[craft1205]

Hi all. I'm a first car buyer and thinking to buy i30 active x auto.
But I'm still thinking if I should go for diesel or petrol. Here is my story.

I drive 30~40mins(25km) per run and times 2(50kms) a day. And 4days a week.
Is it good enough to get a diesel? I have no idea so it would be much appreciated if you can share your thoughts.

Also any tips when buying a first car?

Cheers!

[cruiserfied]

Hey craft, welcome.

Very good question and one that will spark some good responses I recon.

Your not doing overly high km's so the extra cost of the Diesel engine won't be greatly outweighed by fuel savings (not that you could really recoup the costs within 10 years anyway) plus the higher cost of Diesel right now.

On the other hand the Diesel is a superb little engine with very good economy figures and smooth/strong power delivery.

Be sure to use good quality fuel (can't stress that enough) and maintain as scheduled and it will give you many years of enjoyable driving.

The petrols are still worth a look and for a fun to drive car they do quite well. A little more power would be nice and the economy can't touch that of the Diesels but you can really "drive" them.

Comes down to whether your happy with owning a Diesel and having the extra costs of sales and servicing.

Have you driven any yet?

[Just Rick]

JMO,similar thinking to cruiserfied the extra cost of the purchase and maintenance just wouldn't be justified,for me Diesel is the only way to go as I do 1300 to 1650 K's a week,so for me a diesel works

[Asterix]

Hi craft1205

 

I have a diesel and my daily commute is also 2x25 km (on A-roads) so no problems with that. Even better for you as the OZ diesels don't have the DPF. However, if your 2x25 km is mostly city driving, the petrol will be the right engine.

[Lakes]

Hi Crafter, i like Diesel as it uses less a lot less fuel, like i have driven a auto petrol & they go well, but in Sydney traffic expect 10L /100k i can't say what auto Diesel would get in traffic but i got 5.2 to 5.4L/100k i would fill to brim & not have to re fill for 1,000k to 1,100k loved that, i drove Carlingford to Emerald in Melbourne via the Coast road on 45L of fuel once

[Dazzler]

  You really need to have a drive of both as the driving characteristics are completely different. If you are going an Auto, be warned the Auto diesel is not a patch on the manual diesel for economy. (although the new dual clutch transmissions they are introducing in some models may be better in that regard)

Diesel and Unleaded fuel prices at the moment are on a par or slightly in favour of Diesel, but it may revert back to dearer diesel when the northern hemisphere hits winter again (who knows!)

The diesel i30 (particularly the manual) is a revelation to drive with surprising amounts of torque for 1.6 Ltr as many owners on here will attest. You are certainly doing enough miles to get some benefit and no DPF (Diesel particulate filter) in Australia is a big bonus..

John (Lakes) had a manaul i30 (previous series/same engine)

[Phil №❶]

It depends on how you drive and what you expect from a vehicle.

If you're a sporty driver, then petrol is the way to go.

If you are looking for a vehicle that feels like it could go forever, feels strong and can pull up hills with ease, or you load the vehicle with people, luggage or a tow, then the diesel is in it's league, here.

Should your driving requirements change, involving longer journeys, the Diesel will travel a lot further than petrol. You will own the car for a long time, so this could be a possibility.

I'm a bit biased as I'm a Diesel convert.

[Dazzler]

Phil makes a good point about the range. The benefit of this can't be understated from the point of view of convenience. After having a Diesel and then two Hybrids that all did over 1000 kms between fills it is a bit of a shock to now have to fill up after say 700 kms.

Mind you if you go the Auto diesel, depending on driving you might only get 800kms out of a brimmed tank versus 500-600 for the petrol version. 

[Phil №❶]

We get 800 out of our 4sp FD, so I think the newer models would be better than that, but certainly not as good as a manual, I still prefer the auto though. 

[FatBoy]

Drive both and see which one you like. For me the enjoyment of driving the diesel was worth the increase in cost alone!!

Like Phil, I am a diesel covert (that now drives a V8 petrol ute).

Mind you if you go the Auto diesel, depending on driving you might only get 800kms out of a brimmed tank versus 500-600 for the petrol version. 

I regularly get 750-780kms out of my petrol with 50/50 city an fwy driving, our fwy's are getting to the stage of city style bumper to bumper driving now days too

That distance in my 1.6ltr petrol would be more than likely be different to what is achievable in the Active X 1.8ltr petrol though

[rustynutz]

I regularly get 750-780kms out of my petrol with 50/50 city an fwy driving, our fwy's are getting to the stage of city style bumper to bumper driving now days too

That distance in my 1.6ltr petrol would be more than likely be different to what is achievable in the Active X 1.8ltr petrol though

The Active X also has the 50 litre tank compared to the 53 litre Euro model's tank... 

[Phil №❶]

An extra point, at low speeds e.g. city crawl, I get an indicated 4.6 l/100k and also at idle, Diesel's are very efficient. So if you're regularly getting caught up in peak hour traffic, the Diesel doesn't mind too much. Drive both and see what you like, as advised. The Diesel won't need to rev higher than 2.5 to 3k revs, they prefer to pull from low down, whereas the petrol is probably just getting into it's stride.

[The Gonz]

For me personally, it's a lay down misere - Diesel every time.
No argument about extra cost or handling characteristics - just brilliant performance, economy and reliability at any price and for any period of time or rate of mileage.

[rustynutz]

 

[Paolo5]

There is the economy aspect that other members have outlined here. No contest....If you tow a trailer of any sort, the diesel comes into its own. Last year I towed a camper-trailer from Newcastle to The Great Ocean Road and the car sipped diesel at the rate of 5.6L/100km....and it is a heavy, old trailer.

But then there's the fun quotient that the diesel delivers copiously.

I have had more than a few petrol-powered cars and 2 diesels...a diesel Datsun (Nissan) Patrol and my i30. The feel of a diesel engine is worth more than the difference in cost (to me) between the petrol and diesel i30.


It is a lot of fun to drive...can petrol owners say the same thing? Maybe...but I am having more fun in each drive than I have had with any car that I have had....except for a Nissan 300Z that I had years ago. I call it equal between the two.

Don't solely look at the diesel as something that will eventually save enough fuel to pay for the extra cost.....do it because of the smile that comes with each drive!

[beerman]

The diesel is getting rave reviews for its engine, torque and 7 speed auto. The petrol not so much for the 6 speed auto 1.8.

Drive them both, see what you like, and what gets the better deal.....

Some of the extra cost of the diesel will be recouped when resale time comes. That super strong diesel engine will command a premium, not only for its economy, but also because of its bulletproof reputation.

Don't solely look at the diesel as something that will eventually save enough fuel to pay for the extra cost.....do it because of the smile that comes with each drive!

Saving fuel on long drives and towing would be the only reason I'd ever buy a diesel, If I wanted a smile from each drive I'd buy a 430kw supercharged GTS but I sold not to long ago something similar because of fuel usage and the torque throwing my back out with haemorrhaged discs 

[Phil №❶]

Chalk & cheese there, Craig.

[Dazzler]

Don't solely look at the diesel as something that will eventually save enough fuel to pay for the extra cost.....do it because of the smile that comes with each drive!

Saving fuel on long drives and towing would be the only reason I'd ever buy a diesel, If I wanted a smile from each drive I'd buy a 430kw supercharged GTS but I sold not to long ago something similar because of fuel usage and the torque throwing my back out with haemorrhaged discs 

Fair call Craig, but I reckon you would be amazed if you drove a manual diesel i30... 

[FatBoy]

I enjoyed driving my i30 diesel.  I enjoy driving my 6.0 litre V8.  Big difference between the two.  Both make me smile!!

Chalk & cheese there, Craig.

I know, I'm just having a little chuckle to my self when hearing the talk about power

[The Gonz]

I often drive Defence or hire cars, trucks and buses, both automatic and manual petrol models of all kinds. Nothing is quite as nice as getting back into my Diesel i30. Driving petrol after Diesel doesn't feel special anymore.

[Doggie 1]

I drive a diesel GD i30 manual.
My previous car was a diesel FD i30 manual.
As has been stated, the economy is great in the diesel.
However, I find they are just so much nicer to drive than petrol engined cars.
You will need to drive both petrol and diesel to decide which is best for you, but when you factor in the economy, the driving experience, the torque, etc, I would go diesel all the way, every time. 

I drive a diesel GD i30 manual.
My previous car was a diesel FD i30 manual.
As has been stated, the economy is great in the diesel.
However, I find they are just so much nicer to drive than petrol engined cars.
You will need to drive both petrol and diesel to decide which is best for you, but when you factor in the economy, the driving experience, the torque, etc, I would go diesel all the way, every time. 

We need to meet up somewhere ( out of the way ) one day Dave where we can put our cars against each other, I think you'd be pretty impressed with how me little bug travels now...true it wouldn't have the torque for towing but I think it would leave you for dead  

[Doggie 1]

I drive a diesel GD i30 manual.
My previous car was a diesel FD i30 manual.
As has been stated, the economy is great in the diesel.
However, I find they are just so much nicer to drive than petrol engined cars.
You will need to drive both petrol and diesel to decide which is best for you, but when you factor in the economy, the driving experience, the torque, etc, I would go diesel all the way, every time. 

We need to meet up somewhere ( out of the way ) one day Dave where we can put our cars against each other, I think you'd be pretty impressed with how me little bug travels now...true it wouldn't have the torque for towing but I think it would leave you for dead  

I have driven petrol engines for decades, Craig, including high performance V8s. Still do.
I know they go well and it's horses for courses for sure.
I just prefer the diesel experience.

[Paolo5]

Chalk & cheese there, Craig.

I know, I'm just having a little chuckle to my self when hearing the talk about power

My i30 develops a bit over half of the kW of what the 300Z did...It's more the torque than the power.... I love the way the little bugger pulls up hills..

[Paolo5]

However, I find they are just so much nicer to drive than petrol engined cars.

Now ya talkin' Doggie!

[elantraelite]

Having now owning 2 diesel i30's - An FD and GD, I can homestly say I'm a diesel convert!

The person who said the diesel's fuel consumption will increase dramatically in peak hour is incorrect. My partner drives the GD 6spd Manual diesel to work in peak hour averaging 40-60km/h in stop start traffic over a 40km distance each way and gets a solid 4.5-5litres per 100km.

You can't beat the torque of the diesel over the petrol... No I dont need to compare the torque to a V8 because I am after great fuel economy.

For me the torque in my FD i30cw 5spd has been amazing! I would not attempt to tow our camper with the petrol regardless of the capacity ratings. The diesel climbs hills anywhere with ease and still has power to overtake while towing. Camper weighs around 1100kg

You can still drive the diesel in a 'sprited' manner. You'll be impressed.

I remember the first time I experienced the i30cw diesel was in Singapore and had a taxi driver that put it through its paces. It felt like a little pocket rocket with its nice bit of throw back. - bought the CW shortly after we got back home.

[Dazzler]

I think it is the 1.6 diesel motor that has made this site so successful. Might seem an odd claim, but a very high % of long term active members are diesel owners or converts (even if they no longer own a diesel i30)

The diesel i30 (particularly the FD) had a lot of character that is just missing from other brands these days.

Not taking anything away from Trev or Craig or any other petrol i30 owner.... just saying!