1.8 Petrol vs 1.9 D turbo...

[C.A.R.]

at car says above is very biased. He is very much a diesel hater tbh

That's not fair! I'm not a diesel hater, I just enjoy driving. You can go fast in a diesel but you'll always have more fun in a petrol.

I have owned a couple of diesel cars but have driven many more. I can see their place in society, frugal, easy to drive and often cheap to insure.

However, a petrol is vastly simpler, easier to find fault with and easier to live with. It's quieter, economy remains the same throughout the year (with a diesel you'll see MPG drop-off in the colder months) power delivery is smoother and linear and this all adds up to a more enjoyable driving experience. If money were no object and we weren't forced into running a derv, nobody would have one. Don't believe the fallacy that the popularity of modern diesel cars is due to their better performance, cos it isn't. We are a nation of cheapskates, living in an economy which is always getting more expensive on wages which have been frozen for many over the last 5 years. Don't kid yourself that you wouldn't be in a nice, petrol-powered hot-hatch or coupe if it wasn't for the state of our economy.

I'm not a 'diesel hater' if such a thing exists, they have their time and place, and right now is their time, but if you can afford to run a petrol or want a 'fun' car, then a petrol equivalent makes more sense. The 1.8 is a bad example because for it's performance it's not that great on fuel, but believe me they're more fun to rag down a country road - even if it is slightly slower. Outright speed in a straight line is not the be-all and end-all...