Is A Diesel Car Worth it?

jh2004

I urgently want to get rid of my car (ALFA 147 2.0 51 plate).

As the fuel consumption is so so bad. I have even tried driving conservatively and it doesnt make that much difference.

Im soon going to be doing a 75mile round trip per day for work,

so im wondering is it worth getting a diesel, or a more econmical car??

however i still want a car with a bit of umph!

ive got about 4.5 - 5.5k to spend.

my alfa currently does under 280 miles for a £45 - £50 tank - which is shocking.
any suggestions and advice would be great - thanks
JH

nearlyrich

I have a 2 litre SEAT Altea diesel which does at least double that mileage on a £50 fill up, (depends how I drive it and the kind of journeys I make) however it is a fairly new release car and I would be surprised if you can get one in your budget. Have a look at the VW range or even Skoda. Don't let anyone tell you diesels don't have umph! mine flies.

Quinny_2

I have a 99 406 HDi,110bhp,and despite it's now 7 years old,it only has 84k on the clock,and compared to my previous car,goes like s**t off a shovel.

We went to France in it last year,2 weeks after I bought it,and what with a car full of gear,2 adults and 2 kids,still managed 45mpg.I also tow a Citroen AX race car with it on a weekend,and it doesn't bat an eyelid.

So given the choice,with the budget you have,I would almost certainly go for a Peugeot HDi diesel,(307) or a VW engined diesel.(VW,Seat,Skoda.)

Ken.

charlesh

For your budget you could also look at the Ford Focus TDCi (115 bhp) and Ford Mondeo (130 bhp). My Focus gives 500+ for a tank full costing £50.

I will admit that the VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda diesels are more economical, but you would be able to buy a newer Ford for the same price as an older VW.

MarkyMarkD

The cheapest HDI engined car would probably be a Citroen Xsara or Xantia.

Quinny_2

There are currently some 2002 307 HDi's on my local Autotrader,for circa £4k.So for £5.5k,the top price quoted by jh2004,your going to get a very recent one.

Got to agree though,and I completely forgot about,the Ford Focus.Although the engine is slightly smaller,it also goes well,and like the 307,is quite roomy inside.

Ken.

stamford

MarkyMarkD wrote:

The cheapest HDI engined car would probably be a Citroen Xsara or Xantia.

Or mine a Berlingo 2.0 HDI Multispace - ugly beast but well equipped and extremely practical - had it 3 yrs from new. Before that a Citroen 1.9d normally aspirated ZX Estate, very reliable had done 140000 by the time I sold it

lellie

Quinny wrote:

I have a 99 406 HDi,110bhp,and despite it's now 7 years old,it only has 84k on the clock,and compared to my previous car,goes like s**t off a shovel.

We went to France in it last year,2 weeks after I bought it,and what with a car full of gear,2 adults and 2 kids,still managed 45mpg.I also tow a Citroen AX race car with it on a weekend,and it doesn't bat an eyelid.

So given the choice,with the budget you have,I would almost certainly go for a Peugeot HDi diesel,(307) or a VW engined diesel.(VW,Seat,Skoda.)

Ken.

oops..pressed the thanks not the quote.. but you're right.

peugeot diesels do excellent mpg. My dad has an ancient 309, that regulary does 60mpg.

aurora_borealis_2

Our Saab 93 does 48 mpg (best so far).

Dodgybloke

I have a Focus TDCI which flies. However, with your proposed the TDCI engine is likely to be out of budget. You might get a fiesta, so you're better off looking at Seat or Skoda with the excellent TDI engine. Another possible is the Peugeot HDI engine which I hear good things about.

However, rather than guess, check out the AA website and select the tell me how much my car is worth. Enter your parameters and it will tell which cars fit you budget. It uses the glass's guide which are the actual prices the motor trade pay.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring-advice/index.jsp

I hope this helps.

jh2004

thanks for all the help folks,

im now off to go through autotrader and what car.

thinking older saab 9-3 / volvo s40 / vw passat, golf

better get mine sold first!

thanks again
Jh