Diesel or Petrol or Electric

[Aiminghigh123]

Ok I know this gets asked a lot but here’s my predicament.

Potential of a new job that would involve 600 odd miles a week maybe more.

Currently own a Saab 9-3 V6 Sportswagon. At the very best it would give 30mpg. Had it a year and done a few bits to it and no what needs doing. Great for lugging 2 young ones around and is ULEZ compliant.
We live just outside the zone and have to go in 2-5 times a week.

I’m weighing up 3 options.

1. Stick with Saab V6 and suck up the fuel bill

2. Get a cheap Diesel to just use for commute, Volvo S60 D5, another Saab but a diesel variant, Vag something with a 1.9. Would have to be comfortable to help the old back out. Obviously associated costs of running 2 cars. I have budgeted £1.5k for this, service, insurance, road tax, consumables this assuming nothing major breaks.
The reason as a second car is because for Diesel to be ULEZ compliant it would have to be quite new so would get a fair amount of depreciation.

3. Get a Tesla on a PCP or similar deal. I was offered one at £630 a month PCP with 35k mileage allowance. Can charge for free at work and home is free as long as I can get access to the estate sockets. We live in a flat and have access to mains outside.

Thoughts?

[Pica-Pica]

1) the cheapest car to run, is the one you currently have
2) why the hell get rid of a decent SAAB?

[Aiminghigh123]

Pica-Pica said:

1) the cheapest car to run, is the one you currently have
2) why the hell get rid of a decent SAAB?

In option 2 I would keep the Saab V6 but get Diesel as a second car. Diesel stuff seems to be around 50mpg the V6 I won’t get much better than 30mpg even on the long commutes.

[Sslink]

For the diesel Saab how cheap is cheap and would you really benefit financially from buying another car for an extra 20 ish mpg?

[Aiminghigh123]

Sslink said:

For the diesel Saab how cheap is cheap and would you really benefit financially from buying another car for an extra 20 ish mpg?

Based on 35k miles a year 30 mpg for Saab V6 and 50 mpg for what ever diesel it would be a saving of £2700 over a year.

I have never owned a diesel but assume servicing is the same.

I would look at up to £1k max

[Canon_Fodder]

50mpg vs 30mpg for 30,000 miles p.a. is c, £2,400 cheaper

Trouble is, used prices are insane now and there's also the inherent risk of buying a lemon.

VW 1.9 Tdi would be the engine to aim for if you fancy it. My neighbour has 390k miles on his '08 Sharan

[anonymous-user]

I’d stick with the Saab you have if it’s in good order. Cheap diesels can be difficult to find unless you get an ancient Peugeot 306 or something from that era. Modern ones are too complicated to be reliable when they get old.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 17th August 20:11

[Aiminghigh123]

Canon_Fodder said:

50mpg vs 30mpg for 30,000 miles p.a. is c, £2,400 cheaper

Trouble is, used prices are insane now and there's also the inherent risk of buying a lemon.

VW 1.9 Tdi would be the engine to aim for if you fancy it. My neighbour has 390k miles on his '08 Sharan

wormus said:

I’d stick with the Saab you have if it’s in good order. Cheap diesels can be difficult to find unless you get an ancient Peugeot 306 or something from that era. Modern ones are too complicated to be reliable when they get old.

Edited by wormus on Tuesday 17th August 20:11

Yes I have been thinking 1.9 vag or something old. Simple and seemed to go for ever but I guess £2500 a year saving is not much really to run another car on. If my maths are right;

Tax say £250
Insurance £500
Service/consumables £1k?

If it wasn’t for bloody ULEZ I would just have the one diesel car.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you don't mind spending around 2k then a decent auto (no DMF/Clutch costs to worry about) diesel then the Insignia is a great shout:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...

Manual

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107084...

Now if you want a ULEZ compliant diesel with sensible miles on then budget around 7k & it means you're down to one car rather than running two:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105132...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124857086344?hash=item1...

8K for an EX SUV

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105283...

10k FX

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108075...

You can land a ULEZ compliant 2017 Insignia from around 8k with low miles & they're very good cars

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108096...

10k will get you a new shape depreciation on all the ULEZ compliant diesels will be sensible & it does mean you're down to one car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106224...

If you're happy spending up to 10k then I'd say go with a diesel, the electric car can make sense but it depends on how much you want to spend

[Jag_NE]

I’d take the Tesla. I think you would pay about 6 grand a year in fuel for the Saab. I wouldn’t risk an old unknown car for the mileage you are doing. 600 a week and the Saab will start to become a pain maintenance wise.

[georgeyboy12345]

Assuming you can get 30 mpg, then the Saab will cost you at least £6900 a year to run

The electric car you say will theoretically cost you nothing a year in fuel, at £630 a month pcp, then that's £7560 a year to run. So £660 a year more than your Saab. I guess servicing should be cheaper(?) and you are getting a shiny, new, relaxing, fast, modern car. Also if you are putting 35,000 miles a year on an already old and tired Saab, I'm sure it'll be throwing up a few big bills.

A diesel car should return 50 mpg and so cost £4200 a year to run, then you have to buy the damn thing, which will cost you more money, plus it'll be old and could break, etc. You'll have to have something like a used Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi. Would you sooner have that or a Tesla Model 3? I think your option 2 is the worst one.

If it were me in your circumstances, I'd probably get the Tesla.

[anonymous-user]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Assuming you can get 30 mpg, then the Saab will cost you at least £6900 a year to run

The electric car you say will theoretically cost you nothing a year in fuel, at £630 a month pcp, then that's £7560 a year to run. So £660 a year more than your Saab. I guess servicing should be cheaper(?) and you are getting a shiny, new, relaxing, fast, modern car. Also if you are putting 35,000 miles a year on an already old and tired Saab, I'm sure it'll be throwing up a few big bills.

A diesel car should return 50 mpg and so cost £4200 a year to run, then you have to buy the damn thing, which will cost you more money, plus it'll be old and could break, etc. You'll have to have something like a used Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi. Would you sooner have that or a Tesla Model 3? I think your option 2 is the worst one.

If it were me in your circumstances, I'd probably get the Tesla.

What about the increased cost of presumably leasing on a 35-40k mile/year contract and the cost and faff of charging when out and about? We all know electric cars are not great or cost efficient travelling long distances.

[georgeyboy12345]

wormus said:

What about the increased cost of presumably leasing on a 35-40k mile/year contract and the cost and faff of charging when out and about? We all know electric cars are not great or cost efficient travelling long distances.

Did you not read the original post in this thread? The lease cost is £630 a month and a 35,000 mile annual allowance. He will be charging at home and at work.

[Aiminghigh123]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

If this job works out think I will go with keeping the current car at first and see how it works out. Yes it will be juicy on fuel but going to use that for 2-3 months then reassess my situation.

Option 2 is pretty much out while living in London at least.

3rd option will probably be the one I go for if the job works out. Free charging at work and home and if I can still get the deal on the Tesla I think it’s a good deal. It includes tyres and brake as well which I didn’t realise until I was reading over the contract.

[GreatGranny]

Sounds sensible.

The Tesla will make the commute/work mileage so much more relaxing than a 'normal' car.

And charging for free it's a no brainer.

Brakes and tyres included is a good bonus as well.

[ninjag]

I would keep your SAAB, that V6 is a peach of an engine but they are thirsty that's for sure.

Alternatively, 2015 BMW 330d as your only car and to replace the SAAB.

Great performance, over 60mpg on the motorway, x-drive for the bad weather, excellent ZF8 transmission, annual tax only £155. The best part is that the 2015 version doesn't have annoying ad-blue but it's still Euro 6 so ULEZ compliant.

Reasonable mileage can be had for under £14k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104281...