Cheap small engine diesel, under 4k, views please.

[seadragon]

Hi All,

Some advice please if you don’t mind. My partner and I will be looking for a next car to take into account increased travel distance between work and home, we are moving into the countryside.

We are looking for as above. I would prefer something not too old. Don’t care about looks, ‘wow factor’ etc, but must be small engine diesel, enough space to take on holiday with the dogs, not too old (up to about 10-12 yrs) and good reputation for reliability.

Budget is 4k. Am looking at maybe Audi A2 1.4TDI but would appreciate other views.

Thanks in advance.

Edited by seadragon on Friday 29th November 13:38

[Citman]

Skoda Fabia - estate if room is an issue, or even Skoda Roomster. If you can get over the looks of the latter, they're very practical cars.

[seadragon]

thanks, I know the Skoda is a great car, appreciate the tip

[underphil]

not sure that an A2 is a good bet on the reliability front

[Spanna]

Peugeots aren't renowned for reliability, but my mum's 1.6HDi 307 estate has been pretty damn good as a runaround since she got it last winter.

Handling is appaling, but it's got enough torque and MPG is 50+.

[GreatGranny]

Why go for the A2 when you can get a newer, lower mileage Polo?

I know they are different etc.. but it doesn't mean they are any better.

Heard that the ride is very harsh.

Or as above a Fabia, Fiesta, Focus, Mazda3, Nissan Note . . . .

[JimmyConwayNW]

Golf GT TDI and still have a slight amount of enjoyment in a car with a half decent residual?

[JimbobVFR]

underphil said:

not sure that an A2 is a good bet on the reliability front

What makes you say that?

I've had mine 8 or 9 years and other than service items I've only had the ARB bushes and the brake light switch fail. Its been the most reliable car I've ever owned.

[budfox]

I cannot speak highly enough of the Fabia TDi.

I'm on my 2nd (wrecked the first in a flood) and the fact that I went out and bought a near identical car says it all.

Cheap to buy, Ambiente version especially well equipped, cheap to run, practical, reliable and very economical. Quick enough too.

[anonymous-user]

seadragon said:

good reputation for reliability.

Audi

Not so good.

Too expensive as well. I'd go with something from Toyota.

[vit4]

budfox said:

I cannot speak highly enough of the Fabia TDi.

I'm on my 2nd (wrecked the first in a flood) and the fact that I went out and bought a near identical car says it all.

Cheap to buy, Ambiente version especially well equipped, cheap to run, practical, reliable and very economical. Quick enough too.

Yep, my dad has the 1.9 tdi Estate on a 2005. So far has been extremely reliable, returns silly mpg and has niceties such as heated seats. As above, highly recommended and the only diesel I would consider in this segment at this price point.

[Podie]

Might be worth trying to find a Fabia vRS (might stretch the budget a little)- 1.9 TDi has enough torque to be nippy, cheap servicing and returns over 50mpg with a fairly heavy right food.

[gizlaroc]

A2 is not economical unless you sit at 30mph everywhere.
At 30mph it does 60mpg, get up to 60mph and that is down to 45mpg, sit at 75mph and that is below 40mpg.

I bought one as I fancied 'being green' back in 2005 I think it was, and after a couple of months I had had enough, 42mpg average and a bit of an effort all round really as it just didn't have enough puff.

I just sold a lovely C220cdi auto estate on a 51 plate for £2k with 113k miles on it, that returned 46mpg and would often see late 50's on a run.

I had a 320d auto toruing before that and that averaged 44 and could get up to 70 on a steady run.

A4 1.9tdi manual is great, they will do a genuine 45-50 average.

Small cars are great round town, but aren't as economical as you would hope when you want to go over 40mph.

So many nicer cars than the A2 out there for £4k now, friend has just bought a 120k miles 320d Touring, E91 2005, with 130k miles on it and paid £4k for it, it drives superbly and he is showing 52mpg average from it, which he is chuffed to pieces with.