8k Budget for a good looking diesel hatchback

atpbx · 6 May 2013 at 09:22

madtoady said:
I'm 23 and have been saving for a while and am looking to buy my first relatively decent car (Previous cars were 2x Citroen ZX 1.4 1992 and 1997). I drive 13-15k miles per year and am looking for a sexy "low mileage" quick diesel hatchback that won't explode my insurance premium.

Have been mainly been looking for something like this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201305046599321

But am looking to broaden my mind and look at other alternatives.

UPDATE:

I have read and taken upon all your advice and my search options have opened up a little

Diesel or Petrol.
Fairly quick but not so fast my insurance sky-rockets.
Hatchback preferably but will consider alternatives that aren't massive.
Looks awesome.

Can offer good MPG when driving with fuel economy in mind.
Can stretch past 8k budget if car is worth that bit extra.

Viewed a couple of the 3 door Astras today and I love the look of the car but the interior is extremely boring just like Ben_Cole said.

Rule one of fight club, never spend your own money on a Vauxhall.

Camalot · 6 May 2013 at 10:40

thepharcyde said:
Civic 2.2cdti

I'm looking at these at the most as I do roughly 18-20k miles a year and my ford puma that's falling to bits is starting to cost me.

Civics have caught my eye in a big way!

snitcher · 6 May 2013 at 11:09

you would be wasting your money spending on a vauxhall. go for an audi a6 or a4 if you want a newer.

Minstadave · 6 May 2013 at 11:19

Yes that's right he's looking at a 3dr hatchback so an A6 is a great recommendation. Bravo.

DannyW · 6 May 2013 at 11:24

Bmw 120d
Bmw 320d/ 330d
audi a3 tdi - you'd look good in this being just 23

I wouldnt get an astra if i was you, doesnt have much class about it

[TW]Fox · 6 May 2013 at 14:38

DannyW said:
audi a3 tdi - you'd look good in this being just 23

Eh?

madtoady · 6 May 2013 at 16:49

DannyW said:
Bmw 120d
Bmw 320d/ 330d
audi a3 tdi - you'd look good in this being just 23

I wouldnt get an astra if i was you, doesnt have much class about it

Am going to view a 2.0L Diesel 3 door A3 tomorrow, looking forward to seeing how different it is to the Astra.

Third Opinion · 6 May 2013 at 17:03

A total madness idea here so don't laugh.

Chrysler Delta

Only because my sister has just test drove one and I must confess I liked it, a lot. It is basically the new Lancia Delta rebadged. The one she had was the 2.0Dtm and it went like a rocket for a diesel. A tad of 8 secs in the book.

Way out of my price league but I would have been really tempted if available 3 years back.

[TW]Fox · 6 May 2013 at 17:07

Third Opinion said:
A total madness idea here so don't laugh.

Chrysler Delta

Cheapest one on Autotrader seems to be £1k over budget?

. The one she had was the 2.0Dtm and it went like a rocket for a diesel. A tad of 8 secs in the book.

lol 'went like a rocket'

It's a 165bhp diesel!

The Running Man · 6 May 2013 at 17:14

People coming from low power petrol to turbo diesels feel the torque and love it. Why do you think the 306 DT was popular with chavs?

Third Opinion · 6 May 2013 at 17:16

[TW]Fox;24235113 said:
Cheapest one on Autotrader seems to be £1k over budget?

lol 'went like a rocket' It's a 165bhp diesel!

I did say for a diesel, lol. No I was impressed by it's performance. It didn't have that 'all the power at once' like a majority of turbo diesels. It actually pulled right up to the limiter from any rpm and in any gear (within obvious reason). Most I have driven dull down before that. Maybe its the 266lbs of torque.

The budget might be a problem but with a bit of negotiating you never know.

It was just quite refreshing to drive something a bit out of the norm that was very nice.

Minstadave · 6 May 2013 at 17:28

madtoady said:
Am going to view a 2.0L Diesel 3 door A3 tomorrow, looking forward to seeing how different it is to the Astra.

If you go this route I'd recommend keeping 1k tucked away for repairs, they like to chew turbos, injectors and DMFs mucho the frequently than the petrols.

mjt · 6 May 2013 at 17:45

Look at petrol A3s. As mentioned above, there is a lot more to go wrong with a diesel.

DannyW · 6 May 2013 at 17:53

If your buying an A3 diesel make sure its had the injector recall work done

if it has then youll be fine, my brother bought on with 90k on it now its done 130k and only trouble hes had was the variable vanes got stuck on the turbo, payed a garage an hour or 2 labour to sort it been fine since

Third Opinion · 6 May 2013 at 19:15

mjt said:
Look at petrol A3s. As mentioned above, there is a lot more to go wrong with a diesel.

Yeah and remember your bomb proof protection because everyone knows a diesel blows up every time you turn the key.

[TW]Fox · 6 May 2013 at 19:16

Third Opinion said:
Yeah and remember your bomb proof protection because everyone knows a diesel blows up every time you turn the key.

Well, you can never be sure with these rocket ships can you

mjt · 6 May 2013 at 19:18

Third Opinion said:
Yeah and remember your bomb proof protection because everyone knows a diesel blows up every time you turn the key.

I used to own a PD 150. The only thing that went wrong were the hoses failing because they were made of cheese.

This guy doesn't need a diesel- he doesn't even crack 15k pa.

[TW]Fox · 6 May 2013 at 19:21

mjt said:
I used to own a PD 150. The only thing that went wrong were the hoses failing because they were made of cheese.

He was being sarcastic but to be fair the VW 1.9 TDI's were probably the last of the non complete pain in the backside diesels.

mjt · 6 May 2013 at 19:25

[TW]Fox;24235710 said:
He was being sarcastic but to be fair the VW 1.9 TDI's were probably the last of the non complete pain in the backside diesels.

Quite. And now they're getting rather long in the tooth.
I wouldn't want a 2.0 TDI unit.

MagicBoy · 6 May 2013 at 19:31

mjt said:
Quite. And now they're getting rather long in the tooth.
I wouldn't want a 2.0 TDI unit.

There's problems with the 140?

The 1.9 is very strong if serviced properly. Guy at the local garage said they've had a few 130s in recently with cylinder 3 misfires due to the cams wearing. When they get to 10+ years old then theres a tendancy for the fourth owner to stick el cheapo multigrade in rather than the proper oil.