What diesel car for 14k max?

[ROB_GTR]

On the look out for a new daily and have been looking at Audi A4 3.0 TDi quattro saloon and estate variants that are around the 12-15k mark.
I'm not wanting anything rear wheel drive as I will need to be able to go out in bad weather etc.
It doesn't need to be 4wd but it would be nice.
Return high mpg, good spec and reasonable performance.....

What would you suggest?

[Swoxy]

320d or 520d plus an extra set of wheels with winter tyres.

[va1o]

330d as for the 11 months a year that it's not crap weather it will be better than any other £14k diesel car

[ROB_GTR]

Yes the BMW 330d m sport and 530d m sport was high on the list but RWD Is not going to happen.

Thought about the volvo's but they're just a little 'old man-ish' but still a slight option....

[Captainawesome]

I bought an 08 A4 3.0 Tdi Quattro earlier this year. Absolutely lovely car, quick enough to be fun, very comfortable, simply brilliant stereo (B&O). Fuel economy is not that great though, usually high twenties when my daughter isn't in the car and mid thirties when she is. Very nice place to be and very nice to drive. Can't fault the car. Looks good too. Audi (Stratford-uopon-avon) have been simply brilliant to deal with too. Very, very nice car to drive, be it short or long journey. Plenty of room in the boot for family stuff.
I too wanted the security of the quattro as it is our family car and my wife's primary car. It's a very good system and when the car does lose grip the various systems work well to pull her into line. Not tried it in the snow yet though.

Nothing new on the 'what car?' front but thought I would give you my experience with one of your maybe cars.

[ROB_GTR]

RWD IS NOT AN OPTION! I have a 650 BHP skyline for RWD fun and performance etc.

What I NEED is a diesel car that will get me from A to B in summer, winter, ice, snow etc without any drama and do it cheaply too. It will be replacing my current 2.0TDCi mondeo that has done a great job of eating miles and being a no frills car. I am now wanting something a little nicer and a bit quicker but same job.

Thanks for your views of the A4! I took one out yesterday and really liked it to the point of nearly buying it! However, it's £14k and on a 08 plate (62k miles) so a lot of money for a 6 yr old car. After looking at other A4 models 2litre etc you can get a lot more spec and newer for the price but the 3litre engine and 4wd appealed to me! It was a nice car to drive and had enough power to make it lively.

[Captainawesome]

ROB_GTR said:

RWD IS NOT AN OPTION! I have a 650 BHP skyline for RWD fun and performance etc.

What I NEED is a diesel car that will get me from A to B in summer, winter, ice, snow etc without any drama and do it cheaply too. It will be replacing my current 2.0TDCi mondeo that has done a great job of eating miles and being a no frills car. I am now wanting something a little nicer and a bit quicker but same job.

Thanks for your views of the A4! I took one out yesterday and really liked it to the point of nearly buying it! However, it's £14k and on a 08 plate (62k miles) so a lot of money for a 6 yr old car. After looking at other A4 models 2litre etc you can get a lot more spec and newer for the price but the 3litre engine and 4wd appealed to me! It was a nice car to drive and had enough power to make it lively.

We paid more unfortunately, 17 but only 33,000 and it's an s-line manual. It's the first diesel I have actually enjoyed driving. I literally cannot fault the car and my wife likes it apart from trying to park it. Bit too big for her. If you did take the plunge on one they do tend to hold their value well, particularly if you get a manual. We traded in an A3 2.0 Tdi quattro for the A4. The 2.0 felt lively in the A3 but I think without a remap it would feel a tad slow in the A4. They are big old cars. I insisted on a 3.0 as I have to do a lot of miles in it and wanted something with a bit of go. Had ours remapped by APS in brackley and it made a world of difference to the cars performance.

They are pricey but they are very good cars and will hold their value. Can't quite believe I am raving about a diesel A4 here (lifelong diesel hater) but I have been converted by this car.

[GuyWMD]

So you're going to totally rule out everything and anything RWD and not even consider spending £500 for a second set of wheels with winter rubber on (that arguably would be much better suited to the conditions IF it ever gets rather treacherous...)

Not going to go into the AWD on summers with other drivetrain layouts on winters as it has been done to death. Just think it's stupid to totally discount a segment for a maximum of 1 week out of 52.

Otherwise if you're wanting economy I wouldn't be looking at an Audi 3.0 TDI lump. Better off with the 2, and considered the Octavia VRS. Can be had in hatchback and estate forms, well equipped, look reasonable and cheaper than the equivalent VW/Audi etc.

[Captainawesome]

GuyWMD said:

So you're going to totally rule out everything and anything RWD and not even consider spending £500 for a second set of wheels with winter rubber on (that arguably would be much better suited to the conditions IF it ever gets rather treacherous...)

Not going to go into the AWD on summers with other drivetrain layouts on winters as it has been done to death. Just think it's stupid to totally discount a segment for a maximum of 1 week out of 52.

Otherwise if you're wanting economy I wouldn't be looking at an Audi 3.0 TDI lump. Better off with the 2, and considered the Octavia VRS. Can be had in hatchback and estate forms, well equipped, look reasonable and cheaper than the equivalent VW/Audi etc.

He does have a point bout the winter wheels. Last year had 2 cars in the snow, an Evo on winters and the A3 on conti sport-contacts. The A3 was nowhere near as good despite the quattro. RWD with good winters on is perfectly manageable.

However, my wife was hinting that she would quite like my M3 but I really wouldn't like to put her in a RWD in the rain. Funny feeling it would end up backwards in a hedge.

Fully agree with the economy point too. They aren't great if you are even a little bit enthusiastic.

If you do want AWD and not too bothered abut average fuel economy then the A4 3.0 tdi is fantastic.

[7mike]

I used to have a A6 it was crap in the snow; p/exd it for Skoda Superb 4x4 which is better but I still prefer the 330d in snow with the right boots on (and I regularly take the scenic routes across the Pennines for work).

[deltashad]

Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTDM Lusso
Leather, nice spec, 200bhp. Looks the business 40k miles

5k quid.

[BE57 TOY]

The A6 is also worth looking at - fantastic cars. I've driven both the manual and auto 3 litre diesels and would recommend the auto as it suits the car more IMO.

[ROB_GTR]

I do not have the room to store spare wheels, tyres, tyre Warmer's, pit crew, 4 poster ramp and all the other ste you are suggesting.
If it was going to be my only car I would at least double my budget and buy something fun and then consider spare rims and tyres etc but it's a second car, daily driver and needs to do it with no effort apart from the general servicing etc

I want a reliable FWD or AWD diesel car that does a simple job with no fuss, reasonable running costs and in as much style and comfort as possible

[ORD]

I honestly despair at the stupid things people say about RWD cars. Germany has a fair bit more bad weather than England. Weird that so many German cars are, according to some, completely unable to stay on the road except in perfect weather. A 911 on winter tyres will be better in a snow than a Rangie on summers.

[Captainawesome]

ROB_GTR said:

I do not have the room to store spare wheels, tyres, tyre Warmer's, pit crew, 4 poster ramp and all the other ste you are suggesting.
If it was going to be my only car I would at least double my budget and buy something fun and then consider spare rims and tyres etc but it's a second car, daily driver and needs to do it with no effort apart from the general servicing etc

I want a reliable FWD or AWD diesel car that does a simple job with no fuss, reasonable running costs and in as much style and comfort as possible

In that case get the A4.
/Thread closed.

[Captainawesome]

ORD said:

I honestly despair at the stupid things people say about RWD cars. Germany has a fair bit more bad weather than England. Weird that so many German cars are, according to some, completely unable to stay on the road except in perfect weather. A 911 on winter tyres will be better in a snow than a Rangie on summers.

The first time I drove RWD I was terrified after listening to PH. Reality is very different to the scaremongering that is so prolific. After seeing how my wife reacts to sudden changes in a cars attitude, however, I wouldn't want her driving RWD in anything other than perfect weather. Particularly on snow, RWD on winters is easy enough for some but for a lot of people when the back of a car slides, they panic and even the best winter boots in the world can't make a RWD less prone to that happening than a 4WD. Horses for courses.

[AudiWurst]

ROB_GTR said:

I do not have the room to store spare wheels, tyres, tyre Warmer's, pit crew, 4 poster ramp and all the other ste you are suggesting.

Ha ha, good response to the "winter tyres solve everything" bores!

Presume a Subaru of some flavour (Legacy, Forester) doesn't appeal to you?

[woody2846]

A Subaru Legacy/Forester would fit the bill I would have thought.

[nickfrog]

I do think 4wd or even front drive is a far safer choice indeed for someone who is not confident enough to find traction in a well balanced RWD car in inclement weather, I reckon even my wife would be OK with it but not everyone has her "talent". Although that still doesn't solve proper winter driving if the OP has no space for winter wheels.

[decadent]

Seat EXEO (B7 shape audi with different lights and bumpers and a dash from the convertible).
You'll get a top of the range Sport tech or SE tech (Nav, xenons, leather, BOSE etc) for £14k, less than a year old and sub 10K miles.

I am biased though.