Thread: Diesel cars more expensive to run

Originally Posted by vnx205

I should have known JDNSW would beat me to the punch on this one.

Anyway the figures calculated from this survey to support his argument are as follow:
Fuel costs for a Landcruiser for 15,000km @ 14.74 c/km = $2211
Fuel costs for a Commodore for 15,000km @ 14.68 c/km = $2202
Fuel costs for an Aurion for 15,000 @ 13.45 c/km = $2017

So if you replace your Landcruiser with a Commodore, you save $9 a year.
If you replace your Landcruiser with a Toyota Aurion, you save $194 a year.

Or of course if you were really only using the two front seats in the Landcruiser, you might replace it with a Corolla and save a whole $642 a year.

Or another way of looking at it is that even if you didn't even drive it a single kilometre each year the Landcruiser would still cost twice as much as a Corolla driven 15,000 km.

Driving a Landcruiser or any other 4WD is not expensive. Owning one is.

The reason it is so expensive to own is that it costs an obscene amount of money to start with.

I don't suppose anyone doubted JDNSW's argument about fuel being a relatively unimportant consideration for owners of newish cars, but I must admit that even though I knew he was right, I was surprised at just how right he was.

Like Utemad - I have never bought a new car and never will.

However - for some people, the purchase cost and depreciation is not necessarily a bad thing - if they are using it to offset tax.

I think the most interesting thing in this study, is that the prius is only the 2nd most fuel efficient car in its class!!! And all the vehicles in the slightly smaller "light" car class are more fuel efficient.

Originally Posted by vnx205

I was surprised at just how right he was.

there will be no living with him now....

One thing with comparing the price of diesel and petrol together is that as it gets more expensive the percentage difference between the two decreases.

When diesel was a $1.20 and petrol a $1.00 it was 20% more expensive. At this point in time it is 15% more expensive at $2.00 it will be 10% more. When comparing new models I think due top this fact the diesel option should retain better resale.

Originally Posted by inside

One thing with comparing the price of diesel and petrol together is that as it gets more expensive the percentage difference between the two decreases.

When diesel was a $1.20 and petrol a $1.00 it was 20% more expensive. At this point in time it is 15% more expensive at $2.00 it will be 10% more. When comparing new models I think due top this fact the diesel option should retain better resale.

But diesel used to be CHEAPER than petrol

Originally Posted by vnx205

Fuel costs for a Landcruiser for 15,000km @ 14.74 c/km = $2211
Fuel costs for a Commodore for 15,000km @ 14.68 c/km = $2202
Fuel costs for an Aurion for 15,000 @ 13.45 c/km = $2017

Did up my log book, receipts, etc this weekend for my tax return.

Fuel cost for a D3 V6 for 26,770km, mixed cycle, was $5857 or 21.9 c/km.
Back-calculating this:
An average 98 octane price (over the fin year 2007-08) of $1.33 gives 4417 litres consumed for the year, or 16.5 L/100km which is what I average.

The LC V8 petrol came in at 19.71 c/km.

Have I missed something in the report? It states "The calculations are provided as a guide to the cost of owning and operating a vehicle over a five year, 75,000 km (15,000 km per year) period.". But it does not say what the average fuel price was, used in the calcs.


My first fuel receipt in July 2007 was @ $1.19/L, last receipt from last week was $1.72/L. That's a 40% increase

Originally Posted by WhiteD3

Something wrong with the LC/Commodore/Aurion values above I think.

The figures for the Commodore and Aurion would be about right for 15000 if fuel cost about $1.40

10 litres/100km = $14 per 100km = $2100 for 15000

The Landcruiser driver must have had a very light right foot or a blend of used vegie oil.

Originally Posted by WhiteD3

16.5 L/100km which is what I average.

My 4 cyl petrol Series III LWB could match that on a good day.

Mind you, it weighed about a tonne less and went about 20kmh slower.

I(f you are towing a van, I suspect the diesel will be more cost effective (sorry RonMcGr).

Not having to refuel every couple of hundred km would be good!