Diesel for under £2k

[GM90]

Hi all,

About a year and a half ago I bought a used GT86 (PCP) which I used as a daily driver as my commute was only 15 miles per day.

Due to a recent change of job my commute is now 150 miles per day. I don't really want to add 36k miles per year onto this car as I intend to keep it at the end of the PCP. On top of this I think a diesel would be more suited to the commute (95% motorway) and cost less in fuel.

Budget is not fixed but ideally I would like to pay under £2k.

I have heard good things about the VAG 1.9 PD engine, which cars with this engine tend to be reliable with high mileage? I realise for this budget I will be looking at cars that have between 100-200k miles, as long as there is a service history this shouldn't be a problem.

I'm also open to suggestions of cars from other manufacturers.

[boyse7en]

Honda with the CDTi engine? Reliable, good MPG and is a very sweet-sounding diesel. Powerful enough for motorway cruising. Comes Civic, Accord or CRV. Unlikely to have been thrashed/chipped.

[sausage76]

Many options available.

Honda as above, Fords, BMW, Mercedes and if your feeling brave Alfa

[rat840771]

The car I have for sale

Volvo S60 D5, will go on forever

[Vantagemech..]

To save my E91 and bank account, I bought an Audi A2 TDI, had it remapped and have done 16k in it since Feb. I do 400 miles a week and it costs just under £40 a week. It's a bit left field, the ride can be considered firm (sport model) but it's basically the PD engine with a cylinder cut off. Mine had 116k on it and was £1200. I'd guess any of the VAG 1.4tdi would be worth looking at if you're not bothered on coolness or needing to transport a sofa..

[Jamescrs]

Skoda Fabia VRS was my first thought on reading the requirements

[Jag_NE]

I’d go French. You will get much newer and lower mileage for your money. The PSA 2.0HDI is a good engine, something a 406 or C5 would be a nice cruiser. The later laguna’s 2006+ are very decent cars also with the 1.9 or 2.0dci.

[Jag_NE]

Jamescrs said:

Skoda Fabia VRS was my first thought on reading the requirements

36k Miles a year in a Fabia wouldn’t be pleasant!

[RazerSauber]

Something Japanese for reliability is an easy shout. My E87 120D with the M47 engine was reliable and did a reasonable 45 to the gallon with my heavy foot. They're under 2 grand now but might be a bit ropy at that price.

[egor110]

Jag_NE said:

Jamescrs said:

Skoda Fabia VRS was my first thought on reading the requirements

36k Miles a year in a Fabia wouldn’t be pleasant!

36k miles in a c5 will be super comfy .

[CarlosSainz100]

Another vote for the Volvo S60 D5

Basically reliable, great engine and the comfiest seats ever fitted in a car.

The only downside to the one I had was the intercooler went which was a 600 quid job (it had been remapped though) and the turning circle which is an absolute joke

[G111MDS]

Another vote for an A2 TDi - we’ve just bought our fourth one. 500 miles in the first week.

[pavarotti1980]

sausage76 said:

Many options available.

Honda as above, Fords, BMW, Mercedes and if your feeling brave Alfa

Are the Alfa's that dodgy? I thought the likes of Guilietta had got rid of the reliability issues that plagued them

[TCX]

Astra 1.7 cdti,on my second at the mo,done 65k miles in last two n half years,50mpg average,regular commutes to London,Aberdeen all over,obviously not a fashionable motor but hard to beat,this one cost £1400

[AJB88]

I've got a Mk1 Leon FR+ (FR+ gets you the Cupra R bodykit) 1.9TDI PD150 as a daily. Can be had for just under 2K.

[stevemcs]

Jag_NE said:

I’d go French. You will get much newer and lower mileage for your money. The PSA 2.0HDI is a good engine, something a 406 or C5 would be a nice cruiser. The later laguna’s 2006+ are very decent cars also with the 1.9 or 2.0dci.

This, the Mondeo is an option too but but can suffer from injector, dmf and clutch issues, mines on 152k and is a 2.2 Zetec estate. I'd drive it anywhere. The 1.9tdi VAG engine is the only one i would consider, i find VW's uncomfortable though, given you will be covering 150 miles a day comfort and mpg would be main priorities, so i would certainly go for a french option.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd recommend the 8v 1.9d as it's reliable & very capable of big miles:

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

CLK270

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

CLK220

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

C270

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

C220 Avantgarde SE

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

Laguna3 GT

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

Volvo S60 the auto can have issues

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

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

E280

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

407 GT

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

[HenryHippo]

Honda Accord iCDTI perfect for the job

[TeamBigfoot]

I took ZX10R's advice and bought a CLK270 cdi - I love it. Decent MPG (for the engine size) and comfy with some toys (cruise)

[CX53]

TCX said:

Astra 1.7 cdti,on my second at the mo,done 65k miles in last two n half years,50mpg average,regular commutes to London,Aberdeen all over,obviously not a fashionable motor but hard to beat,this one cost £1400

I wish mine did 50mpg!!