fast/sporty diesel for around 4k ?

Matt82 · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:05

numnutz said:
Not knowing what's the process in changing a clutch on a PD, why is being transverse more cost effective? On my 200 (which I appreciate is a totally different car) the clutch is ten times easier being able to just drop the box off back of the engine.

a longitudinal one is far more work.

they all have dual mass flywheels as well, so budget for that too.

you wont get a clutch change worth having for £200.

i changed the clutch on my 1.8t yesterday, the parts were as follows
£120 clutch kit
£150 flywheel and fasteners
£50 crank seal (may as well do it whilst the flywheel is off)

then factor in loads of labour if its a longitudinal car :S

Matt82 · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:08

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=14017505

very expensive habit

numnutz · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:13

Matt82 said:
a longitudinal one is far more work.

they all have dual mass flywheels as well, so budget for that too.

you wont get a clutch change worth having for £200.

i changed the clutch on my 1.8t yesterday, the parts were as follows
£120 clutch kit
£150 flywheel and fasteners
£50 crank seal (may as well do it whilst the flywheel is off)

then factor in loads of labour if its a longitudinal car :S

Sorry, I was trying to get at why it's more labour. But I'm forgetting whilst the engine is longitudual, it's still FWD, hence my confusion as to why it's so easy on my 200, yet more expensive on a car like a Passat.

GinG · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:18

Fiat Punto Sporting?

We have one, whilst not a BMW, its not a bad place to be in. Fairly nippy however doesnt set the world on fire. Not had any issues in the last 6 months of ownership 'touch wood'.

Does the job, doesnt cost the earth to run, and in my opinion it is a nice looking car...

Peerzy · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:26

I like Fiat and I've owned 2, but I don't think a Punto Sporting is the answer. £4k is too much to spend on a Mk2 and you're not going to get a decent diesel Grande Punto for that money really.

Plus with motorway driving I'd want something bigger.

GinG · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:32

It is a fairly 'big' car for its class, just an option for a contender against the vRS, and as he was used to driving a 306 thought it wouldnt phase him!

What are figures like for diesel mondeo zetec-s?

Malc · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:39

My mate has on 04 320d M-Sport and that's not too slow (I think it's between 8 and 9 seconds 0-62). Handles well for a large car and returns nigh on 50MPG combined driving (or so he says).

Just checked on Parkers and an 03 320d SE is achievable for a shade over 4K for a decent one. (If you're serious about the 3 series get Fox to tell you which spec you should get!)

It will be expensive to run in comparison to the 306. I can't see servicing, tyres and repairs being as cheap as the 306.

Peerzy · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:43

GinG said:
It is a fairly 'big' car for its class, just an option for a contender against the vRS, and as he was used to driving a 306 thought it wouldnt phase him!

What are figures like for diesel mondeo zetec-s?

It's big for it's class but not quite as big as the Fabia (or at least I didn't think so and I've driven both).

A Punto is smaller than a 306, I'd want something 306/Focus/Golf size - although 12k-14k isn't actually big mileage.

ubersonic · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:48

Tute said:
Fox is probably going to put my nuts in a vice for uttering it's name, but...

Fabia vRS?

Isnt that a Golf with different bodywork? Fox suggested a Golf so why would he crush your grapefruit's over it?

clv101 · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:51

The VAG 130 is a great engine for someone looking for a 50mpg / £4000 car that isn't too slow. I've had a Fabia vRS from new for close to six years now and it's been flawless.

[TW]Fox · 27 Jan 2011 at 11:10

ubersonic said:
Isnt that a Golf with different bodywork? Fox suggested a Golf so why would he crush your grapefruit's over it?

It's a Polo not a Golf.

Tute · 27 Jan 2011 at 11:37

ubersonic said:
Isnt that a Golf with different bodywork? Fox suggested a Golf so why would he crush your grapefruit's over it?

Let's just say he's not a fan of the car itself. When I was looking at cars back in 2009 and suggested it on MSN I got both proverbial barrels.

Morba · 27 Jan 2011 at 11:39

Malc said:
My mate has on 04 320d M-Sport and that's not too slow (I think it's between 8 and 9 seconds 0-62). Handles well for a large car and returns nigh on 50MPG combined driving (or so he says).

Just checked on Parkers and an 03 320d SE is achievable for a shade over 4K for a decent one. (If you're serious about the 3 series get Fox to tell you which spec you should get!)

It will be expensive to run in comparison to the 306. I can't see servicing, tyres and repairs being as cheap as the 306.

You are looking at 10 secs to 60, that's on a well running engine.
An old e46 diesel for cheap money is not a good idea, be it a 320 or a 330.

paradigm · 27 Jan 2011 at 11:51

Morba said:
You are looking at 10 secs to 60, that's on a well running engine.
An old e46 diesel for cheap money is not a good idea, be it a 320 or a 330.

100% Agreed. Whilst they are now cheap "to buy" they still command the running costs they had when they were new (and most likely higher maintenance costs, as more will be failing at this age).

Mine certainly hasn't been "cheap" to run.

MagicBoy · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:02

clv101 said:
I've had a Fabia vRS from new for close to six years now and it's been flawless.

Same here.

[TW]Fox;18325300 said:
It's a Polo not a Golf.

If anything the Polo is a Fabia. It's a shared platform, Skoda developed it and launched it a couple of years before the VW or Seat relations.

On the size issue the Fabia is a big for it's class, it's as big as my 306 was.

Joe T · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:35

A 330d will not do near 50mpg unless it's sat on the motorway at 65 all day long. I average 42 in mine with a mixture of driving including a reasonable chunk of motorway.

Quoted 0-60 for the 184bhp engine in the early ones like mine is 7.8.

I wouldnt really suggest one for £4k. I upgraded from a 306 DTurbo, but then again I had £12k to spend....

derk · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:58

[TW]Fox;18323194 said:
You are going to get numerous recommendations for a 330d as probably the only 'fast' diesel for £4k. I urge you to ignore these recommendations on the grounds that a £4k 330d will be an absolute shed which will cost you thousands of pounds to keep running.

Agreed, I have a 330d, you need a good one for peace of mind.
Used to own a VW Bora 130 and I thought that was fantastic, always wanted to upgrade to the 150 sport (rare) but found the Beemer at the VW dealers whilst looking for one, took a test drive and that was it.
A nice 2005 Bora 150 sport is one of the best value cars for the money in terms of speed vs MPG although it may be a liitle old for what you are looking for.
Shame its replacement looks naff but got nothing but praise for VAG PD lumps (I have only bought from main dealers though).

MOOGLEYS · 27 Jan 2011 at 13:00

My Vectra 150 sri CDTi has just averaged 52mpg over a tank with sensible driving. I have re-mapped it with a custom map which gives approx 195bhp and 330lb torque at just under 3k rpm with the Egr disabled. I have no idea what the 0-60 is but it gives my mates focus st a good run for its money. Only downside is its a vectra but hey ho I like it..

Malc · 27 Jan 2011 at 13:11

Morba said:
You are looking at 10 secs to 60, that's on a well running engine.
An old e46 diesel for cheap money is not a good idea, be it a 320 or a 330.

I'd argue on the 10 seconds 0-60 and say more 9s (it's 8.9s on Autotrader for the facelift which a 2003 reg is) but I completely agree about the running costs seeing as I've already said that it would be more expensive to run than his current car. This was taking into account the potential for big bills.

He wants a sporty car not just one that has a decent 0-60 speed. The fact is a 320d (especially the M-Sport) will handle and drive better than most of the other cars mentioned in this thread.

It will probably be more expensive to maintain and run, but that's the price for the driving experience.

Morba · 27 Jan 2011 at 13:21

It's a ridiculous price to pay for the driving experience. I don't see how anyone can see it as being worthwhile, especially as the op doesn't do enough miles to warrant a diesel.