We’re planning a trip to France next year. Given the ever-rising cost of fuel, we thought it wise to plan ahead on which type of car to rent - diesel or gas. Mr. brown says that almost everyone drives diesel-fueled cars in Europe, but that doesn’t sound right to me.
So I guess this is a two-part question:
In France about two thirds of new passenger cars use diesel but the ratios differ a lot from country to country.
This article from 2002 gives a basic overview of the situation.
Generally in Europe, the prices of diesel and gas (petrol) are almost the same (diesel is slighty cheaper).
The biggest advantage of a car running on diesel is mileage. Whereas a typical european car with a 2.0 liter engine gives 25mpg, a car of similar power runing on diesel has about 35-40mpg.
Though if this is correct diesel may not be the way to go.
Not sure how correct it is, but it caught my eye while reading it. And if that is the case I am sure prices will adjust accordingly.
Diesel is cheaper in France. By about 15% if I’m not mistaken (since I don’t drive, I could be mistaken).
I wouldn’t know the proportion of diesel v gas cars. I’ve no reason to assume that
** kellner **'s cite in uncorrect.
Diesel is cheaper in France. By about 15% if I’m not mistaken (since I don’t drive, I could be mistaken).
I wouldn’t know the proportion of diesel v gas cars. I’ve no reason to assume that
** kellner **'s cite is’t correct.
Blame my keyboar! (Truly. I bought a very chap one thinkin i wouldn’t make a difference, but actually it “forgets” some letters when I don’t hit the key hard enough).
I meant that 've no reason to assume that the cite is not correct.
As the others suggest, renting a diesel will make savings through the efficiency of the car. Although the specific model you end up with could have just as much bearing on the end result.
In any case, doesn’t this go against the primary reason for renting cars, which is thrashing the hell out of them with no concern about their later life? 
Regarding LostGoal’s link - the article doesn’t give any explanation of the supposed imminent diesel shortage. You can be sure that if such a problem arises, all traffic in France will grind to a halt as the farmers and/or truck drivers picket the autoroutes 
Diesel is 5 pence a litre more expensive than petrol in UK. I expect it’s still cheaper hiring a diesel car if you plan to do a lot of miles.
One reason for the imminent “shortage” of diesel and the rising price is that, because no new diesel refineries have been built in Europe for the last few years, the existing ones are working to full capacity and they cannot satisfy the demand . This is especially true now that more and more cars use that fuel instead of petrol.
I was said the following long time ago by some professor, but I can’t vouch for its accuracy :
From crude oil, you don’t normally make whatever stuff you want. Refining it, you’ll get X% high-grade gas, Y% diesel, Z% fuel oil, etc… So, if everybody begins to use diesel, you’ll get a shortage of it and its price will raise. You can’t compensate by refining more diesel and less gas from crude oil at the same cost.
The point of this profesor was that orginally, diesel wasn’t much sought after, so the governent kept taxes lower to encourage its use, so that the diesel produced during the refining process would be sold (and also to help the transport industry), but given the constant rise of diesel use, at some point there will necessarily be a shortage and diesel prices will have to catch up. So, what he stated bak then is perfectly consistent with what is mentionned in this thread. Though once again, I’m no sure the explanations he gave regarding refining are correct (i’m a lon way from having a 100% confidence in what teachers say, especially out of their field of knowlege).
Ouch, that bad? My Dad’s 2.2 td Saab can give 49-50 quite easily despite his driving mixing in some “spirited” moments :rolleyes: His old Volvo 940 woudl give a bit better than 25mpg on the open road too.
I assuming that of course the OP refers to petrol engines when gas is mentioned, but how popular are LPG gas-powered cars on the continent?
‘Open road’ is the crucial element here. Noting Dog80’s location, this isn’t necessarily a common occurence
Just by chance there was a feature about diesel shortages on breakfast TV this morning. It was said on there that in just a few years the percentage of diesel cars sold in the UK ( compared to petrol) has risen from 10% to nearly 50% and new refineries have not been built to cope with this increase in demand.
Maybe I am a more “spirited” driver than Pushkin’s father. Besides, I love the smell of clutch in the morning.
Thanks for all the replies. It looks like diesel is the way to go when we rent, both for better mileage and slightly cheaper fuel.
clairobscur, that’s interesting stuff about how diesel and gas are made. It reminds me of how nutmeg and mace are both parts of the same fruit, and how greater demand for mace once made distributors ask the growers to plant more mace and less nutmeg!
If you’re touring, it may make for a more relaxed drive. You generally have to change gears a little less with a diesel, from the time I spent driving one years ago. To do with torque so I’ve been told