WHAT WOULD YOU BUY DIESEL OR PETROL

[rapport25]

Lots of debate on what is cheaper in the long run. Im not just refering to peugeot here. As many that know me. I will not be buying another peugeot. And im still really considering an alfa romeo 159 or a new shape honda accord when the 406 decideds its time to go bye bye. But after lots of debate do I go petrol or diesel?

If its a petrol I would be looking at a 2.2 as I guess you would have the same amount off pull as a diesel say mid range. Also a very free reving engine If the mood should take you .

Alot of manufactures now have some kind of all singing and dancing magic diesel filter that will cost alot to repair.

Any help or advise I would appreciate.

Many thanks,


Rappy

[turbolag]

I would go for petrol now, unless you do interstellar mileages. The rising differential in the price of diesel to petrol, more frequent servicing, higher insurance and the periodic expense of sorting the FAP means you have to be doing serious distance to make them pay now.

I got a 407 2.2 petrol, and average about 2 mpg less than the 2.0 HDi engined cars typically get. That's approximately 5% greater consumption, using a fuel costing typically 12-15% less, so the saving is obvious.

To really make me smile, the final version of the EW12 2.2 petrol engine in the 407 is heavily revised compared to the older EW12 found (albeit rarely) in some 406's and coupes. Pug endowed it with another 5bhp, but deliberately set it up to emulate a diesels low-mid range grunt, while maintaining the high end speed frenzy that comes with revving it. So, it's cheaper to run and gives instant response with no poxy turbolag from any revs, even in 6th.

diesel technology has stagnated somewhat in recent years, with the basic disel cycle remaining and being smothered in greater technology to try and tame it and keep it clean, or else being multiplied up (twin instead of single turbos) for more power. conversely, there has been several breakthroughs lately in our understanding of the otto cycle, down to the level of molecular behaviour of free radicals during the combustion process, so the petrol has clawed back strongly in the economy stakes, while retaining the potential for power at any point in the rev range.

[rapport25]

Thanks turbolag. 407's scare me due to the amount of electrical problems they are know to have. And suspension problems I have been reading about.

What bhp is your 407 then? What 407's can it be found in? And comparing side by side what is the mpg town/ out of town/ mixed cycle? Compared to a HDI?

0 to 60 time and top speed? I cover around 10 to 12k a year now not 20k plus like I use to.

Thanks Rappy

[mbell666]

I think its a tricky call especially at 12k a year.

The diesel will do more mpg, but a gallon will cost more. The pence per mile in fuel will be less overall thou, the parts to service a diesel will be less (no spark plugs, dizzy, leads, etc).

However generally there is less to go wrong with a petrol, or less costly things to go wrong. If something goes wrong with a modern diesel its generally very expensive, high pressure pumps can run into thousands....

Basically if you get a diesel and nothing goes wrong it will be cheaper, if something goes wrong its likely to make it more expensive.

What kind of driving are you doing, if you do alot of town driving the diesel may be the best choice with better town fuel economy. If its mostly motorway/a road then then the petrol may be better for lower risk...

[Welly]

Petrol for me!

Diesels are too much trouble! although a new one would be fine for the first 40K I suppose but would cost more to buy in the first place.

These days you want at least 150bhp in a large modern car and the diesel struggles to be economical here.

As turbo says, Petrol's have come on a lot now.

Diesel users are businesses and when taxation comes along it is these users who get hit first so the diesel/petrol price gap will increase IMO.

[Doggy]

What have diesels ever done for us?
Apart from better mpg
and brilliant 4th / 4th gear performance
and almost instant starting
and complete lack of hesitation cold or hot
and no misfires
and virtually no engine noise
and more torque than a V6

I agree there are loads of potentially expensive / awkward jobs but have you ever tried changing a DIS pack on a V6 Omega?

(ducks below parapet)

[Welly]

I think in general we're tending to get trouble in the cars latter years (why wouldn't you?) I mean the sub £4,500.00 cars, then it starts getting expensive compared to petrol and if you aint doing the miles then you're on to a loser (got the T-shirt).

I like the way my HDi drives and yes it's economical and pretty swift but it's had issues purely related to being a Diesel which I would have avoided with a petrol version.

The thing with 406's though is that (apart from the V6) you'd only look to the HDi anyway! it's just what they're about! It's the same as just about every Golf out there being a TDi

As far as the 407 goes I think buying the 2.2 petrol is a smart move.

[mjb]

It's the same as just about every Golf out there being a TDi

Hey, the Golf TDi is a very nice car+engine combination!

[turbolag]

Don't worry about electrical problems on the 407 Rapport - the 1st year of production (2004) was the worst, unsurprisingly, and there are now now recurring major issues on the later cars.

The HDi's continue to be typically troublesome, but if you're getting a sparker that won't affect you.

The only car in its class with the double wishbone front end so the steering and handling are peerless, with a beautifully damped ride that only Peugeot seem to know how to do, with a level of standard equipment for the price that makes owners of the likes of Ford, Vauxhall, Nissans, Hundas etc stand back breathless in amazement.

Unless you're seriously minted, a carefully sourced and inspected 407 is a cracking machine and simply unbeatable for value.

[mjb]

unbeatable for value.

Nah, you've just described a £500 406 ;)

[turbolag]

I sold my 1st 107 after a year at a £100 loss, and my 2nd 107 after a year at a £255 loss - that's 2 years of new car motoring, with utter reliability and warranty backup for £355.

£500 for a knackered 406 is a rip off in comparison.

[mjb]

£500 for a knackered 406

I wouldn't go round writing off (figuratively speaking) £500 406s as knackers. My last one I got rid of because the bonnet came up at speed for the second time (not a mechanical fault) and it needed a couple of tyres and a CV boot that I couldn't be bothered paying for, plus I wanted the extra 50bhp of the V6. Other than that it was pretty much immaculate and needed less than the bare minimum of servicing in the 70k miles or so I had it - only one oil change in 100k, no cambelt change, etc.

My current one (had it a year) has just needed some brake discs. Unless someone crashes into me or something else dumb happens I'll run it probably for a few years until the cambelt snaps and again pay next to nothing on servicing

I don't care how old the cars are, petrol D8 406s will on average be a lot less prone to breakdowns than something that's just come off the production line. Read up on the "bathtub curve". Also a 150~200bhp executive motor is MUCH more of a car than a little 107!

What would your 107s be worth with an extra 70k on the clocks? How much would the servicing costs be? and how uncomfortable are the non-electric seats? The comfort of my back is worth a couple hundred a year thanks!

[Welly]

it was pretty much immaculate

Is it ok to use baby wipes to get my Tea-spats off these fancy monitor sreens?

[mjb]

it was pretty much immaculate

Is it ok to use baby wipes to get my Tea-spats off these fancy monitor sreens?

in terms of mechanical soundness...

[Doggy]

it was pretty much immaculate

Is it ok to use baby wipes to get my Tea-spats off these fancy monitor sreens?

in terms of mechanical soundness...

Probably still better pressing gently near the edges, at least to start with