83mpg Skoda from £13,740

theonlydt wrote:

Once again Beachland making baseless assumptions. You save £120 at the moment in tax every year for the diesel compared to the petrol - I'll work with £120, but we all know that within 5 years the petrol could see tax rises as it's 121-124g, whereas being below 90g the diesel should escape most taxes rises. So, 5 years ownership, £600 saved in tax. Someone purchases this because they do a higher than average mileage, though not much higher than average, say 15,000 miles a year. That's a £600 a year saving over the petrol. Over 5 years that's £3000. Total saving is £3600. Yet that's not the whole story - beachland didn't compare spec for spec the prices. The Greenline spec is higher than the "SE". So bring the 1.2SE up to Greenline spec and you're adding another ~£650. So the price difference is only £2700. In 5 years you'll saved £900 on running costs. Yet, obviously, this is not the whole story as I've not taken in to account depreciation. Residuals over 5 years are more difficult than over 3 (the car loses more value in the first 3 than the next 2). Looking at current market data cars on Fabias 5 years old - as well as the performance of "green used cars" we know that the diesel will have better residuals, but a higher purchase price. The diesel will lose £900 more in depreciation that the petrol. So over 5 years you break even, exactly, on 15,000 miles a year. Drive more miles, or keep it longer and you'll save money (especially as diesel residuals beyond 5 years and 90,000 miles are much stronger than petrol).

Absolutely correct, not to mention way less trips to the petrol station. Also the more pleasurable real world driving experience that the TDi will give compared to the 1.2 petrol. If you are doing above average mileage this car is the no brainer. Well done for proving the diesel troll wrong... again.