Look at your total mileage per year, thats why I asked. If the occasional 500 mile trip bumps up your annual mileage to 13k a year then it's still not really enough to warrant buying a diesel. Also, reread what I said about age and other expensive diesel issues.
You see 200k mile cars around because diesels are the right choice for high mileage - the petrol engines would be just as reliable, but people use petrols for doing 10-15k miles a year not 20-30k - that's why you dont see many 200k mile petrols for sale, not because they'll explode after 100k.
A 200k mile TDI will have probably been through at least 2 clutches, which normally means at least one DMF (£800+), probably an EGR or 2 (£500 a time) and no doubt some injection/turbo issues along the way too. A lot of these things start to be needed at the ~90k mile sort of mark - if you're really willing to take that sort of gamble for a few hundred quid a year in fuel then go for it.
There was also a certain 1.9 engine code (BXE?) which seems to be becoming notorious for throwing a conrod and putting a piston through the side of the engine. Not saying any of this is guaranteed, but buying the 1.9 is not a ticket to guaranteed trouble free motoring!
For someone doing 10-15k miles a year who needs a reliable 5 door hatchback, a petrol focus or civic would be ideal. A petrol mondeo would also be worth considering as you'll get more for your money, but as I've explained your mileage doesnt warrant a diesel and isn't worth the risks that a 4k 10 year old one brings
£800+ for a DMF? As always, Motors exaggerates the cost of replacement parts on diesels to justify petrols.
£220 for a DMF. That's what they cost. Then if you can't fit them yourself, the book time is 4.5 hours to change from a garage. So another couple hundred quid.
EGR valves are less than £70 for a Wahler unit (so one of the best). Can be changed yourself in an hour or so with a couple spanners and a youtube video, or 1 hour labour at a local garage. Miles away from £500 a time.
Granted, a DPF could stand you around £600 plus the fitting. But there may well be nothing wrong with the one in there currently. And if something does go wrong, you can always get it gutted and coded out for a lot less than replacing it.
Never had injector / turbo troubles with any tdi I have ever had, young or old, but I guess it could happen at some point. Turbo around £500 a pop, injector around £350-400 if required. But as I said, never come accross these issues myself, nor know anyone who has (and most people I know drive older diesels).
Turns out that first Golf linked by the OP was actually a 2008 car also, so only 7 years old. Not so bad a deal if you ask me. Sure, it is possible that ALL that will go wrong while you have it, but you'd save the money on the fuel spend in the first year to 18 months (probably somewhere around £500 per year fuel saving on a diesel at your mileage), over driving a petrol. Then once it's all done, you don't have to worry about it again.
It is also worth noting that petrol motors aren't without their downfalls. Clutches are likely to go at around the sort of mileage you'll be looking at, as well as the CAT's (something not required on a diesel). Most other parts cost the same between petrol and diesel models, and will likely go around the same time.
