Buying a Diesel Car

Are you interested in buying a vehicle with improved gas mileage, exceptional power, and comforting safety? Then might be in the market for a diesel car.

Diesel cars can be a great purchase as long as you are aware of the pros and cons of buying one. Before you zoom off to go shopping for a thrilling new ride, you should speed up your knowledge to see if this is the right car for you.

What Is a Diesel Car?

First and foremost, it's important to know exactly what a diesel car is. There are a variety of aspects that make diesel cars different than standard vehicles. Primarily, diesel cars are defined by:

• The use of diesel fuel—a less volatile, more efficient fuel than gasoline.
  AND
• Compression-ignition engines.
  • Unlike standard gasoline engines, which ignite a fuel and air mixture using an electric spark, diesel engines work by compressing air then injecting in the diesel fuel causing a reaction that results in ignition.

NOTE: It is very important to remember that diesel fuel and gasoline are not interchangeable. Diesel engines need diesel fuel to run, and cannot run on standard gasoline.

Folks with diesel cars notice their engines are a bit noisier than a standard car engine, which is an attraction for some enthusiasts. They also are drawn to one of the most alluring traits of a diesel car, which is its ability to produce a lot of torque power at low speeds.

Why Buy a Diesel Car?

The diesel car's engine can provide an abundance of desirable qualities for an interested buyer. It's important to research all the benefits of buying one before deciding on your purchase. These include:

• Fuel economy.
  • Diesel engines car rival hybrid cars in fuel economy.
• Torque.
  • Diesel engines provide a great amount of torque at lower speeds than gasoline engines, making them ideal for bigger vehicles.
• Safety.
  • The relatively low volatility of diesel fuel helps make diesel cars easier to handle and lowers the likelihood of engine combustion during a car accident.
• Biodiesel conversion.
  • Diesel engines can run on renewable biodiesel fuel, with minimal modifications.
• Longer lifespan.
  • Diesel engines are known to last much longer than gasoline engines.

Diesel Car Disadvantages

Depending on your needs, there can be disadvantages of purchasing
a diesel car. The cons for buying a diesel car can potentially make or break a buyer's decision to purchase. Such disadvantages include:

• Diesel cars are generally more expensive than gasoline cars.
• Diesel cars require a more expensive fuel.
• Unfortunately, diesel cars may emit harmful gas emissions detrimental to the environment.
  • NOTE: Switching to biodiesel can lessen these harmful effects, but it also reduces the vehicle's efficiency at the same time.

Deciding on whether to buy a diesel vehicle is an important decision. After gathering and analyzing all the facts, it's up to you to decide if the pros outweigh the cons of owning this alternative vehicle.