Diesel vs. Petrol

[apsurdium]

Hi, i'm new in car world and i need your advice.

I'm about to buy a mini but i can't decide between petrol or diesel.
I'm not adrenalin addicted and i don't do many miles I was about to buy a diesel but a friend told me that diesel is much more problematic to maintain after couple of years of usage.
Is this true?
Is there more problems with diesel? Like some leakage and filters?

What do you suggest?

Thanks!


Ps. i did try to find related posts but i could't.

[mister.t]

Quote: Originally Posted by apsurdium (original)

Hi, i'm new in car world and i need your advice.

I'm about to buy a mini but i can't decide between petrol or diesel.
I'm not adrenalin addicted and i don't do many miles I was about to buy a diesel but a friend told me that diesel is much more problematic to maintain after couple of years of usage.
Is this true?
Is there more problems with diesel? Like some leakage and filters?

What do you suggest?

Thanks!


Ps. i did try to find related posts but i could't.

Hi and welcome to MINI2

Firstly, I've not heard of Diesels becoming ruined through short journeys - My uncle has a BMW 330d Touring which has done 18k miles in 5 years, which is well below average mileage, and is used on short journeys a couple of times a week at most. The car has been perfect, despite the fact that it barely ever warms up, the electrics are hardly used, and its sat for quite long periods of time from time to time. I believe a Mini Diesel would behave in much the same was as this, however, the Cooper D is not old enough yet to find any small foibles, such as small things seizing or leaking or whatever. I would go with what you think is best - If you want the diesel, then go for it Best of luck with whatever you choose, Ollie

[apsurdium]

Just one more question.

I have learned that the new mini engine is produced by BMW/PSA (citroen and peugeot).

Is that the same eingine that is in Mazda 3?

How different are those two engines? Because the Mazda dealers told me that the same engine that is produced by PSA is put in Mazda 3 and that they had many severe problems with it.

Everyone around me are telling me that I'm crazy because i want a mini and now i'm goin out of my head because I don't want to after couple of years to have a bad motor.

What can you tell me about petrol?
Is it a same manufacter?

[thebadun]

Well the other thing you need to consider is that the base price of the Dooper is over £1k more than the Cooper, so if you're not going to be doing many miles the mpg gain won't be earned back in financial terms.

[apsurdium]

Well, i could get a dooper at a same price as the petrol. and they have it in stock...
I see that the same engine is in Peugeot 207 and that one in mazda 3 is form PSA/Ford corporation??

[dlpruk]

Quote: Originally Posted by thebadun (original)

Well the other thing you need to consider is that the base price of the Dooper is over £1k more than the Cooper, so if you're not going to be doing many miles the mpg gain won't be earned back in financial terms.

But £35 pa road tax is a nice bonus!

I've driven both in Clubman form and think the Cooper is probably the quicker car if you want to wring it's neck but the D is more relaxing on long journeys as motorway overtaking is effortless in 6th, more rapid in 5th and **** in 4th!

[Paul]

I prefer the Cooper D to the Cooper in terms of the drive/engine too.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul (original)

I prefer the Cooper D to the Cooper in terms of the drive/engine too.

Snap

The petrol Cooper just lacks something...ive driven 2 now and I like it but, nah, not for me im afraid!

[Tunster]

The basic principal is, if you don't want to spend the extra premium for the Cooper S, but want something in between that doesn't require to push the Cooper's engine to it's limit, the Dooper is more than perfect.

I've been a passenger in one and my Dad loves his to bits. Mid-range, it pulls really well and is effortless with the amount of torque it has!

[ben__allen]

Low down torque in the Dooper is amazing, so much different to my old Cooper.

However, if you only do a low mileage, you need to do your sums to see if the higher asking price is really worth it - I found a website, but can't remember what it was called, that worked out the mileage you need to do in a diesel to make the extra cost worthwhile - I am sure it was about 17k miles a year in a Dooper vs a Cooper.

I wouldn't think there is anything to worry about (he says, touching wood) with a modern day diesel engine, especially one developed by BMW/PSA

[W44NE G]

If you can get the Cooper D for the same price as a petrol Cooper I'd recommend the diesel any day.

I've done near;y 6k since I bought mine at the end of December '07 and it's fantastic. I had some lunatic try and pull away from me onto a motorway today in a Mondeo ST TDCI. They have something daft like 400nm of torque but through the gears I kept up with it up to errr, high speeds

It's very economical and handles very well... lots of fun.

At the end of the day, even if you don't drive much it will cost you less than a petrol in terms of tax, fuel and probably insurance so there's no contest if you ask me. The 1.6 petrol is supposed to be lacking on torque compared to the old model and you must have to ring its neck to go at all fast in it... nevermind overtake on the motorway (which the Cooper D really excels at).

[Lawrothegreat]

I've never heard of diesel technology being unreliable with age, in fact quite the opposite. Like with any car the key is servicing. Just think of the number of the diesel PSA-group cars that keep going - there are plenty of 300,000 mile Peugeot 406 taxis around.

[thebadun]

Quote: Originally Posted by dlpruk (original)

But £35 pa road tax is a nice bonus!

Didn't know it was that cheap!

[MINIMANIAUK]

The repair costs and parts are more on the diesel,but if a warranty car then not an issue,
servicing is vital with diesels and by their nature tend to get under serviced and get spaceship mileage quickly. cost wise probably not a lot in it over 3 or 4 years
performance wise the diesel has greater potential at less cost

[dlpruk]

Quote: Originally Posted by thebadun (original)

Didn't know it was that cheap!

Yup. And the emission rating of 109g/km for the manual saves on congestion zone charges too, if you have to suffer from mad Ken.

The full list for manual Clubmen is this, with the autos shown in [ ]s:

• Cooper: 132 [159]
• Cooper D: 109 [136]
• Cooper S: 150 [168]

(Source: MINI Clubman sales brochure.)

More here: MINI beat new Emissions Related Congestion Charge in London

One of the sales guys I saw last year tried to dissuade me from the D on the grounds that the raw fuel consumption savings didn't justify my ordering one for my mileage. But the customer's always right and he didn't push it., although I suspect he had a hidden agenda in that Ds were in such short supply at that time he knew he couldn't get one for months!