Best 4-cylinder diesel engine?...

[white_goodman]

All things considered: reliability, refinement, performance, economy etc. I know that for some asking what is the best 4 cylinder diesel, is like asking what is your favourite "50 Shades of Grey" novel but I'm after a cheapish diesel for a longish commute. Doing it in a 1.4 TSI mk7 Golf auto at the moment, which is nice but I'm only getting low 30s on the commute at the moment, which is a little disappointing. Not an issue though, as my wife is due a new car and likes the Golf, so we'll keep it for family duties. Whereas a 5/6-pot Volvo/Mercedes/BMW/Audi diesel for the performance/extra refinement is tempting, you only get low 40s mpg in my experience and I'm really after 50mpg+ and lower RFL. Had a 3-pot Polo TDI back in the day and it did 60mpg on the commute no problem but was a little "rough", so don't want another 3-pot diesel.

Had a few mk4 Golf/B5 Passats as company cars in the past and the PD 130 engine was a highlight and seems to go on forever, so that's currently where I'm leaning. The turbocharged PSA XUD engines were also brilliant in their day but anything with one of those engines is going to be knocking on a bit now and I was never as impressed with the newer HDi engines. Haven't driven a post-PD VW diesel either, so don't know whether they're any good and they come with a bit of a stigma now, which is why I gave the TSI a go on my current car having been impressed by the fuel economy and performance of a 1.2 TSI Golf that I had as a hire car a few years ago. I haven't owned a diesel since 2013 and my only recent experience of diesel have been Ford Focus/Vauxhall Mokka hire cars, which I found pretty horrible to be honest (the cars were OK but the engines were horrid).

So is it just "rose-tinted glasses" with the old VW PD engines or were they really that good and all things considered, have they been bettered by anything since? Let's say 5k as a budget ceiling but 3-4k would be better (trying to reduce our outgoings on car payments and thinking about getting a bike for fun).

[white_goodman]

Krikkit said:

Possibly a left-field suggestion - buy a PD-powered shed type car around £1500, and keep the same again in a savings account so you can buy a replacement should something catastrophic happen.

This is assuming you're not commuting into an urban centre that's putting up a ULEZ of course.

ULEZ shouldn't be an issue for me right now. You make a good point and thanks for making it. I would be perfectly happy with spending less if I found the right car but even if it is just a "white goods" tool, I don't want to be driving around in a complete POS. I'll be spending more time in this car than the family car, so it has to be a pleasant place to be (comfortable, refined etc), presentable because I still take pride in my cars even if they're cheap, a decent drive and dependable because I need to get where I'm going reliably.

[white_goodman]

Artsy said:

I think the 1.9 VW diesel is the one that always seems to come up quite high in reliability for large mileage. No DPF to worry about either.

I reckon that this engine in a polo or ibiza of that generation is the most economical you're going to get without it being painfully slow. If you need a cruiser then passat or similar would work too.

The Honda 2.2 is meant to be very good too but I'm not sure about clutch life based on the internet and the automatic is a bit slow and too high revving for my liking (had it in a CRV).

Agree with the previous post of buy something for £1,500 and keep the change...

Should have mentioned that I don't need an auto (in fact in an older car, auto is probably less efficient), it's just that my current car happens to be automatic. It was the spec that I was after (leather, pan roof, 18" wheels etc) and the right age and mileage and importantly price but just happened to be automatic rather than manual. I still like it and my wife prefers an automatic, so that's all fine but I'm good with and usually buy manual. Thanks for the other suggestions. A friend had a 1.9 TDI Polo and had a few gearbox issues with it. My Polo (2008) wasn't as comfortable as my mk4 Golf and although the mk4 Golf is hardly a beacon for handling, I think that it did feel a bit more surefooted than the Polo. Never tried an Ibiza though and they're certainly more attractive looking than the older Polos. Honda is also a good shout. Always liked the "spaceship" shape Civic, had a later 2013 Civic with the 1.8 petrol and was rather disappointed by it but I've never tried the diesel, so worth taking a look. MG ZT is also a guilty pleasure but quite rare now, not sure whether the manual or automatic would suit that car best with the 135bhp diesel engine?

[white_goodman]

A1VDY said:

There's only one, VW 1.9 PD.
Various power outputs, 100, 115, 130&150hp. They're all good. Be aware though that the 6 speed gearbox can be trouble some in some variants..

Remind me which ones got the 6-speed? The 130/150 mk4 Golfs IIRC but maybe not the B5 Passats (apart from the Sport)? My spec of choice for the Passat was the Highline. More comfortable seats than the Sport and didn't ground out as easily, albeit a bit floatier...

[white_goodman]

manmaths said:

What about the Fabia vRS? My brother had 2 and they were pretty nippy from what I remember. I think they ran the PD130 engine. Looks like there are still a few in good nick for sale.

Thanks. Good shout. The seats might be a dealbreaker. I drove a lesser Fabia and found the seats very uncomfortable but the ones in the vRS might be better. Octavia/Superb might be worth a look though...

[white_goodman]

TCX said:

Vauxhall 1.7cdti 55/06

Don't think I've driven that one. The Mokka that I drove was a 1.6 CDTi I think. What did the 1.7 come in? The 1.9 CDTi of that era was problematic?

[white_goodman]

longblackcoat said:

OM646 in a Mercedes W211 E-Class will do you 48mpg as an average on longer runs, plenty of waft, and feels good to drive. My 2006 model is now on 230k miles and it’s had nothing other than routine servicing in my ownership (the last 130k).

Cheap to service at an Indy (never even think about using a Mercedes dealer) and depreciation means that for £2k you’ll get a good one.

Not as fuel efficient as a VW but much tougher and you’ll probably never need to change the turbo etc. Cost per mile it’s the cheapest car I’ve ever owned.

Edited by longblackcoat on Tuesday 7th July 20:10

Thanks, W211 is a really nice car regardless of engine really. Will add it to the shortlist!

[white_goodman]

I was always a little intrigued my Subaru's 4 cylinder "Boxer" diesel. Has anyone experienced one of those in anything?

[white_goodman]

Thanks for all the suggestions, getting a bit of a shortlist together now.

mk4 Golf GT TDI (130 probably)

W203 C220CDi/W211 E220 CDi

Honda Civic 2.2 CDTi

MG ZT 135 CDTi

BMW 320d (E46/E90)

Volvo S60 D5

The PSA/Vauxhall diesels may be decent but it's the cars that they're available in which I have more of an issue with. It's certainly been a while since I've driven a mk4 Golf GT TDI but I remember that engine being pretty untouchable at the time and whilst certainly not refined, the Focus 1.5 TDCi that I drove more recently certainly seemed harsher/more abrasive. Do Ford use their own diesel engines now, as I seem to remember they were in bed with PSA at some point?

Certainly some that I hadn't considered there: Civic, Volvo D5 (because I didn't think they were that economical), 320d, as my understanding was that they had a few reliability issues.

I'm probably still leaning towards the Golf. I bought a cheap mk4 Golf many years ago with the 2 litre petrol and it was awful, a complete lemon and only lasted me a year. I should have spent a bit more and got the GT TDI, as I know people who still run them and they've been going for years. Also, they're fairly fun to drive.

A W203/W211 is also tempting though for the luxury/cosseting factor. I had a W202 C-Class Estate with the 2.5 5-pot turbodiesel (OM605?) as a cheap stopgap a few years ago. Hardly refined but 220k, pulled like a train, surprisingly economical and felt bulletproof. Is the 5 cylinder diesel (OM612) in the C270CDi/E270CDi just as good or is there a significant drop off in fuel economy/reliability over the 4 cylinder diesel? A bit more "shove" would certainly be welcome if there's not too much of a penalty to pay.