Buying a diesel (second hand nearly new)

AnotherJoe

imran22 wrote: »

Thank you for reply - which increases you are talking about? I want to know if it is worth buying a diesel in the current market and political environment which is against diesel cars. I want the car to hold more than half of its value in 4-5 years time.

There's not a chance of that with a diesel unless its an old banger.

They are now toxic not just on whats emitted but in the public's eye, and becoming more so as various councils start discussing or actually are issuing bans or increased charges for driving into city centres and that is only going one way. Some manufacturers have already said they will not make any more new diesel engines or introduce new car models with diesel engines.

For your low mileage, unless that is made up of fewer longer trips, its probably a bad idea anyway.

I woudl certainly wait until after the budget, one of the "softer" ways government will start discouraging diesel is by increasing the tax on it and i think that most likely starts tomorrow.
And even if the tax is inconsequential, a few more p a litre, again in the publics perception it adds to teh groundswell against it.

On the upside if you plan to run it into the ground and it suits your driving pattern there are some good bargains to be had as fewer people want them. But i think wanting to sell in 4-5 years, retain 50% value, and drive relatively lowish mileage, doesnt fit that model.

imran22

AnotherJoe wrote: »

There's not a chance of that with a diesel unless its an old banger.

They are now toxic not just on whats emitted but in the public's eye, and becoming more so as various councils start discussing or actually are issuing bans or increased charges for driving into city centres and that is only going one way. Some manufacturers have already said they will not make any more new diesel engines or introduce new car models with diesel engines.

For your low mileage, unless that is made up of fewer longer trips, its probably a bad idea anyway.

I woudl certainly wait until after the budget, one of the "softer" ways government will start discouraging diesel is by increasing the tax on it and i think that most likely starts tomorrow.
And even if the tax is inconsequential, a few more p a litre, again in the publics perception it adds to teh groundswell against it.

On the upside if you plan to run it into the ground and it suits your driving pattern there are some good bargains to be had as fewer people want them. But i think wanting to sell in 4-5 years, retain 50% value, and drive relatively lowish mileage, doesnt fit that model.

Good advice but the cheaper automatic 7 seat SUVs are all diesel

motorguy

imran22 wrote: »

Hello members

I am in the final stages of agreeing a deal with a dealer to buy a diesel. It has done only few thousand miles. However since the news this morning about possible diesel price hikes and road tax increases, is it worth buying a Diesel?

I do around 9,000 miles a year and looking to keep this car for about 5 years. There is a good discount available as well but I am not able to make up my mind as I am not sure if this car will hold its value in the coming years due to being a diesel.

This is a 7-seater SUV and all I have available is largely diesel in this category.

Any help with be hugely appreciated - thank you

Ok... my tuppenceworth.

• I dont think we'll see anything happening with regards to retrospective changes to VED that will impact that car.
• I think large SUVs with diesel engines are the least likely to be hit by any perceived downturn in values, because there is no "equivalent" petrol variant
• I dont think diesel cars will drop to nil value - there is still a very strong used market for them
• I think the newspapers are trying to drum up a scandal. Any drop in new diesel sales is through fear NOT through people suddenly developing a moral compass.
• Diesel might go up a bit in price, however they cant put it up too much as it impacts the haulage industry greatly.
• Petrol SUVs tend to drink petrol like there is no tomorrow

System

AnotherJoe wrote: »

.
And even if the tax is inconsequential, a few more p a litre,

They won't put it on fuel as it'll harm the hell out of the transport industry (lorries and buses) who are by far the largest consumers of diesel. I do 300 miles a week in my car and my lorry uses the equivalent of 8 weeks worth of what my car uses in a single day.

missile

imran22 wrote: »

..... I want the car to hold more than half of its value in 4-5 years time.

Dream on ......... :rotfl:

force_ten

imran22 wrote: »

I want to know if it is worth buying a diesel in the current market and political environment which is against diesel cars. I want the car to hold more than half of its value in 4-5 years time.

I am not sure that any car will hold half its value over a five year period they do say that If you do 10,000 miles a year the average car will have lost around 60% of its value by the end of its third year

if you are buying nearly new then the first registered keeper will have lost a lot and it will make the numbers a bit better for you but i think you will struggle with the numbers you mention

as to the diesel debate, 9000 miles a year is low for a diesel car and if you are manly doing those miles around town then it is not the best use of a diesel engine and you may have issues with diesel particle filters and other items fitted to make emission standards, I drive a company vehicle that uses Add blue and i am surprised how much of the stuff it takes to keep the tank topped up

AnotherJoe

motorguy wrote: »

Ok... my tuppenceworth.

• I think the newspapers are trying to drum up a scandal. Any drop in new diesel sales is through fear NOT through people suddenly developing a moral compass.

Mostly true I suspect but irrelevant. The 30% drop in diesel sales last month and the previous month, measured year over year is still a 30% drop whatever the cause.

It could even be that the drop is now causing further drops, it’s a vicious circle, you see a drop, that means no one wants one, so you decide you don’t want one adding to the decrease.

Manufacturer see that and issue statements saying they won’t be developing future diesel cars, adding to the decline, and so on.

p.s. i had foolishly missed that diesel seems to be the only option for this kind of car. Well, in that case suck it up but dont expect to get 50% back in 4 to 5 years, not gonna happen.

TheMoonandBack

Imran22, personally I wouldn’t buy a diesel, and definitely not just before a budget where diesel is rumoured to be on the tax hit list.
I don’t you’ll find anything that is still worth 40 to 50% of its value after 5 years.

Does it have to be an SUV ? There are plenty of 7 seat vehicles with petrol engines - Vauxhall Zafira for example.

I wouldn’t sign up for anything until after the Budget.

seatbeltnoob

TheMoonandBack wrote: »

Imran22, personally I wouldn’t buy a diesel, and definitely not just before a budget where diesel is rumoured to be on the tax hit list.
I don’t you’ll find anything that is still worth 40 to 50% of its value after 5 years.

Does it have to be an SUV ? There are plenty of 7 seat vehicles with petrol engines - Vauxhall Zafira for example.

I wouldn’t sign up for anything until after the Budget.

if you really need a diesel, then now is the time to strike. People getting rid of diesel cars thinking they'll have to pay fortunes in road tax next year, in actuality road tax increase is minuscule in comparison to the fuel savings.

government rarely increases taxes drastically, they'll probably make it £30 a year more expensive to tax or therabouts.

Gloomendoom

TheMoonandBack wrote: »

Imran22, personally I wouldn’t buy a diesel, and definitely not just before a budget where diesel is rumoured to be on the tax hit list.

I suppose it does depend on what kind of SUV the OP needs/wants.

As already pointed out, at the larger end of the scale there isn't a lot choice other than diesel and I doubt that is likely to change any time soon.