New job need frugal diesel, 1.5dci?

[JohnsMCS]

Hi all,

I am changing to a perm job after contract work for a couple of years and I need a more frugal car as I’ll be earning less money.

Currently driving a MK7 Golf R manual, so this will be a bit of a shock to the system, but needs must, and hopefully with a bonus and some over time in the future I can buy something for the weekends and holidays further down the line to fulfil my petrolhead needs.

I’ve had the misfortune of having a Nissan Qashqai pool car from work this week. It’s absolutely horrible, wallows around like a boat and the ride is terrible, and I hate it for lots of other things too, but one thing that has impressed me is the little 1.5 DCi engine.

It’s pretty slow, obviously, but actually considering the size of the bus it’s hauling around, its actually perfectly fine. What’s shocked me even more is, without trying it gets 57mpg, and being sensible over my 30 mile commute home it got a staggering average of 84 (this is computer not brim to brim calculation).

I think I’d actually be fine with this engine if it was in a smaller, less hideous car. So does anyone have any experience of it in the Megane or clio at all? Two cars known to handle well in their ‘hot’ iterations.

Failing that, any other cars petrol or diesel with suitably impressive economy and not a bad place to be? I want to spend around £7.5k maximum, and release some money left over from the sale of the golf to pay off a loan, again due to pay cut.

Not fussy on size of the car, it’s just got to be not totally soulless a la qashqai, and good on fuel. Oh and I’m still young ish so hopefully nothing that looks like a Suzuki Celery! I do 60 miles per day for work but it’s mostly steady roads, it’s suited the 1.5 qashqai fine to be honest, I rarely get to hoon on my drive to work.

Cheers

[stevemcs]

Buy a Renault Zoe, or just get the Clio. Just watch out for injector issues.

[kieranblenk]

We have a 65 plate Clio dCi with the EDC auto box, my partner does around 50 miles a day on the A1 and it gets between 550 and 600 miles to a tank - 58mpg average according to the trip but my partner isn't the most economical driver (I can get 65-70 mpg out of it no problem and over 70 into the early 80s if I hypermile).

The manual would probably be better but my partner can only drive autos. Although the EDC isn't bad for cruising, it's very lazy with the changes compared to my S-Tronic.

We've done 8000 miles in it since January; one tip is always use BP or Shell fuel as it runs noticeably better on those fuels.

[Slushbox]

The 1.5DCi K9K is quite punchy and can be frugal. It's used in a lot of cars, including Nissan, Dacia and Mercedes. It does need a timing belt change at 60,000 miles which can be pricey.

There have been a lot of revisions over the years but the current ones are very good. Needs Renault spec oil. Can take a long time to warm up in winter, but doesn't seem to suffer from DPF/EGR issues.

There are three current versions of it, from 80 PS to 110 PS. There was a software recall for it a couple of years ago for emissions.

Have a look at the Megane range.

[CX53]

The fiesta’s are nice little cars to drive, I’m sure they do a similar sized and powered diesel, could be worth a shout. You can get pretty good economy from a 2.0 diesel though, and it’ll be less depressing to drive.

[lewisf182]

The civic 1.6 diesel might also be worth a look. My dad has one and always surprises me with how punchy it feels. It also gets crazily good mpg, can be really well specced and look a bit different - for good or bad :/

If you want something that still has a slight bit of sportiness and can easily get 50mpg a bmw 120d might be worth a look?

[ZX10R NIN]

Kia Ceed

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


Pro Ceed SE Tech

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Alfa Giulietta Sportiva 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you go for the later Renault 1.6d Megane in GT Line spec you'll get great fuel numbers & a car with a bit more go than the 1.5dci:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[jam_up]

CX53 said:

You can get pretty good economy from a 2.0 diesel though, and it’ll be less depressing to drive.

+1.

I used to get 55-60 on a run in my old 2.0 CR TDI which I thought was admirable given the torque on offer. I personally find there is a big difference between the lower powered diesels if needing that extra punch, so a 2.0 diesel might be a good mid-point given you’re stepping down from an R.

[nickofh]

Hello.

I had a DCI captur for about 6 weeks. The 90bhp version , it was fairly slow but ok. I was impressed by the indicated 60mpg it got on mixed roads with full acceleration most of the time. It was also fairly quiet for a small diesel.

I would definitely consider this engine in a Pulsar with the 110 bhp vareint as a family car. I would probably change the oil more frequently and avoid supermarket fuel if it were mine.

[nmd87]

I have had various Nissans with the 1.5 DCI (K9K). All from new and for around a year of ownership, so not really long enough for the engine to fully loosen up. The last one I had was a Note, 2014 model, and could get an average of 70mpg over a tank with a bit of effort. They're very economical.