Thread: The great petrol vs diesel debate

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.

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.

In my experience the difference between diesel and petrol servicing costs and be a material factor. If you were buying a new ute, say, then the deal Mazda offer of a capped $200 (incl GST) for routine servicing for the warranty period makes those vehicles hard to go past......

I would be driving diesel if RUC wasn't such a disincentive to owning anything bigger than a VW Polo 1.1 TDi.

Originally Posted by Ryan

I would be driving diesel if RUC wasn't such a disincentive to owning anything bigger than a VW Polo 1.1 TDi.

The smaller the diesel the worse it is. The lowest bracket is 6T now for RUC. Basically the more efficient your type of vehicle the less attractive diesel is.

I feel like a lot of the calculations for "petrol is cheaper" don't take into account the fact that diesel can be found for 30c/L cheaper than the big petrol station price at truckstops, McKeowns etc.

My box-shaped 3.4 litre diesel 2 ton Landcruiser with 31" all-terrains is cheaper to run on fuel and RUC than my 1.6 petrol Corolla. Servicing and parts costs no, but the Corolla couldn't get me up the Rangitata so not really relevant to compare anyway.

Originally Posted by gimp

I feel like a lot of the calculations for "petrol is cheaper" don't take into account the fact that diesel can be found for 30c/L cheaper than the big petrol station price at truckstops, McKeowns etc.

My box-shaped 3.4 litre diesel 2 ton Landcruiser with 31" all-terrains is cheaper to run on fuel and RUC than my 1.6 petrol Corolla. Servicing and parts costs no, but the Corolla couldn't get me up the Rangitata so not really relevant to compare anyway.

And here Gimp has hit the nail on the head!
It's a lifestyle choice just as much as a practical choice.
I'd not go back to a small car thats for sure. Have a friend that is head of Bosch diesel in Germany.
He said that they had taken there eye off the ball concerning diesels and the environment.
But they are definitely back on track with cleaner more efficient products coming through diesels are here to stay boys!

So the question is if the diesels become cleaner than petrol would you see the drop in this km tax? Himmm I'm not sure

Originally Posted by Sideshow

And here Gimp has hit the nail on the head!
It's a lifestyle choice just as much as a practical choice.
I'd not go back to a small car thats for sure. Have a friend that is head of Bosch diesel in Germany.
He said that they had taken there eye off the ball concerning diesels and the environment.
But they are definitely back on track with cleaner more efficient products coming through diesels are here to stay boys!

So the question is if the diesels become cleaner than petrol would you see the drop in this km tax? Himmm I'm not sure

I thought they were cleaner? less greenhouse gasses etc?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I thought they were cleaner? less greenhouse gasses etc?

Yep but bad for the health if you inhale the fumes

Originally Posted by Sideshow

Yep but bad for the health if you inhale the fumes

A lot worse with the carbon monoxide poison from a petrol.

not sure about pricer but my t/d ute and dads t/d pajero go a shit load better then the v6 Surf he had.

Start towing anything and there is even bigger difference

With out the number crunching my experience tells me if you are towing get a Diesel . Reinforced by having to split the fuel bill on recent trip to Omaru in mates 4x4 petrol ute @ $280 (flat easy strait road & he drives like a nanna ) My hilux at worst case is $160.

Cannot understand why a van or ute attracts a higher RUC rate than the equivalent SUV ... and it pisses me off.

The petty ones are gutless
Diesel ones don't have injector probs, manly see egr probs for getting putted round town
Have a couple I see that have 400+ks
If I had to pick I'd go diesel at least if you load it up you will be able to hit 100kph