Diesel for 30 miles a day?

[SSG1000]

Is it worth it… or stay clear due to DPF issues?

Journey will be 15 miles each way, approx 30 mins worth of driving, mainly on 30-40mph roads. Then likely on a weekend, it will get a 100 mile round trip (motorway).

[jasonrobertson86]

SSG1000 said:

Is it worth it… or stay clear due to DPF issues?

Journey will be 15 miles each way, approx 30 mins worth of driving, mainly on 30-40mph roads. Then likely on a weekend, it will get a 100 mile round trip (motorway).

Think for more than 12k PA it starts to make sense...

[charltjr]

That will be absolutely fine for a DPF.

Some very early implementations might struggle with the daily mileage but the weekend trip would sort them out. More modern implementations can regen quite happily at lower speeds as long as they have enough time to raise the exhaust temperature, but again you’re covered by the longer weekend trips anyway.

Edited by charltjr on Sunday 27th April 11:31

[Sheepshanks]

My wife did 8 yrs of local use in a an EU6 diesel Tiguan with AdBlue and it was absolutely fine. It did always run on Shell V-Power though which was only bearable due to her low miles.

Sold it when the All In warranty package could no longer be renewed as the car’s emissions systems terrified me.

At least in VW Group’s implementation, long runs don’t matter - the car active regens when it needs to. Ideally don’t interrupt a regen but we did loads of times without issue.

I suppose getting the oil hot for a while would be worthwhile but ours was getting changed every 5000 miles anyway as that’s all it did per year.

[Quattr04.]

Yes

But why would you?

A EV would be perfect for that, instant heat, cheap to run
A petrol would be fine too, nicer to drive

Can’t think of a single reason to do a trip like that in a diesel, Morden diesels aren’t even as good at getting high MPG, 2 years of running a diesel Passat and never saw more than 47mpg, plenty of turbo petrols get that now.

[Glosphil]

In 2013 my sister-in-law bought a new Skoda Rapid 1.6 diesel (105hp). She has never had a DPF problem in the 12 years. She lives on Jersey, which is 9 miles by 5. The car mileage is now less than 25k.

Edited by Glosphil on Sunday 27th April 12:31

[Wheel Turned Out]

I think DPF issues are somewhat overstated. The big block for me would be at that mileage it wouldn't actually be much cheaper to run than a petrol (if at all), so why bother?

Unless the specific car you want happens to be a diesel, I wouldn't seek one out specifically.

[Pica-Pica]

It should be fine, my 335d is, and does about 3 short journeys a week, and longer ones each fortnight, then 175 mile trips once every two months. I bought it for the torque, not to save on fuel. With my current usage, I would not buy the same car again, probably get a hybrid. Then again, neither would I replace it.

[valiant]

Yep, should be fine.

Remember it’s the type of driving you do not the amount. You could do 100 miles a day in the city and still gunk it up.

I did 7k a year in my old Volvo D5 but it was mostly fast A roads and motorways and not a peep out of the DPF in three years.

[ZX10R NIN]

That will be fine.

[leef44]

For that pattern of driving I would prefer a petrol engine unless you are pulling a trailer/caravan then the extra torque would be handy.

[napistonheads]

Did 16 city miles per day (8 miles each way taking circa 30 mins to 1 hour depending on time of travel and traffic) for over 10 years in different diesels (Golf GT TDI, 330d, 335d, SQ5) and a petrol (E300), further distances via motorway at weekends. Prefer diesels for their torque (particularly 6 cylinder diesels) rather than cost, petrol was noticeably better for NVH, never had an issue with DPF (touches wood) although some of the diesels were pre DPF. Everyone likes different things but now have an EV alongside an X5 30d and never use the X5 for local trips (or most of the longer ones tbh) as it feels more torquey than a diesel, smoother than the petrol and more responsive, faster and cheaper than both to run (not intended as a red rag about EV vs ICE as I like both and I rarely post so not wanting to start an argument just trying to help the OP). For the usage specified I’d personally go with an EV now I’ve owned one. Hope that’s of some use OP.

Edited by napistonheads on Sunday 27th April 16:32

[_Hoppers]

Ive done 70k miles in my 320D which comprises of 12.5mile journeys to work. DPF has been fine, however, EGR issues of late are another matter! Some would say that the petrol version would have been a better option but I’ve ‘saved’ about £1200 in VED over the 7 years of ownership. MPG on average is 50, I’m guessing a 320i would have been in the region of 35?

Edited by _Hoppers on Sunday 27th April 16:50

[Master Bean]

Why are you trying to justify a diesel? You're meant to justify getting a big V8. If you can afford the petrol get the V8.

[OzzyR1]

Quattr04. said:

Yes

But why would you?

A EV would be perfect for that, instant heat, cheap to run
A petrol would be fine too, nicer to drive

Can’t think of a single reason to do a trip like that in a diesel, Morden diesels aren’t even as good at getting high MPG, 2 years of running a diesel Passat and never saw more than 47mpg, plenty of turbo petrols get that now.

Depends whether the OP is talking about new or used I suppose.
Agree that if buying new (say £25-£30K), an EV or petrol makes more sense than a diesel.

If talking about used or "cheap" cars, might be a different story.

I bought a Seat Exeo about 4 years ago for £4.5K. Was originally intended as a temporary measure as needed an estate type car asap due to a sudden increase in number of dogs.
Still got it.
It's nothing special, but an OK place to sit & with the 168bhp engine it does OK for a cheap diesel.
My commute is a 70 mile round trip consisting of 90% dual-carriageway & motorway - journey would be boring no matter what.
I've put c 60K miles on it so far and other than consumables / servicing costs have had no issues.

Understand I've been lucky & others could buy a total lemon!!

[keo]

Why would you go diesel for such low mileage?

[valiant]

keo said:

Why would you go diesel for such low mileage?

Can depend on the car.

If the op is after a particular car then it maybe because there’s far more diesels to choose from compared to petrol models and the petrol models may have some intrinsic issues that you may wish to avoid.

Op may also just prefer or fancy a diesel. Horses for courses and all that.

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a BMW 123d in 2008 mainly because it worked out best for business mileage rates at the time.

It had similar use to what the OP is proposing (14K pa) and I didn't have any DPF or other issues with it during the 6 and a half years I had it.

I only sold it after reading horror stories of N47 cam-chain issues after I wasn't doing business miles, and replaced it with a straight 6 petrol then realised I should have bought a 130i in the first place.

[SSG1000]

Thanks all, funnily I did propose an EV but that was immediately shut down (can’t be bothered to get the Mrs over the range anxiety!)

Will probably try and veer towards a petrol based upon above…. Won’t be listening to the Mrs this time, the last time she wanted a Mini Countryman it went bang!!