Buying a 'new' car, can't decide..

IC3 · 15 Dec 2013 at 16:56

My dad in 2014 is looking to buy a 'new' used car for around £8.000...
The models my dad picked out are:
BMW 530D automatic
Audi A6 3.0TDI automatic
Mercedes 320cdi (avangarde) automatic
Honda Accord 2.2cdti 2009+ automatic
What are the probs and cons of the models listed above?

The car has to be automatic and in diesel as my dad will be using this car for his work (which means around 150-200 miles during week) and the car will also be used as an family car.
Last question, when you buy a car from an dealer is it possible to pay 4-5k and then the rest in installments?

OpenToSuggestions · 15 Dec 2013 at 16:58

Doing 200 miles per week is 10.5k per year not counting holidays from work.
This is nowhere near worth a having a diesel for, unless the 'family' mileage adds another 8k or more.

[TW]Fox · 15 Dec 2013 at 17:01

IC3 said:
My dad in 2014 is looking to buy a 'new' used car for around £8.000...
The models my dad picked out are:
BMW 530D automatic
Audi A6 3.0TDI automatic
Mercedes 320cdi (avangarde) automatic
Honda Accord 2.2cdti 2009+ automatic
What are the probs and cons of the models listed above?

The cons are that with an £8k budget the posh ones are going to require money spending on them as they get older because they are going to be fairly old cars for the money - and they are fairly complex old cars too, all being fitted with high pressure direct injection turbocharged diesel engines which are no longer simple engines.

You are going to be looking at cars which are either very high mileage or 7-10 years old if you insist on buying a high end diesel car for under £8k.

The car has to be automatic and in diesel as my dad will be using this car for his work (which means around 150-200 miles during week)

150-200 miles a week is absolutely nothing and not neccesarily a call for diesel.

Last question, when you buy a car from an dealer is it possible to pay 4-5k and then the rest in installments?

Yes it is - this is probably the most common way people buy expensive cars - on hire purchase with a deposit and monthly payments - but to be honest if thats how an £8k car is being funded I would honestly urge you to reduce his expectations and look at something newer and less posh than an ageing German prestige car.

IC3 · 15 Dec 2013 at 17:30

I know you said to not look at germans "posh" cars, but what about bmw 320D?
Our current Honda accord 1.8 petrol combustion is around 10/11L per 100km driving normally. If you push the accelerator a little bit further then it suddenly jumps to 14-15L, that's why diesel IMO would be a better option. The 200-250 miles per week is a standard, but there are sometimes unexpected longer journeys.

What would you recommend for 8-9 grand?

EDIT:

Alfa romeo 159 is also an option, but the only thing is putting my dad off is that Fiat was involved in this car...

iaind · 15 Dec 2013 at 17:37

That's between 15 and 20mpg, it sounds broken. Fixing it would be cheaper, you should be getting 30mpg+

Once it's working, the difference between 30mpg and 35-45mpg from one of the big diesels will take many years to break even

Tinders · 15 Dec 2013 at 17:42

A word of warning, this generation of diesel will have a DPF filter fitted and they dont really like short run drives, it can be quite an expensive fix.

I have personal experience of the Accord Auto, and love the car, but hate the gearbox, its just not refined compared to the German mid execs.

IC3 · 15 Dec 2013 at 17:50

iaind said:
That's between 15 and 20mpg, it sounds broken. Fixing it would be cheaper, you should be getting 30mpg+

Once it's working, the difference between 30mpg and 35-45mpg from one of the big diesels will take many years to break even

I went with the combustion a little bit too far, not sure exactly how much. But I know for the fact that my dad, has a severe leg. Yesterday my dad had to go to the airport to pick up my uncle and the distance one way is 34miles which makes it 68miles bothways, he was in a hurry one way and the combustion (from what my dad said) was around 20 quid worth of petrol. Not sure what the cost per liter is now...

iaind · 15 Dec 2013 at 17:53

(Consumption)

If he has a heavy right foot, he won't be getting good economy out of a diesel either

IC3 · 15 Dec 2013 at 18:06

iaind said:
(Consumption)

If he has a heavy right foot, he won't be getting good economy out of a diesel either

But there must be some kind of difference between petrol and diesel in petrol consumption, right?
What about Alfa romeo 159?

sovietspybob · 15 Dec 2013 at 18:12

IC3 said:
But there must be some kind of difference between petrol and diesel in petrol consumption, right?
What about Alfa romeo 159?

Yes there will be a small difference, however as the diesels you listed tend to break and cost quite large sums of money to fix each time you'll be down quite a bit of money overall after a couple of years.

iaind · 15 Dec 2013 at 18:21

IC3 said:
But there must be some kind of difference between petrol and diesel in petrol consumption, right?
What about Alfa romeo 159?

Of course, but you have to look at how long to break even, especially if fuel economy is the main factor in wanting to change.

There's no point spending 8 grand just to save a grand a year

wez130 · 15 Dec 2013 at 18:41

Surely at this price / age range, the purchase price of a petrol vs diesel is negligible, it certainly was when i was looking for another A6, i was looking for a petrol engine, but they are rarer in this type of car than diesel, so there's much less choice in a petrol counterpart 'luxobarge'. So that can be discounted i think.

Next, my last 4 'luxury' cars have been one petrol (A3 2.0TFSi), and 3 diesel (BMW 525D, Audi a6 2.0tdi and Audi A6 2.7tdi), maybe i've been lucky, but apart from normal servicing costs and 2 cam belt changes (audi 2.0tfsi and 2.0tdi) the only one that went wrong for me was the petrol A3 (ABS sensor). I'm not going to disagree that when a diesel goes wrong it WILL cost more to fix, because it will cost more, and yes, a DPF filter will cost the wrong side of a grand to fix, however, they can also be removed (which in turn will improve your MPG) (I'm not sure on the implications of an MOT are on that one though, i'm sure somebody will answer that).

However

If money is a concern, which by wanting to save money on mpg's it sounds like it is. don't spend £8k on a nice car and leave nothing available for if it goes wrong, spend 5k and have some money for repairs and servicing.

My first choice would have been a 2.0tfsi engine for my current car, however, i'm really happy with the 2.7tdi i have, but i actually think the mpg would be very similar in them (i get around 38-40 average, and most of that is 270 mile trip up north).

IC3 · 15 Dec 2013 at 19:07

wez130 said:
Surely at this price / age range, the purchase price of a petrol vs diesel is negligible, it certainly was when i was looking for another A6, i was looking for a petrol engine, but they are rarer in this type of car than diesel, so there's much less choice in a petrol counterpart 'luxobarge'. So that can be discounted i think.

Next, my last 4 'luxury' cars have been one petrol (A3 2.0TFSi), and 3 diesel (BMW 525D, Audi a6 2.0tdi and Audi A6 2.7tdi), maybe i've been lucky, but apart from normal servicing costs and 2 cam belt changes (audi 2.0tfsi and 2.0tdi) the only one that went wrong for me was the petrol A3 (ABS sensor). I'm not going to disagree that when a diesel goes wrong it WILL cost more to fix, because it will cost more, and yes, a DPF filter will cost the wrong side of a grand to fix, however, they can also be removed (which in turn will improve your MPG) (I'm not sure on the implications of an MOT are on that one though, i'm sure somebody will answer that).

However

If money is a concern, which by wanting to save money on mpg's it sounds like it is. don't spend £8k on a nice car and leave nothing available for if it goes wrong, spend 5k and have some money for repairs and servicing.

My first choice would have been a 2.0tfsi engine for my current car, however, i'm really happy with the 2.7tdi i have, but i actually think the mpg would be very similar in them (i get around 38-40 average, and most of that is 270 mile trip up north).

Thanks for spending those 5 min giving your views and sharing your experience with these engines. Another cars which I didn't mention are Volvo S80 2.4 diesel and Skoda Octavia VRS, so there's couple of choices.

So at the moment (the cars are listed randomly)

BMW 320D
Mercedes 320cdi (avangarde)
Audi A4 or A6
Volvo s80 2.4 diesel
Skoda Octavia (maybe VRS) or Superb

IC3 · 16 Dec 2013 at 20:03

Did some research and this should be a more reasonable choice list.

Skoda Superb 2.0TDI DSG
Skoda Octavia 2.0TDI DSG
Volvo s60 2.4D Geartronic
Seat Leon 2.0 TDI DSG

mjt · 16 Dec 2013 at 20:22

IC3 said:
Did some research and this should be a more reasonable choice list.

Skoda Superb 2.0TDI DSG
Skoda Octavia 2.0TDI DSG
Volvo s60 2.4D Geartronic
Seat Leon 2.0 TDI DSG

Octavia and Leon have no place in that list.
Also look at Volvo S80

Malc · 16 Dec 2013 at 22:36

2.2d mk2 Mazda 6 or 2.2d mk4 Ford Mondeo?

K.C. Leblanc · 16 Dec 2013 at 22:58

IC3 said:
I went with the combustion a little bit too far, not sure exactly how much. But I know for the fact that my dad, has a severe leg. Yesterday my dad had to go to the airport to pick up my uncle and the distance one way is 34miles which makes it 68miles bothways, he was in a hurry one way and the combustion (from what my dad said) was around 20 quid worth of petrol. Not sure what the cost per liter is now...

You're giving me the impression that English is not your first language. Is this car going to be purchased and used in the UK? If not then we're really not the people to ask. The cost of fuel, price of used cars and the cost of having repairs will be different.

Uncle_Gravy · 17 Dec 2013 at 10:19

Tinders said:
I have personal experience of the Accord Auto, and love the car, but hate the gearbox, its just not refined compared to the German mid execs.

Gen 6 Accord, I've been driving the 2L Sport Triptronic, And I kinda disagree about the auto, From the small time i've driven it, You don't even notice the auto changing, its seamless and quick, I like it very much, really relaxing so i've changed my opinion about auto boxes...still prefer a manual though

wez130 · 17 Dec 2013 at 10:45

i drove an auto accord when i was looking, i found the front end very heavy compared to my Audi.

Uncle_Gravy · 17 Dec 2013 at 12:38

Out of interest, How many miles a year is it considered worth to get a Diesel, I do aprox, 11-12k a year.

I had a go in my cousin's Volvo V50 D5 over the weekend, and I liked it very much, very comfortable, the acceleration was effortless, very good diesel engine I thought, and a nice looking car too.