Berlingo/Kangoo/Partner

Fred_Bear_2

5 years ago when petrol and diesel were about 70p per liter it would have taken me about 6 years to pay back the extra cost of a 2.0HDi. If I were buying today I would go for the diesel because the payback would be less than 3 years. Thats at 8000 miles pa.

MrSmartprice

Tucker wrote: »

There are a few on here with the petrol model, so not sure how you come to the conclusion that only diesel models were ever sold?

Economy - the newer diesels - yes. The old 1.9 was the same as the 1.6 petrol on the economy (I have the original brochure from when I bought it), yet the diesel had only 75 bhp, whereas the petrol is 110 bhp.

Add to that the fact that diesel is now 15p per litre more and I think you'll find it's more expensive to run.

I recall some time ago reading that a very small percentage of Berlingos were petrol. A Citroen dealer confirmed this too, saying they rarely had any that were not diesel, as there was little demand.

When I got mine, a 1.9D, it was the only diesel option. But it was certainly more economical than the petrol version. Mine was an ex-demo, and I was told that all dealers tended to have a diesel as a demo. My car is now used almost exclusively for short trips in town, but never returns less than 41-42 mpg. I doubt the petrol version could achieve that, although I appreciate it's how you drive it. It's hardly a boy-racer car though!

Remember that running costs are more than just fuel. I have run diesel cars since the mid 80s, and invariably they have lower running costs, largely due to never needing any work on engines. Diesels are just more robust and I would never go back to petrol. The price differential is a new phenomenon. Historically diesel was cheaper, although it got to be a penny or two more in the last couple of years. I think it will right itself eventually and be on a par with petrol. In just about every other country it is cheaper.

ZootHornRollo

i am going back up to the citroen dealers at the weekend if they have the new demo berlingo in.

I was thinking of second hand but am now considering buying my first ever brand new car! :j

if its a good enough car i would keep it for years.

at least with a new car you know how much its costing you every month instead of my current situation with my current car. repairs are extortionate and thats getting it done as a homer!

i'm a good few months away from making the purchase tho! i also need to find out the best way to pay for it, be that through dealer finance or a loan. i'll can hold off till htere is a good offer tho i know that may be a few months with it being a new model.

AdrianHi

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

i am going back up to the citroen dealers at the weekend if they have the new demo berlingo in.

I was thinking of second hand but am now considering buying my first ever brand new car! :j

if its a good enough car i would keep it for years.

at least with a new car you know how much its costing you every month instead of my current situation with my current car. repairs are extortionate and thats getting it done as a homer!

i'm a good few months away from making the purchase tho! i also need to find out the best way to pay for it, be that through dealer finance or a loan. i'll can hold off till htere is a good offer tho i know that may be a few months with it being a new model.

B'lingo 1.6HDi
List Price £11,450
What Car Target Price: £8,972

No depreciation info. available, but this smacks of poor residuals so even if your keeping it for a long time, best as a nearly new or 1 year old buy.
If the car gets written off the insurance pay up market value after 12 months old, so residuals are always important even if your intending to keep it 7 years+.

MrSmartprice

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

i am going back up to the citroen dealers at the weekend if they have the new demo berlingo in.

I was thinking of second hand but am now considering buying my first ever brand new car! :j

if its a good enough car i would keep it for years.

at least with a new car you know how much its costing you every month instead of my current situation with my current car. repairs are extortionate and thats getting it done as a homer!

i'm a good few months away from making the purchase tho! i also need to find out the best way to pay for it, be that through dealer finance or a loan. i'll can hold off till htere is a good offer tho i know that may be a few months with it being a new model.

Citroen dealers are usually carrying some promotion or other and nobody ever pays the full list price for one. However, it is sometimes more difficult to get a big discount on a Berlingo as they don't seem to have much problem selling them. Get on the mailing of a couple of dealers and see what comes up.

The situation with ex-demo cars is that they have to keep them for a set time before selling them. Mine was about 5 months old but had only done 1000 miles. I had to ring several dealers to find the one I wanted but it was worth the effort for the price I paid.

It is comfortably the best car I have ever had, everything considered. But when I come to tax it in March 2010 the cost will be about £400 as it is the old engine with higher emissions. So that's when I shall buy a new one.

cyclonebri1

You don't see that many about but the Renault Meganne Estate is well worth considering. I have a 1.5dci 106hp but a freind has a 150hp version which you would need if towing. He tells me he sees 48-55 mpg. Mine does 50 at worst and best over a slowish 50 motorway journey just 70mpg.

Both cars have been totally reliable inspite of some reports, as have the wifes diesel 1.5 clio which is a 52plate and owned from new. In the last 5 years, in addition to these, in the immediate family we have had 2 petrol clios, 2 172 clios, a 1.5dci megane hatch and 2.0 petrol scenic, none have suffered any major problems.

For a combination of economy and space, (more load space than the Laguna Est), the Meganne Est is the best I have owned by far.

Not saying theres nothing else to be considered but for me its the best choice.;)

ZootHornRollo

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

You don't see that many about but the Renault Meganne Estate is well worth considering. I have a 1.5dci 106hp but a freind has a 150hp version which you would need if towing. He tells me he sees 48-55 mpg. Mine does 50 at worst and best over a slowish 50 motorway journey just 70mpg.

Both cars have been totally reliable inspite of some reports, as have the wifes diesel 1.5 clio which is a 52plate and owned from new. In the last 5 years, in addition to these, in the immediate family we have had 2 petrol clios, 2 172 clios, a 1.5dci megane hatch and 2.0 petrol scenic, none have suffered any major problems.

For a combination of economy and space, (more load space than the Laguna Est), the Meganne Est is the best I have owned by far.

Not saying theres nothing else to be considered but for me its the best choice.;)

Thanks for the suggestion but i wouldn't touch one.

i personally know two people who have had new meganes (one estate diesel)and had nothing but electrical problems with them. One was a fuse box which was constantly filling with water in heavy rain, full of mould and already corroded at less than three years old and two dealers said was not faulty! fuse box was eventually replaced but happened again within a few months. other one was electrical problems with ignition circuitry.

that being said one of my colleagues is delighted with their megane.

still wouldn't buy one tho.

flea72

after all the talk on here of mpg, i thought i would keep a tally on my Berlingo 1.6 Petrol, and its currently averaging 35mpg

which for someone who thinks they are a rally driver, does lots of short runs, and has the aircon on 24/7, i dont think is that bad a result

Flea

ZootHornRollo

my attention has since been drawn to the skoda roomster which i stumbled across while searching the web.

Seems to get some fantastic reviews and it won towcar of the year in the sub £16k category.

Most reviews seem to compare it with Berlingo but never seem to cast an opinion that one is better than the other.

can't really question skodas reliabilty given their positions ion reliability table every year.

any opinions on it?

i'd imagine the 1.9TDi would be the only one worth considering as a tow car.

BillScarab

The Roomster is Ok if you can get past the looks but it won't be as spacious as the Berlingo. I have an Octavia estate with the 1.9 tdi and it is an excellent ecngine, economical (averages 47mpg) and it pull svery well. The Roomster is loosely based on the Fabi so it's not a particularly big car, it has a smaller boot than an Octavia estate so it seemed a bit pointless to me.

BTW I can't fault my Octavia. It's done 21000 miles now and is 17 months old. So far it's had one service and a replacement windscreen due to a chip/crack. Nothing has gone worng and it averages 47 mpg. On a motorway run I can get it up to 55-56 mpg if I take it fairly steady.