"Tony R" <tony.rickardno@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:xJ9Ij.144624$M9.6188@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Zathras wrote:
>> On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:37:52 GMT, Tony R
>> <tony.rickardno@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>
>>> The issue most have going from a sporty petrol to a sporty diesel is
the
>>> opposite, they will find they run out of steam just when the petrol is
>>> starting to fly because they are in the wrong rev band. Which is why
it
>>> doesn't always feel sporty as less is more with the diesel.
>>
>> That depends on your definition of *sporty* in terms of the engine.
>> For example, I think of my diesel as having a similar character to a
>> large capacity V8 (old-style American, say) as opposed to a smaller
>> capacity (perhaps) Italian V12. I don't see how that V8 must be less
>> *sporty* just because it has lower maximum revs.
>
> It is just a state of mind. Muscle cars have their own character but
> doesn't conjure up a sporty style of driving in my view whilst muscle
car
> lovers hate silly little screaming engines...
>
> Typically muscle cars rely on exactly that for performance and typically
> (but not exclusively) do not handle particularly well on the twisty
stuff.
> Hence my view on what are sporty cars.
>
>> Also, because the Diesel (well mine anyway) delivers it's performance
>> in such a relaxed and effortless manner, in a limited zone, reminds me
>> more of a supercar than any petrol car I've owned.
>
> Again I would think grand tourer not supercar. Supercars aren't relaxed
> and effortless in my view though I know what you mean when you think
back
> to the kind of effortless performance that used to be the province of
> prestige luxury and very thirsty cars of the past.
I think the OPs experience from test-driving the diesel left him with the
same view as I have of diesels - they are far from efforless and relaxing
to
drive...
Petrol engines are much more forgiving with regard to gears and speed -
whilst it might not be good for the engine, a petrol engine will pull at a
much lower speed in a given gear than a diesel, meaning less need to
change
gear, leading to a smoother, more relaxed drive. In a diesel, if you are
not
in the right gear for the road speed, the drive is choppy, sluggish,
smokey
and noisy. Also in a diesel, the power band is so short that just as the
power band actually kicks in properly, thanks solely to the turbo, it is
time to change gear again! One of the regulars here (Catman or Zathras I
think) said that their diesel will pull from 30-90 in a single gear. This
was supposed to prove their superiority over petrols, but my 2.0JTS petrol
will pull happilly from about 15-90ish in 3rd and 25-137 in 5th gear, so
am
still not convinced!
I have said this before in this group and my experience of diesels is
limited and probably old, so my opinion is perhaps dated, but I can only
comment on what I have seen.
I clearly prefer petrol, but its all personal preference and probably most
importantly - driving style!
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