If you belong to the miniscule proportion of the automobile afficionado population who find gratification from ogling, driving and day dreaming about super-fast cars, then I can assure you that you're in for an costly proposition. If driving a car gives you "Goosebumps" and you get teary eye when you let go of a car be it a Maruti 800 or even a Merc for that matter. Then you know that you're bitten by the auto-bug.
The only downer to this is the type of fuel that goes into the car. In India, there's always been a debate between connoisseurs and misers over which fossil fuel to burn while still maintaining a balance between financially independent and going bankrupt.
As with the case with stupid policies, petrol however costs as much a liter of blood.
The whole point of this post aims at providing decent understanding to choose which fuel type is better for your preferences. So, let’s say your budget is around 6lakhs, which would suffice to buy petrol swift, now neighbors being neighbor suggest you “Hey why don’t you buy a diesel’’. Now, your dilemma has no bounds. Let me explain. There are a few pointers before you decide on your car purchase. First being-- average monthly running(kms).
Diesel are considered only profitable if you travel more than 3000 kms in a month, and at that rate you would start notice the fuel saving only after three years into the ownership of the car. Anyone, is bound to get bored after 1, 00,000 kms on the odometer. And the maintenance of diesel cars are obviously costly than petrol counterparts, the reason being the costly components turbo-charger, and also the poor quality of diesel available in India.
Calculate it out, average price difference between petrol and diesel cars are in the region of a lakh of rupees. So, consider the car is to be bought on loan; the extra 1lakh translates into 3000 rupees of average increase in EMI. Which does leaves one wondering of the extra expense, who likes money being spent? Unless, you’re in the Forbes Millionaires list. Given the governments’ policy of deregulation of diesel. The gap between Diesel and Petrol is going to be narrowed down in the coming years.
So, finally for a true driving pleasure there’s nothing that beats petrol cars. If cheaper running costs is what you prefer in the long-run then eyes-shut Diesel Cars. Period. However, if your prime concern is city commuting and occasional high-trips then look no further-- you're better off buying a petrol car!
As you said, diesel cars have a more maintenance costs. Even if some one does not travel 3000kms a month, 2000 or 1000, there would be a lot of variation on the money spent for fuel between petrol and diesel cars while the maintenance cost you need put may be just once a month which would even save your money, So I personally feel diesel cars are the best(in the present scenario). If the diesel price meets the petrol price where there is not a large marginal difference,then definitely petrol cars would be better.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with diesel cars is they aren't pocket friendly in any way imaginable. Simple answer: Petrol car owners pay up money at the pump; whereas diesel owners pay it upfront while buying the car. If one doesn't travel 2000km and above a month pointless investing in diesel car. And from talking to the guys at dealerships, diesel car's air-filter, turbo-charger, engine oil, gear oil, transmission are on the higher side.
DeleteI personally feel or may be many do feel the same, it's better to spend money at once rather than spending money all the time at pumps. But what comes into my mind other than all these are the pickup speed for which petrol engines are the best. It picks up the speed faster than diesel engines. So diesel or petrol, choosing among them would be a bit tough unless you have the perfect idea on how you are going to empty your wallet ;)
DeleteFinally some closure. And yes. Personal preference is all that matters. ;)
Delete:) hope the readers now get some clear view.
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