Is buying a used diesel a bad idea ?

[smallzoo]

Looking at either a used van or mpv under £5k and just don't know whether to stick out for a petrol one due the 'possible' demise of diesel or certainly big prices increases or really not worry about it ?

Petrol vans and mpv's are obviously a lot rarer

We will only do around 5k max a year doing day trips around UK

Probably a stupid question

Thanks

[Pica-Pica]

Strangely, WBAC offers on my 335d have increased recently. I would love to cash in, but I see nothing I would prefer to replace it, at a sensible price.

[Muzzer79]

smallzoo said:

Looking at either a used van or mpv under £5k and just don't know whether to stick out for a petrol one due the 'possible' demise of diesel or certainly big prices increases or really not worry about it ?

Petrol vans and mpv's are obviously a lot rarer

We will only do around 5k max a year doing day trips around UK

Probably a stupid question

Thanks

1. Diesel isn't going anywhere - there's too many diesel vehicles around for it to be a 'demise' - at least in the short to medium term.

2. If you're only doing 5k a year, the effect on you will be negligible.

At that mileage, if you can find a petrol one and it's cheaper, I'd buy it. But if it's more economical to buy a diesel, don't worry one jot.

[Black_S3]

At that price range I'd be focused on whatever is in the best condition and preferably something with the likes of brakes and tyres recently done.... ULEZ would be my only concern re diesel vs petrol on vans in that price range - ie if you've got any intention of visting scotland the zones are more of a ban with an escalating fine than a daily charge... The likes of a 3 day trip into glasgow would hit a non compliant vehicle with over £400 of fines.

[smallzoo]

Thanks all

There are no many petrol vans unfortunately but a few petrol mpv's

Unlikely to be going to Scotland on day trips from Cheshire 😃 but thanks for the advice

It's likely to be something like an Alhambra, galaxy as an mpv or a caddy sized van

[cliffords]

Looking at Iran and neighbouring countries. The continued attacks on tankers in SOH and Ukraine damaging Russian refineries. I think we are going to have a big Diesel problem. Soon.

The price will never go down again and it's getting shorter in supply by the day .

Buy a petrol, this is my opinion.

[Muzzer79]

cliffords said:

Looking at Iran and neighbouring countries. The continued attacks on tankers in SOH and Ukraine damaging Russian refineries. I think we are going to have a big Diesel problem. Soon.

The price will never go down again and it's getting shorter in supply by the day .

Buy a petrol, this is my opinion.

If you're talking about an issue with supply, I would remind you what powers the 600,000+ HGV trucks on the roads in this country.

If Diesel becomes "short in supply" we have far bigger problems than which MPV to buy. It'll be "how do we get food?"

[cliffords]

Muzzer79 said:

If you're talking about an issue with supply, I would remind you what powers the 600,000+ HGV trucks on the roads in this country.

If Diesel becomes "short in supply" we have far bigger problems than which MPV to buy. It'll be "how do we get food?"

Yes it's potentially very significant.

[scot_aln]

And if that does become the case then obviously supplies will be prioritised with the car focussed forecourts a lesser priority. Just like in past through strikes, blockades or whatever.

[Matt_T]

In my opinion, proper vans seem to be very expensive compared to what you can get with a car-based MPV. I guess that the demand for commercial vehicles is high?

Zafira's are always cheap as chips...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/21163047

[paul_c123]

In £5k territory for older/larger cars, they will all be of an age (and size) where diesel was by far the most popular choice. For this reason, I'd urge caution on trying to find a unicorn. If you do, you will have a very limited number of cars to choose from.

As an example, do an Auto Trader search for Seat Exeo. They did petrol and diesels, but all 13 currently on sale are the diesel and none petrol. I am sure they exist though.

[ZX10R NIN]

At 5K you have a wealth of MPV options decide on the size & drivetrain that best suits your needs, a diesel will be fine if your usage suits.

[cliffords]

I posted on here earlier with a view , that is all it is . I just came home and passed a fuel station Diesel £2.06.
Why consider a Diesel vehicle.

[ZX10R NIN]

Why not if your usage suits a diesel then buy one as an example a 3.0 petrol will still cost more to run than my 3.0d when doing the same journeys, as I've always said buy the drivetrain that suits your needs.

[OutInTheShed]

Matt_T said:

In my opinion, proper vans seem to be very expensive compared to what you can get with a car-based MPV. I guess that the demand for commercial vehicles is high?

Zafira's are always cheap as chips...

That's because Vauxhalls are really quite horrible things to drive.

Exception that proves the rule, I had a K suffix Viva that was OK.

[s p a c e m a n]

Check the road tax price when buying petrol mpv/vans against diesel.

[LightweightLouisDanvers]

Matt_T said:

In my opinion, proper vans seem to be very expensive compared to what you can get with a car-based MPV. I guess that the demand for commercial vehicles is high?

Zafira's are always cheap as chips...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/21163047

That is cheap, but the downside of buying a Zafira is unfortunately that you end up owning a Zafira!

[scot_aln]

cliffords said:

I posted on here earlier with a view , that is all it is . I just came home and passed a fuel station Diesel £2.06.
Why consider a Diesel vehicle.

I presume the Unleaded was around £1.85 at the same location. Unless your going electric then either Petrol or Diesel is expensive. The 10% price difference is almost certainly outweighed by >10% fuel economy.

[cliffords]

scot_aln said:

cliffords said:

I posted on here earlier with a view , that is all it is . I just came home and passed a fuel station Diesel £2.06.
Why consider a Diesel vehicle.

I presume the Unleaded was around £1.85 at the same location. Unless your going electric then either Petrol or Diesel is expensive. The 10% price difference is almost certainly outweighed by >10% fuel economy.

Yes it was , I drove past in my EV .
I can feel the hate coming in now

[scot_aln]

No hate here. But personally staying with ICE for another few years yet then we will see.

Its not the topic of this thread so I'll shut up after this but the current fuel prices really must be helping nudge many who were on the fence over to EVs.