Which one of these diesels cars ? bad time to buy diesel?

[LJF_97]

Merc would be my choice out of those.

[bencollins4]

Fade_Away said:

Evening gentlemen

My looking to buy a diesel car, my average travel 7 to 9 k miles a year, mostly A roads and Weekend on Motorway (70 miles round trip). Can you advise which of following diesel would be a good choice and reliable ?

Budget is under 10K and car should not be older than 9 years with decent running costs.

BMW 320d
Merc C220 CDI
Citroen C4 or C4 Picasso 1.6 HDI


Edit - I am in Scotland

Edited by Fade_Away on Tuesday 22 August 19:56

I’m not convinced you need a diesel at all for that usage?

[Jag_NE]

bencollins4 said:

Fade_Away said:

Evening gentlemen

My looking to buy a diesel car, my average travel 7 to 9 k miles a year, mostly A roads and Weekend on Motorway (70 miles round trip). Can you advise which of following diesel would be a good choice and reliable ?

Budget is under 10K and car should not be older than 9 years with decent running costs.

BMW 320d
Merc C220 CDI
Citroen C4 or C4 Picasso 1.6 HDI


Edit - I am in Scotland

Edited by Fade_Away on Tuesday 22 August 19:56

I’m not convinced you need a diesel at all for that usage?

Why? He is mostly doing long journeys so the duty cycle won’t create an issue. He might prefer the drive of a diesel and the savings on fuel. As long as it’s euro6 there are no ULEZ restrictions either.

[blueovercream]

OP - I'm trying to PM you - can you turn on your messaging?

[Abacus_8607]

blueovercream said:

OP - I'm trying to PM you - can you turn on your messaging?

Just updated the settings - Please try now. thanks

[Abacus_8607]

Jag_NE said:

Why? He is mostly doing long journeys so the duty cycle won’t create an issue. He might prefer the drive of a diesel and the savings on fuel. As long as it’s euro6 there are no ULEZ restrictions either.

Actually I was double minded as well, because most people suggest against diesels unless someone is doing mega miles. But I like diesel cars and want to save on fuel as well. But at the same time don't want to offset fuel savings on expensive repairs.

[Truckosaurus]

I'd be tempted by the 320d. Plenty around to chose from when buying and a choice of body styles, ubiquitous parts supply, every garage in the country will be familiar with them.

[Earthdweller]

I’ve had both 320d x2 and a C220cdi and did around 100k in each from new

I don’t think you can fail with either, the BMW is more of a driver’s car and the Merc more of a wafter car .. both will do seriously good economy on runs, upto around 70 mpg

Both our last two averaged 56/58 mpg overall over around 100k in our ownership

Standard seats in the merc are better than standard seats in the BMW but the sports seats better in the latter

Ride comfort is better in the Merc but I found it a bit of a characterless car .. very good, efficient and an easy car to respect but not too love

The engine in the merc is a lot rougher than the BMW and not as powerful but they both have enough power

Reliability wise, all three of ours were spot on

My choice in either would be an SE with sports seats and small wheels

If a manual id def go BMW, the auto suits the Merc more but the ZF8 in the BMW is a much better box

The dash nav is way better in the BMW a lot of the Mercs have a garmin aftermarket nav unit you have to plug in the glovebox, the controller and usability is pants compared to the BMW idrive and business/pro Nav set ups

The Citroen I have no idea about

[bencollins4]

Jag_NE said:

bencollins4 said:

Fade_Away said:

Evening gentlemen

My looking to buy a diesel car, my average travel 7 to 9 k miles a year, mostly A roads and Weekend on Motorway (70 miles round trip). Can you advise which of following diesel would be a good choice and reliable ?

Budget is under 10K and car should not be older than 9 years with decent running costs.

BMW 320d
Merc C220 CDI
Citroen C4 or C4 Picasso 1.6 HDI


Edit - I am in Scotland

Edited by Fade_Away on Tuesday 22 August 19:56

I’m not convinced you need a diesel at all for that usage?

Why? He is mostly doing long journeys so the duty cycle won’t create an issue. He might prefer the drive of a diesel and the savings on fuel. As long as it’s euro6 there are no ULEZ restrictions either.

Because a 70 mile round trip on the motorway is not a long journey and the fuel savings will be pretty limited on the estimated annual mileage. One EGR or DPF issue will blow any savings made and modern turbo petrol engines give a similarly torquey driving experience.

If you like diesel and insist on it, so be it, but I would go for either the Merc or BMW depending on whether you value comfort or driving more.

[Abacus_8607]

Earthdweller said:

I’ve had both 320d x2 and a C220cdi and did around 100k in each from new

I don’t think you can fail with either, the BMW is more of a driver’s car and the Merc more of a wafter car .. both will do seriously good economy on runs, upto around 70 mpg

Both our last two averaged 56/58 mpg overall over around 100k in our ownership

Standard seats in the merc are better than standard seats in the BMW but the sports seats better in the latter

Ride comfort is better in the Merc but I found it a bit of a characterless car .. very good, efficient and an easy car to respect but not too love

The engine in the merc is a lot rougher than the BMW and not as powerful but they both have enough power

Reliability wise, all three of ours were spot on

My choice in either would be an SE with sports seats and small wheels

If a manual id def go BMW, the auto suits the Merc more but the ZF8 in the BMW is a much better box

The dash nav is way better in the BMW a lot of the Mercs have a garmin aftermarket nav unit you have to plug in the glovebox, the controller and usability is pants compared to the BMW idrive and business/pro Nav set ups

The Citroen I have no idea about

Thank you for such comprehensive reply, really helpful. Maintenace was which was easy and cheaper to run if you don't mind sharing.

Cheers!!!

[Earthdweller]

Abacus_8607 said:

Earthdweller said:

I’ve had both 320d x2 and a C220cdi and did around 100k in each from new

I don’t think you can fail with either, the BMW is more of a driver’s car and the Merc more of a wafter car .. both will do seriously good economy on runs, upto around 70 mpg

Both our last two averaged 56/58 mpg overall over around 100k in our ownership

Standard seats in the merc are better than standard seats in the BMW but the sports seats better in the latter

Ride comfort is better in the Merc but I found it a bit of a characterless car .. very good, efficient and an easy car to respect but not too love

The engine in the merc is a lot rougher than the BMW and not as powerful but they both have enough power

Reliability wise, all three of ours were spot on

My choice in either would be an SE with sports seats and small wheels

If a manual id def go BMW, the auto suits the Merc more but the ZF8 in the BMW is a much better box

The dash nav is way better in the BMW a lot of the Mercs have a garmin aftermarket nav unit you have to plug in the glovebox, the controller and usability is pants compared to the BMW idrive and business/pro Nav set ups

The Citroen I have no idea about

Thank you for such comprehensive reply, really helpful. Maintenace was which was easy and cheaper to run if you don't mind sharing.

Cheers!!!

They were all on variable servicing schedules so they came up about every 18-19k miles

Anyone can service them, they aren’t complex at all and I’d imagine any local mechanic worth his salt wouldn’t have any issues with them

And cost wise, it’s not a lot of money

With your mileage the car would ask for a service every 24 months as per the time limit

As the car is getting a bit older it might be worth dropping down to an annual oil change/service

[Earthdweller]

Abacus_8607 said:

bencollins4 said:

Because a 70 mile round trip on the motorway is not a long journey and the fuel savings will be pretty limited on the estimated annual mileage. One EGR or DPF issue will blow any savings made and modern turbo petrol engines give a similarly torquey driving experience.

If you like diesel and insist on it, so be it, but I would go for either the Merc or BMW depending on whether you value comfort or driving more.

This makes me concerned too, but drive and economy of diesel is key attraction. Would you mind sharing few petrol in similar budget which reliable and have enough low end torque ?

Thanks

In something like 500k miles plus driving diesels with DPF/EGR I’ve never had one fail

My daily commute in both the c220/320d was around 80 miles rtn which involved about 20 miles of motorway with city at one end and country lanes at the other id easily see 60+ mpg and more if the traffic was light

My wife’s commute was around 200 miles each way .. and she’d regularly see 70mpg

You’re 70 mile trip is pretty much there and back on one gallon

A petrol car doing 40mpg is going to cost you almost twice as much in fuel

If you’re not a powerfully built co director and need to mind the pennies it’s a significant saving

iirc when we had the c220d, 62 plate, it was only £30 road tax and the 64 plate 320d was similar

Equivalent petrols tend to be in higher VED bands

[ZX10R NIN]

Fade_Away said:

Evening gentlemen

My looking to buy a diesel car, my average travel 7 to 9 k miles a year, mostly A roads and Weekend on Motorway (70 miles round trip). Can you advise which of following diesel would be a good choice and reliable ?

Budget is under 10K and car should not be older than 9 years with decent running costs.

BMW 320d
Merc C220 CDI
Citroen C4 or C4 Picasso 1.6 HDI


Edit - I am in Scotland

Edited by Fade_Away on Tuesday 22 August 19:56

Your journey type suits a diesel & you can get a nice car for your money especially if you don't mind not having a badge on the bonnet.

Insignia Elite Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307209...

Previous gen SRI VX Line Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308140...

DS5 Elegance:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308221...

Infiniti Q50 Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307270...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303225...

All are also ULEZ compliant.

[Earthdweller]

ZX10R NIN said:

Your journey type suits a diesel & you can get a nice car for your money especially if you don't mind not having a badge on the bonnet.


All are also ULEZ compliant.

I think, living in Scotland rust is more a worry than ULEZ compliance!

[ZX10R NIN]

Earthdweller said:

I think, living in Scotland rust is more a worry than ULEZ compliance!

[bencollins4]

Earthdweller said:

Abacus_8607 said:

bencollins4 said:

Because a 70 mile round trip on the motorway is not a long journey and the fuel savings will be pretty limited on the estimated annual mileage. One EGR or DPF issue will blow any savings made and modern turbo petrol engines give a similarly torquey driving experience.

If you like diesel and insist on it, so be it, but I would go for either the Merc or BMW depending on whether you value comfort or driving more.

This makes me concerned too, but drive and economy of diesel is key attraction. Would you mind sharing few petrol in similar budget which reliable and have enough low end torque ?

Thanks

In something like 500k miles plus driving diesels with DPF/EGR I’ve never had one fail

My daily commute in both the c220/320d was around 80 miles rtn which involved about 20 miles of motorway with city at one end and country lanes at the other id easily see 60+ mpg and more if the traffic was light

My wife’s commute was around 200 miles each way .. and she’d regularly see 70mpg

You’re 70 mile trip is pretty much there and back on one gallon

A petrol car doing 40mpg is going to cost you almost twice as much in fuel

If you’re not a powerfully built co director and need to mind the pennies it’s a significant saving

iirc when we had the c220d, 62 plate, it was only £30 road tax and the 64 plate 320d was similar

Equivalent petrols tend to be in higher VED bands

I was the same - did 30k ish a year for about a decade in a 120d, then 330d and never had an engine issue, but I had regular 300 / 400 miles motorway trips for business and for those the diesels were absolutely perfect.

In terms of torquey petrols, I would go for something like a BMW 320i / 328i (maybe stretching the budget) with the B48 engine. They will do an easy 45 / 50 mpg. You’re looking at a saving of not much more than £200 - £300 with a diesel at 60mpg for your mileage OP, but if that makes a difference to you, fair enough.