Help... What Reliable Diesel for £6k

[tomwoodis]

Hi There,

I'm currently seeking a car for a member of the family. Criteria is pretty simple and is as follows:

1) Reliable - this has the highest priority over all others
2) Diesel
3) No more than about 60-70k already on the clock (the car will be doing considerable mileage over the next 3-5 years, at a guess about 75,000 over the next 3 years or so.
4) Preferably german (but happy to consider other options if they have proven themselves to be just as reliable as their german counterparts
5) Max budget of £6k
6) No more than 5-6 years old

and that is about it really. Would consider hatchback, saloon or estate versions of the various marques, just primarily want something that will be reliable and relatively easy to maintain. Can even be an auto if needs be.

So far I have come up with the following ideas:

1) 3 Series BMW 320d (although this particualr diesel seems to have a few issues around turbo, injector and manifold failures?! - doesn't seem very BMW like!

2) VW Golf 2.0 tdi - (although these seem to have some ESP problems and need regular cambelt changes)

3) Saab 9-3 saloon 1.9 diesel (both 120 & 150hp variants) - but these seem to have a number of issues too!!!

really keen to find out from others what else I should be considering and to hear from a few who have run their cars for significant mileages and found out a few of their common (and hopefully cheap to fix) main problems.

Many thanks in advance for any advice,

Tom

[AndrewTait]

Skoda Octavia - get a better equipped/lower milage vehicle for the same price as the golf, and is just a golf underneath.

[Somnophore]

Fabia Vrs

[edo]

Sure you can get this for 6.5k - can they stretch to that?

2006 BMW 1 SERIES 118d ES 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Private Seller
55,000 miles, 5 Door Hatchback, Black, Diesel, Manual, PAS, Height adjustable drivers seat, Alloy wheels, Passenger airbag, Folding rear seats, Drivers airbag. Air conditioning, Full BMWservice history, Lady owner. £6,950.

[ManOpener]

Somnophore said:

Fabia Vrs

I'd agree, except the 1.9 TDi PD motor is dog rough and eats turbo like nobody's business. My Golf went through 4 in 140k miles according to its service history.

320d is probably a good bet. Later 2.0 TDi motors are much better than earlier 1.9's.

+1 on the Octavia.

[JayBM]

VW Bora? You would get more for your money when compared to the Golf. For that budget you could just about pick up a 130BHP Highline model.

I've run mine for the last 4yrs without any troubles.

[tomwoodis]

ManOpener said:

Somnophore said:

Fabia Vrs

I'd agree, except the 1.9 TDi PD motor is dog rough and eats turbo like nobody's business. My Golf went through 4 in 140k miles according to its service history.

320d is probably a good bet. Later 2.0 TDi motors are much better than earlier 1.9's.

+1 on the Octavia.

Yea, cars that like chewing on Turbos is exactly the sort of thing I'm trying to avoid.

Liking the suggestions so far though, what engine choices would you get in the Octavia then.

[tomwoodis]

edo said:

Sure you can get this for 6.5k - can they stretch to that?

2006 BMW 1 SERIES 118d ES 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Private Seller
55,000 miles, 5 Door Hatchback, Black, Diesel, Manual, PAS, Height adjustable drivers seat, Alloy wheels, Passenger airbag, Folding rear seats, Drivers airbag. Air conditioning, Full BMWservice history, Lady owner. £6,950.

Unfortunately I have pushed to 6k from an original 5k budget so 6.5k will quickly get ruled out. Shame as I agree that the 1 series would have been ideal.

[matchmaker]

tomwoodis said:

ManOpener said:

Somnophore said:

Fabia Vrs

I'd agree, except the 1.9 TDi PD motor is dog rough and eats turbo like nobody's business. My Golf went through 4 in 140k miles according to its service history.

320d is probably a good bet. Later 2.0 TDi motors are much better than earlier 1.9's.

+1 on the Octavia.

Yea, cars that like chewing on Turbos is exactly the sort of thing I'm trying to avoid.

Liking the suggestions so far though, what engine choices would you get in the Octavia then.

Mk 1 Octavia - from the 68 bhp SDI to the PD130.

[tomwoodis]

matchmaker said:

tomwoodis said:

ManOpener said:

Somnophore said:

Fabia Vrs

I'd agree, except the 1.9 TDi PD motor is dog rough and eats turbo like nobody's business. My Golf went through 4 in 140k miles according to its service history.

320d is probably a good bet. Later 2.0 TDi motors are much better than earlier 1.9's.

+1 on the Octavia.

Yea, cars that like chewing on Turbos is exactly the sort of thing I'm trying to avoid.

Liking the suggestions so far though, what engine choices would you get in the Octavia then.

Mk 1 Octavia - from the 68 bhp SDI to the PD130.

Ok forgive my ignorance but does that mean that all of the engine choices are therefore variants of the 1.9 PD motor that we have just established likes chewing turbos, or are there some that are less likely to suffer the same affliction?

[Rammy76]

tomwoodis said:

matchmaker said:

tomwoodis said:

ManOpener said:

Somnophore said:

Fabia Vrs

I'd agree, except the 1.9 TDi PD motor is dog rough and eats turbo like nobody's business. My Golf went through 4 in 140k miles according to its service history.

320d is probably a good bet. Later 2.0 TDi motors are much better than earlier 1.9's.

+1 on the Octavia.

Yea, cars that like chewing on Turbos is exactly the sort of thing I'm trying to avoid.

Liking the suggestions so far though, what engine choices would you get in the Octavia then.

Mk 1 Octavia - from the 68 bhp SDI to the PD130.

Ok forgive my ignorance but does that mean that all of the engine choices are therefore variants of the 1.9 PD motor that we have just established likes chewing turbos, or are there some that are less likely to suffer the same affliction?

Thats the opinion of one person OP and not my experience of the 1.9 PD engine. Yes it's not the most refined compared to the best nowadays but my one is on 105000 miles on the original turbo and everything else!
I have the 130 BHP engine in my Passat and it's superb for economy and reliability and quite punchy when required.

I also know of many used in a fleet of taxi's that are nudging 200000 miles without any issues.

[T84]

Accord/Civic 2.2 CDT-i

[Kentish]

I think I'd be looking for a 530d.

[Ry_B]

My money would go on an Accord 2.2 d

[edo]

Quite sure you could haggle this to budget. 1 year of Main dealer warranty. Nice low miles.

2006 Skoda Fabia Hatchback 5-Dr 1896 cc 1.9 TDi PD Elegance
Trade Seller: Hayes Garage Clacton



5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Diesel, 36,223 miles, Highland Green Metallic, Driver And Passenger Air Bags,Cruise Control,Radio/CD,14In Alloy Wheels,Anti-Lock Brakes,Air Conditioning,Alarm,Traction Control System,Driver Information System,Driver Seat Height Adjustment,Front Electric Windows,Power-Assisted Steering,Remote Central Door Locking,Rear Wash Wipe,Rear Parking Aid,Front/Rear Head Restraints,Driver/Passenger Heated Seats,Rake/Reach Adjustable Steering Column/Wheel,Rev Counter,Split Rear Seat,Tinted Glass,Electric/Heated Door Mirrors,Body Coloured Bumpers,Steering Wheel Leather,Eight Speakers,Front Fog Lights,Cup Holder,Immobiliser,Gear Knob Leather,Centre Rear Seat Belt,Spare Wheel,Cloth interior. £6,495 Non VAT Qualifying

[AndrewTait]

tomwoodis said:

ManOpener said:

Somnophore said:

Fabia Vrs

I'd agree, except the 1.9 TDi PD motor is dog rough and eats turbo like nobody's business. My Golf went through 4 in 140k miles according to its service history.

320d is probably a good bet. Later 2.0 TDi motors are much better than earlier 1.9's.

+1 on the Octavia.

Yea, cars that like chewing on Turbos is exactly the sort of thing I'm trying to avoid.

Liking the suggestions so far though, what engine choices would you get in the Octavia then.

Octavia 2 2.0 TDI in assorted trim levels. Ideally L&K, comes with full leather and all the toys.

Have to agree the earlier Octavia 1's are all based on the same 1.9 engine, but I've only known them eat turbos if they have not been looked after.

[ManOpener]

matchmaker said:

tomwoodis said:

ManOpener said:

Somnophore said:

Fabia Vrs

I'd agree, except the 1.9 TDi PD motor is dog rough and eats turbo like nobody's business. My Golf went through 4 in 140k miles according to its service history.

320d is probably a good bet. Later 2.0 TDi motors are much better than earlier 1.9's.

+1 on the Octavia.

Yea, cars that like chewing on Turbos is exactly the sort of thing I'm trying to avoid.

Liking the suggestions so far though, what engine choices would you get in the Octavia then.

Mk 1 Octavia - from the 68 bhp SDI to the PD130.

Would he be able to get a 2.0TDi engine'd Octavia for £6k? I'd suggest that over the 1.9 but that might because mine was a dog.

[Highway Star]

I did near on 40k in 18 months in a Fabia 1.9 TDi with the PD engine - its a bit noisy, but no trouble at all, no turbo trouble, but made sure I got it serviced on the button and did all the belts and water pump on time too.

[hesnotthemessiah]

Golf TDI.....all day long

[Mr GrimNasty]

I have a PD130 and at 90K the turbo and clutch are original. And although it is a diesel, it isn't dog rough! I suspect bad remapping and poor/incorrect servicing has done a lot of Fabia VRSs in.