Short mileages and Diesels - is it really an issue?

[renrut]

I'm changing jobs in a month and my commute will drop to only 4 miles each way and it got me thinking - do diesels still have issues with short mileages? The car is thankfully pre-dpf as I know they have issues, but what about those without them? And what about petrol cars? How are they for shortish mileages?

The car will still be used everyday but it won't be doing much in the way of mileage, maybe 4k per year.

Obvious solution is a silly hybrid / EV but I think I could only do that for something very quirky - mk1 Insight in green please!

[renrut]

rsox87 said:

4 miles each way!? The answer is invest in some pedal power and save the £££ to put in a V8!

Other than being suicide on the country lanes I'd be travelling down (very narrow, lots of very rushed exec cars and crazy old dawdlers!) and having to collect the little darling from nursery every day I'd completely agree!

[renrut]

kambites said:

As long as its properly serviced (as in serviced by time not just mileage) it should be fine, or at least no worse than a petrol with a similar usage cycle.

I used to work with someone who used a 2.2 Civic for a 4 mile commute for many years and it was faultless. Not particularly economical, but faultless nonetheless.

I used to have a 2.2 civic, a very good car! And I've now got the 2.2 CRV. TBH the bit that concerns me was heresay of turbos variable geometry gubbins clogging. I can put up with a slightly crappy mpg as long as I'm not storing up a catastrophic failure for further down the line.

[renrut]

Howard- said:

I think taking the car for a bit of a run at the weekends to blow out the cobwebs so to speak will do it good in the long run.

I think you're right. Not sure how often that will be. Does anyone know of anything else worth looking out for? I can't think of anything else that won't like doing short runs regularly, fuel pump maybe? Coolant / oil never getting warmed up?

[renrut]

So it sounds like if I give it a good run on weekends then the only thing might be me suffering in the cold and flat batteries come winter. Not a big list of issues. It's 8 years old already so as long as it serves for another 2 I'll be happy.

I've got a K series midget in the garage being resurrected so maybe if I get my a$$ in gear and finish that off it'll be easier to use that in the winter...

[renrut]

Turkey said:

Would you consider a powerful petrol as an alternative? A petrol will warm up quicker and a large engined one will be fun. The poor economy on the short trip won't cost much overall, maybe a couple of pounds a week extra over the Diesel.

I wasn't actually angling for a replacement, only interested in making sure I wasn't storing up problems for 6 months down the line - prevention is better than a cure and all that; But many have suggested a large petrol engine is the 'sensible' PH option. Perhaps for the next car, we tend to keep cars a good 6 years so this one would be around due for replacement sept 2018 (unless I get bored). Not sure what would be best by then, I've always fancied an XJR or similar big barge, maybe that'll be the opportunity.

[renrut]

lord trumpton said:

Just see how the new job pans out for a while before making any big motoring decisions. You may not like the job or get fired or whatever. Review in 6 months and see how the car is performing and whether you still want to work there etc.

Sound advice sir - I wasn't planning on doing anything rash - too much going on. Once the obligatory 3 month probation is out of the way I'll know one way or the other.

For all the discussion on mileages I get a sound 40mpg from my 2.2 CRV at the minute over a 12 mile commute.