Most reliable diesel for £5-6k

craptakular · 13 Mar 2011 at 19:07

What cars do you chaps consider to be reliable and comfy?

Looking at a cheap to run and maintain 5 door, hatchback diesel.

I was considering a Megane...

atpbx · 13 Mar 2011 at 19:12

Only if its one of the higher output Dynamiques, the meganes that I have seen (even when offered a new one) are under equipped and slow compared to other cars of the same price.

Other than that a focus.

Minstadave · 13 Mar 2011 at 19:46

Focus must be worth a shout too.

davy89 · 13 Mar 2011 at 20:04

You'll get the usual bunch shouting at you for considering a diesel, although I think a focus is a good bet, either the 1.6 in the higher output or the 1.8 (1.8 wasn't a peugeot derived unit as far as I know).

GarethSouthgate · 13 Mar 2011 at 20:15

Probably a VAG of some sort I'd guess?

Minstadave · 13 Mar 2011 at 20:23

PD engined is in this price range and pretty bulletproof.

Morba · 13 Mar 2011 at 20:26

Do you need a diesel?
You are obviously on a budget, are you sure a diesel fits the bill? A petrol could work out cheaper in the long run.

craptakular · 13 Mar 2011 at 20:35

Morba said:
Do you need a diesel?
You are obviously on a budget, are you sure a diesel fits the bill? A petrol could work out cheaper in the long run.

I don't need a diesel just want something cheap to run, reliable, cheaper tax etc etc

what is a PD and a VAG?

flibbage0 · 13 Mar 2011 at 20:57

Oxy said:
I don't need a diesel just want something cheap to run, reliable, cheaper tax etc etc

what is a PD and a VAG?

They will all start flaming you in a minute.

Diesel isn't always cheaper, depends on the number of miles you do each year.

The gap between petrol prices and diesel prices is also getting bigger.

VAG, is Volkswagen group

Morba · 13 Mar 2011 at 21:15

It's got nothing to do with flaming.

Diesels can cost more to run than petrols, you need to make sure you are doing the miles to make a diesel more economical than petrol.

233 · 13 Mar 2011 at 21:28

skoda octavia tdi.

or if you hate yourself get a vectra 1.9 cdti

craptakular · 13 Mar 2011 at 21:30

I hve a job where I do a bit of driving, not as much as my old job but in this new one I get my expenses paid. I suppose I do on average 40-70miles per day, so not a great deal.

Morba · 13 Mar 2011 at 21:43

But that mileage is paid for?

Illusion · 13 Mar 2011 at 21:53

Morba said:
Do you need a diesel?
You are obviously on a budget, are you sure a diesel fits the bill? A petrol could work out cheaper in the long run.

Fox hired some enforcers?

Leaving thread now.

Uriel · 13 Mar 2011 at 22:03

I've been testing out 2006-2007 Focus and Mondeo TDCis after working out that I would save £600-700 in fuel a year by driving a diesel. I don't do particularly big mileages either.

The 1.8 Ford TDCi engine is supposed to be more reliable than the 2.0 or 1.6 versions. The 2.0 and 1.6 are known for developing recurring injector problems which cost £80 quid minumum to put right at an authorised Ford service centre and independent garages are mostly incapable of sorting out. They also don't like short journeys and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) are expensive when they pack up.

Have tested Mondeo 1.8 TDCi hatchback, Focus 1.8 TDCi, and Focus 1.6 TDCi (both focus estates). The 1.8s had rather unpleasant turbo lag issues and the 1.6 was worse. The 1.6 was particularly poor on hills until the turbo kicked in. I know that if I were to buy one of either I would quickly develop a very heavy footed driving style - or possibly go the other way and drive like a nun to avoid the turbo. Either way would either be not fuel efficient or not much fun. I drove a W Reg Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI and it put both Ford engines to shame. A much more smooth, enjoyable drive and had a similar amount of poke when I did put my foot down. Noisier when starting and idling though.

Clutches on the Ford Mondeos and Focuses tend to pack up somewhere between 80k to 100k if not before. A lot of adverts make a big thing of it having been done. I think it's about £300 ish for a new one.

If they're cambelt driven rather than chain driven, make sure the belt has been replaced at the right intervals.

Mazda 6 in your price range (few and far between I know) uses the same 2.0l TDCi engine as the Ford. The newer 2.2l Mazda engine in more recent Mazda 6s is supposed to be a more reliable Mazda designed engine but I've only ever seen one listed for less then £10k so far so not much good without a further couple of years worth of depreciation.

As for whether to get a petrol or diesel car? Well there's economics but some diesel engines are better than others. Obviously if the equivalent petrol car is cheap enough to offset fuel savings, it doesn't make much sense to get a diesel.

craptakular · 13 Mar 2011 at 22:36

i do have a third option, I could sel my car, pocket the £4k and 'borrow' the spare 1.2 Clio that my mother no longer uses.

flibbage0 · 13 Mar 2011 at 23:07

Oxy said:
i do have a third option, I could sel my car, pocket the £4k and 'borrow' the spare 1.2 Clio that my mother no longer uses.

If its motorway's mostly, do you really want to go around in a 1.2 clio.

craptakular · 14 Mar 2011 at 06:58

There are no motorways in Suffolk

chrislusty · 14 Mar 2011 at 08:35

Uriel said:
Stuff.

The 1.8tdci is rubbish, especially in the mondeo, too big a car, with not enough power. Test the 2.0 which is a much better engine.

Myshra · 14 Mar 2011 at 08:58

Oxy said:
what is a PD and a VAG?

VAG = Volkswagen group (seat, VW, Audi, Skoda), PD = A type of diesel engine they made from about 98 to 2008. PD engines were a bit noiser than other competing engines but they are extremely resilient and if taken care of, last for ages. They came in a variety of cars and power ranges but as you said megane I'd go with the Skoda Octavia 1.9tdi. Piston heads gives the impression you'd be able to get a 06-07 with >60k miles for this sort of money. Assuming the belt is changed you should be able to find a good deal in there, lots of motorway cruisers with good records.