Small(ish) Fun Diesel

[HammondYouIdiot]

Hello all…new here and hoping someone can help with a car buying question.

I am looking for something that pretty much nobody buys these days, in that I want a car that is small, fun to drive but needs to be a diesel and ideally cost no more than 10k.

I don’t really want or need anything big, so the cars I have been considering are mainly small. I have narrowed it down to the following:

Mini Cooper D/SD - should fit the bill but only concern is if costs could be high should something “go wrong”
DS3 - They are cheaper than the Mini but being French reliability is a big concern!
Vauxhall Astra GTC - A bit bigger but they look great, don’t know much about them

If anyone can give any thoughts on the above or think of anything else that would be much appreciated

[A500leroy]

Alfa Mito.

[resolve10]

I had the same question as you in 2017. My answer was a Focus ST diesel, though you will need to stretch the budget slightly to get into one.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022032739...

If not, the Mini Cooper SD would be my pick!

[Welshbeef]

Fabia vRS
Polo GT 130PD TDI

BMW 123d

[HammondYouIdiot]

A500leroy said:

Alfa Mito.

Nice looking cars but Alfa reliability worries me if I rack up the miles

Edited by HammondYouIdiot on Tuesday 12th April 18:56

[HammondYouIdiot]

resolve10 said:

I had the same question as you in 2017. My answer was a Focus ST diesel, though you will need to stretch the budget slightly to get into one.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022032739...

If not, the Mini Cooper SD would be my pick!

Yeah a Focus ST would be a great choice, but sadly I can’t stretch to that price. Cooper SD can be had for under 10K but most are Cooper D.

[HammondYouIdiot]

Welshbeef said:

Fabia vRS
Polo GT 130PD TDI

BMW 123d

The BMW is a good shout, I’m sure that would be fun! I’m just a bit nervous when it comes to buying a premium car that’s already a few years old. Although I guess plenty go on to do well over 100,000 miles.

[resolve10]

Any 3 series with a 3.0 diesel would be great too. I ran a 325d from 60k miles to 135k and all it needed during that time was a replacement for a failed suspension spring.

I sold it in 2015 because I felt I'd ridden my luck too far and a big bill was immiennt, but it's s still running to this day on 180k!

The 123d I'd be a little more weary of as it's running a higher state of tune. I think they are about 200bhp which is the same as my 325d but with 2 less cylinders!

[ZX10R NIN]

HammondYouIdiot said:

Hello all…new here and hoping someone can help with a car buying question.

I am looking for something that pretty much nobody buys these days, in that I want a car that is small, fun to drive but needs to be a diesel and ideally cost no more than 10k.

I don’t really want or need anything big, so the cars I have been considering are mainly small. I have narrowed it down to the following:

Mini Cooper D/SD - should fit the bill but only concern is if costs could be high should something “go wrong”
DS3 - They are cheaper than the Mini but being French reliability is a big concern!
Vauxhall Astra GTC - A bit bigger but they look great, don’t know much about them

If anyone can give any thoughts on the above or think of anything else that would be much appreciated

My pick would the Astra GTC they're a good steer with sensible running costs & they're reliable.

The pick is the BiTurbo but they're hard to find but worth seeking out:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202042...

Or the regular SRI 165 is still a good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203243...

[Canon_Fodder]

Fiesta ST-Line

Lovely little cars. Hope this advert is genunie - no pics for whatever reason...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...

I have also had a DS3 (get the 120hp version with the 6-speed box) and a Mini Cooper D (cracking car too)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202162...

[Glasgowrob]

if you want fun get a 125d, or a 330d

cheeky map on the 125 will have you knocking on 270bhp and 400lbs/ft of torque
bear in mind this is a 150mph diesel hatchback even as standard.

i know everyone will tell you fwd can be fun too but RWD is funner

Edited by Glasgowrob on Tuesday 12th April 20:09

[georgeyboy12345]

an F56 Mini Cooper SD is the ultimate choice. Go for a post 2015 model for best reliability.

I think Golfs, Astras, 1 series, etc are a bit too big for what the buyer is looking at

[PH User]

Diesel engines aren't much fun, but a BMW 3.0d is a very impressive engine.

[Brett748]

PH User said:

Diesel engines aren't much fun, but a BMW 3.0d is a very impressive engine.

Mine was a monster (F30 330d) mapped to 330bhp. Returned 40 plus mpg over the time I had it and always mid 50s on the motorway.

I only sold it because a V8 itch needed scratching.

[MOBB]

Canon_Fodder said:

Fiesta ST-Line

Lovely little cars. Hope this advert is genunie - no pics for whatever reason...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...

Small + fun = has to be the best Fiesta you can find.

Even the cheapest Fiesta's are great to drive

[MOBB]

Canon_Fodder said:

Fiesta ST-Line

Lovely little cars. Hope this advert is genunie - no pics for whatever reason...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...

"BLACK PACK A MUST SEE STUNNING"

But we cant see it lol

[DodgyGeezer]

if you don't need a 4 seater how about an SLK or TT?

[HammondYouIdiot]

MOBB said:

Canon_Fodder said:

Fiesta ST-Line

Lovely little cars. Hope this advert is genunie - no pics for whatever reason...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...

Small + fun = has to be the best Fiesta you can find.

Even the cheapest Fiesta's are great to drive

Fiestas are great fun I agree, but the diesels are quite a bit slower than the other cars I am considering. Plus I know I am being picky, but I would really like a car with cruise control for when I am on the motorway and quite a few Fiestas don’t have this.

[HammondYouIdiot]

DodgyGeezer said:

if you don't need a 4 seater how about an SLK or TT?

Thanks for your suggestions but I’m not really a fan of either of those if I am being honest. Plus for my price range I think they would be pretty high mileage examples.

[SamR380]

MOBB said:

Small + fun = has to be the best Fiesta you can find.

Even the cheapest Fiesta's are great to drive

True, I bought a Mk7.5 Fiesta Van and it's probably the best handling car I've ever owned! (not a high bar, admittedly)

The 1.5tdci is nothing special, but no diesel engine is.