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I need to get a new car - a BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer fits the bill for many child related reasons. I’m totally stuck on whether to go petrol or diesel. I intend to keep it for the next 6 /7 years. I do about 12k miles per year and don’t live in or regularly visit any of the current ULEZ type zones.
From spending every waking hour researching on Autotrader, the 220d is cheaper to buy and cheaper to run compared to the 220i - albeit I’m right on the boundary where it doesn’t make a huge difference to a yearly running costs but is maybe £500 a year more for the petrol version.
I have a slight concern that a future government will clobber and kill diesels over the next few years which will leave me with a worthless metal brick.
So, do I buy the baby robin killing oil burner and save a few quid or future proof myself with a petrol?
I reckon garages will be shut now, so you'll have to wait til tomorrow....
Seriously though, I'd go petrol unless doing regular long distances. Small cars = petrol for me.
When i read the title i was confused why a 3 year old would need diesel
They won't prevent people from driving diesels, that would result in utter chaos. They've already announced plans to prevent the sale of new ones, and that will eventually trickle through the fleet as cars age out.
If the car has SCR - in other words, if you need Ad Blue - then the NOx emissions should be pretty low, so I think you're alright. I think it'll be Euro 6?
Yep - both are euro 6 as I’m looking at 2019/20 models.
As said they won't just outlaw diesels, too many voters to kick up a fuss.
Do you do lots of short journeys? If so petrol. Longer runs then a diesel should be fine.
Seeing as though diesel is cheaper than petrol at the minute I don’t see any reason why you shouldnt
i don’t get this only buy if you do big mileage when they do better mpg, drive better in many ways too.
I had seen that 2 series is relatively cheap too, I think it’s because they are perceived as quite ugly for a BMW.
Definately go for a big diesel lump though not a 218 etc
i don’t get this only buy if you do big mileage when they do better mpg, drive better in many ways too.
It's an old fashioned viewpoint when servicing was more expensive. Re the driving I am a diesel fan but modern turbo petrols are also great. Mind you, they aren't without their issues either - coked up inlet valves are the DPF of modern petrols.
Why go for the big lump over the 1.8?
You don't need big mileage to avoid short journeys though.
Why go for the big lump over the 1.8?
Is a fairly big heavy car, the 18d have always just lacked that umph when I’ve driven them, plenty torque straight off but then tails off. The 2.0 keep pulling
Besides more is better
Why go for the big lump over the 1.8?
the 218 and 220d engines are both the same, just with a software mapping stealing 40bhp from the 18. Both should have identical fuel economy.
the 218i is a 1.5 3 pot from a mini (and maybe a bunch of peugeots?), the 220i is a 2l. They did a bunch of plug in hybrids which might be worth a look for the OP, both faster and more economical
I'd also look at an s max and a zafira tourer, both of which are the same size but half the price. The 2 series doesn't drive well as its still a big blob on wheels
the 218 and 220d engines are both the same, just with a software mapping stealing 40bhp from the 18. Both should have identical fuel economy.
Usually when people say the 'engine' is the same they mean the block. However the higher power variants usually have a larger and/or different turbo, larger pipes, bigger intercooler, bigger and/or different injectors and so on. Essentially the things you'd upgrade on a car if you were going to increase its power. It's often not just a software map. My car for example comes in a 180bhp and a 204bhp variant with the same displacement. The higher power one has two turbos, which also gives lots more torque, but of course costs more money.
I'd be happy buying a 3 year old diesel myself, too many about atm for them to be too heavily hit. They will just become less common over time, just as petrol cars did in the past when everyone went derv. No real need to tax them off the road when the market will sort that out on it's own anyway. I think it'll be more likely for us electric drivers to be bashed as more people make the jump.
As for the engine's, our dog carrier is an old 118d X1 with the lower tuned engine. Wish we'd have gone 120d instead as although the 118 potters along it doesn't have much grunt and isn't really any better on fuel.
<p style="text-align: left;">I've got a 120i and my girlfriend has a mini with the 1.5l 3cly engine in. I drive both and it feels like there is a bigger jump in economy compared with a small drop in real world performance for the 1.5l. I ruled out the 118i when looking to buy my car, now I've lived with both engines for a few years I'd recommend giving the smaller engine some serious consideration. For really pushing on my 2l engine is quicker, but just driving around sensibly there isn't anything really in it.</p>