Would you buy a diesel now?
Discussion
Wife's car suddenly threw up a 'defective power steering' fault yesterday. Looking online, it seems very likely that's a problem that will cost several thousand pounds - in which case we will ditch the car.
It's an A5 diesel - which suits her use since her office is 150 mile round trip - and on average she does that 2 or 3 times a week.
To replace it, we'd be looking at about 3 years old with a budget of around £25-30k.
Another A5 diesel would work - but there are a lot less diesels around these days so limited choice - and I don't trust councils to restrict them even more in future.
Would it be a bad idea to buy another diesel? Petrol hybrids seen to have taken over from them as far as I can see so that may be the obvious choice.
We don't want pure EV.
It's an A5 diesel - which suits her use since her office is 150 mile round trip - and on average she does that 2 or 3 times a week.
To replace it, we'd be looking at about 3 years old with a budget of around £25-30k.
Another A5 diesel would work - but there are a lot less diesels around these days so limited choice - and I don't trust councils to restrict them even more in future.
Would it be a bad idea to buy another diesel? Petrol hybrids seen to have taken over from them as far as I can see so that may be the obvious choice.
We don't want pure EV.
ARHarh said:
Or just getting a proper quote for fixing your car rather than just guessing? But if you want a newer car then fine.
We will. And if it turns out to be cheap we'll keep it for a while However, its replacement has been semi planned for a while. It's 12 years old and will roll over 200k miles soon. It's just old enough that it falls foul of ULEZ everywhere.
It's generally a good car - but in the last year, it's needed repairing twice. Although they were not major issues this is now the third thing in a year so it's beginning to fail in it's basic requirements.
Hence, we are now more seriously looking around and hence my question.
Edited by davek_964 on Sunday 3rd August 10:39
davek_964 said:
Wife's car suddenly threw up a 'defective power steering' fault yesterday. Looking online, it seems very likely that's a problem that will cost several thousand pounds - in which case we will ditch the car.
It's an A5 diesel - which suits her use since her office is 150 mile round trip - and on average she does that 2 or 3 times a week.
To replace it, we'd be looking at about 3 years old with a budget of around £25-30k.
Another A5 diesel would work - but there are a lot less diesels around these days so limited choice - and I don't trust councils to restrict them even more in future.
Would it be a bad idea to buy another diesel? Petrol hybrids seen to have taken over from them as far as I can see so that may be the obvious choice.
We don't want pure EV.
Most data shows that plug-in hybrid tend to be the worst option , so either ev or basic hybrid make the most sense. Nothing wrong with a good euro 6 engine . The choice really depends on your usage. For me I don’t have a sensible home charging option , so take a petrol/diesel car any day.It's an A5 diesel - which suits her use since her office is 150 mile round trip - and on average she does that 2 or 3 times a week.
To replace it, we'd be looking at about 3 years old with a budget of around £25-30k.
Another A5 diesel would work - but there are a lot less diesels around these days so limited choice - and I don't trust councils to restrict them even more in future.
Would it be a bad idea to buy another diesel? Petrol hybrids seen to have taken over from them as far as I can see so that may be the obvious choice.
We don't want pure EV.
uktrailmonster said:
Why not full EV? Is it because you cannot charge at home? If so, fair enough. Get another diesel. But if you can charge at home an EV is a far better option on your budget.
There are a few reasons - not least that we simply don't want one - but mainly:Her current commute is 150 mile round trip but that could well change in the next few years and could become longer. Her job is such that she cannot charge at work and we have no interest in buying a car that means if she changes job location she couldn't drive to work and back without having to stop somewhere to charge.
I'd prefer this didn't become a thread about how great EVs really are though. We don't want one.
I would happily buy another diesel shed, expecting to get my money's worth out of it in a couple of years.
Spending over £20k and expecting to keep a diesel a long time or to have residual value after say 5 years, I'm really not sure!
I don't think you can see very far ahead now.
Spending £20k is not the cheapest solution, so what do you want?
If I was spending that, I would want whatever car I liked, found comfortable, enjoyed driving etc.
Saving a few quid on fuel would not be the main thing, but reasonable economy would be nice.
Some people seem to get good mpg from petrol hybrids, there is a lot of choice out there.
Buying a slightly cheaper straight petrol car and not caring about the mpg might work for many people!
I think some people could make a coherent case for buying something cheaper to do the next couple of years, then the used EV market will be more mature etc.
Spending over £20k and expecting to keep a diesel a long time or to have residual value after say 5 years, I'm really not sure!
I don't think you can see very far ahead now.
Spending £20k is not the cheapest solution, so what do you want?
If I was spending that, I would want whatever car I liked, found comfortable, enjoyed driving etc.
Saving a few quid on fuel would not be the main thing, but reasonable economy would be nice.
Some people seem to get good mpg from petrol hybrids, there is a lot of choice out there.
Buying a slightly cheaper straight petrol car and not caring about the mpg might work for many people!
I think some people could make a coherent case for buying something cheaper to do the next couple of years, then the used EV market will be more mature etc.
OutInTheShed said:
I would happily buy another diesel shed, expecting to get my money's worth out of it in a couple of years.
Spending over £20k and expecting to keep a diesel a long time or to have residual value after say 5 years, I'm really not sure!
I don't think you can see very far ahead now.
Spending £20k is not the cheapest solution, so what do you want?
If I was spending that, I would want whatever car I liked, found comfortable, enjoyed driving etc.
Saving a few quid on fuel would not be the main thing, but reasonable economy would be nice.
Some people seem to get good mpg from petrol hybrids, there is a lot of choice out there.
Buying a slightly cheaper straight petrol car and not caring about the mpg might work for many people!
I think some people could make a coherent case for buying something cheaper to do the next couple of years, then the used EV market will be more mature etc.
Yeah, I completely agree - it's why we hoped her car would make it another couple of years to see how the car world had settled. But she seems adamant that she won't spend thousands on it when it will probably have more problems in the near future. Spending over £20k and expecting to keep a diesel a long time or to have residual value after say 5 years, I'm really not sure!
I don't think you can see very far ahead now.
Spending £20k is not the cheapest solution, so what do you want?
If I was spending that, I would want whatever car I liked, found comfortable, enjoyed driving etc.
Saving a few quid on fuel would not be the main thing, but reasonable economy would be nice.
Some people seem to get good mpg from petrol hybrids, there is a lot of choice out there.
Buying a slightly cheaper straight petrol car and not caring about the mpg might work for many people!
I think some people could make a coherent case for buying something cheaper to do the next couple of years, then the used EV market will be more mature etc.
I like the idea of pure petrol - it does open other options for her, especially since she no longer needs a 4 / 5 seater car since I bought one a month ago
davek_964 said:
uktrailmonster said:
Why not full EV? Is it because you cannot charge at home? If so, fair enough. Get another diesel. But if you can charge at home an EV is a far better option on your budget.
There are a few reasons - not least that we simply don't want one - but mainly:Her current commute is 150 mile round trip but that could well change in the next few years and could become longer. Her job is such that she cannot charge at work and we have no interest in buying a car that means if she changes job location she couldn't drive to work and back without having to stop somewhere to charge.
I'd prefer this didn't become a thread about how great EVs really are though. We don't want one.
Count897 said:
I d get a diesel while you still can. One thing s for sure if the eco nutters persist with the incoming nonsensical virtue signalling bans, is that will create a huge demand and corresponding appreciation in ICE prices particularly diesel.
Definitely worth bookmarking this for a future laugh. Just get another audi diesel or equivalent, but first I would most likely look around and quotes to fix your current car.
I am finding it hard to see how it will cost thousands to fix....could be wrong mind, even buying salvage parts can be cost effective if you can find an indie to fit said parts, that's what keeps my cars going if you find a decent indie who can help....both nearing the 200k mark themselves.
Sometimes better the devil you know of course, even spending the decent budget you have doesn't mean you will get a reliable car compared to your known A5.
I do a similar mileage most weeks in my 18 year old N/A petrol, with the price of petrol cheaper at the pumps, it's working out not too bad, petrol less to go wrong in theory also, ULEZ friendly if that matters, and cheaper to service - mpg/economy isn't too bad either, if you take it easy.
Good luck!
I am finding it hard to see how it will cost thousands to fix....could be wrong mind, even buying salvage parts can be cost effective if you can find an indie to fit said parts, that's what keeps my cars going if you find a decent indie who can help....both nearing the 200k mark themselves.
Sometimes better the devil you know of course, even spending the decent budget you have doesn't mean you will get a reliable car compared to your known A5.
I do a similar mileage most weeks in my 18 year old N/A petrol, with the price of petrol cheaper at the pumps, it's working out not too bad, petrol less to go wrong in theory also, ULEZ friendly if that matters, and cheaper to service - mpg/economy isn't too bad either, if you take it easy.
Good luck!
Edited by 7 5 7 on Sunday 3rd August 11:21
uktrailmonster said:
Count897 said:
I d get a diesel while you still can. One thing s for sure if the eco nutters persist with the incoming nonsensical virtue signalling bans, is that will create a huge demand and corresponding appreciation in ICE prices particularly diesel.
Definitely worth bookmarking this for a future laugh. Of course it is quite likely the eco legislation will be binned with the next change of government as in the US.
Stick with a diesel - similar scenario with my partners commute, 174 mile round trip, 3 days a week.
We had £10k tied up in a 330d which although very pleasant was a bit overkill for sitting at 75 on the M5 for 90% of the journey & with the mileage accruing pretty quickly and associated value decreasing I suggested finding something much cheaper with proper service history that we can just make mechanically spot-on and keep forever so mileage/usage becomes irrelevant.
I found a 1 owner Octavia 1.6TDI of 2011 vintage, 93k for £1880.
£35 tax, 58mpg (according to the dash) without trying and with much more comfortable seats apparently compared to the BMW.
Incredibly boring - yes, but absolutely fit for purpose.
Received a full service and a/c regas soon after taking ownership, booked in next week for a couple of suspension bushes, front shocks and wheel alignment but fundamentally should cost very little in terms of maintenance for the foreseeable, especially as it came with invoices from last year for a cambelt change, new clutch and brakes
We had £10k tied up in a 330d which although very pleasant was a bit overkill for sitting at 75 on the M5 for 90% of the journey & with the mileage accruing pretty quickly and associated value decreasing I suggested finding something much cheaper with proper service history that we can just make mechanically spot-on and keep forever so mileage/usage becomes irrelevant.
I found a 1 owner Octavia 1.6TDI of 2011 vintage, 93k for £1880.
£35 tax, 58mpg (according to the dash) without trying and with much more comfortable seats apparently compared to the BMW.
Incredibly boring - yes, but absolutely fit for purpose.
Received a full service and a/c regas soon after taking ownership, booked in next week for a couple of suspension bushes, front shocks and wheel alignment but fundamentally should cost very little in terms of maintenance for the foreseeable, especially as it came with invoices from last year for a cambelt change, new clutch and brakes
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a modern diesel, they're still a fantastic option for high mile use. I think they'll hold value as its so hard to buy a new one and there will always be a demand - the only risk is local legislation deciding they don't want them but it wouldn't stop me (and I live in London).
davek_964 said:
To replace it, we'd be looking at about 3 years old with a budget of around £25-30k.
We don't want pure EV.
InterestingWe don't want pure EV.
With that budget and higher EV depreciation, you'd get a very decent EV with 5 years warranty still left on the battery and practically zero servicing cost .
If you can charge at home and don't NEED to tow regularly, buying anything other than an EV is crazy.
Edited by SDK on Sunday 3rd August 11:46
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