Gasoline engine cars expected to gain popularity over diesel engines

“Because the battle is heated for smaller and cheaper cars, it is normal that gasoline engines and fewer cylinders will be the favorites. And you avoid paying more for a diesel engine car, as the price of diesel fuel and gasoline is almost the same. 

However, the main argument in favor of diesel engines is lower consumption and better resale price,” said the Vice President of the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association of Romania (APIA), Brent Valmar, who is also General Manager of the largest car importer locally, Porsche Romania. 

Last year, 56.3 percent of new cars delivered to Romania (domestic and imported) were equipped with gasoline engines, while the remaining 43.7 percent had diesel engines. The number of gasoline cars could increase to 60 percent of total delivers in 2008.
The Vice President of local car maker Automobile Dacia, Constantin Stroe, believes that preference for gasoline engine cars will be short-lived. “It is true that the rise in price for diesel fuel pushes clients to opt for gasoline engines. However, there are many Romanians who have calculated costs, determining that at 30,000 kilometers a year, diesel engines consume less, even if diesel fuel is more expensive.