120 petrol vs 150 diesel

[Safari2 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Safari2]

Had a few mates suggest I upgrade to 150 series diesel. Struggling to see why, my 120 series petrol guzzles a bit, around 14l/100 around town, 17 towing, but I see lots of folks getting 10 around town and 15 towing in 150 series diesel. Does not seem worth the extra outlay, extra service cost, higher fuel price for only that margin better fuel economy? Enlighten me perhaps.

[blw Member Find all posts View Profile Close blw]

not to mention the diesels have had their fair share of injector problems, cracked pistons etc. I've got a petrol 150 and love how quiet and smooth it is.

[Guest Close Guest]

Do your sums, the high maintenance costs of the diesel pretty well outweigh its benefits over the petrol IMO..

['Dan' Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 'Dan']

I'd stick with what you have unless there's a specific reason to upgrade?

The minimal fuel saving, and I do mean minimal as diesel is more expensive (here atleast) and extra maintenance will negate much of the fuel savings, then you add in purchase price, onroads and depreciation and you will spend more to upgrade.

If you've got a big trip coming up, towing a 2T van around Aus or something, then it can be worth looking at in terms of total trip costs and comfort etc.

Petrol 150 here, minimal towing (just loads of wood for now til the track car is being used again) and I see mid 13's on my regular commute (i live out of town in the hills) and have seen a best of 12.5 on the trip to bathurst and back (1000ks round trip for me). KO2s, steel arb bar, winch, dual batteries, 2" lift, all of which cost you economy.

Service costs and general concern about the car is low as there's not much to do/go wrong.

Upgrade because you want a nicer/newer/safer car etc, but don't upgrade to "save money" that's a false economy.

[GEEEXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close GEEEXL]

Maybe ask "ya mates"

['Dan' Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 'Dan']

He did, they said upgrade. He's asking to be enlightened as to pros and cons from people who are not his mates.

10/10 helpful post...

[Leethal Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Leethal]

Upgrading just for fuel economy can’t be justified in most cases. However there are other reasons to upgrade from a 120 to a 150, depending on what model 120 you have there are many improvements in a 150, e.g. radar cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, more air bags etc. perhaps a bit more info on what you have and what features are important to you would help make any replies more specific to your needs.

Lee

[GEEEXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close GEEEXL]

spot on lethal

Dan the OP doesn't state why his mates suggest the upgrade

['Dan' Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 'Dan']

spot on lethal

Dan the OP doesn't state why his mates suggest the upgrade

Given his entire post was about fuel economy, that would be my guess.

[acerider Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close acerider]

not sure how people get around 14l/100km around town.. I get 16.2 -16.7L/100km on a 40% Hwy and 60% city start/stop short trips (<5km); Mostly Hwy with even with family of 4 and 100kg lugguage will however get down to 12.8L/100km; The worst is towing our 1350kg loaded trailer- 19L/100km (Hwy) to 22L/100km slow gravel rd (30k/hr-50k/hr)


mine is a stock except 2 inch lift with All Terrain tyres.... and i calculate my fuel consumption by filling up to brim and zeroing my trip metre... i have a grande which shows average fuel consumption but its always 1-1.5L/100km less than actual.

Absolute worst is very short trips (<3km/hr) and start stop traffic.

i did a bit of maths based on my driving around town and only do extented touring trips a few weeks a year - the benefit of diesel is minimal (in cost terms).

My conclusion is that you get a diesel if (1) you do a lot of towing work; (2) very remote travel and a lot of long distance travel; and (3) only if get the diesel new or with a well known proper maintenance history;

[tempestv8 Member Find all posts View Profile Close tempestv8]

Agree! When I see a tiny 1st generation BMW X3 3.0 litre 6 cylinder return 13-14 litres/100km in town and a previous generation Lexus RX350 with 14-15l/100 kms out of the 3.5 litre V6 engine, I can't see how a significantly larger 4.0 V6 Prado return 14l/100kms.

I agree the diesel would be best for long distance, or remote travel, and best purchased new, and air cleaner filter element properly sealed with rubber grease to prevent dust ingress past the seals at the edges of the filter box.