The modern automobile is safer, cleaner, more efficient, and more technologically advanced than anything that came before it. Yet those improvements have come at a cost. For many owners, mechanics, and independent repair shops, that cost is repairability.

  • unitedwithme@lemmy.today
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    1 day ago

    5L = 1.32gal

    100Km = 62 miles

    So for US folks out there, that equates to roughly 47MPG

    Diesel is great and all, but currently in the Midwest, specifically the Chicago area, GasBuddy shows “regular” 87 octane hovering around $4-4.10gal and diesel at ~$5.50/gal.

    That 2017 Honda Civic achieved roughly 30mpg city/40hwy (depending on trim, engine, trans, etc) call it 35mpg averaged.

    So if 35mpg costs you $4, and 47mpg costs you $5.5, then gas costs $0.114/mile and diesel costs $0.117/mile.

    Now, technically speaking, diesel emits more CO2 than gasoline per gallon burned, however, because gasoline isn’t as efficient per mile, diesel had a very slight advantage of being about 5% lower CO2 emissions per mile; however, it emits more NOx per mile.

    https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/Gas_v_Diesel_CO2_emissions_FV_20190503_1.pdf

    All in all, they’re pretty tied, IMO.

    • boonhet@sopuli.xyz
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      16 hours ago

      Yes, but don’t forget, I was talking about a 2003 there. Before piezo injectors and actually efficient automatic transmissions. Newer cars, even with all the nasty emissions equipment ruining them, get better mileage.

      Diesel and gasoline are priced the same where I come from, with diesel often being cheaper.

      That Honda Civic would cost a bit more to run on a daily basis than a larger and heavier diesel wagon that can carry tons of cargo. Maybe about equivalent to a SUV like a 2018+ BMW X5 or similar in terms of fuel economy. Obviously much cheaper to maintain, but that was my point: For the first few owners, the overly complicated hunks of plastic are a much better balance of power, economy and refinement. 300-400k km is where they usually start breaking down bad if maintained to manufacturer spec (i.e oil changes rarely, transmission fluid change never)