Diesel 2.0 or Petrol 1.8 for local driving?

[ninah]

have a choice of two Mondeos. Not much in it pricewise. The petrol has 55k mileage (2004) and is slightly cheaper to insure. The diesel has 80k and is 2005. I drive locally on the whole, with longer trips in the summer. Really can't decide, wwyd?

Diesel. I'll never have another petrol car.

My uncle used to pah! at me untl he got a diesel and when I asked him; 'having now got a diesel, would you ever go back to petrol?' he said no way!
I think he saw the look I gave him

even though the only really long runs it gets may be each summer? why do you like it?
dealer said the diesel would 'pull the gable end off a house'
thanks btw, I need to decide and am dithering

I like the whole thing. I have a Citroen Picasso. I pay £125 a year in road tax and I think, so would you. It's a mile muncher and does great MPG when on a long run and when it's just shortish runs, it's no worse than a petrol. It's a cheaper thing all round.

And the gable comment is probably its power...?

Also, no trouble starting up in cold weather. Diesel engines will go on and on and on round the clock several times if you look after them.

Thanks for that! someone offered me a Picasso earlier on today, but I like the mondeo dealer as he offers 6 month warranty and lives in my village ...
diesel it is, then.
tax will be 200-235 though
yup he meant power, I am accident prone but not that bad lol
really good to have the feedback

Why will it cost that much? is it a 7 seater?

I'd go for a Picasso diesel given the choice. Everyone that has them loves them IME.

Diesel everytime

no, 5 seater, checked on road tax webside and that's what came up
I'll investigate Picasso also in that case, how v useful.

Although it's based on age and emissions I think. If it's post 2001 I thought it'd be cheaper.

I went from a 1.6 petrol to a 2.0 diesel. I spend a tiny bit less now. I'm a sahm so lots of short stop and start journeys rather than driving to a place of work then back in 1 day if that makes seems. I get about 40 mpg.

Driving long distance motorway miles I get around 56mpg. I have a megane cc.

yes, tax will be pretty expensive, but there you are
should I look at any particular picasso, c4, Xsara, grand? wasn't planning on an estate, but if it runs as well as that, why not?
there are 2 xzaras at a local garage I'll check tomorrow
sandychick that is exactly what I wanted to confirm, I work locally although am hoping to teacher train next year
in the summer we do lots of festivals and camping that means the car is loaded to the max for long journeys and it will come into its own

I have a mondeo estate diesel and love it. We get 40/45 mpg around town and much more on longer journeys. The tax is no more expensive, 140 quid I think. I would always buy a diesel car now as they are much more economical.

unanimous then, better than i dared hope for!

I get around 400 miles per tank when I'm town hopping, but 600+ on long runs.

I have the Xsara Picasso Desire 2L.

I think the only 'problem' I have is on occasions I seem to be replacing bulbs all the time, but if that's the only thing...

All the rear seats come out completely if necessary and I can carry mega long loads.

Make sure that the spare wheel has a lock on it and that you have the tool that you need to release it.

There are no problems leaning down into the car to do up child seats as it's high up.

You have to remember that there is a bad blind spot on the driver side where the quarter light strut is. I am so used to it now that I don't even think about the extra look I make at junctions and roundabouts.

HTH.

cool there is a 1.6 with only 40k miles on it, diesel
thanks for the tips, appreciated