Comments on: Petrol or Diesel ? How to Decide When you Buy a Car

By: Hellosuny

Hellosuny — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:02:22 +0000

A petrol car will always compell you to calculate between travelling by car and travelling by Public Transport. For highway travellers, diesel is the best choice.

For visiting a city 300-500 Kms, AC 3 costs 600-700
If you do not travel alone, a trip for 2 means 12-1400
Up & Down = 2400-2800
Local conveyance (Not of the level of the luxury of own car) @200-500 per day

Total cost by Rail = 2600-3300 (Say 3000)
For additional persons, cost increases.

By Diesel Car (mileage 20, Rate 40) = Rs. 2 / Km

300-500 Kms x 2(Up & Down) @ Rs. 2/Km = 1200-2000
Local travel in a day (40-100 Kms) = 80-200
Toll (If applicable) = 100-150

Total Cost by Diesel Car = 1380-2350 (Say 2000)
For 3 or 4 persons instead of 2, cost remains almost the same.

By Petrol Car (mileage 12.5, Rate 50) = Rs. 4 / Km

300-500 Kms x 2(Up & Down) @ Rs. 4/Km = 2400-4000
Local travel in a day (40-100 Kms) = 160-400
Toll (If applicable) = 100-150

Total Cost by Petrol Car = 2660-4550 (Say 3600)
For 3 or 4 persons instead of 2, cost remains almost the same.

——————————–
SUMMARY
——————————–
Total cost by Rail = 2600-3300 (Say 3000)
Total Cost by Diesel Car = 1380-2350 (Say 2000)
Total Cost by Petrol Car = 2660-4550 (Say 3600)

This is for a single trip of 1 day stay.
Train saves the pain (OR PLEASURE !!) of driving.
Diesel gives poor pickup (As they say. I wonder how many times you start from 0 in highway)
Petrol saves maintenance.

Gautam
9424102030

By: Naveen

Naveen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:32:02 +0000

@Mr.Satish

R u a fool? you yourself contadict your statements.

By: mr.satish

mr.satish — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:22:42 +0000

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.

By: sreekanth

sreekanth — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:24:07 +0000

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.

By: Kenney Jacob

Kenney Jacob — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:11:16 +0000

In India Diesel is subsidized. Thats why

By: scorpiogenius

scorpiogenius — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:08:33 +0000

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?

By: Renju Mathew

Renju Mathew — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:33:53 +0000

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.

By: Shrinidhi Hande

Shrinidhi Hande — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:41:09 +0000

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

By: S.K Praveen Kumar

S.K Praveen Kumar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:23:49 +0000

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.

By: ajish

ajish — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:33:21 +0000

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