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lennshow66

lennshow66

lennshow66

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Joined
17 Aug 2010
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180
Hi Guys,

Looking for a new car, needs to have good MPG but have power when needed. Been looking at the 2008 touring BMW's, 320d's (e91 i think). Got around 7k to spend. Car needs to be reliable as it can be.

Thanks
 
What type of journeys do you do and what's your annual mileage? Expand a little more on the type of car you want. Are you only after small estates etc?
 
Shorter journeys however i'll do around 10 - 12k per year, I currently drive a ford fiesta so im looking for something with more room inside and a bigger boot. Saloon to small estate.

Thanks
 
Short journeys and only 12k = petrol probably

MPG is only 1 part of ongoing costs to do with motoring, don't solely concentrate on it. I'd prefer to pay more monthly on fuel and not face a massive bill for DPF or turbos, that and also not having to drive around in dag dag :p
 
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Diesels aren't necessary for that mileage. Stick with less complicated petrols. A 2.0 focus/mondeo would probably be a boring but decent choice but they are slower than a 320d.
 
lennshow66 said:
Shorter journeys however i'll do around 10 - 12k per year, I currently drive a ford fiesta so im looking for something with more room inside and a bigger boot. Saloon to small estate.

Thanks
Click to expand...

With use and mileage like above you're probably much better off going for a petrol engined car.

Your annual mileage is only just about average, and short journeys are the worst sort for a diesel engine as they don't get time to adequately warm up.

Turbo diesel engines are much more complicated than NA petrol engines, and therefore have the potential for more, and more expensive, things to go wrong with them. Coupled with the price of diesel being, on average, 6.6% higher than petrol, and the higher initial purchase cost of the diesel car you'll have to do many more miles before you'll see your money back.

Average 35mpg in a petrol costs £1414.49 for 10,000 miles in fuel
Average 50mpg in a diesel costs £1055.60 for 10,000 miles in fuel

Grand total saving of only £358.89 / year

If you're mainly doing short journeys I think you'll really struggle to get to 50mpg average (I currently drive an E91 320d, I do 25K miles per year, most of my journeys are 125+ miles, and I only just get over 52mpg average). You're more likely to see low-to-mid 40s.

If you managed 45mpg your fuel cost for the diesel will be only £241.60 cheaper per year than the petrol car.

Either saving could be completely wiped out by something going wrong in the diesel (e.g. DPF issue, turbo problem, injector problem).
 
If you're stuck on BMW then your budget should get an early 325i touring in good condition.

Main problems with this are that it'll be a ten year old car for £7-8k and the 325's seem never to have been specced up so you'll be incredibly lucky if it has either idrive or xenons....near miraculous for both.

I'd be much more tempted by something like a 2.5t titanium x Mondeo or a 2.4 Accord Saloon/estate - either of which will be 2008/2009+
 
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