Thread: The great petrol vs diesel debate

Right pretty set on getting a hiace, the later model 5th generation 2004 onwards with either 2.7 petrol or the 3.0l turbo diesel

What's going to be cheaper to run???? At current the missis is putting $50 every couple of days in our Honda oddesy somethimes she has to goto town upto 4 times a day at 30min for return trip

Service costs won't be an issue, neither will rego, the costs coming out of our pocket will be RUC + diesel or petrol

I am leaning towards the 2.7 petrol but undecided .... Looking to spend 25k


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Probably petrol, unless you're doing 40,000 - 50,000 kms per year in it. After then diesel seems to be a cheaper option. The petrol 2.7 is a pretty good motor. Plus the 5th generation diesel Hiace runs a 1-KD doesn't it, so it will not be immune to the pricey injector issues the hilux can get. I didn't have much change left over from $10k when my 1KD imploded. That money would have bought a lot of petrol

RUC is a killer now

A 'faulty' lead from your sender unit helps reduce RUC I've heard.

Funny this would come up as I just crunched the numbers this morning. I was looking at a petrol powered patrol to replace my diesel one. Comparing rego, RUC and enough gas for 30,000 km annually, facoring in less service costs for the petrol and no RUC, the 4.8 petrol patrol would still cost me basically double to run per annum. To get a petrol 4x4 to the equivalent costs of running my TD42T the petrol would need to see fuel consumption in the vicinity of 7-9 liters per hundred km, which is basically a suzuki. Diesel is still cheaper at this point.

Originally Posted by Pointer

Funny this would come up as I just crunched the numbers this morning. I was looking at a petrol powered patrol to replace my diesel one. Comparing rego, RUC and enough gas for 30,000 km annually, facoring in less service costs for the petrol and no RUC, the 4.8 petrol patrol would still cost me basically double to run per annum. To get a petrol 4x4 to the equivalent costs of running my TD42T the petrol would need to see fuel consumption in the vicinity of 7-9 liters per hundred km, which is basically a suzuki. Diesel is still cheaper at this point.

What is the fuel consumption like on the 4.8?

If you have a modern efficient modern diesel then the RUC's are pretty close to your fuel running cost. Looking at a Mercedes Sprinter I get 8.7l/100km and with fuel around $1/l that is $87/1000km fuel and $63/1000km RUC. Make sure that you use the relevant l/100km figure to start with for each vehicle for both fuel types. The diesel cycle is inherently more efficient.

Originally Posted by Gibo

RUC is a killer now

Ain't that the truth, just brought another 10K $620, ouch! And I did an oil change and filter, there goes another $120...

Originally Posted by Pointer

Funny this would come up as I just crunched the numbers this morning. I was looking at a petrol powered patrol to replace my diesel one. Comparing rego, RUC and enough gas for 30,000 km annually, facoring in less service costs for the petrol and no RUC, the 4.8 petrol patrol would still cost me basically double to run per annum. To get a petrol 4x4 to the equivalent costs of running my TD42T the petrol would need to see fuel consumption in the vicinity of 7-9 liters per hundred km, which is basically a suzuki. Diesel is still cheaper at this point.

To be fair anything is cheaper to run than that 4.8lt Petrol Patrol.

Had a 2011 diesel Hilux. Went well with the common rail turbo motor. Trouble was I bought a 'runout model" (2005-2011) and it still needed injector seal replacement every 3rd or 4th service. Cost was abut $1k for the regular service including injector seals, so flicked the vehicle. Bought a 2016 2.4 petrol Grand Vitara that goes everywhere I want it to. Computer shows 9.6 litres/100 vs estimated 11 litres/100 for the hilux.

Bit of an apples/oranges comparison, but my 2.0 twin turbo Legacy GTB and 3.2td Terrano work out pretty similar $/km comparing petrol cost with diesel+RUC. The Subaru is more reliable and cheaper to maintain though.

Like JoshC said, unless you are doing 40K plus a year, then petrol would be cheaper. Diesel rego did come down a bit a year or two ago which helped, but the RUC seems to creep up.

Originally Posted by 223nut

Ain't that the truth, just brought another 10K $620, ouch! And I did an oil change and filter, there goes another $120...

Holy cow I'd do that in 2.5-3 months. Even at 6c a km adds up pretty quick

Electric cars are in for a shock one day

Originally Posted by sako75

Holy cow I'd do that in 2.5-3 months. Even at 6c a km adds up pretty quick

Electric cars are in for a shock one day

I only do 10-15k / year in the old girl, she has been semi retired. Though those kms are usually not very easy driving ones

Originally Posted by sako75

Holy cow I'd do that in 2.5-3 months. Even at 6c a km adds up pretty quick

Electric cars are in for a shock one day

At the moment I'm buying 7500 diesel kms a month.

Put "petrol versus diesel calculator nz" into google.
There is a really good spreadsheet on the Welcome to the Ministry of Transport website | Ministry of Transport website that works it all out.
Diesel is cheaper for large cars where a petrol motor in the same car would be chugging it back.
Diesel cars are however more expensive as is the servicing.

In my case it would take about 3 years at 15000km per year before I would start saving money taking into account the extra cost of the car and the higher service costs.