Best Diesel Car For £5500
Discussion
Afternoon all,
I’m just about to move from my job in Glasgow to another job where I’ll be commuting back and forward at the weekend (around 500 miles round trip) to see the wife and wee lad. As its going to be my only of getting home, I need the car to be relatively trouble free and reliable. I always get my cars serviced on time and look after them well.
I’m not the most car savvy chap so I always trawl the internet for a while before I make a choice and I always try and seek the good measured opinion of those that are more in the know that I am. However, it’s not always a good thing as the more you look, the more faults and bad reviews you find and you end up talking yourself out of it.
I have about £5500 to spend which isn’t a great deal but it’s a second car but I figured I could get a decent car for that money. With the miles I’m planning on covering, I think the car needs to be a diesel. The only other thing I would like is cruise control.
The last time I bought a diesel, it was a relatively trouble free experience. However, I’ve been reading about the dreaded DPF and the numerous problems that it has caused. Now I know a lot of it is down to the wrong car for the job (diesel car for city driving), however there is a lot of horror stories about manufacturers who have got it just plain wrong and washed their hands of the problem (Mazda 3, Mazda 6 etc). The Mazda 3 or 6 would have been my first choice but I don’t think it’s worth the risk.
Being safer rather than sorry, are there any diesels that aren’t fitted with a DPF. I think the Civic 2.2 CDTI isn’t and maybe some VAG units.
Can anyone offer some sound advice on the best diesel car for the money and the job?
Many thanks.
I’m just about to move from my job in Glasgow to another job where I’ll be commuting back and forward at the weekend (around 500 miles round trip) to see the wife and wee lad. As its going to be my only of getting home, I need the car to be relatively trouble free and reliable. I always get my cars serviced on time and look after them well.
I’m not the most car savvy chap so I always trawl the internet for a while before I make a choice and I always try and seek the good measured opinion of those that are more in the know that I am. However, it’s not always a good thing as the more you look, the more faults and bad reviews you find and you end up talking yourself out of it.
I have about £5500 to spend which isn’t a great deal but it’s a second car but I figured I could get a decent car for that money. With the miles I’m planning on covering, I think the car needs to be a diesel. The only other thing I would like is cruise control.
The last time I bought a diesel, it was a relatively trouble free experience. However, I’ve been reading about the dreaded DPF and the numerous problems that it has caused. Now I know a lot of it is down to the wrong car for the job (diesel car for city driving), however there is a lot of horror stories about manufacturers who have got it just plain wrong and washed their hands of the problem (Mazda 3, Mazda 6 etc). The Mazda 3 or 6 would have been my first choice but I don’t think it’s worth the risk.
Being safer rather than sorry, are there any diesels that aren’t fitted with a DPF. I think the Civic 2.2 CDTI isn’t and maybe some VAG units.
Can anyone offer some sound advice on the best diesel car for the money and the job?
Many thanks.
A VAG 1.9 TDi PD engined car would suit your needs, several million Skoda taxi drivers can't be wrong, hard wearing, reliable, easy and cheap to repair when it does go wrong, but maybe in something a bit more classy and stylish like a Passat or Golf.
My dad has a Jetta 2.0 CR TDi 140 with the dreaded DMF and DPF and its done 110K with no issues but your budget would only get an already high mileage, well worn CSR with this engine which is probably just about to start costing money.
Whatever you do, don't buy a 1.9 CDTi Vauxhall, no end of problems with these. The later 2.0 CDTis are better but again so new that £5500 would only pick up a high miles ex fleet Insignia etc about to start costing money.
My dad has a Jetta 2.0 CR TDi 140 with the dreaded DMF and DPF and its done 110K with no issues but your budget would only get an already high mileage, well worn CSR with this engine which is probably just about to start costing money.
Whatever you do, don't buy a 1.9 CDTi Vauxhall, no end of problems with these. The later 2.0 CDTis are better but again so new that £5500 would only pick up a high miles ex fleet Insignia etc about to start costing money.
SEAT ? VAG 1.9d engine loads in price range
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Edited by S2red on Tuesday 10th February 22:05
HendryG said:
A VAG 1.9 TDi PD engined car would suit your needs, several million Skoda taxi drivers can't be wrong, hard wearing, reliable, easy and cheap to repair when it does go wrong, but maybe in something a bit more classy and stylish like a Passat or Golf.
My dad has a Jetta 2.0 CR TDi 140 with the dreaded DMF and DPF and its done 110K with no issues but your budget would only get an already high mileage, well worn CSR with this engine which is probably just about to start costing money.
Whatever you do, don't buy a 1.9 CDTi Vauxhall, no end of problems with these. The later 2.0 CDTis are better but again so new that £5500 would only pick up a high miles ex fleet Insignia etc about to start costing money.
Are all the VAG 1.9 units non-DPF? Many thanks for the sound advice.My dad has a Jetta 2.0 CR TDi 140 with the dreaded DMF and DPF and its done 110K with no issues but your budget would only get an already high mileage, well worn CSR with this engine which is probably just about to start costing money.
Whatever you do, don't buy a 1.9 CDTi Vauxhall, no end of problems with these. The later 2.0 CDTis are better but again so new that £5500 would only pick up a high miles ex fleet Insignia etc about to start costing money.
Martin4356111 said:
Are all the VAG 1.9 units non-DPF? Many thanks for the sound advice.
No, some later ones just before the 1.9 was phased out and replaced by the 1.6 CR TDi have DPFs, not sure which models do and don't but for example 2009 Jettas with the 1.9 can be had both with and without it, I seem to remember it comes as standard on all "Blue motion" models however. The other thing is I think all later 1.9s (as in those fitted to mk5 Golfs/Jettas, 2005 on shape Passat) are all 105bhp, whereas in like older pre 2005 Passats, mk4 Golfs, Bora's etc it could be had in 115, 130 and 150 bhp.
The problem with the Volvo D5 is that the rest of the car is rarely as reliable as the engine. Volvo made their electronics a bit too complicated after the first V70. I had an S60 T5 and it did start to get some very annoying problems as it got on a bit. Great cars for long distance cruising though and the D5 is one of the more powerful diesels in your price range and is economical enough unlike VAG's more powerful v6 TDI's which can get thirsty and a little bit expensive to maintain.
I've got a 1.9 TDi in an Octavia that's done 226k, again good engines but the car around it is starting to falter. Nothing major though, just minor things.
For £5,500 you can get a minted 1.9 TDi VW or Skoda of some variety but they're not especially powerful and the pre-common rail TDi engines tend to have loads of power low down but are a bit sluggish when you want to push on.
I've got a 1.9 TDi in an Octavia that's done 226k, again good engines but the car around it is starting to falter. Nothing major though, just minor things.
For £5,500 you can get a minted 1.9 TDi VW or Skoda of some variety but they're not especially powerful and the pre-common rail TDi engines tend to have loads of power low down but are a bit sluggish when you want to push on.
Thanks for the replies and help folks. Have been looking at VW's and the only problem is their bland looks and interior. Is it just me that thinks this?
I know years ago people swore by diesel for long journeys but with the advent of more efficient petrol engines, there isn't much in it. For example a 200 mile journey in a Civic diesel costs roughly £16.27 where as the same in a Civic petrol costs £18.91, just £2.64 difference.
Offset that against the fact that a diesel will cost more and I could get a lower mile petrol car.
Anyone else follow my train of thought?
I know years ago people swore by diesel for long journeys but with the advent of more efficient petrol engines, there isn't much in it. For example a 200 mile journey in a Civic diesel costs roughly £16.27 where as the same in a Civic petrol costs £18.91, just £2.64 difference.
Offset that against the fact that a diesel will cost more and I could get a lower mile petrol car.
Anyone else follow my train of thought?
Martin4356111 said:
Thanks for the replies and help folks. Have been looking at VW's and the only problem is their bland looks and interior. Is it just me that thinks this?
I know years ago people swore by diesel for long journeys but with the advent of more efficient petrol engines, there isn't much in it. For example a 200 mile journey in a Civic diesel costs roughly £16.27 where as the same in a Civic petrol costs £18.91, just £2.64 difference.
Offset that against the fact that a diesel will cost more and I could get a lower mile petrol car.
Anyone else follow my train of thought?
Definitely but if you're doing a 500 mile trip, there's no way a petrol will touch one of the most frugal diesels for fuel economy. I think your civic example will be based on optimistic figures and the petrol will suffer a greater fall in real world fuel economy. Offset that against higher diesel maintenance costs though. I know years ago people swore by diesel for long journeys but with the advent of more efficient petrol engines, there isn't much in it. For example a 200 mile journey in a Civic diesel costs roughly £16.27 where as the same in a Civic petrol costs £18.91, just £2.64 difference.
Offset that against the fact that a diesel will cost more and I could get a lower mile petrol car.
Anyone else follow my train of thought?
The problem is a petrol that's decent to sit in for long journeys will have a bigger engine and while a 2.0 diesel can still be very economical, a 2.0 petrol will struggle to get above 40mpg overall, generally speaking.
A3/Golf 1.4t?
AmiableChimp said:
My money would go on a late model Mk1 Fabia vRS with a remap if you want more power.
The other half has a vRS LE. It's been in this household for almost 6 years now, never felt the need to remap it.In standard form it's more than capable of keeping up with most and also upset a few so-called fast cars.
At 110k on the clock I'm sure it will be with us for a good while yet. It's also one of the few cars I can travel from Aberdeenshire to Glasgow and back with out ache or pain.
mk4.5 Mondeo
bought one a year ago (ex fleet with 100k/3 year old for £4500 have since put another 115k on it in a year (its a taxi) without complaint.
only thing I would recommend doing is remapping and removing the dpf/egr for a trouble free life, other than that they are bulletproof as long as you service them regularly. big comfy mile munchers for the long runs too, I regularly do 700+ mile stints in mine in a day without any aches or pains
bought one a year ago (ex fleet with 100k/3 year old for £4500 have since put another 115k on it in a year (its a taxi) without complaint.
only thing I would recommend doing is remapping and removing the dpf/egr for a trouble free life, other than that they are bulletproof as long as you service them regularly. big comfy mile munchers for the long runs too, I regularly do 700+ mile stints in mine in a day without any aches or pains
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