Old diesel estate cars - good MPG possible?

james_joyce

Hi

Can anyone advise on an economical option (ie good MPG) for a second hand diesel estate car, purchase price around £2000?

I think the Renault Laguna and a Ford TDCI (Focus/Mondeo) have been suggested in the past. Are these still good options

Is there any way to get comparative MPG figures which real owners are actually achieving on older cars like this?

Regards

James

Rolandtheroadie

Could get anything from 44 MPG to 55 MPG in a 2.0 TDCI (the 6 speed) Mondeo (55 plate). 44 was giving it a roasting, 55 was doing 240 miles at 70-80 MPH. The estate version won tow car of the year possibly around 2008?

PsiDOC

2003 Mondeo 2.0 TDCI auto real world mpg 40 extra urban driving and commute to work.
Be wary of the injectors. They are prone to failing on high milers and it's quite an expensive job as the injectors have to be coded into the ECU.
Reanult Laguna... I wish you luck

Hammyman

PsiDOC wrote: »

2003 Mondeo 2.0 TDCI auto real world mpg 40 extra urban driving and commute to work.
Be wary of the injectors. They are prone to failing on high milers and it's quite an expensive job as the injectors have to be coded into the ECU.
Reanult Laguna... I wish you luck

My Mondeo TDCi is on 147,000 miles. I've owned it since 90k and am the second owner. Injectors and DMF are fine. It doesn't do lots of short journeys though. In my ownership its had a turbo pipe split, an alternator bearing go and rear subframe bushes (not an issue on the estate)

I would expect more than 40MPG out of even an auto. I've managed just short of 70MPG out of my 6 speed TDCi when commuting from YO25 to Hull docks including rush hour - about a 50/50 mix of city and 60MPH rural driving.

BTW, there is no absolutely necessary need to have the injectors coded to the ECU. It'll run OK, just not absolutely optimally.

forgotmyname

2004 130 TDCI Estate, Manual 6 speed 38mpg average.

Last tank everaged 26mpg. Beat last years lowest of 28mpg.

48mpg averaged on one tank because i drove from midlands to blackpool inbetween my usual short trips.



Only real comparative results you are going to get is driving the 2 cars on the same journey in EXACTLY the
same conditions which on the road is virtually impossible.

Dont drive short journeys, Dont stop at traffic lights or sit in jams. Will improve the MPG figures but not practical.


Downsize is the only way to decrease consumption. Smaller lighter car with a small engine.
The older shape focus estate with the 1.8TDI engine is good on fuel a lot lighter than a mondeo as well.

Laguna? well my sis had one once and it was once, Head gasket went the same evening she bought it. Took
it back the next day.

Kilty_2

A diesel Laguna isn't as bad as people make out providing it's had the oil changed on time every time etc.

Poorly maintained ones will definitely be time bombs.

bigjl

I know several people that had Lagunas and they had problems with them, they where also well maintained, the 1.9 DCi was a well known hand grenade, don't know much about the other diesels, though the 1.5 DCi in the wifes Clio seems fine.


Forgotmyname, how did you manage to get 26 mpg from a Mondeo TDCi?


The MOndeo will definately fit the bill, though a left field choice would be the Vectra Diesel estate, but only the later shape, 52 plate onwards, with the 2.0 or 2.2 DTi engine not the fiat 1.9CDTi, the older one isn't as smooth or quiet but I know one bloke at work thast has a 150 mile per day commute and he reckons the older 2.0 DTi is the most economical car he has owned for years, he has had a Focus TDCi, Passat 1.9 TDi(previous shape) and for six months a new shape Passat 2.0 TDi, the new Passat was so bad he got rid, and he decided to not buy on finance this time so got the Vectra through his dads trade contacts, they may not be fashionable but they are fairly robust.

Interestingly the only diesel Zafiras that haven't blown up regularly have had the 2.0 DTi engine, though with an autobox and a load of equipment they are dog slow, they have had a few turbos failed due to the abuse they get, and the odd EGR, but nothing like the automotive nightmare that is the 1.9 CDTi engine in the newer shape, almost certainly ruined by the DPF, my old car LJ55*** was called "the boomerang" by the fitters.
Though you can now have the DPF removed and the software amended to stop regenerations, which would make the 1.9CDTi OK, but I still wouldn't fully trust one, not with my own money anyway.

Don't forget the Mondeo has a camchain.

Kilty_2

The 1.9 CDTI in the Zafira is bad enough in the Astra where it does not have a DPF.

optimus_primera

55 PLATE IS OLD???

My P plate primera must be prehistoric then ....

Inactive

optimus_primera wrote: »

55 PLATE IS OLD???

My P plate primera must be prehistoric then ....

Carefully maintained, it will outlast a lot of 55 plates.

It was made before Renault ruined them.:D

Gene_Hunt_2

Kilty wrote: »

A diesel Laguna isn't as bad as people make out providing it's had the oil changed on time every time etc.

All Laguna's will definitely be time bombs.

Is what you should have said.