Diesel Engine-occasional user-risks?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

If you only do 4,000 a year, get something different. Something you'll remember, and not just a boring eurobox. Plenty of options out there.

dannymccann

Why does everyone associate diesels with high servicing costs? My 2.0Dti Astra (10 years old now) has a £5 air filter once a year, a £30 oil change twice a year, and a fuel filter once a year, not sure how much this was last year. Tyres are no different to any other car, £40 a corner, front discs and pads were £70 from an indy, set of glowplugs were £120 2 years ago, but it had been sat for a while and only 1 needed doing but I got all 4 done to be safe...

nickj_2

dannymccann wrote: »

Why does everyone associate diesels with high servicing costs? My 2.0Dti Astra (10 years old now) has a £5 air filter once a year, a £30 oil change twice a year, and a fuel filter once a year, not sure how much this was last year. Tyres are no different to any other car, £40 a corner, front discs and pads were £70 from an indy, set of glowplugs were £120 2 years ago, but it had been sat for a while and only 1 needed doing but I got all 4 done to be safe...

i think this came from them needing an oil change every 6k miles , most go for 10k now , the servicing is probably cheaper than a petrol engined car

vikingaero

dannymccann wrote: »

Why does everyone associate diesels with high servicing costs? My 2.0Dti Astra (10 years old now) has a £5 air filter once a year, a £30 oil change twice a year, and a fuel filter once a year, not sure how much this was last year. Tyres are no different to any other car, £40 a corner, front discs and pads were £70 from an indy, set of glowplugs were £120 2 years ago, but it had been sat for a while and only 1 needed doing but I got all 4 done to be safe...

If only this were true in my case:

Mazda 5 Petrol - 12.5k service £129.01
Mazda 5 Diesel - 12.5k service £470.00

And with the diesel I have the potential for the DPF to clog up and the DMF to go pop.

daveyjp

If Mazda are charging £470 for a 12.5k service they are taking advantage of the fact that most Mazda 5s are diesels - a 12.5k service for a Jag is 'only' about £300 - petrol or diesel.

Ask the Mazda dealer for service sheets for each vehicle and see how they justify £350 more - chances are they can't as the service will be exactly the same. Drop the oil, have a look around, possibly change the pollen filter, no more than an hour's work.

getmore4less

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

If you only do 4,000 a year, get something different. Something you'll remember, and not just a boring eurobox. Plenty of options out there.

For space and toys rather than a SUV(which I thing are not that spacious anyway just taller) what about a top spec estate, Octavia L&C, Jag x-type SE or soveregn both seem good value with loads of kit the Jag petrol seem to be quite good value but do drink a lot more than the diesels

Our 1.9 pug and 1.5 clio diesel have been ok on regular services no more than the prevous 2.0 petol primera GT.

bigjl

One thing to consider is resale value, if you have an MPV or small 4x4, Kuga or similar. Then you will get much better resale with the diesel, just thought I would mention it as one of the largest costs of motoring is depreciation.

My sister has a new shape Galaxy, diesel, she used to have an Alhambra, 1.8T. Both where/are used rairly the Alhambra was almost worthless when traded in, about half the value of a TDi of the same age.

Diesels are more expensive to maintain in certain circumstances, but they are also easier to drive, due to the extra torque, and also have more to go wrong, but if I was in the ,arket I would get the Diesel, as the 2.5T Kuga will be worth less on trade in.

To see this in action look up the prices of V8 X5's and diesel X5's.