this question doesn't include the RRS as its unique in that the SC is more expensive new than the diesel versions, however;

Can anyone justify to me why I'd buy a diesel over petrol if I'm not keeping the car for more than 3 years?

any reasons - cost, performance etc - the more I look into this the more I just cant see a benefit of diesel - am I missing something obvious?

It always used to be that buying a diesel was the sensible option as it was the cheaper fuel to purchase, and you got to go further on it too. If you were doing loads of miles/month and having to fund the fuel yourself, then this was clearly the way to go. However, like you, I'm not sure of the benefits of using a diesel in today's market.

I still do lots of miles (nudging 2k a month), so a thirsty petrol V8 really isn't suitable for me but my poxymobile (a 2.2 petrol) does the same mpg as my ex-535d (although granted in not such a spectacular fashion) but it's costing me 10p a litre less to fuel in today's prices.

Also, there's the market perception of diesel as "cheaper to run" and therefore the diesel variants are often the ones with higher residuals when it comes to resale. Look at the performance of the diesel vs petrol RRS when it comes to resale... makes the SC a bargain if you can afford to run it. 

I guess factoring in the residuals is key then - its not going to be just a direct mpg v £/litre comparison.

Basically I'm going to order wifey a AUDI Q5 and looking at the petrol version

Dont forget to factor in that most diesels are significantly more expesive to service than the equivalent petrol model too.

I think the choice is model/car dependant as for each model the point or the mileage per year needed to make a diesel a viable option varies.

Sacha RRS TDV8 HSE 2007- JAVA Black with Black interior, Ipod adaptor, tints, 20" for the summer and 19" with winter tires
BMW M3 CSL-
AUSTIN MINI R1- Yamaha powered mini!

Really? The servicing cost of a petrol RRS isn't different from a diesel is it? 

shmoogle wrote:

Really? The servicing cost of a petrol RRS isn't different from a diesel is it?

Have to confess I've not run a petrol engine for a long time but I thought one of the reasons diesels were preferred was becuase they are basically bullet proof.

Personally I've had much fewer "engine troubles" since running diesels than I did with Petrols.

Also a modern day diesel vehicle is much quicker then it used to be so the argument of needing a petrol for speed has been diminished. (Obviously I would never try to argue that a TDV8 is a patch on an S/C for speed but you know what i mean)

Mostly I think it comes down to personal choice and what you're intentding to use the car for. Lots of round town driving / towing (dare I say off-roading) then surely it has to be an oil burner.

Whereas jaunts up and down the motorway / light recreational use why not have the big Petrol engine!  _______________________________

Currrent: 2005 RRS SE, Silver, Chrome Mirrors, Tinted with a stupid spare wheel!
Gone: Audi A4 2.5 TDi Quattro 180bhp
Gone: BMW 535i
Gone: 1985 Audi Quattro
Gone: Subaru Imprezza Turbo (rubbish)

Actually, interesting point about performance of diesel vs petrol... diesels have always had buckets more torque than petrol engines of equivalent size & power. A good case in point is my 535d in stock form had/has more torque than an M5 for example (for all it's extra 4 cylinders and 300 extra bhp! )... good diesels nowadays are always a decent bet in terms of performance and I bet you even the TDV8 is as good as the SC in day to day driving. OK, it may not be as quick to 60 from the lights but you'd leave it for dead from 50-60 on an A road  

I agree Shmoogle, modern turbo-diesels are, pound for pound, better performing than petrol engines. Hence the move to diesel by the Audi and Peugeot LeMans teams.

Torque is more important than BHP in everyday driving, also many tend to forget that the TDV8 is only 3.6L vs 4.2 for the S/C.

however performance aside (as in case of my wife this really doesn't matter) the petrol engine versions do seem better value for money

Are the CO/CO2/NOx etc emissions of a petrol less than for a diesel - which could be much more significant in the next few years of soaring anti-pollution taxation. Particulates in particular are a problem to filter out, yet a petrol engine has a lot less. Also some modern petrol engines are now catching up on diesel for fuel economy - especially in the smaller sizes of car/engine. For the annual mileage I do it really wouldn't make much difference for me to have a small petrol engined car instead of a diesel, but having 2 SUV's in my single person household instead, I would be mad to have a petrol engined SUV, from a resale point of view as I like to change my cars every 2-3 years. A Carbon Footprint is the mark a lump of coal makes when it's dropped on the ground.

TDv8 HSE - Stornoway Grey with ebony and straight grain walnut wood-a-like interior with towpack, Tasmods. The best car I have ever owned
Now departed - Giverny Green TDv6SE with Aspen and Parchment interior - nearly the best car I have ever owned
Staying - Epsom Green Defender 90 for playing off road

Tim My brother taxed the 760 when i was a way think it was £205 or 210 and thats a 6.0L V12 over the RRS  RRS TDV6 Gone but still around

SL55 AMG
760Li Alpina
BMW 320D Coupe M Sport
BMW 320D M Sport
And A Van For The Dog

Oh and i love the girlzzzzzzzzzz!!!

Is it pre 2007 first date of registry? My Tdi 300 2.5litre Defender costs me £185 a year yet it throws out far more pollutant than my TDv8................................ just shows what a stupid system we have, tax modern efficient cars to the max you can get away with and leave the oldies that are less efficient and pollute more with low tax! A Carbon Footprint is the mark a lump of coal makes when it's dropped on the ground.

TDv8 HSE - Stornoway Grey with ebony and straight grain walnut wood-a-like interior with towpack, Tasmods. The best car I have ever owned
Now departed - Giverny Green TDv6SE with Aspen and Parchment interior - nearly the best car I have ever owned
Staying - Epsom Green Defender 90 for playing off road

Kaine just a side step Q...have you seen the new Audi showroom they are building by the Chiswick roundabout in London? Right next to Merc Brentford - it's about 5 stories high and you see the top of it when driving on the M4/A4 heading into town.... 2007 RRS TDV6 HSE JAVA/EBONY SIDE STEPS, REAR GUARDS. 22'' STORMER WHEELS. FULL COLOUR CODE. SMOKED SIDE LIGHTS