What are the disadvantages of buying a diesel car?
3 Answers
Diesel cars have the following disadvantages: 1. Poor comfort: High noise and vibration levels affect driving and riding comfort, making them relatively less common in passenger vehicles. However, with continuous technological advancements, some mid-to-high-end diesel cars have achieved performance close to that of gasoline engines. Major domestic and international automakers have also introduced many diesel sedans and SUVs. 2. High fuel quality requirements: Diesel engines have high manufacturing costs, stringent fuel quality requirements, and are heavy. The fuel injection system in diesel engines is extremely precise and difficult to manufacture. Using low-quality fuel can severely shorten the lifespan of the injection system. Due to the high compression ratio of diesel engines, they require high structural strength, resulting in greater weight and larger size. 3. Poor cold-start performance: Due to factors such as diesel's low volatility and compression ignition, cold starts in winter are not as efficient as in gasoline engines. Even with preheating devices, it takes several tens of seconds of preheating before the engine can start.
I've driven a diesel pickup for five years, and the most annoying issues are noise and vibration. During cold starts, the engine rattles like a tractor, and at highway speeds, tire and wind noise are amplified. Starting in sub-zero winter temperatures is even harder—you have to preheat with electricity, and once I forgot and nearly missed an important event. At gas stations, diesel pumps are often occupied by trucks, and in small towns, diesel quality isn't even guaranteed. The exhaust treatment system is particularly finicky; using the wrong urea or poor-quality fuel immediately triggers fault codes, and repairs cost thousands each time. Resale value is also low—when selling, dealers aggressively lowball, citing increasing urban restrictions on diesel vehicles. Now, diesel passenger cars are basically phased out, and even 4S shops are reluctant to take them.
Our logistics fleet phased out all diesel light trucks last year as they simply became too costly to maintain. While fuel-efficient, the maintenance expenses were staggering - diesel filters had to be replaced every 5,000 km, and legitimate gas stations charged over 1 yuan more per liter, with the fuel quality difference alone offsetting any fuel savings. The SCR system required annual nozzle cleaning maintenance, with repair costs equivalent to half a year's fuel expenses. Air conditioning use during summer caused noticeable power loss, making highway overtaking difficult even at full throttle. The biggest headache was new environmental regulations - last year's vehicle inspections took three attempts to pass, and installing particulate filters cost 8,000 yuan. We've now switched to natural gas vehicles, achieving 15% lower overall costs.
