It's amazing to me how quickly, relatively, diesel has become the default purchase in the UK. Many are none too clear on the costs compared to petrol.

I wonder if it's something to do with the prevalence on our roads of company car drivers who, for valid reasons, cover their thousands of miles annually in diesels - less than 4 years old.

Thus, most of the cars we see are diesels, so that's what we buy (mostly second hand), and of course diesels are in plentiful supply.

And then people wish they hadn't, when the peripherals on modern diesels start failing expensively. The general public hasn't got this message yet, and as you say they pick up ex-fleet diesels thinking that they will last as well as the old ones used to.

Prices still reflect this demand, but I don't think this will last forever, when a few more people have bought 3-4-year-old diesels with DPF etc and start pootling round towns with them.

I read this morning in the daily Telegraph in HJ's advice to a reader that Volvo are pushing dealers to sell diesels to maintain their overall co2 footprint, so if you really really want a petrol volvo you have to order it, (none n stock unless top spec models)

Strike volvo from my shortlist.

Back to the drawing board. (in a bit)

Volvo's new modular engine is designed to be built in both diesel and petrol versions - it would be crazy not to allow sale of the petrol versions !!