Diesel Cars - Are they really as bad as you say

[alex290568]

Hi there, I'm not a regular poster but have been around here for years.

I have seen many, many posts telling me how bad diesel cars are DPF, EGR, CAT, TURBO INJECTORS, PUMPS etc. etc.

I have 2 diesel cars, each with 90,000 miles on the clock, both have been owned by me for 4 years and have never had anything more than 10,000 mile services, similarly, my last diesel car was at 140,000 when I sold it without any major failures. 1st car is an E280CDi purchased at 3 years old for £12k having covered 30,000 and 2nd car is a Mitsubishi Colt purchased at 3 years old for £5k having covered 20,000.

So my question is, do you all hate diesel so much that you advise members that buying a £5000 diesel car will lead to imminent explosion or do you actually believe it?

My guess is that most diesel cars probably cover 150,000+ miles before any of the disasters talked about on here, some, many more, but I could be both lucky and wrong?

I am now bent over awaiting the inevitable shafting which will be coming my way.

[C. Grimsley]

It's the same old, hundreds of thousands of cars sold that may be fine but the few that don't are publicised on the net, this making them out to be bad.

Although I work in a French car inviroment and have to say I can't see myself buying one.

Carl

[A900ss]

I've done about 400k in diesels over the last 10 years.

Nothing other than regular servicing for me.

BUT

all cars were regularly maintained, all 3 years old or under and none did more than 120k before going back.

I think regular driving is the key but that's the same for petrols as well if the truth be told. Engines like to be used.

[alex290568]

Then it may not be luck!

Each of my cars is driven daily, journeys are 50+ miles (mostly 6th or 7th gear) so the oil has time to reach temperature and get rid of fuel and moisture etc. Neither car is ever thrashed when cold, in fact neither car exceeds 2500rpm very often. Oil is changed every 10,000 max

[Slow]

alex290568 said:

Then it may not be luck!

Each of my cars is driven daily, journeys are 50+ miles (mostly 6th or 7th gear) so the oil has time to reach temperature and get rid of fuel and moisture etc. Neither car is ever thrashed when cold, in fact neither car exceeds 2500rpm very often. Oil is changed every 10,000 max

6th or 7th? Wow, none of the 3 cars i have owned even had 6.

[Terminator X]

Owned 3 diesels each of which were plagued by problems. Imho modern diesels are in such a state of high tune they teater on the edge of a breakdown every day.

TX.

[RobM77]

I asked an engineer friend of mine this question last week. I'm on 90k in my diesel driver, but it's my first diesel and know nothing about them, nor do I want to He's just crossed 200k miles in his Merc diesel and he said no, they're fine. Basically it's just a PH hatred of diesels.

Edited by RobM77 on Saturday 3rd August 00:15

[alex290568]

Slow said:

6th or 7th? Wow, none of the 3 cars i have owned even had 6.

6 speed semi auto Mitsubishi Colt, 7 speed Mercedes C280 CDi Auto

[A900ss]

alex290568 said:

Slow said:

6th or 7th? Wow, none of the 3 cars i have owned even had 6.

6 speed semi auto Mitsubishi Colt, 7 speed Mercedes C280 CDi Auto

My current diesel has 8....

[alex290568]

RobM77 said:

I asked an engineer friend of mine this question last week. I'm on 90k in my diesel driver, but it's my first diesel and no nothing about them, nor do I want to He's just crossed 200k miles in his Merc diesel and he said no, they're fine. Basically it's just a PH hatred of diesels.

This is my feeling, I intend to run both these cars for at least 3 more years so I will bookmark this post and report my findings!!

[alex290568]

A900ss said:

alex290568 said:

Slow said:

6th or 7th? Wow, none of the 3 cars i have owned even had 6.

6 speed semi auto Mitsubishi Colt, 7 speed Mercedes C280 CDi Auto

My current diesel has 8....

Then according to the law of pistonHeads it will explode into a ball of flames tonight and you should have bought the cheaper petrol model and saved the balance to buy fuel!

[A900ss]

alex290568 said:

A900ss said:

alex290568 said:

Slow said:

6th or 7th? Wow, none of the 3 cars i have owned even had 6.

6 speed semi auto Mitsubishi Colt, 7 speed Mercedes C280 CDi Auto

My current diesel has 8....

Then according to the law of pistonHeads it will explode into a ball of flames tonight and you should have bought the cheaper petrol model and saved the balance to buy fuel!

Stuff that - best A to B car I've ever had!

Big, comfy, safe, faster than most cars, 45MPG with a lead foot (my wife gets over 50). It's so good, it's a bit boring. (F11 520d auto BTW).

[Rammy76]

alex290568 said:

.....in fact neither car exceeds 2500rpm very often

Not always necessarily a good thing, a regular Italian tune up can do wonders for clearing out a diesel.