Well, it's not all about power-weight ratio. I think it comes down to the engine characteristics. eg: Panda: 60 bhp, 860 kg C Class: 150 bhp, 1500 kg. The Panda has lower power-weight ratio than C class. But when accelerating, the Panda feels fast and fun. An naturally aspirated petrol has that build up of power and rev, then change gear and fun begins again; while turbo diesel has the turbo punch and then nothing exciting at higher rev. It really depends on how you like your engine: low-rev pulling power or racy reving linear acceleration. (I prefer the latter, and the quietness of idling petrol engines. Only reason I drive my current diesel is due to 85% of my commute is on the motorway) But as OP said, it's for going up long hills. In his case, diesel makes more sense. 3 mile commute? I'd go with a nimble petrol city car like the 500 or Up.
Lexus IS220D? Nicer than a BMW / Audi etc, but with the reliability of a Honda (or a Toyota in fact).
That my be the case, till you get 4 passengers and discover that you can only go in second gear up the hill....
Unless you can do long journeys every so often though, with modern diesels, short journeys like that can kill them. Obv YMMV, but there's tons of issues with DPFs and short journeys nowadays. Also, diesel is the fuel of satan!
Haha, true, so true. First gear if driving somewhere like Bristol. Hills is where the toque in diesel cars have an advantage. Indeed, it's smelly, it's dirty, and it's polluting. Diesels also lack power, people got to remember you are usually comparing a turbo charged engine with a flat petrol. Rev the flat petrol and it gets a lot more fun than the boring 2000-3000 narrow power band of the diesel. I'm getting rid of my diesel as soon as suitable car come into my price range. I only want 3 things in my next car: electric motor in there somewhere (with regen braking), adaptive cruise control with stop/start queue assist, and central arm rest. (oh, and not an ugly SUV)
I'm sure even the 2CV has an electric motor...(in the windshield wiper) Aren't all fossile fuel cars? (and yes, that includes electric cars powered by coal firing plants)
Not the way we are going: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_the_United_Kingdom My next car will be charged by my solar panels. Diesel is more smelly, tailpipe is blacker and produces more harmful gas. Petrol is not much better, but at least the smell can be washed off after getting it on your hands.
Let me counter that with this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_the_United_Kingdom#/media/File:Electricity_Production_in_the_United_Kingdom.svg And what energy do you think the solar panels are made with?, Or the silicon that they consist of? Wind energy is a great source for the UK, solar panels have an output that is about as high as the energy that went into them in the first place. For cheap ones that means a chinese coal fire.
12k miles/year? Petrol tbh. You don't say what kind of car you're looking for (size, seats, handling, comfort, load capacity etc), more info please!
Touche Although for every energy report, for or against renewable, you've got to remember there is a HUGE industry behind it with big money used to fund them. All of the reports need to be taken with a pinch of salt. In my personal opinion, we have got to support renewables no matter the cost, otherwise it'd be too late to consider other options. This is why I've already had solar panels installed.
I have 12 plate Astra GTC 1.6T .... 23 mpg can be a hoot to drive though. Getting it mapped tomorrow should then be a hoot hoot. Fun first economy second.
