Diesel or Petrol

Conqueror2 replied on 18/12/2019 19:12

Conqueror2

Posted on 18/12/2019 19:12

I have been caravanning for 14 years and have always used a diesel tow car. Now looking to change car to a Volvo XC60 and an undecided between petrol or diesel.

Has anyone practical knowledge, and experience, of changing to a petrol tow car?

57 replies

EmilysDad replied on 20/12/2019 22:48

Member

EmilysDad

Caravanner

Posted on 20/12/2019 21:19 by Lutz

Sounds like you‘ve got a very peaky engine there if maximum power doesn’t come in well before it reaches maximum revs.

Posted on 20/12/2019 22:48

Agreed +1. I don't think I use that many revs on my 3 pot Smart 1000cc

JVB66 replied on 21/12/2019 16:14

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 20/12/2019 19:35 by EmilysDad

1 like was from me ..... no, I didn't understand either 🤔

Posted on 21/12/2019 16:14

But the you understood according to an earlier post of yours

JVB66 replied on 21/12/2019 16:17

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 20/12/2019 21:19 by Lutz

Sounds like you‘ve got a very peaky engine there if maximum power doesn’t come in well before it reaches maximum revs.

Posted on 21/12/2019 16:17

I do not now have the leaky petrol version as I stated our 2ltr red lines at 5000 I am sure but not been out to check,

Just checked 4500 revs

JVB66 replied on 21/12/2019 16:28

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 21/12/2019 16:17 by JVB66

I do not now have the leaky petrol version as I stated our 2ltr red lines at 5000 I am sure but not been out to check,

Just checked 4500 revs

Posted on 21/12/2019 16:28

Read peaky not leaky

JVB66 replied on 21/12/2019 16:31

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 19/12/2019 19:24 by EmilysDad

I get what you're saying, but running a Smart for work (50 miles round trip) I feel is cheaper in the long run than running a leviathan gas guzzling 4x4 tank on a daily basis and SWMBO has her own car. Maybe in a few years time when on a pension things might be different

Posted on 21/12/2019 16:31

Rev Ken replied on 09/01/2020 20:53

Member

Rev Ken

from Cumberland

Posted on 09/01/2020 20:53

Just joined in this discussion. Brief outline is that we need our little 2009 Compass Corona Club 362 to visit family 300 miles South and 200 miles North. I'm in my 80s and my wife is 79 with two artificial knees. we've tried trains - unreliable, rarely get a seat in spite of booking and are very limited in what we can take. Using a car is OK, but once with family there are too many difficulties in negotiating baths with showers over them, plus other factors. Hence our caravan is the best and 'safest' option. We had a '61' 1.4TSI Golf. Solo it did around 40mpg, pulling the caravan 20mpg (DSG gearbox). This August I replaced it with a '17' two litre Diesel Golf which pulls it with far less effort, getting 30mpg, and solo I get in the mid 60s on motorway long trips Also a DSG gearbox, with 'stop/start' helping in town.

We are far happier with our Diesel, but which one is the more polluting?