New Diesels to come: high diesel fuel costs

[Judyd]

I've been holding out for the x5 diesel that's supposed to be available in the US in March. However, I'm beginning to wonder if the cost disadvantages of diesel outweigh the mileage advantages over gas. Diesel fuel used to be quite a bit cheaper but here in our part of the SF Bay Area diesel is now $3.69/gal and premium gas $3.59. Gas mileage will be improved on the diesel but with the cost of diesel fuel escalating, I'm wondering what we'll see down the road. With more and more companies bringing diesels to the US, I would guess that diesel fuel will be at more of a premium in price and maybe even in short supply, therefore owning a diesel could be a problem. I can't decide whether to buy another x5 gas guzzler now or wait until spring for the diesel. Are there significant performance factors that make the diesel really worth waiting for in spite of the high fuel costs? Any thoughts?? Thanks.

[Quicksilver]

If you are concerned about fuel cost why would you consider a gas guzzler at all???

[Judyd]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

If you are concerned about fuel cost why would you consider a gas guzzler at all???

I've driven Bimmers for years and have no desire to switch. They are without a doubt the best cars I've ever driven. However, I would expect most people have had thoughts about the high cost of gas and how to minimize that factor under the choices available. In order to have a Bimmer, I'll buy a guzzler but will it be a gas guzzler or diesel guzzler?

[Quicksilver]

In that case between the two, gas or diesel i believe (although i haven't any data to support it) that even with the higher cost for diesel fuel one could see some savings. The issue I see getting in the way may be the premium cost that may be added to the vehicle for the diesel engine.

Originally Posted by Judyd

I've driven Bimmers for years and have no desire to switch. They are without a doubt the best cars I've ever driven. However, I would expect most people have had thoughts about the high cost of gas and how to minimize that factor under the choices available. In order to have a Bimmer, I'll buy a guzzler but will it be a gas guzzler or diesel guzzler?

[Wagner]

Diesel costs around here are all ready higher then the cost of a gallon of premium, but when you're getting twice the mpg, who cares.

[chonko]

Originally Posted by Judyd

I've been holding out for the x5 diesel that's supposed to be available in the US in March. However, I'm beginning to wonder if the cost disadvantages of diesel outweigh the mileage advantages over gas. Diesel fuel used to be quite a bit cheaper but here in our part of the SF Bay Area diesel is now $3.69/gal and premium gas $3.59. Gas mileage will be improved on the diesel but with the cost of diesel fuel escalating, I'm wondering what we'll see down the road. With more and more companies bringing diesels to the US, I would guess that diesel fuel will be at more of a premium in price and maybe even in short supply, therefore owning a diesel could be a problem. I can't decide whether to buy another x5 gas guzzler now or wait until spring for the diesel. Are there significant performance factors that make the diesel really worth waiting for in spite of the high fuel costs? Any thoughts?? Thanks.

Let us hypothetically take the average MPG for the diesel as 35 and that for Petrol as 20.
Let us hypothetically say that you do 12000 miles a year.

1. For a diesel powered car, that will bring you to 343 gallons, resulting to a cost of $1265 a year on fuel (343 x $3.69)
2. For the petrol powered car, you will require 600 gallons, resulting to a cost of $2154 a year on fuel. (600 x $3.59)

The savings from using diesel = $(2154- 1265)= $889/yr.
Over 5 years = $4445.

Something else that you need to know, this(US) is one of the few countries in the world where diesel cost more than petrol.

[JFW]

chonko,


X5 3.0si gets 21 mpg (us) and from what I've read the diesel gets 28 mpg (us). If so savings are not so much on a diesel. Please correct me if I'm wrong on the mpg.

[Penguin]

> Let us hypothetically take the average MPG for the diesel as 35 and that for Petrol as 20.

That's a much bigger difference between petrol and diesel than I have ever heard about, e.g., I read this about a MB Diesel -- "The diesel E-Class's fuel economy rating is 26/35 mpg, for a combined 30 mpg, and compares with 19/26, for a combined 21 mpg, in the gasoline E350.

[Quicksilver]

People do drive 8 cylinder X5's also. Don't forget that.

[chonko]

Originally Posted by JFW

chonko,


X5 3.0si gets 21 mpg (us) and from what I've read the diesel gets 28 mpg (us). If so savings are not so much on a diesel. Please correct me if I'm wrong on the mpg.

You are not wrong at all, I was just throwing numbers out there to make the case.
If you use 28 mpg and 21 mpg for diesel and petrol respectively you will still have a net savings of about $470 a year.