On Thu, 07 Jun 2007 02:12:28 -0700, davea >
wrote:

>Is performance the first thing you consider when buying a diesel?

Yes.

>I wouldn't say so. 9 times out of 10 people going for a diesel want
>economy first, obviously.

That depends on the car..surely? For example, an Audi A4 3.0 TDI
Quattro (chosen as a car with a reasonable diesel engine and serious
performance) *can* be had for 28000UKP if you can survive the
minimalism. It does 153 mph and 0-60 in 6.8 seconds. That Audi would
not be bought for economy! There are economy petrol and diesel cars
but there are also sporting petrol and diesel cars and some people
don't seem to be able to grasp that diesels can be sporting (even
though a diesel won Le Mans).

>What I meant before is that no matter what I said when I was looking
>at the 159 the salesman always tried to push the diesel. I went over
>to the brera for a look and salesmen said "that's available in a
>diesel as well!".

But the diesels sell rather well and the salesman would be presenting
it as an obvious alternative.

> I ended up not buying either.

So be it.

>My advice, test drive both petrol and diesel work out the difference
>in purchase price and cost of fuel. Think the diesel is about 2K more
>than the petrol to buy new and certainly round my area diesel is 5-10p
>per litre dearer than petrol.

Urghh. I didn't. I tried the 2.0TS then the 2.4JTD when buying mine.
The JTD destroyed the gutless 2.0TS with its huge torque so I bought
one. Anyone who buys an Alfa thinking for a minute of 'economy
motoring' is in deep trouble. The Alfa owners economy model is more
closely aligned with 'can I send the wife out on to the streets *and*
remortgage the house to pay for servicing and repairs' than 'run
forever on a penny'.

If you're going to buy an Alfa, my advice would be to buy the one you
want. I did, and, after 6 years, I have no regrets over my choice of
engine.

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)