Bangernomics, diesel advice...

[Steameh]

I have decided that two cars is the way to go, something fun to use during the weekend and for long journeys and a snotter to go to and from uni once every two weeks or so, and maybe the odd trip down south.

I want something that is diesel so I can maximise what I get to one tank and wont have me on the hard shoulder each trip.

I had originally settled on a 306 D Turbo, however, I am beginning to wonder if I would really need a D Turbo, just something else to go wrong. So I have started looking at the N/A diesels, mainly 306 1.9D's and 206 1.9D. Any other suggestions or advice?

I am looking to spend around 1k for a mainly motorway car, and would prefer the car to be in as low an insurance grouping as possible. I understand whatever I get will have stellar mileage and little history and I should judge mainly on condition.

This will hopefully last me till the end of uni (a year...maybe 2).

Any advise, experience or ideas welcome!

[MondeoMan1981]

206 will get better mpg based on size/weight, but the 306 will probably be nicer to drive, although slower...

Get either with a bosch fuel pump rather than lucas, and bangeromics just got cheaper as they will run on part de-watered veg oil.

[Steameh]

MondeoMan1981 said:

206 will get better mpg based on size/weight, but the 306 will probably be nicer to drive, although slower...

Get either with a bosch fuel pump rather than lucas, and bangeromics just got cheaper as they will run on part de-watered veg oil.

I'm not overly fussed about the drive, I understand neither with particularly set my pants alight, just something that will chew away at the miles, 40 to leeds and possibly the odd 230 miles jaunt down to the south coast. Something reliable and comfy that will sit at 70-80 with relative ease is what I'm after.

What are the legalities of veg oil and where do you get it from?

[OllieC]

Steameh said:

MondeoMan1981 said:

206 will get better mpg based on size/weight, but the 306 will probably be nicer to drive, although slower...

Get either with a bosch fuel pump rather than lucas, and bangeromics just got cheaper as they will run on part de-watered veg oil.

I'm not overly fussed about the drive, I understand neither with particularly set my pants alight, just something that will chew away at the miles, 40 to leeds and possibly the odd 230 miles jaunt down to the south coast. Something reliable and comfy that will sit at 70-80 with relative ease is what I'm after.

What are the legalities of veg oil and where do you get it from?

Having owned a 306 diesel and a D Turbo, I see no advantage in going for the normally aspirated car. The Dturbo only has around 20hp more, but it is WAY nicer to drive, with no loss of economy (even the book figures are pretty much the same)

its slightly more complicated, but its a reliable and simple engine much more so than modern turbo diesel designs, just make sure it has had the cambelt + tensioner + water pump etc done when necessary and it should prove fine

As previously ststed get a Bosch pump version rather than the Lucas.

[Jazoli]

The D-Turbos in the 306 and ZX are as reliable as the non turbos, I would get a Turbo as you will get better mpg and they are a much more relaxing drive due to the extra toque they have, n/a diesels are not particularly pleasant on long inclines, or for overtaking or pulling out onto fast moving roads.

I had a ZX 1.9d snotter for town use and it was fine, it was just useless everywhere else, whereas my 306 Dturbo was a brillant all rounder

Edited by Jazoli on Monday 3rd May 11:12