Am I am idiot for considering a Euro 5 diesel?

[Chrisj023]

Hi PH Forum

Having owned my first car for 5 years, I'm wanting to move to a bigger car.

Soon to start a new job, I'll be doing around 35 miles total a day for a commute, and whilst the car I have now (Seat Mii 60ps) would do the job, my driving will involve B roads and dual carriageways along with the occasional 3.5 hour drive each way to see family.

I've always had a love for the Volvo C30, however the engine choices mean that the most desirable for me is the diesel selection.

Later models are Euro 5 emissions compliant, however the war on diesel makes me worry that buying a car like this would be something that sheds a large amount of value due to the expansion of ULEZ zones in the UK.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks 🙂

[anonymous-user]

Depends where you live. I live in Greater London and drive a Euro 4 diesel, looks like the ULEZ is expanding in August 2023 so I will have to get rid of it. I think the ULEZ zones will be expanded in major cities over the coming years, but if I didn't live there I wouldn't change car for the occasional £12.50 charge if I ever drove there.

[Pica-Pica]

Don’t consider a EU5 diesel. For your situation I would think a petrol would be best. Seat Leon 1.2 1.4/1.5 should suit.
We have a Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSi, which would cope well for your commute, even the occasional long drive. Though we use the 335d for that.
Whilst not in the Porsche league, a Ford Focus would be adequate and probably be fun on the back roads.

[georgeyboy12345]

What is your budget?

[Roger Irrelevant]

Joey Deacon said:

Depends where you live.

Yep. ULEZ gets mentioned on here a lot but there are vast swathes of the population for which it is an utter irrelevance. Our family car is Euro5 and I'd buy the same again tomorrow; I don't think I've driven anywhere where there's currently a ULEZ in place in at least the last decade, and it's unlikely to be a regular occurence for many years to come. Even my parents who don't live too far from the M25 are barely impacted. If I was driving into the centre of a large city every day then I might be a bit more worried though.

[georgeyboy12345]

Roger Irrelevant said:

Joey Deacon said:

Depends where you live.

Yep. ULEZ gets mentioned on here a lot but there are vast swathes of the population for which it is an utter irrelevance. Our family car is Euro5 and I'd buy the same again tomorrow; I don't think I've driven anywhere where there's currently a ULEZ in place in at least the last decade, and it's unlikely to be a regular occurence for many years to come. Even my parents who don't live too far from the M25 are barely impacted. If I was driving into the centre of a large city every day then I might be a bit more worried though.

It will still impact used values though simply as there is a smaller pool of people to sell it to when you want rid. Supply & demand. Good if you want to buy though.

[Chrisj023]

georgeyboy12345 said:

It will still impact used values though simply as there is a smaller pool of people to sell it to when you want rid. Supply & demand. Good if you want to buy though.

Yeah, this is the main sticking point I have at the moment. The local area to where I'll be living is pretty rural as I'll be living in the Norwich area.

Budget so far has been around £6k

[anonymous-user]

Chrisj023 said:

Hi PH Forum

Having owned my first car for 5 years, I'm wanting to move to a bigger car.

Soon to start a new job, I'll be doing around 35 miles total a day for a commute, and whilst the car I have now (Seat Mii 60ps) would do the job, my driving will involve B roads and dual carriageways along with the occasional 3.5 hour drive each way to see family.

I've always had a love for the Volvo C30, however the engine choices mean that the most desirable for me is the diesel selection.

Later models are Euro 5 emissions compliant, however the war on diesel makes me worry that buying a car like this would be something that sheds a large amount of value due to the expansion of ULEZ zones in the UK.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks ??

Just stick with the Mii - it will be perfectly fine driving 35 miles and a lot cheaper.

Cheaper to tax, fuel, consumables etc etc

It's not like you are travelling up and down the country on a daily basis.

[Mr Tidy]

If you are never likely to go to any cities with Low Emission Zones why not get one?

There must still be plenty of people who don't need to worry about ULEZs who will buy it when you come to move it on.

[Chromegrill]

Mr Tidy said:

If you are never likely to go to any cities with Low Emission Zones why not get one?

There must still be plenty of people who don't need to worry about ULEZs who will buy it when you come to move it on.

Are there any potential classics in that era and price range that have a diesel option, that might appreciate in value if you own it long enough? Or is the idea that a classic car could have a diesel an oxymoron?

[ZX10R NIN]

Chrisj023 said:

Yeah, this is the main sticking point I have at the moment. The local area to where I'll be living is pretty rural as I'll be living in the Norwich area.

Budget so far has been around £6k

You can buy a ULEZ/CAZ compliant diesel (if it's really a concern) for your 6k budget in the form of an Infiniti EX:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206307...

But for what you describe & where you live the C30 will be a great choice.

D3 R Design:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207117...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207218...

The other car well worth a look is the Astra GTC SRI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205095...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206156...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207077...

[georgeyboy12345]

Just get something Euro 6

Renault Megane 1.5 dCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206247...


Mini Cooper D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111119...


Ford Focus 1.5 TDCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205276...


Hyundai i30 1.6 CRDi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206247...

[Roger Irrelevant]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Roger Irrelevant said:

Joey Deacon said:

Depends where you live.

Yep. ULEZ gets mentioned on here a lot but there are vast swathes of the population for which it is an utter irrelevance. Our family car is Euro5 and I'd buy the same again tomorrow; I don't think I've driven anywhere where there's currently a ULEZ in place in at least the last decade, and it's unlikely to be a regular occurence for many years to come. Even my parents who don't live too far from the M25 are barely impacted. If I was driving into the centre of a large city every day then I might be a bit more worried though.

It will still impact used values though simply as there is a smaller pool of people to sell it to when you want rid. Supply & demand. Good if you want to buy though.

Agreed, and buying is exactly what the OP is doing! 'Dieselgate' first blew up in 2015, the London ULEZ was introduced three years ago, the London ULEZ expansion is no secret, neither is the fact that many other cities are thinking about it, and neither is the fact that ICE vehicles are to be banned in the coming years. All these things are supposed to have led to a decline in the value of diesels, particularly Euro5s. If it's going to happen then it already has - it's not just the wise heads on PH that know about this stuff - but in reality it hasn't had much of an effect because the proportion of people that are impacted is really quite low. Plus lots of Euro5 cars are long in the tooth and have been sent to the scrapper anyway. Sure all else being equal the OP may as well get a Euro6 car but if the car he actually wants is Euro5 then, provided he's not likely to be directly affected by any sort of ULEZ zone, there's no real reason not to.

[ninjag]

Unless doing serious mileage, quite often any savings from the increased economy (which often isn't anywhere near as good as official numbers) can take many, many years to offset the cost of changing cars. Besides, diesel is often more expensive at the pump as well. I would keep your current car to be honest.

[Chromegrill]

Chromegrill said:

Are there any potential classics in that era and price range that have a diesel option, that might appreciate in value if you own it long enough? Or is the idea that a classic car could have a diesel an oxymoron?

Guess the lack of relies is itself an answer.

But you can hit lucky. The only gas guzzling diesel Chelsea tractor I've ever owned was a battered old Shogun which I picked up in London just after controls came in and people couldn't give them away. I drove it to the farm where I was living in deepest rural England. A few months later after a particularly harsh winter I got for it rather more than I paid originally....

[georgeyboy12345]

Chromegrill said:

Chromegrill said:

Are there any potential classics in that era and price range that have a diesel option, that might appreciate in value if you own it long enough? Or is the idea that a classic car could have a diesel an oxymoron?

Guess the lack of relies is itself an answer.

But you can hit lucky. The only gas guzzling diesel Chelsea tractor I've ever owned was a battered old Shogun which I picked up in London just after controls came in and people couldn't give them away. I drove it to the farm where I was living in deepest rural England. A few months later after a particularly harsh winter I got for it rather more than I paid originally....

Haha, I don't think there are any for under 6 grand like the OP wants!

Here are some diesels that I think would have the potential to appreciate

Series II Land Rover - it's a bit broken though so that might wipe off any gains from appreciation
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205055...


Couple of Mercedes W123s

250D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202252...

200D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207157...


W124 300D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202052...


Peugeot 205 1.8D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207027...


Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207207...


VW Touareg V10 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207077...


F30 Alpina D3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...

[Chromegrill]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Haha, I don't think there are any for under 6 grand like the OP wants!

Here are some diesels that I think would have the potential to appreciate

Series II Land Rover - it's a bit broken though so that might wipe off any gains from appreciation
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205055...


Couple of Mercedes W123s

250D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202252...

200D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207157...


W124 300D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202052...


Peugeot 205 1.8D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207027...


Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207207...


VW Touareg V10 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207077...


F30 Alpina D3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...

I can think of far worse pre-Euro 6 diesels to be doing regular miles in than a W123. Can these be driven on used cooking oil? That could offset ULEZ charges!

[irish boy]

I wouldn't consider something expensive such as a 2014 porsche cayenne, but a cheap runabout I would buy no problem.

[braddo]

Chrisj023 said:

I've always had a love for the Volvo C30, however the engine choices mean that the most desirable for me is the diesel selection.

If you're rarely near a city, just buy the car you like.

The diesels are going to depreciate more than petrols. But, it's not going to be a huge difference on a £5-6k car. It might be offset by better fuel economy over the time you own the car, or on the other hand it might also be a small part of the total cost of ownership if you're unlucky with a few of the big-ticket diesel repair items!