In recent months there has been a tremendous amount of doubt regarding the future of diesel cars and vehicles. The UK government had previously been heavily supporting and recommending diesel due to their lower CO2 emissions rate. The economic nature of the diesel car meant that cars didn't need as much petrol and as such, there was less pressure on ever depleting fossil fuels. Both factors are crucial topics of discussion during the climate change debate.
However, earlier in May 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May hinted at a potential u-turn and a forthcoming announcement on a government-backed diesel scrappage scheme. This news came as a shock to many diesel drivers who have invested often more cash into their cars because there was never any threat of potential punishment.
In this article, we explore all the pressures, questions and reasons for buying (or not buying) a diesel car so that you can make an informed decision.
The UK government has come under pressure from the European Commission for air pollution spiralling out of control. The High Court recently ruled that the UK has to do more to improve urban air quality and the current government believe a scrappage could be a quick way to reduce the 10 million diesel drivers on our roads.
More cynical commentators would suggest that the higher taxation on diesel cars driven at peak times in urban areas (such as the upcoming Toxicity charge in London) is merely a way of the government raising more funding for tax. More and more cars are being built with cleaner engines and as such, more and more are qualifying for free road tax. Some suggest that whilst a positive move, the government is potentially trying to fill this "tax gap".
Other than the potential for more taxes and charges, there's also been the suggestion of our cities going completely diesel free. Paris, Madrid, Athens and Mexico City have all vowed to ban diesel vehicles entering their city and London's Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has even threatened signing London up to a similar agreement.
That being said, whilst there is some doubt about the future of diesel cars in the United Kingdom, this is largely based on politics. In regards to the value of a diesel car, there are many that won't be swayed by political agenda:
• Fuel economy - Diesel cars remain more fuel efficient than petrol. For drivers who undertake long distances regularly, a diesel car is more economical and not only is better for the environment but is cheaper in fuel costs
• Comfort - Diesel engines typically tend to be quieter and smoother than petrol. Again, for drivers that are putting extra miles on their car, a smooth and quiet long journey is more welcome than petrol where the "revs" tend to be much higher to obtain top speeds
• Longevity - Diesel engines tend to be more robust and stable than petrol engines as they are required to withstand higher compression. As such, if you're looking for a vehicle to last a lifetime, diesel may be a better option. Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles are reported to still be going at 900,000 miles!
• Value - Whilst diesel tend to cost more new, recent research shows that compact diesels held on average 63% of their value versus petrol cars which scored 53%. Investing a bit more at the start of your car ownership could yield greater returns later in its lifetime.
Diesel cars are still sensible purchases - they just need to suit the driver. If you're considering buying diesel, consider how often you'll likely be driving the vehicle over the next 3-5 years. If the answer to that is "a lot" then diesel cars tick the boxes for fuel economy, reliability, durability, depreciation and comfort.
There is speculation on the future of diesel cars and talk of outright diesel bans, but at the moment, it's just that - speculation. Cities such as Paris and Mexico City are looking at bans, but realistically these bans aren't coming into force until 2025. If the UK did decide to ban diesel, we can expect there will be a level of research and planning before they can even set a potential date.
In short, balance the two arguments and try figure out what's more important to you - comfort and costs now, or perhaps the chance there could be additional charges further along in the future.
