Is it safe to buy ulez diesel??
Discussion
On the look for a used car, poss a golf 8 style dsg and finding that the diesels are better value compared to petrol and their list price. But people keep telling me don’t buy diesel! Why not? There is no congestion charge , same as the petrol but people are putting me off! Will the diesel value plummet in 3 years? 5 years?
I have test driven the 1.5 mhev 150ps and the diesel and much prefer diesel as my last two have been diesel so I’m “used to it”. The main difference now is that rather than 15k miles a year I’m probably only going to be doing 4K! Is that bad for the dpfs?
I have test driven the 1.5 mhev 150ps and the diesel and much prefer diesel as my last two have been diesel so I’m “used to it”. The main difference now is that rather than 15k miles a year I’m probably only going to be doing 4K! Is that bad for the dpfs?
I think with DPFs, if you are doing short journeys, at low RPMs, you may have issues. I believe that with shorter journeys, if you don't let the car bumble along at 1200rpm, you shouldn't have too many issues (hopefully)
At least, that's my hope. I have just bought a 152k mile Volvo V60 D4. A lot of my journeys are about 8-10 miles, but I just make sure the revs stay above 2000rpm to get some heat into everything.
Half the battle is being aware that they need looking after. If you know it needs a good blast every so often and also what driving suits them better, then you are halfway there IMO.
Edit - I do think 4k a year is too low for a diesel though. But at the end of the day, it's your money! If you are aware of potential issues and are going into it with an open mind, then get whichever you prefer
At least, that's my hope. I have just bought a 152k mile Volvo V60 D4. A lot of my journeys are about 8-10 miles, but I just make sure the revs stay above 2000rpm to get some heat into everything.
Half the battle is being aware that they need looking after. If you know it needs a good blast every so often and also what driving suits them better, then you are halfway there IMO.
Edit - I do think 4k a year is too low for a diesel though. But at the end of the day, it's your money! If you are aware of potential issues and are going into it with an open mind, then get whichever you prefer
Edited by gman88667733 on Thursday 8th July 09:01
It depends on the journey , if your trip is once a week to say London a 25 mile each way & with the most of those miles on the motorway / A roads & last couple of miles in stop start traffic I would think a diesel would be fine.
Try a hydbrid Toyota Corrolla could be an other option to a golf diesel ?
Try a hydbrid Toyota Corrolla could be an other option to a golf diesel ?
Just do it - I was ruling out diesels for the Wife's car and couldn't find anything we wanted for our budget. We were looking at crossover style cars but only BMW/Merc/Audi due to preference. Once we ticked the diesel box so many more cars were available, better spec etc.
In the end, we opted for a 150 tdi Q3 - The engine is great for our needs, the petrol has the same HP but I think it would struggle due to the size of the car and quattro (only a 1.4T). We will only do abut 5kpa in that car and have no worries about the DPF - Our A1 tdi before it we had for 6 years with no issues doing even less miles.
DPFs are all about education - If you know how to identify when it's regenerating you can be cognisant of it.
Some examples:
My BMW 530d Auto used to rev higher when the DPF was regenerating, the gearbox behaved like it was in sport mode so it was really obvious to anyone with half a brain something is going on. The previous owners obviously didn't have a brain, the thermostats were both dud on my purchase after a scan. I got them replaced and the car did the most epic regeneration, absolutely stank. I saved it, they would have killed it.
Our A1 tdi would idle higher (1000RPM) when stationary and if you interrupted the regen, the engine fans would kick in after turning the engine off. We would just note this for our next journey and try and make it a longer one if possible but sometimes it wasn't. The A1 was always driven at low RPM by my wife but I did try and give it some whenever I had the keys.
My Merc W204 diesel and F30 320d diesel are both very sly about their regens - I only notice the smell from the exhaust if I walk to the back of the car after turning the engine off, as it lingers a bit.
In the end, we opted for a 150 tdi Q3 - The engine is great for our needs, the petrol has the same HP but I think it would struggle due to the size of the car and quattro (only a 1.4T). We will only do abut 5kpa in that car and have no worries about the DPF - Our A1 tdi before it we had for 6 years with no issues doing even less miles.
DPFs are all about education - If you know how to identify when it's regenerating you can be cognisant of it.
Some examples:
My BMW 530d Auto used to rev higher when the DPF was regenerating, the gearbox behaved like it was in sport mode so it was really obvious to anyone with half a brain something is going on. The previous owners obviously didn't have a brain, the thermostats were both dud on my purchase after a scan. I got them replaced and the car did the most epic regeneration, absolutely stank. I saved it, they would have killed it.
Our A1 tdi would idle higher (1000RPM) when stationary and if you interrupted the regen, the engine fans would kick in after turning the engine off. We would just note this for our next journey and try and make it a longer one if possible but sometimes it wasn't. The A1 was always driven at low RPM by my wife but I did try and give it some whenever I had the keys.
My Merc W204 diesel and F30 320d diesel are both very sly about their regens - I only notice the smell from the exhaust if I walk to the back of the car after turning the engine off, as it lingers a bit.
joropug said:
Just do it - I was ruling out diesels for the Wife's car and couldn't find anything we wanted for our budget. We were looking at crossover style cars but only BMW/Merc/Audi due to preference. Once we ticked the diesel box so many more cars were available, better spec etc.
In the end, we opted for a 150 tdi Q3 - The engine is great for our needs, the petrol has the same HP but I think it would struggle due to the size of the car and quattro (only a 1.4T). We will only do abut 5kpa in that car and have no worries about the DPF - Our A1 tdi before it we had for 6 years with no issues doing even less miles.
DPFs are all about education - If you know how to identify when it's regenerating you can be cognisant of it.
Some examples:
.....
Our A1 tdi would idle higher (1000RPM) when stationary and if you interrupted the regen, the engine fans would kick in after turning the engine off. We would just note this for our next journey and try and make it a longer one if possible but sometimes it wasn't. The A1 was always driven at low RPM by my wife but I did try and give it some whenever I had the keys.
.....
Wife has same drivetrain as the Q3 in her Tiguan - had it for 6yrs and also does 5Kyr. It's same regen process as described for A1.In the end, we opted for a 150 tdi Q3 - The engine is great for our needs, the petrol has the same HP but I think it would struggle due to the size of the car and quattro (only a 1.4T). We will only do abut 5kpa in that car and have no worries about the DPF - Our A1 tdi before it we had for 6 years with no issues doing even less miles.
DPFs are all about education - If you know how to identify when it's regenerating you can be cognisant of it.
Some examples:
.....
Our A1 tdi would idle higher (1000RPM) when stationary and if you interrupted the regen, the engine fans would kick in after turning the engine off. We would just note this for our next journey and try and make it a longer one if possible but sometimes it wasn't. The A1 was always driven at low RPM by my wife but I did try and give it some whenever I had the keys.
.....
People go on about taking then for a regular blast etc but these vehicles never passive regen so that's pointless - the dpf doesn't get anywhere near hot enough. We did a fast 300 mile run over the M62 and back one weekend and the car did an active regen on the school run the next morning.
They just need time for the regen to complete - 10-15mins - so if you're only ever doing a couple of miles then you could run into trouble with interupted regens, but otherwise should be fine. We do only run ours on V-Power diesel.
SharkeyB said:
Budget is 25k so ev out the window I think
loads of lightly used EVs for 25k, some new ID3s have been listed for 25ktax and fuel savings would cover the extra 2k on this one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107034...
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Thursday 8th July 10:40
Sheepshanks said:
Wife has same drivetrain as the Q3 in her Tiguan - had it for 6yrs and also does 5Kyr. It's same regen process as described for A1.
Good to know as we haven't noticed it regen yet, but we have done some decent journeys in it already rather than town. Only had it a couple of weeks and great so far, our budget was 15-22k ish, in the end we opted for a slightly older but low miles 2015 plate (44k) with high spec and good history at Audi Main dealer. We also had the S tronic and haldex serviced as part of the purchase as Audi wouldn't confirm if it was done already. The Q3 interior is 'last gen' so it didn't make sense to me to spend bucket loads getting a newer one when there's a newer model just out of reach. The big risk is that the ULEZ goalposts will be changed to EU7 (or whatever) and so diesels that are currently compliant could become a liability.
Compounding that risk is that ULEZ zones themselves may well be extended or even become universal as the Govt forces people into EVs
These risks dwarf the DPF issue in my view
Compounding that risk is that ULEZ zones themselves may well be extended or even become universal as the Govt forces people into EVs
These risks dwarf the DPF issue in my view
joropug said:
Good to know as we haven't noticed it regen yet, but we have done some decent journeys in it already rather than town. Only had it a couple of weeks and great so far, our budget was 15-22k ish, in the end we opted for a slightly older but low miles 2015 plate (44k) with high spec and good history at Audi Main dealer. We also had the S tronic and haldex serviced as part of the purchase as Audi wouldn't confirm if it was done already. The Q3 interior is 'last gen' so it didn't make sense to me to spend bucket loads getting a newer one when there's a newer model just out of reach.
Ours does it around every 300 miles. I can't tell when driving but don't drive it much - it's only apparent to me if I get out mid-regen and the fans are going.I’d say it’s a big risk. When the Euro 7 standard comes out in a couple of years, what’s to say authorities won’t shift all diesels onto that standard for ULEZ exemption?
What about a lightly used PHEV like an Audi A3 e-tron, VW Golf GTE, Peugeot 508 GT or Seat Leon FR e-hybrid? You can get a 2020 model one of those with less than 10,000 miles, everything still in warranty and providing you keep them charged up will get miles better fuel economy than a diesel, especially around town.
What about a lightly used PHEV like an Audi A3 e-tron, VW Golf GTE, Peugeot 508 GT or Seat Leon FR e-hybrid? You can get a 2020 model one of those with less than 10,000 miles, everything still in warranty and providing you keep them charged up will get miles better fuel economy than a diesel, especially around town.
Do you drive in London? I know it could come into other cities too, but it really depends where you live.
I don't think values will plummet, for every person impacted by ULEZ there'll be 1,000s that aren't.
I noticed my 2013 diesel Mercedes isn't ULEZ exempt when I made a trip into Battersea the other day, but actually you have to be really central to get hit by it - I was outside of the ULEZ zone yet felt pretty central to me.
I don't think values will plummet, for every person impacted by ULEZ there'll be 1,000s that aren't.
I noticed my 2013 diesel Mercedes isn't ULEZ exempt when I made a trip into Battersea the other day, but actually you have to be really central to get hit by it - I was outside of the ULEZ zone yet felt pretty central to me.
georgeyboy12345 said:
I’d say it’s a big risk. When the Euro 7 standard comes out in a couple of years, what’s to say authorities won’t shift all diesels onto that standard for ULEZ exemption?
What about a lightly used PHEV like an Audi A3 e-tron, VW Golf GTE, Peugeot 508 GT or Seat Leon FR e-hybrid? You can get a 2020 model one of those with less than 10,000 miles, everything still in warranty and providing you keep them charged up will get miles better fuel economy than a diesel, especially around town.
Who says U.K. will adopt EU7 ? (Except by default). It may well be EV, EU6, others.What about a lightly used PHEV like an Audi A3 e-tron, VW Golf GTE, Peugeot 508 GT or Seat Leon FR e-hybrid? You can get a 2020 model one of those with less than 10,000 miles, everything still in warranty and providing you keep them charged up will get miles better fuel economy than a diesel, especially around town.
SharkeyB said:
Budget is 25k so ev out the window I think
it does depend on the types of journey you do in this 4k miles but EV jumped into my head, eGolfs are pretty good value and don't have the "issues" with the touch screen interface that the new ID\Enyaq models do as it's a Mk7\7.5 golf.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105202...
Sheepshanks said:
Ours does it around every 300 miles. I can't tell when driving but don't drive it much - it's only apparent to me if I get out mid-regen and the fans are going.
When you get back in the car for the next journey, does it carry on with the regen? Haven't had a DPF for a few years, so trying to get to grips with how the one in my Volvo works.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff