol engines (cheaper to fuel, more economical, more torque etc), but I just can't bring myself to choose one when it comes down to it. I think I was ruined as a child by Thomas the Tank Engine. Not the diseasal! :P

My parents currently drive a 2 year old focus CC 2 Litre diesel. Looks lovely, still sounds like a van to me.

Damn you ringo star, you have ruined me

I beg to differ with you on this.

Peugeot diesel engines are class leading; that's why they are fitted in such a wide range of cars like BMW and Mini.

I personally have owned a 405 GRD which did over 200k before I part exchanged it and a 205 GRD which did 150k with me and both of those cars were extremely comfortable and reliable.

If I were to buy another diesel it would definitely have some Peugeot input if only the engine.

I beg to differ with you on this.

Peugeot diesel engines are class leading; that's why they are fitted in such a wide range of cars like BMW and Mini.

I personally have owned a 405 GRD which did over 200k before I part exchanged it and a 205 GRD which did 150k with me and both of those cars were extremely comfortable and reliable.

If I were to buy another diesel it would definitely have some Peugeot input if only the engine.

If they are as good as you say they are, then I must have had a friday shift car!

If they are as good as you say they are, then I must have had a friday shift car!

Maybe; I've had a few friday cars myself too!

I'm sure I read somewhere that the diesel version will probably be the more sought after if you ever decide to sell it a few years down the line. So you can probably get more money and an easy sale. Could be wrong though.

Interesting replies all round. My first car was a 1.4 Petrol Punto and i must say that i love my 1.4 TDCI Fiesta! I would have gone for the 1.6 had it not been for the insurance (i'm only 21)

I have to wonder whether any of the "petrol" people have had a test drive in the 1.6 TDCI. If you had then you'd know that the noise in the cabin is no different to the petrol (and yes I have driven both versions).

As for performance my 1.6 TDCI is as quick if not quicker than my 2.0L petrol Hyundia Coupe was. On the motorway it is stunning and will accelerate with ease if you decide the fast lane is needed for overtaking.

Economy is out of this world. I have achieved 75.1mpg on a trip of 220 miles. As a general rule though mine is averaging 52-56mpg and most of that is short trips.

This is my first diesel having been a "petrol" man all my life and I can honestly say that it will take a special car to make me go back to petrol.

Firstly, you are not comparing like for like.

The Hyundai is a heavier car than the Fiesta, roughly 20% and from the figures I've seen, noticeably quicker than the Fiesta as well. That's the nature of turbo diesels, the way the power is delivered makes the car feel faster than it actually is, the figures do not lie.

At the end of the day, if you want frugality and you do the miles, buy a diesel, if you want performance, don't.

I'm sure I read somewhere that the diesel version will probably be the more sought after if you ever decide to sell it a few years down the line. So you can probably get more money and an easy sale. Could be wrong though.

I would hope so, it costs more to buy.

Just to add with regard to the car tax thing - if the new rates come in in April next year then not only will the 1.6 petrol engined ones go down by £10 pa but the diesels will go down by £15 (cars from 100 - 110g/kms will be just £20!!)

QUOTE (alexavfc123 @ Aug 19 2009, 11:07 PM) *

So just to confirm...how much is a MK7 Zetec S to insure for the year?

How long's a piece of string?

Back to the original question.

If you want to be frugal and look after the pennies, buy a diesel, just as long as you do the mileage to benefit from it.

I have spent roughly £120 more in the approx 6 months I've had the car because I bought petrol instead of diesel, that's taking into account tax and fuel economy based on the Ford figures. But, because the diesel engine costs £600 more I would only start to gain money after 3 years owning a diesel and to be perfectly honest, to me, it's not worth it and I prefer petrol engines to diesel and always will.

Whoops meant tax, although thought you would of sussed that out