Whats a dece performing diesel hatch (with room for engine tweaking) for my next car?

Richdog

Richdog

Richdog

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Hi guys,

Well, it wasn't too long ago (6 months or so) since I got my first car, a Renault 1.4RT (was driving my dads car for over a year before this though). However, it's already starting to bore me and I find performance dull and unexciting (don't get me wrong, I don't expect anything spectacular from a 1.4 :p) and now i've got used to it I really want something better.

Fuel economy is also important to me, I drive 40 mins to and from work daily, and I think I get around 28-32 if you add the odd minor thrashing. This is why i've been thinking about diesels.

I've heard that diesels have really improved nowadays, and as well as the uber economy, you can get the engine tweaked and remapped to provide some decent horsepower and oomph... i'm just not sure which models would suit me and which are the best for my needs.

I want something hot, hatchy, that doesn't cost the earth. I've been looking at the Golf TDI's as I know they offer decent performance, build quality, and of course reliability.

Not a boy racer, just want something fun and enjoyable to drive.

Budget up to 5k, preferably lower.

Any suggestions? :)
 
Vectra 1.9 CDTi 150.

Should be able to pick an early facelifted model up for around £5k.

I'm about to purchase its bigger brother, in the next couple of months........3.0 V6 CDTi.

I'm looking forward to it, especially once I've got a Tuning-box on the thing.

The 1.9's are pretty quick though, well worth a look.
 
Trouble with a golf diesel at that price range, is it's likely to be quite old or have high mileage. Not sure whether you're budget would get you a focus tdci, 306 hdi is also worth a look :)
 
Interesting post. I had a 1.4 RT clio of which I sold because am in need of a decent diesel.

Personally I have been looking at the punto JTD 1.9 which is 85 bhp. With a ECU remap, you can get to 120 bhp (which is 8 seconds to 60) and you can get around 40-50 mpg. :)
 
Mad old tory said:
Trouble with a golf diesel at that price range, is it's likely to be quite old or have high mileage. Not sure whether you're budget would get you a focus tdci, 306 hdi is also worth a look :)
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Well, lower end of my budget seems to net me a '96, and upper end of my budget gets me a '99-'01... seems to be the 110 bhp models at the upper end mostly.

What do you think they can be remapped to?

triggerthat said:
Interesting post. I had a 1.4 RT clio of which I sold because am in need of a decent diesel.

Personally I have been looking at the punto JTD 1.9 which is 85 bhp. With a ECU remap, you can get to 120 bhp (which is 8 seconds to 60) and you can get around 40-50 mpg. :)
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Will bear that in mind. :)

EDIT - Just done a google and seen they can be remapped to just under 200bhp (probably a bit unrealistic though?)...
 
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Hey,

My dad has got a Golf TDI (90BHP I think standard) he has got it remapped to 130bhp.

A TDI (130bhp standard - 9 seconds to 60) can be done to 160 bhp I believe (7.99 seconds).

The TDI (150 standard - 8 seconds to 60) can be done to 185 bhp - 7 seconds to 60.
 
Richdog said:
EDIT - Just done a google and seen they can be remapped to just under 200bhp (probably a bit unrealistic though?)...
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Hmm I really doubt it without any other mods.

The fiat diesel engines are one of the best and go well with mods. A 200bhp diesel would be nice.

Linky?
 
Do you have to have a diesel?

I'd imagine 40 minutes driving equates to 20-25 miles? So a 50 mile round trip, 500 miles a month, or 6000 miles a year commuting.

You need to bear in mind that diesels command a price premium over equivalent petrol models - especially in the VW/Audi/Seat group, but also in Fords/Vauxhalls etc. If you're only doing 10,000 miles a year in total, the money you save on economy won't recoup your initial expenditure unless you keep the car for 3 or 4 years. Assuming you keep it a year or two, if like me, you get bored of a car - you'll still be out of pocket when it comes to sell.

A 2 litre 16v Focus might be a good choice, you could get a nice one for your budget. Sprightly performance, and a good reliable engine that revs much better than a diesel.

Worth a thought maybe?
 
Draeger said:
Vectra 1.9 CDTi 150.

Should be able to pick an early facelifted model up for around £5k.
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Absolutely no chance of a CTDi 150 for £5k.

I'm about to purchase its bigger brother, in the next couple of months........3.0 V6 CDTi.

I'm looking forward to it, especially once I've got a Tuning-box on the thing.
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I still don't understand what it is about the Vectra that makes you prefer it to the competition - Accord CTDi, Mondeo TDCi 155, Passat TDI, Mazda6 TDI, older BMW 330d, older Audi A4 1.9TDI/2.5TDI are all better cars. The Vectra... merely looks good on the fleet managers books, excels at nothing besides sitting on the Motorway with its pretty compliant ride. It's by no means a BAD car, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, but it does nothing that makes it a better choice really, so why bother?

I assume you've test driven the competition - what was it you liked about the Vectra over its rivals?

Back to the original post - with this budget I highly recommend you stick to a petrol hatch, the really brilliant diesels are few and far between at this money, whereas you'd get a really rather great example of the numerous good petrol hatches for £5k.
 
timbob said:
Do you have to have a diesel?

I'd imagine 40 minutes driving equates to 20-25 miles? So a 50 mile round trip, 500 miles a month, or 6000 miles a year commuting.

You need to bear in mind that diesels command a price premium over equivalent petrol models - especially in the VW/Audi/Seat group, but also in Fords/Vauxhalls etc. If you're only doing 10,000 miles a year in total, the money you save on economy won't recoup your initial expenditure unless you keep the car for 3 or 4 years. Assuming you keep it a year or two, if like me, you get bored of a car - you'll still be out of pocket when it comes to sell.

A 2 litre 16v Focus might be a good choice, you could get a nice one for your budget. Sprightly performance, and a good reliable engine that revs much better than a diesel.

Worth a thought maybe?
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Hmm I hear you and you raise some good points, and I agree on the used car market that you can get more with your money with a petrol than you can with a diesel, I just thought that maybe the running costs (plus insurance) may help over a year or two. Plus after a quick look on autotrader, a decent focus of that spec is stiil around 4k.

WHat other reasonably economical, reliable yet punchy hatchbacks that aren't crazy on the insurance would you reccommend then?
 
timbob said:
I'd imagine 40 minutes driving equates to 20-25 miles? So a 50 mile round trip, 500 miles a month, or 6000 miles a year commuting.
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If he works 10 days a month?

But anyway, Diesel > Petrol and you knows it! :)
 
[TW]Fox said:
Absolutely no chance of a CTDi 150 for £5k.



I still don't understand what it is about the Vectra that makes you prefer it to the competition - Accord CTDi, Mondeo TDCi 155, Passat TDI, Mazda6 TDI, older BMW 330d, older Audi A4 1.9TDI/2.5TDI are all better cars. The Vectra... merely looks good on the fleet managers books, excels at nothing besides sitting on the Motorway with its pretty compliant ride. It's by no means a BAD car, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, but it does nothing that makes it a better choice really, so why bother?

I assume you've test driven the competition - what was it you liked about the Vectra over its rivals?

Back to the original post - with this budget I highly recommend you stick to a petrol hatch, the really brilliant diesels are few and far between at this money, whereas you'd get a really rather great example of the numerous good petrol hatches for £5k.
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Tbh Foxy, I havent test driven any of the competitors you mention.

The Accord: I just dont like the way it looks.

Mondeo: Driven a friends TDCi, wasn't that impressed with it tbh.

Mazda 6: Looks awful

Beemer: Possibility, but the wife doesnt like them. :rolleyes:

Audi: Lovely, but for the cash, I could get a newer, lower mileage V6 CDTi.

What I have done, is done a wee bit of research, online, on the V6 CDTi and I havent heard a bad word said about it as of yet. The thing that attracts me to it, aside from the performance, is the fact that on the used market at least, you are getting an awful lot of car for your money, comparatively. Its rather a rare beast, and I would reckon that some folk who haven't driven one would be seriously surprised at the performance the thing has as well as the excellent mpg it can achieve.

I dunno, I'm not a Veccy "fanboi" or anything, I just like the looks, performance and mpg the 3.0 will give me, as a whole package for the beer tokens.

I'm looking at spending @£12k. SaaB 9-3 is an option, same "Epsilon" floor-pan as the Veccy, but for some reason I just keep coming back to the Vauxhall m8.

I am however, open to suggestions. I'm in the Reg Vardy computer "network" now, looking for a specced up V6. They will be starting to call me in a month or so's time.

My apologies Richdog, dont want to take your thread too off topic m8.
 
One thing I won't disagree is that the V6 CTDi is a fantastic engine. Unfortunately, it's bolted to a totally average car, which is a real shame.

Re: The Mondeo TDCi you drove - was it the 2.2? It's noticeably better than the 2.0, although I guess if it was the car in general you disliked the engine makes no odds. Awesome value though when you can get a brand new ST TDCi for £16k - a car which, 2 years after its launch, is still *at least* £14k for a used one.

Which, having just re-read your post would kinda rule it on your budget, doh.

Do have a look at an A4 2.5 TDI, though. Drive as much stuff as you can, becuase:

a) Its fun
b) If you STILL decide the Vectra is best ever driving every possible alternative, you will be in no doubt you've done the right thing with your £12k. Great peace of mind.

Hopefully this was a slightly more useful post than my usual 'AAHAHAH LOL VECTRA 4TL LOLZ' opinion.
 
Suggestions taken on-board m8, appreciate it.

I'll need to check with my m8, what Mondy TDCi it is he has. It's not an ST, I know that, I'm sure his boot badge states its an LX. It's a company car though and he's not exactly a "petrol-head" so he probably wouldn't have a clue what bhp or engine cc it is. :p

Doing some research now on the Audi 2.5. Pricey, but looks interesting.
 
If its an LX it isnt the 2.2 TDCi - it's the 2.0 115 or 130. Not really comparable to the Vectra 150 - thats the engine the 2.2 155 competes with.
 
To the OP, i'd be thinking Seat lean/toledo tbh. Also focus tdci, but i've no idea if these have dropped into budget yet, probably not. Save up loads more somehow and find an astra 888 cdti :rolleyes:
 
Chris1712 said:
To the OP, i'd be thinking Seat lean/toledo tbh. Also focus tdci, but i've no idea if these have dropped into budget yet, probably not. Save up loads more somehow and find an astra 888 cdti :rolleyes:
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agreed :P after seeing the astra 888 cdti on fifth gear i fell in love with it. Good fuel economy with the power of a performance hatch!
 
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