Reliable Diesel Estate

[Greengecko]

Hello guys,

Looking to replace the old estate soon as it won't be getting through the MOT in September. Have a budget of around £4,000-5,000, doesn't need to be anything special just something reliable, economical and that can take around 15,000 miles a year relatively easily.

Looking at either one of the Vauxhall Astra's or the Ford Focus, but if there are any other suggestions or particular ones to avoid the advice would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

[nick heppinstall]

http://www.skoda.net.r66.co.uk/carview.aspx?id=604...

I had the 1.9 a few years ago. It will do 60mpg and although only 105bhp will cruise happily at 80. This engine will also do incredible mileages ...

Sorry just a little over budget ..

[Munter]

I had the hatch version of the Avensis. And I regret selling it. Yes it wasn't exciting but it really was reliable and got good mileage.

Look for ones with the indicator in the wing mirror, that's the face lift and the 2.0 diesel get's a bit more power and a 6 speed box. I wish I'd got an estate one rather than the Mondeo estate.

[Dbest92]

I'd go for a 1.8 tdci focus estate, should get a decent on in budget. The 1.8 diesel is an older design I think but more reliable, avoid the 1.6 tdci like the plague. Don't think the astra 1.9 cdti is too great either. Golf/passat/Octavia with a 1 9 tdi would be worth a look too.

HTH

[V8forweekends]

There was some correspondence in Car Mechanics mag on these recently - in summary it seemed that the Astra was more reliable, but the Focus rode and handled better and was quicker....

[Sensibleboy]

nick heppinstall said:

http://www.skoda.net.r66.co.uk/carview.aspx?id=604...

I had the 1.9 a few years ago. It will do 60mpg and although only 105bhp will cruise happily at 80. This engine will also do incredible mileages ...

Sorry just a little over budget ..

Went in an Octavia taxi last month...2006 1.9 TDi 565k miles on it! It was on its second engine as the first was wrecked when the turbo went pop. Still a respectable distance all the same.

[Scooby97]

Cant go wrong with a VAG 1.9tdi ( 130bhp )

family member had a Golf estate on a 55 plate. felt way faster than it was and never ever went wrong

[Dog Star]

What do you want a diesel for? The dpf will block up and the injectors will weld themselves up. Sheer lunacy. And it will sound like a tractor and they have a tiny power band. Who needs torque? And the fuel economy is no better in real life than a petrol. In fact what with the added cost of the fuel you could be running a V8 (think of the "sense of occasion" when you start it up) or bigger.

In fact diesels are so st that you should "pull the trigger" on a used C63 estate. Far more reasonable.



[Not really at all. I just thought I'd get in there before all the PH anti-diesel sheep got on here; no need now.]

[Sensibleboy]

There are a few horror stories about the later 1.9 tdi engines...A few like to throw rods through blocks.

[Jasandjules]

Passat. For 5k you'd get a 2008.

[johnny fotze]

In my humble opininion, based on personal experience, PeugeotCitreon (or whatever they are called) make incredibly reliable diesels. Being French of course they are overlooked and under-rated. They make proper size estates too.

[Zoobeef]

Something with a VAG PD 1.9 engine in, no pdf or other diesel horror stories.
Bought my A4 10 months ago with 158k on the clock for £2k (02 reg) and passed it's MOT last week with no advisories on 183k.

[ScoobyChris]

johnny fotze said:

In my humble opininion, based on personal experience, PeugeotCitreon (or whatever they are called) make incredibly reliable diesels. Being French of course they are overlooked and under-rated. They make proper size estates too.

And if you want a bit of reliability from the rest of the car, the PSA group supply engines to Ford too

Chris

[georgezippy]

I've been running around in a 2000 Audi A4 PD115 for the last 5 years. Just this year it's needed brakes and a clutch but nothing other than normal consumables before that. It sounds horrible but feels very grunty, is adequately fast and does 50+ mpg all the time. I'm going to see how many more years I can get out of it. Would reccomend one. Of course that engine is in Golfs and Passats too. No DPF either.

[johnny fotze]

ScoobyChris said:

And if you want a bit of reliability from the rest of the car, the PSA group supply engines to Ford too

Chris

I did not know that, and it's worth knowing. Ta

[lbc]

johnny fotze said:

ScoobyChris said:

And if you want a bit of reliability from the rest of the car, the PSA group supply engines to Ford too

Chris

I did not know that, and it's worth knowing. Ta

And BMW for the Mini.

[morgrp]

lbc said:

johnny fotze said:

ScoobyChris said:

And if you want a bit of reliability from the rest of the car, the PSA group supply engines to Ford too

Chris

I did not know that, and it's worth knowing. Ta

And BMW for the Mini.

And Volvo incidentally

[morgrp]

on the subject of Volvo - The Volvo developed D5 engine is reliable, frugal and fast - A very nice facelift V70 or S60 D5 can be had for as little as a few grand

[morgrp]

here you go:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

A league above cars like Astras and focuses

You can get around 800miles from a tank if you drive sensibly on a long run

[BritishRacinGrin]

I think I'd spend the lower end of your budget (or less) on a 406 HDI. I really like the way they drive, much like the Mondeo the front end / steering is much better than you'd expect on a car of it's class and the ride is very good but the Peugeot has less of a rust problem and a more reliable engine.