Choosing a car: Diesel v Petrol

[LeMarchand]

So I find myself in need of a replacement vehicle after my car was written off in a rear-end shunt. Looking around in my (small) budget range this is likely to be a 10(+) year old car. The specs seem to suggest that diesel gets better mpg, but I'm not sure if age/route (mainly 15m to work and back/day 10m of it on motorway, but it's rarely full speed and new developments are likely to make it worse, plus a monthly mainly reasonably fast 150m journey to visit aged P) will make a difference to that. It also seems that TPTB are about to start fiscally punitive action against diesels. I also need to factor in likely other costs: is one type more expensive to fix/maintain than the other?

 

I'm throwing this one open to the collective: diesel or petrol?

[NB9457]

What is your budget? The Golf MK4 Diesels can be picked up for around £1k for a tidy one now, the reliable PD130 engine, 6 speed boxes, good economy and relatively cheap parts/maintenance as they're so common and there's always some in scrappers too.

 

Or if size isn't an issue, the Lupo/Arosa TDI/SDIs are £30 to tax, less than £1k to buy and stupidly good on fuel and cheap to repair.

[LeMarchand]

What is your budget? The Golf MK4 Diesels can be picked up for around £1k for a tidy one now, the reliable PD130 engine, 6 speed boxes, good economy and relatively cheap parts/maintenance as they're so common and there's always some in scrappers too.

 

Or if size isn't an issue, the Lupo/Arosa TDI/SDIs are £30 to tax, less than £1k to buy and stupidly good on fuel and cheap to repair.

 

Budget £1000, though given my vocal criticism of most German marques (due to the way they tend to be driven by others) I'm not sure I could go for a VW! Size not a problem - need 4/5 doors anyway.

 

So diesel OK (at least for a few years)?

[NB9457]

Budget £1000, though given my vocal criticism of most German marques (due to the way they tend to be driven by others) I'm not sure I could go for a VW! Size not a problem - need 4/5 doors anyway.

 

So diesel OK (at least for a few years)?

 

I'd say so, they're still producing diesel cars and it'll be a long way off before they get rid of the older ones seeing as they seem to just live forever. I've got a 2007 A3 PD170 DSG, done 20,000 miles in it so far this year, mixed driving style and conditions and it's been great, I tend to average over 50mpg a tank too.

 

If I were spending £1k on a car though, I probably would be looking for something with a VAG PD engne in it (Passat/Golf/Bora/Leon/Ibiza/Fabia/Lupo..), they just seem to soldier on.

[newpersn]

Don’t write off the late MK3 and early MK4 Mondeo. You pick up and average milage and mid to top spec for around £1000. Cheap to run and repair.

[LeMarchand]

Don’t write off the late MK3 and early MK4 Mondeo. You pick up and average milage and mid to top spec for around £1000. Cheap to run and repair.

 

Car before the just written off one was a Mondeo. Quite liked it, but found it difficult to park (though I guess it might be possible to get one with sensors in that budget) and the slightest touch to the rear bumper created a horrible crumbly dent. Plus not cheap to fill* - newer models might be better. Might go back through the ads and add a few into the list.

 

*That said, I really fancy a Landrover Freelander or a Chrysler PT Cruiser - both of which are going to be gas guzzlers!

[newpersn]

Car before the just written off one was a Mondeo. Quite liked it, but found it difficult to park (though I guess it might be possible to get one with sensors in that budget) and the slightest touch to the rear bumper created a horrible crumbly dent. Plus not cheap to fill* - newer models might be better. Might go back through the ads and add a few into the list.

 

*That said, I really fancy a Landrover Freelander or a Chrysler PT Cruiser - both of which are going to be gas guzzlers!

 

Had a 53 plate 2.0 tdci (facelift had cruse control ) and I loved it. Over 45+ mpg. Get everything in the boot.

[mikeprice]

The way things are going you may need to consider where you will be able to drive a diesel - if you drive in city centres then you may find a diesel a problem in the mediuym future

[Cache]

Diesel are better for longer runs, depends on where you are driving. 10 mins on the motorway might benefit, if it was a lot of short journeys and traveling around town then you'd be better off with petrol, shorter runs mean there's a chance the filter won't be able to clean its self.

 

10 years is about the time DPF filters started coming in.

[LeMarchand]

The way things are going you may need to consider where you will be able to drive a diesel - if you drive in city centres then you may find a diesel a problem in the mediuym future

 

That's my worry. I work on the outskirts of a city but otherwise tend to avoid them if possible, apart from occasional shopping trips/visiting friends (and then often use the train/park & ride). Might be a good excuse for not being able to drive to visit Bonus Daughter #1 and imminent sprog. Hmmmm....

 

Diesel are better for longer runs, depends on where you are driving. 10 mins on the motorway might benefit, if it was a lot of short journeys and traveling around town then you'd be better off with petrol, shorter runs mean there's a chance the filter won't be able to clean its self.

 

10 years is about the time DPF filters started coming in.

 

Journey home is generally OK, but to work is often stop/start.

[3s-gtech]

While diesel may be penalised in the future, and more so in cities, your budget means this shouldn't be that much of a risk. I was at the local auction this week - £1000 can go a long way. For example:

 

2008 Mk4 Mondeo 2.0TDCi (PSA engine) - 150k miles - £850. Great car, few things that can be costly as they age (DMF, cambelt, steering rack)

[jmak]

If you're buying an older diesel, make sure it doesn't have a dpf - especially if you're mostly doing short journeys and you've no idea what pervious owners did. It'll break and cost more than the car is worth to fix. Diesels without a dpf will become prohibitively expensive to drive in some cities - but not until at least 2020 which might not be a problem for a car that old.....

[LeMarchand]

Diesels without a dpf will become prohibitively expensive to drive in some cities - but not until at least 2020 which might not be a problem for a car that old.....

 

I normally keep my cars until they die/are killed, and would hope that whatever I get now would last until 2020.

[davethetekkie]

If you do opt for a Mondeo of about 10 years’ vintage steer well clear of the 1.8 petrols. They run the same Mazda L series engine that’s in my C Max and apparently they’re known for piston rings going and burning oil (like mine is)... REALLY wish I’d gone with the TDCI (Our Peugeot 807 has the 2.0 HDi engine in it and I love it. It’s economical and delivers its power well). Despite being the bigger car (and basically all the toys being broken... that’s another story) the Pug will do a run costing £30 in the 1.8 CMax for £20 without exception. Edited October 9, 2017 by davethetekkie

[noelmm]

I really would consider as vw group car with a pd engine. I have the golf mk4 150 with a remap and get around 60mpg on the motorway and around 40mpg around town. My car has 205k miles on it and is still going, not had anything major go wrong and as long as you service it with the correct spec oil etc. the engines are bullet proof.

[Theblacksheep]

Over 5 year old year old car diesel.

 

If it was under 5 years old then petrol.

[Davit2005]

I've had my first diesel car (in 20 years of driving) for the last 18 months, a 2016 Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDi vRS. MPG has gradually climbed from 40mpg to 48mpg, morning on the M25 as long as I leave at 6am I can see 65MPG on the 25mile journey, coming home is A/Town roads which normally ends up around 45MPG as long as I don't have fun :-) .

 

Either a Diesel or Efficient Petrol is going to be my next choice, but I'm leaning towards Petrol more than diesel at the moment. With 15K a year on my day to day driving environment the diesel does make sense but the DPF regens wind me up.

[3s-gtech]

I really would consider as vw group car with a pd engine. I have the golf mk4 150 with a remap and get around 60mpg on the motorway and around 40mpg around town. My car has 205k miles on it and is still going, not had anything major go wrong and as long as you service it with the correct spec oil etc. the engines are bullet proof.

 

The Golfs are tough, but a Passat with the same running gear may shock you with it's unreliability. Buying VAG does not mean a guarantee of a good car, from experience, and the mk4 Golf is getting extremely old now.

[dry]

I went for a 1.9 150 Fiat Bravo. Cheap as chips ('57 with around 100k was 1400 notes from a dealer when I bought it a year and a bit ago) because they're not overly popular, and gives some serious poke if you want it to. No DPF on mine but the DPF was introduced on other engine variants some time after 2007.

 

Get a solid 45mpg around town and on A roads, 55+ on a long run.

 

Look for one with the dynamique trim if you can- climate control, cruise control, bluetooth etc included.

[LeMarchand]

I went for a 1.9 150 Fiat Bravo. Cheap as chips ('57 with around 100k was 1400 notes from a dealer when I bought it a year and a bit ago) because they're not overly popular, and gives some serious poke if you want it to. No DPF on mine but the DPF was introduced on other engine variants some time after 2007.

 

Get a solid 45mpg around town and on A roads, 55+ on a long run.

 

Look for one with the dynamique trim if you can- climate control, cruise control, bluetooth etc included.

 

I did spot one of these and the equipment level seemed great for the price. Mme LeMarchand prefers it cooler whilst I like to be warmer, so the dual climate control seemed like a good idea. Someone's already bought the one I was considering going to see, though.

 

Not "petrol/diesel" questions, but:

 

a) Do people not like silver cars, or was the colour really popular a decade or so ago? A huge proportion of the cars I've clicked on have been silver.

b) Why do so few cars of the era have parking sensors? Maybe I got lucky with my 2003 Rover 45, but not many of the cars I've looked at include this despite often being more modern and having all sorts of other fripperies. I find it really useful.

[sted]

I did spot one of these and the equipment level seemed great for the price. Mme LeMarchand prefers it cooler whilst I like to be warmer, so the dual climate control seemed like a good idea. Someone's already bought the one I was considering going to see, though.

 

Not "petrol/diesel" questions, but:

 

a) Do people not like silver cars, or was the colour really popular a decade or so ago? A huge proportion of the cars I've clicked on have been silver.

b) Why do so few cars of the era have parking sensors? Maybe I got lucky with my 2003 Rover 45, but not many of the cars I've looked at include this despite often being more modern and having all sorts of other fripperies. I find it really useful.

b it was usually an optional extra most people wouldnt pay for. I had them on my last car and tbh after a week or so stopped missing them also they often looked ugly as f with black mushroom sticking out of what was otherwise a smooth bumper also also the ones on my dads fiesta i dont get its just audio at least my ds3 had a screen to show you which sensor had picked something up 20ft away lol

[pow]

Amen, those 1.9 PD units are aged now and annoying to say the least. Get an e39, best car you can buy for a grand in my book!

[LeMarchand]

b it was usually an optional extra most people wouldnt pay for. I had them on my last car and tbh after a week or so stopped missing them also they often looked ugly as f with black mushroom sticking out of what was otherwise a smooth bumper also also the ones on my dads fiesta i dont get its just audio at least my ds3 had a screen to show you which sensor had picked something up 20ft away lol

 

Mine looked like this (but red), so quite discreet, but were just audio.

 

 

I'm a bit of an overly cautious parker, so found 'em useful to get myself "further back" in a spot. Haven't had problems with the hire car - but I'm petrified of getting a scratch on it, so leave plenty of room!

[3s-gtech]

Fiat's JTD diesel engines are generally excellent - can't comment on the overall experience (the dealers used to have a bad rep overall but buying ones this old you can avoid any main dealers!) As used heavily by Vauxhall across their ranges. Good buy second hand as residual values are so low. Quite fancy the 159 with a JTD in it.

 

Parking sensors - I got the impression that they were too costly an option from many manufacturers, so people didn't bother to spec them often. They can also become annoying and unreliable on older cars and when impacted (!)

[LeMarchand]

Amen, those 1.9 PD units are aged now and annoying to say the least. Get an e39, best car you can buy for a grand in my book!

 

Even if it was the greatest car ever built, my religious convictions forbid me from driving a BMW . Or, put another way, I had to Google "e39".