Petrol 1.6 or Diesel 1.2 Vauxhall Meriva - Please help

darren_5

Hi guys,

I'm considering a:

Vauxhall Meriva 1.6 i 16v Design 5dr Petrol with 34,000 on the clock comes with new MOT £3,300

Or...

VAUXHALL MERIVA LIFE CDTI 1.2 Diesel with 38,000 new service and 11 months MOT £3,700

I will be using it on a mixture of normal roads and motorways but I am really struggling which to get.

The petrol has 2 sunroofs, alloys, and tint back windows whilst the otherone doesn't have any of that but is diesel but only a 1.2

Please could anyone shed any advice on which to go for please.

Most appreciated.

Darren

BeenThroughItAll

I know we're all different, and perhaps the Meriva is to your taste, but have you considered other options? I'd be fearful otherwise that every time you drive it you'll die a little more inside.

You don't mention the age of either vehicle, but personally, I'd buy the petrol and avoid some of the likely risk of expensive complications that come with the diesel.

darren_5

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

I know we're all different, and perhaps the Meriva is to your taste, but have you considered other options? I'd be fearful otherwise that every time you drive it you'll die a little more inside.

You don't mention the age of either vehicle, but personally, I'd buy the petrol and avoid some of the likely risk of expensive complications that come with the diesel.

It's a 2008, were getting rid of a 2004 1.2 Ford KA as we have a baby coming in January and need the space. I have a Scenic but this is a run around for my other half. What others would you say are similar?

BeenThroughItAll

darren_5 wrote: »

It's a 2008, were getting rid of a 2004 1.2 Ford KA as we have a baby coming in January and need the space. I have a Scenic but this is a run around for my other half. What others would you say are similar?

For two people and one small baby, any 5-door non-supermini hatchback should be more than adequate, and less soul-destroying.

Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Skoda Fabia, Punto, Golf?

I'd definitely not touch a 2008 diesel with only 38K on. That's just not enough mileage.

darren_5

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

For two people and one small baby, any 5-door non-supermini hatchback should be more than adequate, and less soul-destroying.

Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Skoda Fabia, Punto, Golf?

I'd definitely not touch a 2008 diesel with only 38K on. That's just not enough mileage.

And your views on the petrol with 34k on the clock, the 1.6?

Really appreciate your advice... Also, for a petrol how much would you say is too many miles, looking at Focus now but its 75k on clock and petrol.

Also seen a CITROEN XSARA PICASSO DESIRE 16V 65k on clock, petrol 3295?

jase1

75k is nothing. You don't say how many miles you do but a modern car -- petrol or diesel, don't listen to those who say that diesels run forever as the difference is negligible on modern engines -- should run for at least 150,000 before the problems start (and usually not engine related).

Age kills cars more effectively than miles, and an older car with only 35,000 miles is not something I'd want to entertain.

Herzlos

Unless you're doing mega mileage go for the petrol. A 1.2 diesel sounds painful. Plus if it's 7 years old and only done 38,000 miles it's not likely to be in good shape.

BeenThroughItAll

darren_5 wrote: »

And your views on the petrol with 34k on the clock, the 1.6?

Really appreciate your advice... Also, for a petrol how much would you say is too many miles, looking at Focus now but its 75k on clock and petrol.

Also seen a CITROEN XSARA PICASSO DESIRE 16V 65k on clock, petrol 3295?

Better the petrol than the diesel at that mileage, but I'd still be tempted to look for something less... Meriva. But that might just be me.

Focus at 75K is nothing. I changed the oil and filter on a colleague's 1.6 petrol Focus a few weeks back, and that's got 140ish thousand on it. It's rusty as hell and that'll be what takes it off the road. Engine, gearbox and running gear are all solid.

Picassos aren't anywhere near as bad as people will have you believe. They're OK to drive, and across my family we've had a few, all 2.0 diesels (No DPF, no DMF, fairly simple and bombproof) and covered well over 150K between us. Roomy inside, well specced for the price, and cheap to buy and run because there are so many of them. The 1.6 petrol's a bit underpowered, the 1.8 is not bad, but I'd go for a 2.0D. Don't entertain the 1.6HDi.

Still, personally, I'd stick to the 5 door hatches. Leon? Ibiza? Civic? Cee'd? Auris? Corolla?

daltonss

Vauxhall Meriva is a great car - but do you really need this type of car? I think its based on a Corsa but bigger.


the 1.2 diesel maybe feel a little underpowered for motorway driving

BeenThroughItAll

darren_5 wrote: »

It's a 2008, were getting rid of a 2004 1.2 Ford KA as we have a baby coming in January and need the space. I have a Scenic but this is a run around for my other half. What others would you say are similar?

One further question - are you sure of the spec, as far as I can tell there isn't a 1.2CDTi. Only a 1248cc badged as a 1.3CDTi.


Still wouldn't touch it, even then, personally.

daltonss

Why? I have the 1.3 cdti and its fast (for the lighter corsa) never had a problem and returning nearly 70mpg