Shed Buying Advice!

[C.A.R.]

Apologies for starting yet another thread about the same situation. A while ago I started a 'What Car' thread for a mate who has just started a new job where his commute has gone from being 15 miles to 35 and he really wants a diesel.

His original budget of 2.5-3k was on the understanding that he would save up, which he has failed to do.

New budget is £1300.

Has a 1.0 Nissan Micra S on an X-plate which I'm led to believe would be worth about £500 on trade-in, but any more advice would be much appreciated.

Cars in this budget appear to all have over 100,000 miles, which I think is something he will just need to accept!

What sort of car should he get? Focus TDCi's all look dog-rough in his budget (even taking into consideration the p/x.

He wants the car asap as the Micra is using lots of fuel and I'm worried he is going to make a rush decision and buy a pup...

[Rawwr]

I'm not exactly sure where he's going to make a saving moving from a 1000cc Micra to a diesel of some description for an extra 20 miles?

[Riknos]

Surely there's something wrong with the Micra if it's using 'lots of fuel' - Shouldn't it be 40+ MPG? If not, maybe an O2/lambda sensor has gone or something...?

[C.A.R.]

Rawwr said:

I'm not exactly sure where he's going to make a saving moving from a 1000cc Micra to a diesel of some description for an extra 20 miles?

Sorry I should have been more clear. It's 35 miles one way, so 70 miles a day.

[trickywoo]

£1,300 on a diesel is risky money.

Turbos and fuel pumps may need doing and you can wipe out any fuel savings with lots and lots of other diesel engineering issues.

Having said that if he really is set on the idea something like a 306 HDI would probably be the best option.

I'd avoid any Ford TDCI like the plague.

[dirty doug]

Rawwr said:

I'm not exactly sure where he's going to make a saving moving from a 1000cc Micra to a diesel of some description for an extra 20 miles?

+1

I could get 50+mpg from a '02 K11 Micra 1.0 fairly easily.

I can't see much savings to be made.

The K11 Micra is pretty much reliable as anything as well.

but it's a hateful piece of st to drive

[300bhp/ton]

C.A.R. said:

Apologies for starting yet another thread about the same situation. A while ago I started a 'What Car' thread for a mate who has just started a new job where his commute has gone from being 15 miles to 35 and he really wants a diesel.

His original budget of 2.5-3k was on the understanding that he would save up, which he has failed to do.

New budget is £1300.

Has a 1.0 Nissan Micra S on an X-plate which I'm led to believe would be worth about £500 on trade-in, but any more advice would be much appreciated.

Cars in this budget appear to all have over 100,000 miles, which I think is something he will just need to accept!

What sort of car should he get? Focus TDCi's all look dog-rough in his budget (even taking into consideration the p/x.

He wants the car asap as the Micra is using lots of fuel and I'm worried he is going to make a rush decision and buy a pup...

He won't get £500 on p/x, or at least unlikely. Best bet would be to sell privately.

At this price point you'll buy more petrol car, in better condition, with less miles and greater choice than you will a diesel.

Honestly though, almost all cars are perfectly fine for daily duties, so if they have no preference or need above getting from A to B. Just buy the best condition vehicle that's local, regardless of make/model.

[BorkFactor]

It that sort if money I would be looking at a VAG car with the 1.9 TDI engine.

B5 Passat / A4? Could get a fairly decent 90 or 110 for that money I would have thought.

[ajb85]

In fairness although for the money the older generation Focus TDCI appear rough, that engine is strong as an old boot.

How about the faithful pug 406? This will also provide a little comfort. I smoke round in a very old and tired looking A4 for my chores. It's the old 110ps tdi, a 'back to basics' VAG diesel. It's done moon-and-back miles but never, ever lets me down.

How glamorous does this car need to be? Thinking outside the box a little, a Korean diesel around 10 years old can be bought for peanuts.

[Grenoble]

Some maths for you.

Not sure it would be as bigger saving as he would hope and that's assuming 35mpg from the Micra.

Bit rough but you get the idea.

[300bhp/ton]

C.A.R. said:

Rawwr said:

I'm not exactly sure where he's going to make a saving moving from a 1000cc Micra to a diesel of some description for an extra 20 miles?

Sorry I should have been more clear. It's 35 miles one way, so 70 miles a day.

I'd look at Rover's/MG's. The L-Series is a cracking engine and the cars are cheap and easy to maintain.

That said, do you know what sort of mpg they are getting now?

Parkers list the 1.0 Micra at 47mpg and to be fair most diesel at this price and in a larger car will only likely be doing 45-55mpg tops. Maybe slightly less in some makes.

For instance Parkers list 3 different diesel Focus's with the 1.8 in different specs and rate them at 51-53mpg.

Using the mpg figures above and assuming approx 18,000 miles a year:

Micra @ 47mpg £2,462.50 (year) - £205.21 (month)
Focus @ 51mpg £2,436.23 (year) - £203.02 (month)

[C.A.R.]

Thanks for the ideas so far.

I agree about the petrol debate. I believe something like a 1.6/1.8 petrol would be better and make more sense. Plus there's the added bonus that if it goes wrong, I can fix it. I can't fix diesels, they confuse me!

I will try to convince him.

306 HDi - strange you say that, as it's a car I'm very fond of and actually my current daily drive! He likes it, but wants something newer. On his budget though, the only decent 306s are estates, which is a bit pointless for a single bloke living with his parents!

406 HDi - there are some lovely ones about even in his budget. I grew up with 405s and 406s, before my dad took a turn for the worst and started buying Vauxhall rubbish. There is a problem with the 406 - as he is still living at home with the folks he could really do with something smaller to fit on their double driveway, so he is stuck with a hatchback really. I've still ear-marked 2 different 406 HDis, just in case.

VAG stuff, I'm more concerned about. If and when this goes wrong it would spell trouble. He needs something cheap and reliable to use for 12 months, lose as little money as possible and then sell on so he can buy something substantially better.

[300bhp/ton]

C.A.R. said:

I can't fix diesels, they confuse me!

If this is a concern stick to older diesels, non CRD ones and if possible non ECU controlled ones. They are quite simple and easy to work on.

I used to drive a Pug 106 1.5d 110 miles a day to work and back. Generally it did 62-66mpg, although just before getting rid I'd started running it on Shell vPower diesel and I reckon I was getting nearer to 78mpg from it!!!

But you really had to drive it correctly. To get 62-66mpg you have to drive gentle and keep your speed down. Drive just a little bit harder and it'd drop to 45-48mpg without batting an eye lid.

[Grenoble]

300bhp/ton said:

If this is a concern stick to older diesels, non CRD ones and if possible non ECU controlled ones. They are quite simple and easy to work on.

I used to drive a Pug 106 1.5d 110 miles a day to work and back. Generally it did 62-66mpg, although just before getting rid I'd started running it on Shell vPower diesel and I reckon I was getting nearer to 78mpg from it!!!

But you really had to drive it correctly. To get 62-66mpg you have to drive gentle and keep your speed down. Drive just a little bit harder and it'd drop to 45-48mpg without batting an eye lid.

This is a good point. A 1 litre Micra can give you 50mpg, but driving style is key. My guess is he is frustrated by the Micra and screws it everywhere rather than driving it, erm sympathetically - as we all did when we were younger

A bigger diesel won't help necessarily, if his driving style stays the same - easy to get a Focus diesel done below 40mpg, etc...

[excel monkey]

General wisdom from previous bangernomics threads suggests the best wisdom is to go Japanese, petrol and unfashionable.

Early 2000's "breadvan" shape Honda Civics are good. My '03 Civic easily got 45mpg on the motorway.

Almeras are also cheap to buy and run these days.

If the OP's friend **really** wants a diesel, then go for a Rover 200 with the L-series diesel as already suggested, or a Focus with the older TDDI engine.

[C.A.R.]

Well he was shocked at what his Micra is worth.

I think by changing to a diesel he is effectively flushing £1,000 away.

I'd be grateful if someone could put one of those spreadsheet things together for me, so I can put my own values in?

I spotted an MG ZR 2.0 DT, is this the engine you speak of as being an L-series?

[300bhp/ton]

C.A.R. said:

Well he was shocked at what his Micra is worth.

I think by changing to a diesel he is effectively flushing £1,000 away.

I'd be grateful if someone could put one of those spreadsheet things together for me, so I can put my own values in?

I spotted an MG ZR 2.0 DT, is this the engine you speak of as being an L-series?

If you PM me I can email you Fuel Calc spreadsheet.

[thescamper]

Rover 45 or 400, rover 25 or 200, rover streetwise all have the L series diesel the MG versions also had the L series diesel,

Banger 45 diesel I bought for £175 ran for 75000 miles and did roughly 50 mpg average.

Had leather aircon and a few other toys, it just wasn't very tidy.

[excel monkey]

C.A.R. said:

Well he was shocked at what his Micra is worth.

What condition/mileage is it? A Micra should be an easy car to sell privately, even an old one.

C.A.R. said:

I spotted an MG ZR 2.0 DT, is this the engine you speak of as being an L-series?

Yes it is.

[cptsideways]

Rover 25/45 diesels are a safe bet & decent enough cars too, cheap to buy.

The overall saving will be minimal though, you will save more more by buying a car with a years tax, test & recent tyres so no outlay for a year except borkage.