Monday, Jul 07, 2008 at 16:43
Hi guys, I would just like to buy into this debate a bit. Before I start, I have the 1KZTE (old) 120 series diesel.
A couple of points:
Diesel engines last longer - maybe so in the older style, mechanical fuel pump, low stress diesels BUT how much proof is there that these newer 4 cylinder TDs will get you 500+K kms? A
well tuned petrol will get you 400K kms without worry these days as they are all running better oils, cleaner fuels and are always in optimum tune due to the advanced computer management systems.
Maintenance - petrol every 10000 km - oil and filter cheap as chips and not messy. New plugs at 100 000km (expensive) and a timing belt somewhere around there as
well.
Diesel - oil and filter every 10 000kms but advice is to do this every 5 000 kms for longevity therefore double the frequency and higher costs of diesel oil and filters. Also messy. Injectors (when?). Timing belt 150 000 kms.
Arguably tyres and brakes last longer in the diesel due to lower performance and better use of the engine for braking whereas the V6 performance lends itself to fast acceleration/deceleration and therefore greater wear on the tyres and brakes.
If you ever keep the vehicle long enough to rebuild the engine: how much is a petrol rebuild vs diesel? I think it is a lot cheaper and more easily done by a
home mechanic I believe (happy to be corrected).
Resale price will remain higher for diesels - only for so long and only provded diesel doesn't continue to exceed petrol prices by the margin they are now. This point has been mentioned. Labor's future 'environment tax' may exacerbate the difference too.
Towing economy - yes this is important and, yes, the diesel will get better economy than the petrol but, as has been mentioned, the diesel will still suffer a loss of economy. Towing a 1+ tonne CT with my chipped 1KZTE my economy drops to around 14l/100kms AND my performance suffers considerably, particularly in hilly terrain. As has been mentioned, the petrol economy does suffer but not like that of Patrol or Cruiser 6 cylinder petrols AND the performance, particularly in an Auto, is very good. No need for 3 kms of straight, flat road needed to overtake anyone!
Does Toyota still have the Petrol Prado on special at $52K with auto and other goodies. If so, this would be abut 7-8K cheaper than the diesel equivalent and no waiting time. As has been said many times, thats a lot of petrol OR pays for the gas conversion and a lot of off road gear (if thats what you want).
Look, I love my TD and it suits me but, if I was to replace it now, I would buy a petrol if the discounts were still on offer. I believe (as I am currently in Africa) that NSW diesel prices are around $1.90 and ULP about 30c/l less. Thats a big difference AND ULP prices get discounted regularly due to demand. By the way, isn't NSW LPG approaching the $1 mark? If so, thats a long way from 67c as mentioned earlier.
Anyway, just a bit more input to confuse the issue. By the way, I bought my TD in Mar 2004 when diesel (in QLD) was 89c/l and petrol was 92c/l !!!!!!!! Look how far we have come in just over 4 years in fuel prices.
Cheers
Rob
AnswerID:
314261
Follow Up By: Member - Peter H (NSW) - Monday, Jul 07, 2008 at 20:25
Monday, Jul 07, 2008 at 20:25
Great mindes must think alike Rob, I have been argueing these pionts for quite a while
Cheers Pete
FollowupID:
580317
Follow Up By: Best Off Road - Monday, Jul 07, 2008 at 20:52
Monday, Jul 07, 2008 at 20:52
LPG is 65cents/L in
Melbourne as I type, and was yesterday on the
Gold Coast (QLD).
I was in both
places at the stated times.
How FFS could LPG be $1 in
Sydney?????
Jim.
FollowupID:
580320
Follow Up By: roblin - Monday, Jul 07, 2008 at 22:14
Monday, Jul 07, 2008 at 22:14
As I said, I am in Africa at the moment and was guessing at the lpg cost but it was higher than 67c when I left.
It is NSW after all!
FollowupID:
580328
Follow Up By: Member - Graeme (NSW) - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008 at 04:22
Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008 at 04:22
Hi roblin
I am currently in Africa where the price of diesel is approx 40 cents and petrol 75 cents. The last fill of the Terrano diesel cost approx $18 and the Patrol diesel in NSW cost $320 for approx 200 litres in February. The traffic here is murder though.
FollowupID:
580344
Follow Up By: flyingbushpig - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008 at 15:29
Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008 at 15:29
Hi, Newbie here, looking at buying a 2000/01 95 series or 100 series and looking at either petrol/gas on the V8 100 series or 3.0l diesel on the 95 series or, after looking on here, maybe petrol/gas on the 95. Still unsure but just thought I'd mention this is the best post I've seen anywhere on these issues - everything that's been running through the head, so thanks!
-Phil
FollowupID:
580578
Follow Up By: flyingbushpig - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008 at 15:39
Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008 at 15:39
Sorry, 90 series ;-)
FollowupID:
580579
Follow Up By: flyingbushpig - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008 at 16:14
Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008 at 16:14
I'm daft. 95 series it is after research!
FollowupID:
580581