I think the big + of a modern petrol over a derv for me at least is that it will not have the particulate filters and emu additives or whatever they are, the big attraction of a diesel was their resistance to water, economy and simplicity, lets face it there was once a time and saying that if you could get a derv to start you where almost certain it would keep going untill you got to your destination, unlike several petrol Fords ive had that used to splutter to the side of the road whenever they saw a puddle
Of course now its all changed and while the oil burner is finding new homes in sports cars and hot hatches with the aid of a clever mating of small turbos, superchargers and high pressure common rail injection systems to the same engine al a VAG, the Humble petrol isnt burdened with all of this stuff to do the same job, ok so you get the extra economy but with diesel usually more expensive than petrol (and dont be lulled into a false sense of security by recent prices) you will have to be going some to get your money back.
Now of course you have to understand everything you have just read above is all wrong because everyone wants a derv, because it looks good on paper and to the man who pays someone else to work on his car your going to get stiffed no matter who's car you bought derv or not, but to me taking the engine out of a C3 derv to change the glow plugs (you heard) is not at all good and when the long term financial burden of such a vehicle and its petrol sister is taken into account i know there just isnt enough +'s in the diesel's box to make it a sure fire money saver.
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