Petrol or Diesel ? How to Decide When you Buy a Car
How to you choose whether or not to buy a petrol car or a diesel car ? Now that the petrol prices have increased, many of us tend to go for a diesel cars. Diesel cars are costly by atleast a lakh when compared to their pertol varients.
We need to take a look at the following factors and then decide.
- Whats your average usage per year
- What are the maintenance costs per kilometer
- How long are you planning to use a car
Diesel cars are best suited for people who’s usage is high. Maintenance costs are high for diesel cars and their life is smaller compared to petrol cars. So lets do some math and find out.
Lets say, diesel variant for a particular car costs 1 lakh more than the petrol variant. Now that additional 1 lakh can get you 1923 liters of petrol and 2631 liters of diesel for the current price .
Lets assume a mileage of 13 for petrol and 17 for diesel for our particular car. So we can travel
1923 X 13 = 24999 kilometers on petrol with that 1 lakh if we buy the petrol varient
Spreading it over 3 years you get to drive 8333 kilometers a year. If your driving needs are less than that its better to go for the petrol variant. For the diesel varient you have to shell out the additional 1 lakh and also money for diesel after that.
Apart from this, diesel vehicles adds approximately Rs 1 to the maintenance cost for every kilometer you drive. So do the math before you go decide on petrol or diesel.
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August 28th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Hello Kenney:
Don’t talk about the life span. Whether its diesel or petrol it has a life span of 15-20 years. Your maths seems to be good those who buy a car for luxury not for use
August 28th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Hmmm Interesting. By the way one more thing that I would like to mention here is about the diesel engine itself. People still think that the diesel engine is still only for slow vehicles - Diesel engine technology has come a long way and now a days matches the performance of petrol engines. I have seen some of the premier car models (like the BMW X5’s) performance first hand.
As for how long you intend to keep your car - the Indian society is moving towards “consumer-isation”. I dont expect people to keep their cars for more that 5 years. It is like the mobile phones - gone are the days that people use there mobile phones for more than a year.
And with the amount of spare cash that the Indian consumers seem to have - I really dont think it matters…
August 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
In Dubai, Diesels prices are double that of petrol prices!!
Petrol costs around 7-8 dirhams per gallon where as Diesels costs 17dirhams per gallon!! (remember 1 gallon of drinking water is around 6dirhams! )
To buy cars, its cheap again! A full option latest model Toyota Corrola is only 66,000 dirhams!! (Convert it @1dir=12ruppe)
August 28th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Halooo kennychaaaa….
This is really good …. but just think in a different way.. u are buying the car for long drive’s and to enjoy the driving… this matter’s the mileage… and Swift DDIS version is pretty puppy….
Now just think u want to go out, just with petrol version just giving 10 KM mileage… the cos is 55 /- and ur need is just buy some little things… u wil think twice..if i want to go by car or bike or bus…. and this will restrict you from taking the vehicle.So i suggest take Diesel version which is a good in the market.. and nowadays diesel version comes with good life time for the engine … rather than thinking of old versions of diesel cars
this can help you to take up the decision to buy an diesel version … hoping so
August 28th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Your maths is right if it is a cash purchase. But loan repayment and all is a different ball game. Anyway, good thinking. Keep it up!
I thought this way too. If we invest that 1 lakh to a good scheme we can easily generate 5000 or more per month and the 1 lakh will be there as it is. 5000 plus will be enough for petrol expense for a moderate car user. All these calculations are effective only when we go for a cash purchase.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
New generation diesel cars don’t cost much on maintenance… even the noise is reduced…
diesel being mass fuel used for trucks and buses, govt thinks twice before increasing diesel price, while petrol prices are increased in a higher proportion…
I feel diesel is a better bet, except when the car is for some minimal city use-just a few kms a day for local driving
August 29th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
This is a old theory based on these calculations. You buy a car that suits your budget.If you get a diesel for that price, go for diesel.If you have a petrol car, you tend to use it less as you may consider your wallet than comfort.If you buy a Diesel you wont think abt wallet as Diesel is cheap and more miles you can travel in 1 ltr.
If you have diesel , you can drive more, you can go anywhere with out being bothered about expenses. It is pre-purchase economics but post-purchase mentality to be considered. Throw away such economics on petrol and diesel.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I’d rather go 4 the petrol one, especially when driving through the city. Its curious to note one thing…Here in Ireland Diesel always costs more than Petrol..
1 L petrol now goes at 1.40 Euros and 1 L diesel sells at 1.44 euros.. In India its the opposite. Know why?
September 1st, 2008 at 1:41 pm
In India Diesel is subsidized. Thats why
September 1st, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Hi Kenney, There is a difference. You are not considering the car value separately. Your calculation deducts the running costs from car value which is not always the case. Means, after the span of 3 years, if you try to buy the vehicle you will get more price for the diesel variant. Hence that point is not actually a break even as it seems.
And of course, the new generation diesel engines are competitive to petrol engines in terms of both performance and maintenance costs.
November 6th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
diesel needs 2000 to 3000 kilometers per month and petrol needs 600 to 1000 kms per month
diesel is prefered in trucks , buses and the which travel on a highway or mountain areas .
diesel have noise
the persons which have need in a city should prefer diesel.