Comparison - Petrol vs Diesel

[Ian]

Hi,
In the latest issue of Mercedes Enthusiast, they have a comparison between the overall cost of a C180K and C220 CDI. They compared the purchase price, and running costs inluding depreciation, maintence, insurance, road tax and insurance and it turns out that the C180K is the cheaper of the two vehilces to own. This was based over a 3 year period and a labour rate of £65 per hour.
At present I have an order for a E270 CDI, but have not been allocated a car as yet, I am now wondering how a E270 CDI would compare up against E240, both being of the same spec. The CDI @£33455 and the 240 @£32610.
I rarely do motorway driving and average approximately 200 miles per week. Any comments would be welcome.
Cheers,
Ian

 

[jaymanek]

Hi,

Well for the price difference id stick to the diesel. If your going to be doing that little mileage then at the end of the day, a low mileage diesel will hold more value than a petrol. I would stick to what u have.
Just an opinion though!

 

[duncanda]

I read the article as well. I guess to convince yourself either way you could go through a similar exercise as the article. You can get insurance quotes online. I found esure.com to be very competitive.

I have an '99 E240 which I bought in January '03 and before buying it, I compared Total Cost-of-Ownership (TCO) with an E300D. Over 3 years the E240 was cheaper to run (despite 27mpg). The real difference to my calculations was the premium MB dealers wanted for an E300D of equivalent age, mileage and condition. So whilst the article says that the diesel has a higher depreciation than the petrol car, my experience is that dealers charge a premium for a diesel car. Therefore making more margin from the average Joe Public who doesn't consider TCO when buying a car, but just looks at fuel consumption. I actually would have preferred an E300D because it would have been faster than my E240.

Other factors in your decision process can include: will you do any continental touring, as diesel is cheaper there; the better driveability of the diesel with more torque lower down the rev. range; resale value knowing that dealers charge more for diesels, don't accept their initial trade-in value; What Car rated the E270CDI Classic auto the best Executive Car in 2003.

My opinion, stick with the E270CDI.

I hope this helps.

David

 

[Richard W]

It's difficult to comment I an as I would not buy a new car.

From a second hand perspective the diesels are worth more, faster and more economical..... so really it's not much of a comparison. to compare a 220 CDi to a 180K is not fair, the 220 has more(torque) grunt than a 320 so that to me is the more real world comparison as it's torque that makes driveability not power.

Stick with the 270 and chip it, more go than the 500(I think?)! :lol:

R

 

[Mmmm]

200 miles per week in diesel 270 at urban 31 mpg = 6.45 gallons at £1.80 = £11.61, £603.72 a year.
200 miles per week in 240, at urban 19.1 mpg = 10.47 gallons at £1.80 = £18.85, £979 a year

Of the outgoing model E Class, the diesels had the best resale, particularly the estates and they were less sensitive to mileage variations.

This is likely to continue with the new range, 2nd hand buyers of luxury cars tend to be more intested in economy What car predicts 63% after three years for the 270 and 61% on the 240 ( I think the 240 figure is high)

So over three years the fuel cost are £1125.84 more on the 240
240 is worth 61% of £32610 = £19892.10 loss £12777.90
270 is worth 63% of £33455 = £21076.65 loss £12378.35

So the 270 loses £399.55 less plus savings of £1125.84 both ins group 15.

As said above 270 is faster and has more torque for easier driving, unless you really want a petrol for perhaps a wee bit more refinement. The 270 looks a winner, ( I think the 240 will lose a bit more money than above).

Best of all get a 270 estate with the extra kids seats in the boot, these will have really good resale, people will nearly kill for a good old model 320TD seven seater.

 

[RichardM]

I test drove the E240 before buying my E270cdi as it was the only demonstrator the dealer had at the time. I was disappointed in the car as it very sluggish and felt big and slow. I then test drove the 270cdi a week later and it felt totally different, the huge amount of torque pushes the car along with great ease and makes it feel very nimble.

Having test driven both there is no way I'd go for the 240 and that's without considering the cost of ownership.

My only regret if anything is not spending the extra on the 320cdi, that must be awesome.

 

[altreed]

Hi,

I agree with the other posts, stick to the CDI.

I drive a c36 AMG :lol: and the next car is likely to be the c270CDI (only because they don't do a c320 CDI! :x )

I also will chip the cdi once I have one, it makes sense to get the full performance. :twisted: