Should I get a small diesel car or small petrol car?

Which car is cheaper and better to run please, considering the cost of diesel. A 2009 Fiat Panda Multijet diesel or a 2006 Toyota Aygo petrol? I am getting around 60mpg out of my diesel Panda, but with the cost of diesel now I am considering changing for the Aygo in petrol, if it will be cheaper to run in the long run. I do around 8000 miles per year or less and I am semi retired but still love and enjoy driving. I have had a 107, which I loved, but I have been told the Aygo is a better-made car.

Asked on 31 March 2012 by JR, via email

Answered by Honest John

The Aygo, the 107 and the Citroen C1 all follow each other down the same production line and are built by the same people, so there is no difference in quality. But they have had a few faults. As long as your Panda Multijet does not have a diesel particulate filter it is probably a better bet. From this month, the new C1, 107 and Aygo 1.0 petrol models are all under 100g/km, so are tax free.

Look them all up in: www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/

Tags: running costs dpf petrol or diesel? reliability

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