The general consensus (at least in the UK) seems to be that modern diesel cars have a potential to be ruinously expensive when they go wrong, which they are som

The general consensus (at least in the UK) seems to be that modern diesel cars have a potential to be ruinously expensive when they go wrong, which they are somewhat more likely to do on account of the high-precision parts operating at high temperatures and pressures in order to provide something other than the soggy performance of yore. (The emissions stuff also doesn't help.) So you have to drive a lot of miles, to guarantee a substantial saving on fuel, before buying one becomes +EV. This has been somewhat borne out by my observations. Pre-Euro IV diesels seem to be a bit better. I don't like to sound like I'm pissing on people's parade but the reputation diesel cars have for being reliable doesn't seem to be quite so true these days. The savings don't add up to a great deal compared to the cost of the car either ;) - the savings on fuel cover repairs and routine servicing on my second-hand diesel car, which works for me, but it doesn't actually add up to a huge amount per year. Maybe around £500, or $750. This is at UK fuel prices too, currently $8.20/US gallon for diesel and $7.80/US gallon for petrol, and I mainly drive my car round town, where diesels seem to be comparatively more efficient than petrol cars (though obviously it's not a great thing for either). (Of course, if my car requires nothing doing one year, or less than £500 of stuff, then I'm quids in! - but this hasn't happened yet. Hmm... maybe next year?)