Which one is a Better Buy – a Petrol car or a Diesel car?

Years ago, owning a car used to be a dream for a common Indian, but it is easy to own a car now days. Thanks to Tata Motors, Maruti India, etc. which have made cars very affordable, but at the same time, it is difficult to maintain a car!(thanks to the government of India).

We all have witnessed frequent fluctuations in the petrol prices and this creates the confusion around whether to buy petrol or a diesel car.

After recent petrol price hike, the difference between these two fuels is nearly Rs. 35 (depending upon state to state) but at the same time, the purchasing cost of a diesel car is more than petrol one. To answer this, let’s get into the basics to know how to choose between a diesel and a petrol car. It is something that every car enthusiast has broken but every rookie wants to figure it out. Though there is no one sure-shot formula but here are a few tips and tricks that we can keep in mind before making a purchase.

Running:
Average running is a very important factor that needs to be kept in mind while making the choice. The average running of the car during a month/year effects the decision the most, as it affects your pocket the most. The cost of purchase of a diesel car might be higher in comparison to a petrol car but the diesel car maintenance and running in the long run can prove to be a little expensive as compared to the petrol version. It is said that if the average running of one’s car in the entire year is less than 20,000Kms. If you want to use your car as a daily commuter and travel around 50kms/day, then a petrol car should be preferred.

Maintenance:
Diesel cars are getting better day by day with the evolution of technology and they have become as good as the petrol variants, but still there is a lot of difference between the maintenance of the two. Since diesel engines are more complex and their parts are more expensive as compared to the petrol ones, the servicing cost of the diesel cars is higher than that of the petrol ones. On an average, maintenance cost of a diesel vehicle is 20-30% more than of petrol one. So once again, petrol cars are coming as a cheaper and better option.

Depreciating value & resale value:
Depreciation or loss in value each year is again a very important factor that one should keep mind during this entire decision making process. The depreciation rate affects the resale value of the car, that’s why in the category of second hand cars; petrol cars are much preferred than diesel cars. Even if both fuel variants have the same depreciation rate now with better technology etc., one tends to lose more on the diesel car because of high purchasing cost.

Fuel efficiency:
Introduction of power-packed engines like Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDi) and the likes, has made the fuel efficiency of diesel cars is much better than petrol. On the other hand, the petrol cars are also exploring the limits and providing better fuel efficiency. But still there is a considerable amount of saving that one has with the diesel cars.

Fuel:
Petrol is considered to be cleaner than diesel but there is also a version that says that diesel fumes can cause lung cancer. There have been counter statements where it is said that the latest technology diesel engines use ultra-low Sulphur diesel fuel and there are almost zero emissions for nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter. There are various discussions that are still going on to get more clarity on this, but diesel as a fuel is more harmful than petrol. Moreover, petrol has higher octane numbers than diesel, which means 1L petrol gives more power than 1L diesel. So, petrol is more powerful and less harmful than diesel. But at the same time, diesel is more efficient in terms of fuel efficiency.

Engine Noise:
Today, whether diesel or a petrol engine, both are silent when the car is new but eventually with constant running the diesel engine tends to start getting a little noisier and can generate vibrations as well, though, now this has been reduced multifold in comparison to the diesel engines that were present 2-3 years back. And the NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) ratio is competitively equal in both diesel and petrol cars these days. So that shouldn’t be a very important criterion to base your decision on.

There are some other factors too that work around claiming petrol cars to be a better ride than a diesel car, basis the refinement and power that a petrol car provides. On the other hand, a diesel engine is measured as a more efficient one, when it comes to the power output since diesel has more calorific value than petrol as a fuel.

Verdict:
The entire discussion brings us to a conclusion that one has to pay extra to buy a diesel variant over a petrol one, so the former one is a good option if you are going to retain it for a prolonged time and run it 2000km per month on an average. If you drive the car for 30-40kms a day, then the petrol variant is good for you as the expenditure on your car will be minimal in the longer run and you save a big sum on purchase because of it being a petrol variant. As they say, there is no fixed rule but these points are sure important for consideration. This all discussion is to help you out on this certain confusion, but at last, the decision remains solely yours! Different guys different strokes!

CarDekho.com is the best online portal for information on new cars, sell car and used diesel cars. Your decision on car trade is made simpler with features like Car Comparison, discounts, exact on-road prices, user & expert reviews, car community and so on. Keep yourself updated for more details on Diesel cars in India, Maruti Diesel cars and Diesel cars in Delhi at CarDekho.com