Petrol Car Vs Diesel Car for Buyers

How to you choose whether to buy a petrol car or a diesel car ? Now that the petrol prices have increased, many of us tend to go for a diesel cars.
Diesel cars are costly by at least a lakh when compared to their petrol variants.

We need to take a look at the following factors and then decide.

    Whats your average usage per year?
    What are the maintenance costs per kilometer?
    How long are you planning to use a car?

Diesel cars are best suited for people who’s usage is high. Maintenance costs are high for diesel cars.

So lets do some math and find out.

Lets say, diesel variant for a particular car costs 1 lakh more than the petrol variant.
Now that additional 1 lakh can get you 1428(approx) liters of petrol and 2222(approx) liters of diesel for the current price .

Assumption 1:

Daily Commute - 80 Km

Petrol Cost – Rs.70/Litre

Diesel Cost – Rs.44/Litre

Petrol – 14 KMPL

Petrol Consumed / Day = 5.7 Litres

Fuel Cost / Day = Rs.400

Diesel – 18 KMPL

Diesel Consumed / Day = 4.5 Litres

Fuel Cost / Day = Rs.198

Per day savings Rs.202 with a diesel car.

Every month will consider Trip  - 500km

Maintenance - Rs.1300

Every month will save Rs.6000

The price difference of 1 lakh (Diesel Vs Petrol) will be recovered in approx 17 months.

Assumption 2:

Daily Commute - 30 Kms

Petrol Cost – Rs.70/Litre

Diesel Cost – Rs.44/Litre

Petrol – 14 KMPL

Petrol Consumed / Day = 2.2 Litres

Fuel Cost / Day = Rs.154

Diesel – 18 KMPL

Diesel Consumed / Day = 1.6 Litres

Fuel Cost / Day = Rs.70.5

Per day savings Rs.83.5 with a diesel car.

Every month will consider Trip  - 500km

Maintenance - Rs.650

Every month will save Rs.3300

The price difference of 1 lakh (Diesel Vs Petrol) will be recovered in approx 30 months.

All these calculations are effective only when we go for a cash purchase,If you are going to Loan option calculation will be different.

If ur taking 6 yr EMI option then will increase Rs.1995/month

Every month save after EMI - Rs. 4005

The price difference of 1 lakh (Diesel Vs Petrol) will be recovered in approx 25 months.

Every month save after EMI - Rs. 1305

The price difference of 1 lakh (Diesel Vs Petrol) will be recovered in approx  6 yrs .