Gas vs Diesel: Which Type of Vehicle Should You Get?
This is a long one, so let’s dive right in.
Should you get a vehicle with a gasoline or a diesel engine?
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Advantages of Gasoline Vehicles
Gasoline is cheaper and delivers more power than diesel. Diesel fuel is taxed much higher than gasoline in the US, so if you don’t do a lot of highway driving where the higher efficiency of a diesel engine gets to shine, then you’ll be spending more money on fuel. Gasoline produces more carbon emissions when burned, but significantly fewer other harmful particulates than diesel does. Diesel engine technology has come a long way in recent years, though. As a result, the clean-fuel argument is becoming less viable.
Advantages of Diesel Vehicles
Diesel engines are more efficient, more durable, and have higher torque than gas ones. However, they are more work to maintain and are less convenient than gasoline-powered vehicles. Gas engines use sparks plug to ignite fuel, causing small explosions thousands of times a minute. This damages the engine. Since diesels operate on compression alone, they have longer lives, with some manufacturers reporting up to 900,000 miles on original diesel engines. However, since compression changes with temperature, diesel engines need to be plugged in cold climates or they won’t start.
Which Should I Get?
If most of your driving is highway miles or you do a lot of towing, then a diesel vehicle is recommended. While not a 1:1 correlation, many diesel vehicles also have manual transmissions, so you’ll have to make sure the diesel you want either has an automatic variant or you know how to drive stick. If you prefer higher horsepower out of the gate or do mostly city driving, then gas is recommended. It should be noted that if you live somewhere like Milwaukee, then you’ll need private parking at your residence. If you can’t plug in your engine warmer during the winter, you won’t have a working car.
Looking for a New Ride?
Here at Hall Volkswagen, we have a large selection of new Volkswagen vehicles. If you’d like to learn more about a particular model, give us a call. We’ll be happy to discuss vehicle specs, available options, financing opportunities, and more.