25, need advice on sub 2k fairly economical nippy Diesel!

[Mcluvinyamom]

Hi, I have a bit of a dilemma, I'm in the market for an economical, nippy diesel. I feel I have looked at all of my options but would really like some input from pistonheads with a bit more experience. My daily driving needs change weekly, I'm a student so during term time money is tight but over the summer I can earn a few pennies for mods, a remap and suspension adjustments. I like the figures of the golf gttdi mk iv but I've read some pretty bad reviews about chucking them into corners and not getting much back. I've toyed with the idea of an Astra 150 but they have expensive reliability problems. I can't picture myself in a skoda, and an a3 appears to be very expensive to fix and service when things go wrong,
Ideally I don't want to spend more than 1500 so obviously I'm looking at high mileage.

During the summer I do 350 miles per week, during term time this will decrease dramatically to maybe 80 at the most, last year I treated myself to an mgf vvc 160 which I loved but due to the age it went wrong often and became expensive, fast.

Throw some ideas my way, I will be very greatfull!

Insurance isn't to much of an issue due to just turning 25, anything sub 10 sec 0-60 would be ideal and the higher mpg the better.

Thanks for the advice !

[Mcluvinyamom]

Please?

[ericmcn]

seriously, i would get a Japanse car purely for reliability

A Honda Accord can be picked up for peanuts, try a K24 Accord?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

190hp and reliability a given (just need a one with a very good service history)

[p1stonhead]

Fabia VRS diesel 130bhp. Don't worry about badges.

[Mcluvinyamom]

That is a good shout! Although, I have a lead foot and I can imagine that I wouldn't be able to hold back in something like that, and its big and heavy haha.

[Mcluvinyamom]

It's not just the badge, I appreciate the reliability and get the 130 engine in a polo chassis but I just can't seem to get over the look of the car 😂. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[ericmcn]

at sub 2k you are going to have to make compromises, you need reliability first and foremost - if you get a diesel you will have one with over 100k miles and unforseen nightmares potentially awaiting in terms of garage time.

[Mcluvinyamom]

That upsets me.

[ericmcn]

thats the reality, car servicing does not depreciate like the car itself.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Clio diesel is a good shout you can get a nice low mileage examples:

Clio 1.5dci Dynamique S 50/59k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

1.9d Grande Punto Sporting 59/39k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

1.6d Ford Fiesta Zetec S 80k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Out of the above I'd pick the Punto over the other two but all three are decent steers.

[InitialDave]

I'd buy a first-gen (8L) Audi A3 1.9 TDi.

Friend had one, and it was a good all-rounder, pretty easy to work on, and kicked back 50+mpg.

[exelero]

Volvos S60 D5

[Leicester Loyal]

Golf Mk4 GT Tdi, 110 or 130 spec.

[caelite]

p1stonhead said:

Fabia VRS diesel 130bhp. Don't worry about badges.

This, ignore the naysayer, the PD130 is good for monster miles provided nobody has been fettling with it & it has been serviced. <£2k examples WILL be a bit on the tired side but they are reliable little motors & an absolute hoot to drive, especially if you have never had a car like that. I had one when I was 19 & the insurance was lower than any other hot/warm hatch, although this might be different now that the 'scene' has picked them up.

Delivers power like an 'old' turbo, all at once, at 2kRPM, runs out of steam at 4kRPM (which is a kick in the teeth if you are used to quick petrols). It's euro 3 so doesn't have all the emissions garbage which causes problems in a lot of diesels.

edit: with it being euro 3 and a bit smokey you might be shot at by campus hippies if you are at uni, or go to London. albeit a Fabia probably draws less attention than my L200 used too

Edited by caelite on Thursday 29th June 03:00

[nadger]

Mitsubishi colt Di-d - if you can find one in 3 door guise it'll do everything you want. 53+mpg, 9.9 secs 0-60 and it's Japanese! Well, actually it's a hybrid Japanese/German. The engine is a Mercedes 3 cylinder diesel with chain driven cam, rather than belt. Uber reliable and remarkably practical! The rear seats are a bench that slide forwards and backwards and also fold flat and flip up to give a flat loading area in the boot. They're not luxurious, but are fun to drive honest!!

I just found a great car on Auto Trader:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Edited by nadger on Thursday 29th June 05:54

[Mcluvinyamom]

For 4 months of the year I can drive up to my grandads in cheshire and service the car myself (he will do it and I will "help") so as long as it doesn't blow up in the time I'm at university I should be fine. As long as nothing major goes wrong while in 250 miles away I should be o.k.
I'm leaning towards a high mileage Honda Accord 2.2 diesel or an a3.

[Mcluvinyamom]

I really appreciate the suggestions, I couldn't handle the colts image.

[Mcluvinyamom]

What what do you guys think about the ford mondeo st 150?

[NickdeBug]

How about a Saab 93

Plenty of kit, nice drive, 150bhp as standard but plenty available for £1500 which would leave sufficient funds for Hirsch upgrade to 175bhp.

The 1.9l tdi engine is the same used in Fiat/Alfa etc and is pretty reliable. Just check the swirl flaps.

130 VAG is probably going to be your best bet for that money. Don't bother with the 150 version - the engine is not as reliable and the cams are a well known issue. The 130 is as close to bomb-proof as you can get on a European car.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'm not against high mileage cars but as a student I'd be looking for a lower mileage car as you're less likely to be left with big bill which was why I suggested the 1.9d Punto as the bigger engine meant you've got a car that is comfortable on the motorway car with low miles.

The ST Mondeo is a good car as is the Accord but both will be tired at this price point.