Save and sound?

My wife may soon purchase a Focus or Golf and we are wondering whether to go for diesel or petrol. The annual mileage will be about 10,000, mainly on rural roads with journeys of about ten to twenty miles. With the price between petrol and diesel getting smaller, it really does seem that we should go for diesel. I would greatly appreciate your views.

Asked on 8 August 2009 by

Answered by Honest John

The fuel for a 50mpg diesel will cost you about £1,000. The fuel for a 40mpg petrol will cost you about £1,250. And the petrol car will typically be around £80 more a year to tax. But long-term, there are too many potentially expensive problems with modern, low emission diesels that cost a lot more to fix than the saving from CO2 tax and fuel economy at 10,000 miles a year.

Tags: buying small family cars petrol or diesel? new cars

Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:

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