To think Diesel fuel is obviously a dirty fuel ...

[greenthings]

so why were so many people taken in? I've had cars for years and would never get diesal for that reason.

Of course Volkswagen lied and lied (scum). I'm not into consumer boycotts normally but their decipt on this was disgusting, up there with BP oil spills.

I hope they get fined f* £ billions btw.

It's not pennies to me nit is the difference between being able to afford a car or not. My tax is now £20 a year instead of £220 on myour old car. £200 a year is loads for me. Also the car doesn't need filling as often and is more reliable than the petrol version of the same model. It saves me money that I need for other essential things I need like food etc.

My first car ran on 4 star, leaded petrol.

That shit was no good for the environment, no siree... So petrol hasn't long been the more benign fuel.

Bottom line, if you wanna be green - get a bike. Petrol might be cleaner than diesel, but not by all that much.

I have a diesel, it goes for miles and miles unlike my husband's petrol car, so saves money which is important to me. All cars are polluters so I can't be arsed to get bothered about it.

all car manufactures "massage the figures". VW was the first to get caught but they all do it all in slightly different ways.

I think the fuel duty should reflect the pollution caused. I've got a Diesel VW because it seemed "clean" two years ago.

I think the fair thing to do is make the fuel duty reflect the pollution, that means that someone like me who drives about 4000 miles a year will pay a little but others, witch the same car, who drive a lot more will pay a lot more.

But drivers who drive more do pay more. Fuel duty is 58p per litre. There is road tax as well which again heavy polluters pay a lot more.

As I understand it, there is also a distinction to be made between urban and rural drivers. Diesel pollution builds up in cities in a way which it doesn't in rural areas, where the C02 emissions from petrol cars become more of a concern.

Except, I drive a petrol 2 Ltr, 30 miles to a gallon.
I bet your diesel does almost twice that.
I'm no maths expert but surely if yours is using half of mine then we're equal? Yes or no?

I think adding vehicle excise duty to the price of fuel is probably the fairest thing to do - the more you drive, the more you pay. I do 17k miles a year so would definitely pay more, but it feels fair.

No a diesal car may be 15 to 20 % moved efficient and a lot depends on town vs motor way. The question was a lot more miles vs. V low mileage under that scenario the lot more mileage will pay more. Plus a more polluting car will pay more road tax.

ISnt diesel much worse for people? That's the issue. So air pollution is becoming such a problem because of the impact on human health. Not the environment.

And while electric car batteries may be worse for the environment, they won't also kill a load of people in the process.

Air pollution is a health disaster.

I think it would be unfair if diesel suddenly shot up in price when people bought their cars thinking it was the right thing to do, encouraged by the govt. maybe announce that diesel prices will start rising in a few years time?

I don't think anyone is disputing that diesal is bad esp older diesal cars. Posters are objecting to the fact that the OP stated that through common sense they shd have known that they were making a poor choice - despite government policy and manufacturers pushing them towards the 'cleaner' option. And now the government has made a u turn they will be left with cars with no resale value and can expect to be taxed off the road.

Six point seven litres of turbo diesel loveliness we have under our bonnet

John4703
I think the fuel duty should reflect the pollution caused.

VED already does this

I have a diesel car. I commute to work and cluster my journeys so I don't make multiple trips where possible.

Much better than someone driving a petrol but using it to drive everywhere including shoet distances they could walk.

It's bot clear cut. There are no really green cars petrol or diesel. Each fuel tyle emits a different nasty product.
Driving habits and use matters more ro me.

I knew that and never get one as they smell, knowing me id put petrol in it and they sound like a tractor. However if someone does long mileage can see why they got one. no car is environmentally sound...unlike its a pedal bike.

Unless not unlike! Op you do sound judgemental.

It'll be interesting to see how the authorities crack down on the trains, buses, trucks and ships that use diesel, as well as the lowly motorist.

Each fuel tyle emits a different nasty product

Diesel is more dangerous to our health than petrol cars.

That is the issue here. So while diesel might be better for the environment, it is significantly worse for our lungs.

There are hundreds of thousands of people dying because of diesel car emissions. It is worse to breath in the emissions from a diesel car than a petrol car, regardless of fuel efficiency.

It's more than just penines! Diesel cars tend to be more expensive up front (but hold their value better) but need replacing much less often. My diesel has 180k miles on it and is still going strong! I'd have replaced it by now if it were a petrol engine.

Diesel is a little bit more expensive per gallon but goes further - I spend £30 a week on fuel and get nearly 60mpg which is way more than you'd get with a petrol.

VW scandal aside, the main issue I am aware of is newer diesels have particulate filters which release tiny tiny particulates that are bad for your lungs. On a motorway this isn't too bad but lorries etc sat in traffic in city centres is where this becomes a problem.

However, VW making their cars appear to have lower emissions / diesel being worse was certainly not common sense as it is a complex issue.

If my car passes it's MOT emissions test, has low tax based on environmental impact, uses less fuel and goes on for longer thus meaning less scrapped cars using resources... you can clearly see why people go for diesel... THAT is common sense.

We have 1 petrol and 2 diesel vehicles. The petrol with 16 mpg is the worst performing. One of our diesels is quite new. The other certainly isn't but both with largish engines and 4x4 and get 30mpg.

The difference is is that, taking into account the different types of vehicles they are, the diesels keep on going and going and going. A huge part of the environmental aspect of a vehicle is the production and then scrapping or recycling as well as replacing parts. Big diesel lumps will outlast any ridiculous eco-boost 1L.

Anyone with a car as opposed to using public transport and a bicycle is putting their convenience above the environment. We were with our two diesels as we have a genuine need for 4x4 and like the torque and low rev driving for long distance motorway cruising. We couldn't afford the petrol version of the Disco. The petrol is a little treat to ourselves but the 560hp makes slip roads the highlight of my day. I also cycle to work 2-3 times a week.

The highest VED is for the petrol (£885 first year reducing to £500). Based on the way it is calculated, the petrol is more damaging to the environment than the other two which are £270.

Op I agree but when we got our car it was our first and it didn't cross our minds, we were more worried about cost of car, and fuel and it being automatic and a host of other things, dh on low wage me sahm, with long drive to work.

I would never buy diesal again, I do regret it - I hate the smell and hate the fact when we turn car on we are pumping out crap.
It will be petrol next time but as pp say - its not exaclty clean either.

OP YABU. Diesel is better for the planet.

Ok, it is worse for people but they are really bad for the planet too...

Our diesel car does almost twice as many miles to the gallon than the petrol version so I'm not convinced that using twice as much unleaded fuel would be better actually. Plus it's 12 years old with 150K on the clock and far more reliable than some much younger petrol cars so overall, we're causing less damage to the environment than if we had to replace our car more frequently and fill it up twice as often.