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Help me persuade a low mileage driver not to go diesel...
indiegirl_2
Posts: 1,078 Forumite
in Motoring
Forumites, your help is sought.
My father drives no more than 5k a year. He has a 2002 1.8 petrol Mondeo, and consistently complains about the cost of road tax (£220/yr) and the poor MPG (he does about 4700 of those 5000 miles in town - and as you may know it's roundabout heaven here).
Anyway, he's had the car a long while (for him) and is about to collect his pension. He wants something a little smaller (not a supermini - he's not a small bloke) and most importantly in his eyes - economical. He will be buying 2nd hand, with a 7k budget.
Mum doesn't want a "boxy" car and has ruled out a Fusion, Note, Yeti, Panda, Jazz etc. She's also ruled out "anything foreign that's expensive" (don't even start commenting on that). My mother believes that all blue ovals are British, and my Almera isn't. Make of that what you will. They won't buy French from a nasty experience with Renault a few years back.
However, it has to fit a medium-sized dog + my grandmother's wheelchair in it easily on regular occasions.
The problem is that my dad only sees the upfront costs: ie tax and petrol as his immediate costs. He's thinking about buying a diesel Fusion (in fact, every car he looks at he's only choosing diesel).
I've tried alerting him to DPFs and DMF's. I've explained that the average break-even threshold for diesel is in excess of 15k/yr (something he's never achieved), yet he's adamant that diesel = cheaper to run.
Can any of you give me some cast iron reasons why he shouldn't go for a diesel - or should he, and I'm in the wrong?
Also, any suggestions to what to point them toward would be helpful. I have suggested a Focus (hatch discounted due to dog), Civic, and Auris ("ugly").
My father drives no more than 5k a year. He has a 2002 1.8 petrol Mondeo, and consistently complains about the cost of road tax (£220/yr) and the poor MPG (he does about 4700 of those 5000 miles in town - and as you may know it's roundabout heaven here).
Anyway, he's had the car a long while (for him) and is about to collect his pension. He wants something a little smaller (not a supermini - he's not a small bloke) and most importantly in his eyes - economical. He will be buying 2nd hand, with a 7k budget.
Mum doesn't want a "boxy" car and has ruled out a Fusion, Note, Yeti, Panda, Jazz etc. She's also ruled out "anything foreign that's expensive" (don't even start commenting on that). My mother believes that all blue ovals are British, and my Almera isn't. Make of that what you will. They won't buy French from a nasty experience with Renault a few years back.
However, it has to fit a medium-sized dog + my grandmother's wheelchair in it easily on regular occasions.
The problem is that my dad only sees the upfront costs: ie tax and petrol as his immediate costs. He's thinking about buying a diesel Fusion (in fact, every car he looks at he's only choosing diesel).
I've tried alerting him to DPFs and DMF's. I've explained that the average break-even threshold for diesel is in excess of 15k/yr (something he's never achieved), yet he's adamant that diesel = cheaper to run.
Can any of you give me some cast iron reasons why he shouldn't go for a diesel - or should he, and I'm in the wrong?
Also, any suggestions to what to point them toward would be helpful. I have suggested a Focus (hatch discounted due to dog), Civic, and Auris ("ugly").
0
Comments
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How about a Golf 1.4 TSI?0
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Sounds as if you have an uphill battle on this one. Give it to him in black and white so he can read it himself?0
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thescouselander wrote: »How about a Golf 1.4 TSI?
For £7k? Where and how fooked?0 -
fiesta mk6.5 1.4tdci £30 a year tax and great on the juice can eaisly pick up a decent one for 7kSealed pot challenger # 10
1v100 £15/3000 -
LOL.. the 1.6tdci's are elegiable for 30 quid a year tax... theres nowt wrong with a diesel..Sealed pot challenger # 10
1v100 £15/3000 -
I'm inclined to think Dad just might be right here.
Unless he goes for a very tiny petrol car he won't get £30 ish VED, and given his low annual mileage together with the far superior MPG of Diesels for localish running then he'll be a long way out of pocket running costwise with a petrol, obviously that's to be offset against any extra initial cost of buying the Diesel.
He could do far worse than look at a Kia Ceed 1.6 Diesel (excellent estate version too if needed), up to this point they haven't had either a DMF or a DPF though i belive that's due to change with Euro 5 engines about now, it won't be in £30 VED but not far off either.
You have good valid concerns about DPF's and DMF's though, but they arn't failing in their thousands either.0 -
easily achievable for 7k you should be able to get one This discussion has been closed.
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