Here we go again...
As has already been said, the amount of times the petrol v diesel argument has reared it's very ugly head on here...
Wish I'd got a quid for each time it's happened over the last 4 years I've been on here, never mind before that!
Horses for courses I reckon. If I was going to buy a new car, I'd drive both first then work out the long term differences on paper before taking the plunge. I find it quite funny to read all the "Oh dear, what should I do?" postings on here. What about long term servicing costs, over one, two, three years? Especially if it's used?
I liked both of my little yellow Leon tractors and have been well pleased with my cars - saving up for a Mk II FR TDI now (yellow of course). For me, the oil burner was the obvious choice as I (usually) keep my cars for 3 or 4 years, cover 14K+ a year, and over that time, it makes more economic sense. Emotional sense? That's for you to decide..
One thing that has been common in all the arguments, is the petrolhead's fall-back argument about smoke, tractors, noise, etc. And the dervhead's counter argument about MPG...
Lets try and come up with some new argument fall-backs. Hmmm... stinky fingers and plastic gloves? Sounds like a gynaecologists... Spark plugs versus glow plugs...? Coil packs versus injectors...?