New Used Car - Petrol or Deisel

buba2006

I've got myself into a total guddle.

Originally when I went to change my car currently a 05 Megane i wanted to down size so i got more mpg (currently 34mpg) lower road tax but as i have a good spec megane i didnt want to compromise on the spec of the new car but didnt like the Clio. So narrowed my choice to the Fiesta and as i cant afford the Titannaium ive opted for the Zetec.

I've found 2
60 plate 1.4 TDCi 5 door with bluetooth for phone, silver in colour
20000 miles

the other is
11 plate 1.25 petrol 5 door no bluetooth, magenta colour, nice but unusal trim inside
11500 miles

Now I went and test drove the two models on saturday liked both but the diesel was out my price range and the garage wouldnt budge. I went to another garage and although they never had the a fiesta said they had one at another garage, so i opted for that one and i signed the order forms and they brought the car through. so i got to test drive it last night in torential rain and stuck behind a lorry and i wasnt keen. The garage is not impressed and has gave me today to decide. in the mean time the original garage has been on the phone saying they would do the diesel for my budget. there is £6 a difference between the two car per month with the diesel being higher.

I do about 8000 miles per year. What car would you recommend i get and why?

Oh and did i say i need to decide ASAP

Iceweasel

This is very simple - you do on average only 20 miles a day - so you obviously are using your car for very short journeys. perhaps only 10 or 15 minutes each?

This is NOT good for a diesel. They thrive on long journeys where they get properly up to temperature.

This means you will get problems with the DPF (diesel particulate filter) which will clog up and not clear itself as it's designed to.

That needs a longish - say 100 to 150 miles in one non-stop run at least every 2 weeks.

A new DPF would cost a fortune (£100s) so any money saved on using less fuel will be totally lost.

So buy a petrol engined car.

OddballJamie

Iceweasel wrote: »

This is very simple - you do on average only 20 miles a day - so you obviously are using your car for very short journeys. perhaps only 10 or 15 minutes each?

This is NOT good for a diesel. They thrive on long journeys where they get properly up to temperature.

This means you will get problems with the DPF (diesel particulate filter) which will clog up and not clear itself as it's designed to.

That needs a longish - say 100 to 150 miles in one non-stop run at least every 2 weeks.

A new DPF would cost a fortune (£100s) so any money saved on using less fuel will be totally lost.

So buy a petrol engined car.

Some good advice, although I'm not 100% certain the Fiesta 1.4 diesel has a dpf.

OP do you do mainly short journeys or longer ones?

buba2006

I drive to work which is 25 miles round trip 4 days a week however its not motorway driving its through wee towns so very stop start and slow, i do get up to 60mph but only briefly.

100-150 miles every two weeks would definately put me off.