Should I buy a diesel ever again?

A recent Channel 4 documentary questioned whether government policy towards diesels had been misguided because of the health risk posed by noxious pollutatants - e.g Nitrous Oxide.

The current incentives are very much in favour of diesels (low road tax, generous BIK rates, and fuel efficiency). I am now contemplating buying a new car for retirement. Should I be buying petrol? Are diesels likely to be penalised in the near future?

Asked on 2 February 2015 by Westmorland

Answered by Honest John
Yes. Buy petrol. The main reason is that the antipollution gubbins fitted to new diesel engines has a limited life and can get choked by repeated short runs from cold, so a diesel is unsuitable for the type of use to which you will put it.
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