Petrol Or Diesel?
If you’re in the market for a cost-effective used car, bakkie or SUV, one of the things you’ll need to consider is whether you prefer a petrol or diesel variant. You may have heard that diesel is more cost-effective if you tend to go long distances, or that petrol cars are cheaper to buy off the showroom floor, but there are obviously exceptions to every rule of this kind.
Whatever the case may be, it helps to know the one from the other, as well as which benefits they hold. As proud stockists of some of the most trusted pre-owned vehicles throughout South Africa, we’ve had to explain this to more than a few motorists over the years, so we thought we’d share it here as a helpful resource. First off, when considering your fuel options, it helps to have a little background with regard to the scientific differences between diesel and petrol engines. We found a short, but informative video from the Learn Engineering YouTube channel that lays it all out pretty simply.
In short, “There are differences between the two engines due to the difference in the way fuels burn. Gasoline readily evaporates, so it gets mixed with the air efficiently. As a result, just a spark is sufficient to produce smooth combustion in a premixed gasoline engine. On the other hand, diesel doesn’t properly mix with air. However, when atomised diesel is sprayed into high-temperature air, spontaneous combustion will occur.” Here is the full video for even more information in this regard.
The Key Differences Between Petrol & Diesel Vehicles
| Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|
| More affordable off the floor | More expensive off the floor |
| Great for shorter & stop-go journeys | Gets better mileage on long trips |
| Engines are more cost-effective to maintain | Engines last for a lot longer |
| Engines are less powerful | Low-speed torque = better overtaking + towing abilities |
| Slightly heavier on fuel | Creates fewer emissions |
| Loses value when put to market as a second-hand vehicle | Retains value when put to market as a second-hand vehicle |
| Emissions aren’t readily visible | Emissions are quite visible on the road |
| Engines are quieter | Engines can be quite loud |
So, there you have it – petrol VS diesel in a nutshell. If you’re currently in the market for a compact second-hand vehicle with good mileage and an attractive price tag, visit www.group1cars.co.za for an unbeatable selection of quality pre-loved vehicles, or get in touch directly with a representative at one of our dealerships nationwide.
