Second hand diesel car

carlsagen

The wife has had a company car for as long as I can remember. She's starting a new job in May which doesn't provide a car. So for the first time we will be shopping for a car.

Most of the cars we are looking are in abundance if you want a diesel! It's for short commuting so I'm favoring petrol anyway to avoid particulate filter issues etc but she's always had a diesel so is leaning towards that.

With the recent diesel emissions I'm thinking either road tax will rise for them and or the cost of diesel for a deterrent to buy. On the news this morning was a toxicity charge for London which would effect diesels and a scrappage allowance to incentivise you to get rid. Possible drastic depreciation etc.

London doesn't effect us as we live in Yorkshire but other cities may follow.

So my question is should we be aiming for petrol since diesel seems consigned to the history books?!

Thanks

Nasqueron

UK VED (not road tax) is based on CO2 emissions

The diesel issue is to do with NOx (which the US test for, hence the big issue with VW)

Unless VED is changed to include NOx then the annual tax isn't going to change. That isn't to say cities like London can't whack an extra tax on entry

If she's doing a short commute (say 10 miles around?) and not going on motorways then petrol makes more sense

carlsagen

Thanks. I figured petrol made more sense for the distance. It's finding the right one that's petrol.

Thanks for help

forgotmyname

DPF issues aside, i use a diesel for short journeys and it pays for itself many times over when comparing like for like.

With the diesel i get 38mpg where the same car with a petrol engine got 23mpg.

All you need to do is give it a bit of a run every now and then to ensure the
DPF regenerates. 50mph in 3rd gear for a few miles. Depending on the DPF's requirements.

marcarm

forgotmyname wrote: »

DPF issues aside, i use a diesel for short journeys and it pays for itself many times over when comparing like for like.

With the diesel i get 38mpg where the same car with a petrol engine got 23mpg.

All you need to do is give it a bit of a run every now and then to ensure the
DPF regenerates. 50mph in 3rd gear for a few miles. Depending on the DPF's requirements.

Can I just ask, how often is every now and again?

Looking at our first diesel tomorrow and there will be more a few short journeys but mixed with some longer ones.

daveyjp

The 50mph in 3rd is an internet myth. All that does is burn more fuel, which creates more soot, which enters the DPF and needs to be burnt off!

The car systems decide when to regenerate the DPF. On my DPF cars it has been every 300-500 miles regardless of how it is driven. Once its starts regenerating you should drive until it stops, a royal pain when it starts just as you are about to reach your destination.

A DPF is a consumable part and replacement can be needed after as little as 40,000 miles, cost is £500+ depending on vehicle.

For short commutes there are plenty of petrol cars which give decent mpg around town.

mac.d

daveyjp wrote: »

The 50mph in 3rd is an internet myth. All that does is burn more fuel, which creates more soot, which enters the DPF and needs to be burnt off!

I was advised to do this at my local garage when the Particulate Filter light came on in my car. A few miles later in 3rd, the light went off. They advised once a month.

daveyjp

No need for third gear, just a long enough trip to allow the DPF system to heat through and burn off the excess soot.

Eventually it will fail to regen as the DPF will be full of ash. At that point the same garage will take cash of you to fit a new one.

Stoke

I wouldn't be touching anything diesel right now.....

jimjames

carlsagen wrote: »

Thanks. I figured petrol made more sense for the distance. It's finding the right one that's petrol.

Thanks for help

Really depends on your budget. An older diesel without DPF will not have the same issues. Things like any with the VW PD130 diesel engine are pretty good.

oscarward

If your journey is short and you can afford the initial purchase price why not a hybrid?