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Hi - we're looking at purchasing a new car and among all the things to consider is whether to get a petrol or diesel car - are you able to outline the pros and cons for both of these, or your general thoughts on these 2 options? Thanks

A diesel comes into its own when the vehicle is required to do a specific job such as towing or when low down power or torque is required.

Where towing is not that regular, many owners are prepared to bite the bullet on high petrol costs for a short time period however, when towing on a regular basis, the buying decision can quickly swing towards diesel.

If a vehicle is only travelling around, or less than, 14,000km's per year, then petrol can start to become a better option.

The actual retail price of a diesel can be considerably higher than a petrol option and by the time Road User Charges are factored in along with higher registration costs, it can become an expensive exercise owning the diesel.

The big saving with a diesel is on the actual fuel consumption itself, so the higher the distances travelled, the more the pendulum swings towards this fuel over petrol.

While servicing intervals are becoming similar between the two, diesel vehicles can also cost more to maintain in comparison to petrol.

There is no magical answer to this question, It's very much looking at each individuals needs and expectations.

For example, when the priority is around town driving combined with the occassional long trip there are many well priced fuel effecient petrol vehicles on the market.