Are diesels worth the extra money? Now what car

colino

In general, new high-performance diesels are targeted at the lucrative, volume fleet sales. They are quick, relatively economical and have long service intervals to keep the fleet managers happy compared to their counterparts just 10-15 years ago. However as these business tools are replaced after 2-3 years and then fall into the general market it is the time when their highly stressed lives begin to show their middle-age.
Unless you have a very specific need for a diesel, buying a modern diesel beyond, say 5 years old, is not going to turn into a long term bargain.

stutakesphotos

So if it 5 or 6 years old and done 35k or so, there shouldn't be much to choose between diesel and petrol long term?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Theres not straight answer to that question, either could have problems looming.

The Diesel has the potential for massively more expensive fixes, so much depends on its previous use and servicing shedule.
If you bought a BMW 2 litre Diesel you probably have another 10k before the turbo fails.

If you buy a Pug/Citroen with FAP then at some point the EOLYS fluid will need replenishing and the FAP or DPF in our terms may need replacing.

At 6 years old a cambelt might need changing on any vehicle due to time not mileage requirements, maybe not necessary but your gamble if you choose not to.

No easy answers to this one, only that the petrol car is usually simpler and cheaper to fix when it does go wrong.

If you want a totally reliable car buy one of the last Honda Civic 2.0 S types built before 06 model change, or a Toyota Corolla T sport...Toyo will still need a cambelt chnage mind...;)

GolfBravo

DominicH wrote: »

Some of the latest common rail injection systems run at insane pressures well over 1,000 bar! They're very nice, refined engines, but it's too "bleeding edge" for my liking. Maybe in ten years when the technology has matured a bit and they've ironed out the bugs.
...
As for DMFs, many of the torquey turbocharged petrol engines have them these days, but they still seem to be more of an issue on diesels. It's lugging the engine at low revs that causes the strain, and people tend to do that more in diesels with their low-down torque.

Yes, very true.

The other major factor is diesel engine vibration.

There is a white paper circulating in the industry by two clutch engineers from either LUK or Sachs (major clutch manufacturer), can't remember exactly. Their finding is that the major cause of premature DMF failure is the common rail diesel engine vibration during startup and, especially, shut down.

ic

londonTiger wrote: »

some people say that turbos in diesels are prone to failure and will cost you to put right. So the 20%-30% more economy you get in fuel is offset by the repair costs.

First time I've heard that - DPF and clutch issues yes, but not turbos. Many economical petrols are coming with turbos now too. I've been in a 1.2 turbo Leon, and it shifted!

GolfBravo

ic wrote: »

First time I've heard that - DPF and clutch issues yes, but not turbos. Many economical petrols are coming with turbos now too. I've been in a 1.2 turbo Leon, and it shifted!

Just google Peugeot/Ford/Citroen/Mini/Volvo 1.6 diesel turbo failure.

It is the famous self-destructing Peugeot Citroen Moteurs 1.6 direct injection turbo diesel - the turbo can go at anytime between 40K and 120K miles due to 12p fuel injector seal leaking and "poor" maintenance (engine oil). £1400+ to fix.

Also try BMW diesel turbo failure.

stutakesphotos

So best not to bother with a 1.6 then

OddballJamie

stutakesphotos wrote: »

So best not to bother with a 1.6 then

I had similar problems with the 136bhp 2.0 PSA engine too, would avoid that one.

stutakesphotos

First of all, thanks all

So er, recommend a good reliable and economical car for about 4.5. I estimate that I'll be doing about 14k a year

andygb

stutakesphotos wrote: »

First of all, thanks all

So er, recommend a good reliable and economical car for about 4.5. I estimate that I'll be doing about 14k a year

You should be able to haggle a car like this down to £4.5K. It does not have a DPF, and if the DMF gives any trouble then swwap it over for a single flywheel conversion (about £500 fitted). They will do 56MPG and the tax is fairly low. They are solid and comfortable and will do huge mileages.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201304176311405/sort/default/usedcars/engine-size-cars/1-7l_to_1-9l/transmission/manual/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/price-to/5000/fuel-type/diesel/price-from/3000/model/octavia/make/skoda/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/me21dp/radius/1501/page/4?logcode=p