What crap budget diesel

[wiliferus]

My job role is being changed in May. My commute will go from12 miles a day to about 60 miles a day. Current daily shed, Volvo V70 2.4T is doing 26mpg. That for me is unsustainable over the new commute and will take my annual mileage upto about 25k. I also have a decent sized family hence the V70, so a substantial estate is necessary.
So -
Good mpg (45mpg+)
Big
Manual (hate autos)
Comfy interior with a few toys
£3000

The shortlist as far as I can make out is -

Audi A6 (C5 I think?) There's a few 1.9tdi Final edition models which look nice, but I've noticed the interiors of Audis seem to age and wear worse than it's peers. Looking at circa 2004 with at least 100k on it. The pros and the engine.. I've had the 1.9tdi before, and as much as it's a bit agricultural it was very economical and flawlessly reliable.

Same as about but C6 with the 2.0tdi 140. A few in budget, but they are early cars and a bit leggy. Do these 2.0 cr diesels hold upto big miles?

Saab 9-5 1.9tid 150. Get much more for your money, 2006/7 models, look nice too if you can get past the Dame Edna headlights. Certainly big enough, but the 1.9 Fiat engine worries me. Lots of concerning reports about all sorts of issues.

Volvo V70 D5. I suppose this is the default position as the current car does everything I want it to. Budget only lets me into a high miler and manuals are hard to come by however.

Not if the same size, but Honda Accord 2.2cdti. Know nothing about these. Maybe a touch small but worth a look? I'm encouraged by Hondas rep for reliability, but am aware of these engines eating clutches for fun.

So what have I missed? Anything? Where would your money go?

[wemorgan]

Honda Accord.

[steve-5snwi]

Ford Mondeo

[idontknow]

25k a year in a manual, are you sure?

[wiliferus]

steve-5snwi said:

Ford Mondeo

I appreciate them for what they are, and for my budget I could get quite a nice spec, but had a really bad experience a few years back with a tdci which spat a few injectors. I couldn't bring myself to trust a tdci again.

[wiliferus]

idontknow said:

25k a year in a manual, are you sure?

Yarp. A lot of it is motorway, very rarely stop start, and I love working a manual gearbox, even if it is mated to a tepid diesel.

[stuart_83]

Alfa 159 1.9 jtdm?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say a Mercedes E Class fits the bill comfortable & with the E270 5 cylinder you won't have to worry about DPF's they're hard to find in manual form.

Manual E270 136k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Honda Accord 107k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Leftfield Options worth a look are:

2.2 407 SW 2007 83k FSH Peugeot diesels just go on & on.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2.0 407 SW 2007 50k FSH

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2009 Insignia SRI 105k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[Jag_NE]

wiliferus said:

I appreciate them for what they are, and for my budget I could get quite a nice spec, but had a really bad experience a few years back with a tdci which spat a few injectors. I couldn't bring myself to trust a tdci again.

if you are spending 3k you are into lottery territory, i wouldn't rule anything out based on your one bad data point.

[wiliferus]

Jag_NE said:

wiliferus said:

I appreciate them for what they are, and for my budget I could get quite a nice spec, but had a really bad experience a few years back with a tdci which spat a few injectors. I couldn't bring myself to trust a tdci again.

if you are spending 3k you are into lottery territory, i wouldn't rule anything out based on your one bad data point.

Fair point. I must admit my Mk3 was a good drive, but just left a bad taste with all its issues. But then it was an early car, maybe if I went for a late mk3 many of the issues would be resolved?

[anonymous-user]

Yes, the final facelift cars especially were very well sorted. Problem is that when you're down at that price point it really is a total crapshoot. The Mk4 is supposed to be bulletproof, but I suspect they won't be available at your budget.

Accord is a good shout too.

[Jag_NE]

wiliferus said:

Jag_NE said:

wiliferus said:

I appreciate them for what they are, and for my budget I could get quite a nice spec, but had a really bad experience a few years back with a tdci which spat a few injectors. I couldn't bring myself to trust a tdci again.

if you are spending 3k you are into lottery territory, i wouldn't rule anything out based on your one bad data point.

Fair point. I must admit my Mk3 was a good drive, but just left a bad taste with all its issues. But then it was an early car, maybe if I went for a late mk3 many of the issues would be resolved?

Yes, I would buy a later model (of anything in scope) and buy on condition and service history. If you can find a one owner car with loads of bills and from a private seller who looks like he doesn't really need the cash from the sale, you are laughing.

[wiliferus]

Ok, so I think I've narrowed it down to a Accord, a late Mk3 Mondeo, with a Merc E270 as an outside bet. Interestingly I've knocked Audi's on the head yet this time last week I think that's where I was leaning.
Cheers the help gents, will update accordingly

[Pete-mojsh]

I have a similar criteria but being in no immediate rush I've been looking at autotrader to see what comes up, I'll have a lower annual mileage as I'm now working from home 3 days a week and isofix is a must as I have a 3 month old daughter. I've looked at the V70 D5 and it ticks most of the boxes apart from the isofix, it was an option so most cars I look at don't seem to have it, I also looked in to the Legacy as I wanted something different but I'm not sure the hit on petrol will be worth it.

The ones I keep coming back to, although very dull, are the Accord in either 2.0 petrol or 2.2 CDTI or the Avensis in 1.8 petrol or 2.2d. Not particularly exciting but if specced well should meet your needs well and be reasonably reliable if maintained well by previous owners and regular basic maintenance is continued. Anything with a smaller load space, for me, would seem a fairly pointless move from the Mazda 3 I have at the moment. Although, a V50 T5 could sway me a bit.

[FredClogs]

D5 with the higher horse power is far from tepid.

Get it mapped even less tepid.

[RS Grant]

V70 D5, a friend has had one from ~150k miles as his daily smoker to work/train car park and is still going strong at ~170k miles now. Was a full history, well cared for car right enough, but it's not put a foot wrong in the time he's had it, it's massively comfortable and it can carry a comical amount of things from Ikea when required.

Alternatively, a Passat B5.5 PD130 Highline or Octavia PD130 L&K would be where I'd put my money.


Cheers,
Grant

[wiliferus]

The D5 is still reserve choice, but on my budget most have been to the moon and back. I do like my V70, but being a PHer I always see new car time as an opportunity to have something different

[R E S T E C P]

wiliferus said:

steve-5snwi said:

Ford Mondeo

I appreciate them for what they are, and for my budget I could get quite a nice spec, but had a really bad experience a few years back with a tdci which spat a few injectors. I couldn't bring myself to trust a tdci again.

I believe that issue is not present in the Mk4 TDCi engines. But fuel economy leaves a lot to be desired when compared to the equivalent German diesels.

[wiliferus]

R E S T E C P said:

wiliferus said:

steve-5snwi said:

Ford Mondeo

I appreciate them for what they are, and for my budget I could get quite a nice spec, but had a really bad experience a few years back with a tdci which spat a few injectors. I couldn't bring myself to trust a tdci again.

I believe that issue is not present in the Mk4 TDCi engines. But fuel economy leaves a lot to be desired when compared to the equivalent German diesels.

To be fair I'm only in Mk3 territory. There are a few Mk4s in budget but they are poverty spec and ~170k miles. I am get a much better Mk3 for the money.

[Francy555]

I have the Honda accord estate in ex trim. All the toys heated seats, built in nav and Bluetooth. Its a good car for covering miles, I have 40mile daily commute and I'm averaging 47.4mpg on a B Road commute.

My car is on 133k miles and tbh needs a new clutch but I'm nursing it on as when the clutch goes it'll take the dmf with it and I'll replace all in one go.

Once the clutch is replaced I intend to keep it for as long as it's economically viable to do so.

The only thing I'll say is with the accord it's not as wide as the A6/E-class and as a consequence you can't get three child's seats in the rear, there isn't enough room.

Also keep on top of oil changes, if not using 0w-30 and using 5w-30 instead, drop the oil at 7k intervals and it'll do 300k no bother.

Overall I'd buy another accord in the omorning, this is my second one and if mine got smashed in the near future, id be on the look out for another one.

Edited by Francy555 on Friday 20th January 20:48