Diesel vs petrol vehicles

[Gremlin]

Not sure if anyone is interested, but I've always been a little curious, and every time the prices for RUC, 91 and Diesel change the old debate crops up about which one is better. Petrol has increased 3c this month, and RUC has risen (bit of debate that the RUC has risen more steeply) so the arguments come out again.

Anyway, I created an excel sheet (one table assuming you rego 6 monthly, one for 12 months) based on a year. 0-50k comparison of cars and van/truck/utility but all private (extra fees and shite with transport etc) and up to 6 tonnes.

You can fix the gas price and fuel consumption (only the top 2, $ and L/100km) and RUC rate and this will fill in the table for you. I've always hankered for an F250 style ute, 8 foot tray for motorcycles gate up, and still cab space, but this table shows if you're going that big, stay away from petrol because petrol tax plus RUC (they're over 3.5t so classified as heavy) makes it more expensive after minimal distance. However, fuel consumption and gas v diesel price makes a big difference in which option costs more.

Obviously I'm not factoring in servicing and other running costs...

[Akzle]

ever get that feeling you have too much free time?
Get a fuken elf or dyna or someshit.

[Grumph]

If you're going to do the Nationals it's actually quite an important decision.

But for me, ease of disconnection of the speedo is pretty important too - cable drive or electric.

[Voltaire]

They should ditch rego and just put the whole lot on fuel, If your using your vehicle you pay, if your not you don't.
Personally I like my 2.5 litre Turbo VW van, its done nearly 300 000 k and I'll drive it till it stops, being European its expensive to repair but its nicer than the Jap ones of the same era that are only really town vehicles.

[SMOKEU]

being European its expensive to repair

Then you're getting ripped off. There's no reason why European vehicles should cost more to run/repair than anything else, as long as you're comparing similar vehicles (ie, not a Ferrari vs a Corolla).

[husaberg]

We did some comparisons when I brought my last ute.
I ended up with a V6 petrol Hilux as it was 10 thousand dollars cheaper than a less powerful diesel.
The running costs pretty similar when you factor in RUC's.
Best of all I just sold it Cause the wife wanted a sedan and only lost 4000 dollars in 6 years.

[SMOKEU]

We did some comparisons when I brought my last ute.
I ended up with a V6 petrol Hilux as it was 10 thousand dollars cheaper than a less powerful diesel.
The running costs pretty similar when you factor in RUC's.
Best of all I just sold it Cause the wife wanted a sedan and only lost 4000 dollars in 6 years.

That doesn't surprise me because the Japanese don't make any good diesels.

[Voltaire]

Then you're getting ripped off. There's no reason why European vehicles should cost more to run/repair than anything else, as long as you're comparing similar vehicles (ie, not a Ferrari vs a Corolla).

VW T4 Vs VW T2....
I'll rephrase that " If you can't fix them yourself European vehicles are expensive to repair.
I only take moderns to garages as I have no interest in multi valve injected engines.

[jim.cox]

We did some comparisons when I brought my last ute.
I ended up with a V6 petrol Hilux as it was 10 thousand dollars cheaper than a less powerful diesel.
The running costs pretty similar when you factor in RUC's.

I've done exactly the same comparison, and come to the same conclusion - you have to do a LOT of km's to make up the $10k price differential with the lower fuel cost.

It may hurt every time I fill my truck - but it does mean I get to drive a vehicle I actually like.

[Motu]

With the diesel Pajero spending most of it's life sitting on the front lawn, it had to go, rego on a diesel is just too much if you don't use it.

[Flip]

I have just done the dollars on my Vintage V8 Landrover on LPG.

It costs half the price of a diesel.

[SMOKEU]

VW T4 Vs VW T2....
I'll rephrase that " If you can't fix them yourself European vehicles are expensive to repair.
I only take moderns to garages as I have no interest in multi valve injected engines.

Any vehicle will be expensive to repair if you take it a dealership. If you find a good, independent mechanic who isn't going to rip you off with the "Euro tax" bullshit excuse to con fools out of their money, it shouldn't cost any more to own a reasonably common (in NZ) European vehicle compared to a similar Japanese vehicle.

[ellipsis]

That doesn't surprise me because the Japanese don't make any good diesels.

...?....


........

[Edbear]

Before buying the Kizashi I did the numbers on vehicles up to mid-size and the cost per k was the same for petrol and diesel. It's ridiculous that smaller diesels that return half the fuel consumption and also less pollution, are ruled out by the RUC's.

I wonder what the rules would be if Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV, had a small turbo diesel rather than the 2lt petrol engine. I calculated that almost 100% of my running over the last three months would have been solely on battery power.

It would appear that the Government does not want more economical vehicles on the roads. It's a real issue though, that the declining tax take from vehicles due to better fuel economy is up against the rising cost of accommodating a fast growing vehicle population. So what's the answer since NZ's drivers are not going to stop buying cars?

[Flip]

That doesn't surprise me because the Japanese don't make any good diesels.

Just like their motorcycles.