Should you buy Euro 5?

[burnet01]

Hi chaps,

I’m trying to buy a car for once or twice a year drive to the continent. So, it should be comfortable, economical and because the budget is limited (second hand).

There are some good cars for long journeys, good price, diesel, about 10 years old. They’d do the job nicely, but they are Euro 5 and Diesel. So I won’t be able use the car in many cities, and with the relentless war on emission, I wonder if Euro 5, diesel would be banned in the next few years or the taxes too high to put people off or the price of diesel too high. And the value of the car would be just scrap.

What do you think?

Edited by burnet01 on Tuesday 30th May 12:31

[ZX10R NIN]

Yes is the answer & depending on how much you want to spend you can get some options that are ULEZ/CAZ compliant.

[Taz1111]

Have you looked at which cities don't allow Euro 5? It's not as dire as you make out.

I've found you can get Euro 6 for about the same price on some models though.

Just get a cheaper Euro 5 and pay the fee if you're not in a city much.

[braddo]

Taz1111 said:

Have you looked at which cities don't allow Euro 5? It's not as dire as you make out.

I've found you can get Euro 6 for about the same price on some models though.

Just get a cheaper Euro 5 and pay the fee if you're not in a city much.

As the OP is going to the continent it's worth checking what cities over there are doing now and in the future. The French are moving towards outright bans but i don't know if Euro 5 diesels will be affected by that (the Crit'air scheme).

[burnet01]

There is LEZ here where I live, so I won’t be able to enter my own city centre with Euro 5 car. I don’t live/work in city centre, but if some day I need to go, I won’t be able with my own car. Which spoils the whole idea of having a car; autonomy, independence, away from dreadful public transport etc.

There are some EU laws. I think any city in the EU over 50000 population must have LEZ. So, some guys in Brussels tell cities in Spain, Italy, Greece …etc, who can enter their own cities. How about that?

To be able to enter pretty much, any city must be Euro 6 car. But If you need to buy a car for travel and got a tight budget, it’s not an easy task. Also, the way things are, how do we know in the near future Euro 6 cars will be banned as well (just like Euro 5)? Or any diesel? Of the taxes will be ridiculously high… I am try to find some light here, but I am struggling.

[braddo]

burnet01 said:

There are some EU laws. I think any city in the EU over 50000 population must have LEZ. So, some guys in Brussels tell cities in Spain, Italy, Greece …etc, who can enter their own cities. How about that?

I think that is made up.

Buy a frugal petrol car from after 2004 and you can stop worrying.

[KTMsm]

If you rarely use the car I'd be buying a petrol

In fact for your usage I'd probably look at hiring one

[burnet01]

braddo said:

I think that is made up.

Buy a frugal petrol car from after 2004 and you can stop worrying.

It seems the 50000 population (and as low as 20000 in some cases) law is only in Spain from January 2023, it is not a EU law. My mistake.

https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20230209/zonas-bajas-...

Edited by burnet01 on Thursday 1st June 11:20

[ninjag]

For two trips a year I'd get a petrol. I generally find them more reliable (especially n/a engines), less risk of microbial contamination if sitting around for over 6 months and petrol is also typically cheaper at the pumps (well in the UK), which helps offset the lesser fuel economy a little.

For £2.5k you could waft away in a Lexus GS300
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305047...

Or a top spec Honda Accord 2.0 for more frugalness and excellent seats.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304206...


But plenty of stuff out there.

[dan98]

Don't get bogged down in whichever Euro number as it's constantly shifting sands, but the restrictions on petrol are way less than diesel pretty much everywhere you go in Europe.
As you're rarely going to use it anyway, I wouldn't even be considering a diesel.

Just focus on getting a comfortable and unglamorous petrol within budget, with reliability being a priority - you don't want a high mileage banger which starts misbehaving when you're 1000s of miles from home, or something that just feels old and worn out to prevent enjoying your holidays.

Some 10 year old Skoda or VW is universally a good bet across mainland Europe, with one of the 'safer' and less highly strung TSI engines.

[Jamescrs]

If you can't travel into your own city with it that would put me off personally.

Other than that I wouldn't worry about the cities in Europe because if it is a UK registered car they will unlikely to be able to read your registration to get the details from it anyway and even if they can they are even more unlikely to bother trying to trace you in order to issue a fine against you

[georgeyboy12345]

burnet01 said:

It seems the 50000 population (and as low as 20000 in some cases) law is only in Spain from January 2023, it is not a EU law. My mistake.

https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20230209/zonas-bajas-...

Edited by burnet01 on Thursday 1st June 11:20

That sounds like a good idea. We should have that here.

[braddo]

Jamescrs said:

If you can't travel into your own city with it that would put me off personally.

Other than that I wouldn't worry about the cities in Europe because if it is a UK registered car they will unlikely to be able to read your registration to get the details from it anyway and even if they can they are even more unlikely to bother trying to trace you in order to issue a fine against you

i don't think that is sound advice. I believe UK motorists are receiving French speeding fines in the post even after Brexit. I would expect camera-based clean air zones to be similar.

And if you don't pay it can lead to issues at the border or when you re-visit those cities.

Just not worth the hassle to avoid the fines in a non-compliant diesel when you could simply buy a petrol instead!!

[dan98]

Jamescrs said:

If you can't travel into your own city with it that would put me off personally.

Other than that I wouldn't worry about the cities in Europe because if it is a UK registered car they will unlikely to be able to read your registration to get the details from it anyway and even if they can they are even more unlikely to bother trying to trace you in order to issue a fine against you

..except they might just remove the car and throw it in quarantine once they realise you're not bothered about getting tickets, as they do in Berlin for example.

[braddo]

Something like a petrol 1.4 turbo Vauxhall insignia would surely work. You might get 50mpg on the motorway in a modern comfortable package.

[KTMsm]

braddo said:

Something like a petrol 1.4 turbo Vauxhall insignia would surely work. You might get 50mpg on the motorway in a modern comfortable package.

I'd rather walk

[burnet01]

Hi chaps, Every city I’ve checked are the same; Euro 6 for diesel and 4 for petrol.
I’ve been looking for BMW F11, not sure yet petrol or diesel. I was thinking to get a LHD in the continent and bring it here. But its harder than I thought.
Have you had any experience buying in the continent?

Edited by burnet01 on Monday 26th June 12:33

[nobrakes]

burnet01 said:

Hi chaps, Every city I’ve checked are the same; Euro 6 for diesel and 4 for petrol.
I’ve been looking for BMW F11, not sure yet petrol or diesel. I was thinking to get a LHD in the continent and bring it here. But its harder than I thought.
Have you had any experience buying in the continent?

Edited by burnet01 on Monday 26th June 12:33

There are a few garages in the UK who supply LHD cars. Better using them than faffing trying to buy overseas.