Year on year, the growing climate crisis is weighing increasingly heavily on everyone’s minds, and in the next few years it’s going to make gradually more noticeable changes to our way of life, especially with measures like more pedestrianised city centres, and of course the impending petrol and diesel ban due to come into effect in 2030. So with all this going on, and the added emphasis on everyone’s individual responsibility to do their bit, it’s understandable that it might end up being a factor in your next choice of car, whether you’re buying new or from one of our online salvage car auctions right here at RAW2K. Obviously an electric car would be ideal for this purpose, but with so many of them still financially out of reach for consumers right now, that leaves the question - petrol, or diesel?
The difference between petrol and diesel cars
At first glance, it might seem like a pretty straightforward decision. On average, diesel vehicles use 15-20% less fuel than their petrol counterparts, and that means they produce much lower levels of CO2 emissions. So that makes them better for the environment, right?
Well unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. While it’s true that CO2 emissions are lower, diesel engines emit a number of other harmful by-products. Chiefly amongst them is NOx, which also contributes to climate change, and what’s more it poses an even more immediate concern regarding the air quality in certain big cities, like London and Manchester. NOx particles can contribute to the aggravation of breathing problems like asthma, and it’s been specifically linked to growing numbers of deaths in these sorts of large cities.
Now, of course there’s a very keen sense of awareness around this problem, and car manufacturers are therefore required to fit diesel particular filters to tackle the issue. Unfortunately though, these can become blocked, which limits their usefulness.
So when it comes right down to it, unfortunately there’s not really a straightforward answer. The improved fuel economy of a diesel model means that if you’re planning on regularly covering a lot of motorway miles - say on your daily commute - then a diesel could be the right choice. Otherwise, you might want to stick with a petrol.
The art of buying environmentally friendly used or salvage cars
Most people assume that the used, seized or salvage cars found in our online salvage car auctions are more polluting than their newer counterparts, but it’s worth bearing in mind that this isn’t automatically the case. Now, it’s true that newer vehicles tend to be made to stricter standards in terms of how much CO2 and particulate matter they’re permitted to emit. Older cars aren’t made to the same standards, which can mean they’re more polluting.
However, like all new products, brand new cars require more energy and resources to produce, as their assembly, delivery, and even in some cases their marketing can end up taking an environmental toll. Used cars don’t incur any of these costs, and if they’re only a few years old and have a decent fuel to miles ratio, they can even end up being less polluting in the long run too. It’s a delicate balancing act, and we know that purchase price and running costs are usually much bigger factors in the buying decision - but it’s all food for thought!
Either way, if you’re looking to kickstart your journey to your next used, seized or salvage car, you’re in exactly the right place. Our auctions refresh on a daily and weekly basis, so you’ve always got a great chance of finding a bargain here on our site. We’ve got models from a range of leading global manufacturers, including Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Why not take a look around our site, and see what you can find?
