2nd hand petrol v diesel

[defblade]

Starting to think about replacing my JDM Subaru Legacy GT. I've had it for best part of 3 years; it's not the cheapest thing to run; and I find I'm simply not using much of its performance, even with an empty road ahead I rarely go WOT.
I swap into a mk1 Aygo about once a week, too, and I find that just as much fun to drive in its own way.

So long as I've got music, I'm happy these days... maybe I'm getting old?

Anyhow, I do about 12k miles a year, commute is 12 miles on DC/M-way then 5 miles into town at 30.
I try and use the Aygo for local trips as the Legacy's turbo doesn't even get warm if I take that.
I'm looking for a more sensible hatch or estate, anywhere between £2-8k (could go higher or lower!)

And I've never had or wanted a diesel before... but it seems a lot of people were pulled in a few years back, and so now 2nd hand petrol choice is seriously restricted


Just how bad would a relatively recent diesel be? Should I put my prejudice to one side and open up my browsing list?
I'm quite drawn to the C5 in this article, for example... but then diesel...

[DoubleD]

Thats a wide price range that will give you all kinds of options, maybe too many! Might be best to narrow it down, then the choice will be a little less bewildering.

[Monkeylegend]

BMW 320D is the way to go.

[Pica-Pica]

Monkeylegend said:

BMW 320D is the way to go.

Especially so coming from a Legacy.

[Monkeylegend]

Pica-Pica said:

Monkeylegend said:

BMW 320D is the way to go.

Especially so coming from a Legacy.

My point exactly

[tonyb1968]

A small selection of fun cars.

Renault Megane Renault Sport 225
Ford Focus ST
Skoda Octavia VRS
Suzuki Swift Sport
Renault Sport Twingo 133

[bearman68]

Just bought a £1500 diesel Yaris. It's a little slow I grant you, but hard to get less than 60 mpg out of it - it's a cracking little car for shortish distances. No DPF, DMF etc, so nothing too much to worry about, and £30 a year to tax. Bargain.

[Oilchange]

Giulietta 1750 turbo too

[Lukas239]

I'm not a 100% believer of the 'diesel only for xx,000 miles' thought process but I'm not sure why you'd want a diesel here at all.

If this is a money saving exercise, you could save some with a petrol as well. Also not sure if your milage and journey cycle warrants the added potential cost of a diesel.

Skoda octy VRS is a great shout as similar practicality to the legacy in either saloon or estate form. And you can get one with the EA113 engine for 5k easy (no chains to worry about)

[defblade]

I'm not looking for specific car suggestions at the moment... Just whether I should just tick "petrol" when I'm searching or whether diesels have got enough less bad to leave that box alone and give myself a lot more choice... (Though I was looking at an Octavia VRS earlier.... It was a diesel...)

[Monkeylegend]

defblade said:

I'm not looking for specific car suggestions at the moment... Just whether I should just tick "petrol" when I'm searching or whether diesels have got enough less bad to leave that box alone and give myself a lot more choice... (Though I was looking at an Octavia VRS earlier.... It was a diesel...)

So you want us to tell you whether you should tick both petrol and diesel or just petrol.

Decisions, decisions

Go mad, tick both.

[DoubleD]

defblade said:

I'm not looking for specific car suggestions at the moment... Just whether I should just tick "petrol" when I'm searching or whether diesels have got enough less bad to leave that box alone and give myself a lot more choice... (Though I was looking at an Octavia VRS earlier.... It was a diesel...)

Leave both ticked and go test some cars.

[ninjag]

Perhaps a different angle but from reading your opening post how about prioritising cars which come with a top spec sound system and then consider what fuel types are available? I find a great sound system can turn even the most boring of commutes into a sense of occasion.

Even the premium brand cars can come with some pretty crap base sound systems, could be worth looking for the ones which have had it upgraded on the options list.

[Chestrockwell]

You won’t get a decent diesel for that kind of money that doesn’t have very high mileage.

Personally I wouldn’t go for any diesel car that’s over 3 years old, not because they’re bad, but because I’m a petrol head (?) and I like fast cars so my choice would be the German 3 with a minimum of 6 cylinders and 8 grand isn’t enough!

My 2 suggestions would be,

1.EP3 Civic Type R, 3 grand maximum and upgrade the audio yourself for a few hundred quid, extremely fun car, very reliable and surprisingly spacious in the back with the flat floor and small bucket seats.

2. Lexus GS350h, 7k maximum, every toy you need, quiet, refined, comfortable and reliable. They come with the Mark Levinson Audio which is very good from what I hear, oh and it’s got 300 bhp!

[ZX10R NIN]

defblade said:

I'm not looking for specific car suggestions at the moment... Just whether I should just tick "petrol" when I'm searching or whether diesels have got enough less bad to leave that box alone and give myself a lot more choice... (Though I was looking at an Octavia VRS earlier.... It was a diesel...)

You're doing 12k a year so either will fit the bill I'd say when considering a diesel go for a 3.0d the performance will be on par with your Legacy & if you go for an E class sized car you'll get something with good sound quality too.

What size of car do you need?

What will your main usage be?

Answer those questions & you'll be able to get a much more positive reaction one way or another.

[Shiv_P]

Monkeylegend said:

BMW 320D is the way to go.

Yes if you want your timing chain to snap.

[defblade]

Decided to keep money in the bank for now, and simply commute in the Aygo, leaving the Scoobie for longer trips, bigger loads, and anything fun (like taking Mountain Road home from a gig last night in Brynaman as a +20 mile "shortcut", via a nice Chinese takeaway in Llandeilo, rather than 30mph yawn roads and our usual chip shop).

I do have 2 spare amps kicking around, but the OE speaker locations in the Aygo are pants...

[Monkeylegend]

Shiv_P said:

Monkeylegend said:

BMW 320D is the way to go.

Yes if you want your timing chain to snap.

I knew somebody would bite

[mikal83]

This must be the MOST thrashed out debate here on PH

[defblade]

mikal83 said:

This must be the MOST thrashed out debate here on PH

No, that's "merge-in-turn"