*Yawn* A what car! Diesel commuter for three grand.
Discussion
Hello
At the moment I have a wonderful W124 E320 coupe, which I adore but my circumstances have changed! I used to be a single chap, own garage, nice cycle to work and 8000 miles a year.
I now have a 70 mile daily motorway commute, on street parking, a mad terrier and two occasional kids (the mother finally tracked me down after years on the run)
As much as I love the Merc it just can't cut it any more and I resent paying £400 a month on fuel!
Basically I want something 4/5 door , that can crack 45-50mpg on the motorway and most importantly be reliable and no big bills!! A bit of power would be good, but to be honest I would rather save money over being an enthusiastic driver for the next few years. My commute is all quiet motorway.
One thing that puts me off modern diesel is the potential high repair bills, injectors, DMFS, swirl outlets, etc. I have done heavy miles on high mileage petrols 200k etc and just had consumables fail. I really don't want to suffer a modern diesel to save money and then get a big repair bill which wipes out any fuel savings!
I have 2.5- 4 grand to spend and have narrowed it down to these:
Ford Mondeo (mk 3)
Nice enough, does everything I want, loads about to choose from, I think the Zetec-S looks good.
One thing that puts me off is the clutch/flywheel/starter motor/injector failure rate , could just be doom sayers though.
VW Passat
Same as mondeo, bit older engines though, are the PD units quite tough? I would prefer the more modern engine of the ford, but is the older VW more cost effective?
Mazda 6
Same again, some reports of big bills, although I really rate Mazdas, my MX5 was suberb. Seems quite stylish.
Seat Leon / Toledo
had a first gen Toledo as my first car and was excellent. Quite a bit older than others but I really rate Seats and the seem very good VFM. Lots of family members have had seats and they were big bill free, but all petrols.
Not keen on golfs, saabs or vauxhall, no offence, just not my cup of tea.
Does anyone have any real world experience of my choices or anything to add.
Thanks all advice appreciated
At the moment I have a wonderful W124 E320 coupe, which I adore but my circumstances have changed! I used to be a single chap, own garage, nice cycle to work and 8000 miles a year.
I now have a 70 mile daily motorway commute, on street parking, a mad terrier and two occasional kids (the mother finally tracked me down after years on the run)
As much as I love the Merc it just can't cut it any more and I resent paying £400 a month on fuel!
Basically I want something 4/5 door , that can crack 45-50mpg on the motorway and most importantly be reliable and no big bills!! A bit of power would be good, but to be honest I would rather save money over being an enthusiastic driver for the next few years. My commute is all quiet motorway.
One thing that puts me off modern diesel is the potential high repair bills, injectors, DMFS, swirl outlets, etc. I have done heavy miles on high mileage petrols 200k etc and just had consumables fail. I really don't want to suffer a modern diesel to save money and then get a big repair bill which wipes out any fuel savings!
I have 2.5- 4 grand to spend and have narrowed it down to these:
Ford Mondeo (mk 3)
Nice enough, does everything I want, loads about to choose from, I think the Zetec-S looks good.
One thing that puts me off is the clutch/flywheel/starter motor/injector failure rate , could just be doom sayers though.
VW Passat
Same as mondeo, bit older engines though, are the PD units quite tough? I would prefer the more modern engine of the ford, but is the older VW more cost effective?
Mazda 6
Same again, some reports of big bills, although I really rate Mazdas, my MX5 was suberb. Seems quite stylish.
Seat Leon / Toledo
had a first gen Toledo as my first car and was excellent. Quite a bit older than others but I really rate Seats and the seem very good VFM. Lots of family members have had seats and they were big bill free, but all petrols.
Not keen on golfs, saabs or vauxhall, no offence, just not my cup of tea.
Does anyone have any real world experience of my choices or anything to add.
Thanks all advice appreciated
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Wednesday 12th January 14:51
TwistingMyMelon said:
VW Passat
Same as mondeo, bit older engines though, are the PD units quite tough? I would prefer the more modern engine of the ford, but is the older VW more cost effective?
My experience is that the low power version (100 or 110bhp I think) are very strong. Same as mondeo, bit older engines though, are the PD units quite tough? I would prefer the more modern engine of the ford, but is the older VW more cost effective?
We had an old one as a pool car that 'slipped through the net' re servicing it and the old nail just soldiered on, taking the abuse day in day out.
Mondeo is supposed to have a decent chassis.
£4k gets you a fairly decent selection....
Clicky
Fuel consumption (urban) 34.5 mpg
Fuel consumption (extra urban) 57.7 mpg
Fuel consumption (combined) 46.3 mpg
0 - 62 mph 8.7 seconds
Top speed 136 mph
Cylinders 4
Valves 16 v
Engine power 155 bhp
Engine torque 265.5 lbs/ft
edit: that was literally the first one on autotrader, there are probably nicer ones - just though the figures weren't bad.
£4k gets you a fairly decent selection....
Clicky
Fuel consumption (urban) 34.5 mpg
Fuel consumption (extra urban) 57.7 mpg
Fuel consumption (combined) 46.3 mpg
0 - 62 mph 8.7 seconds
Top speed 136 mph
Cylinders 4
Valves 16 v
Engine power 155 bhp
Engine torque 265.5 lbs/ft
edit: that was literally the first one on autotrader, there are probably nicer ones - just though the figures weren't bad.
Edited by Diabolik on Wednesday 12th January 14:45
Cheers chaps so far!
The Passat seems pretty robust, Ive been in some high miler passat taxis and they seemed to take the abuse well.
Mondeo seems front runner so far, lots of choice and loads about for money, just looking for some feedback on any repair bills 100-150k (miles not cost!!)
Not sure mondeo/mazda engines, they are very similar and similar issues.
Passats and Seats are same though, tends to be a bit cheaper and better spec.
The Passat seems pretty robust, Ive been in some high miler passat taxis and they seemed to take the abuse well.
Mondeo seems front runner so far, lots of choice and loads about for money, just looking for some feedback on any repair bills 100-150k (miles not cost!!)
Not sure mondeo/mazda engines, they are very similar and similar issues.
Passats and Seats are same though, tends to be a bit cheaper and better spec.
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Wednesday 12th January 14:50
I had a Golf with the PD engine in it. OK, it was noisy at idle but they're very reliable, quite simple in comparison to more modern diesels and economical too. I saw >70 mpg a couple of times. You can't hear them on the motorway anyway over the road noise.
Another car to consider could be a Volvo S60 D5...
Another car to consider could be a Volvo S60 D5...
You'd probably get a better Skoda Octavia with a PD engine than a Passat for the same money.
I had a Fabia 1.9 PD TDi and did 30,000 miles a year in it with no issues other than routine servicing, pads and discs all round and a cambelt change. You can see my costs in my profile. Bear in mind though, back then diesel was 90p/litre....
I had a Fabia 1.9 PD TDi and did 30,000 miles a year in it with no issues other than routine servicing, pads and discs all round and a cambelt change. You can see my costs in my profile. Bear in mind though, back then diesel was 90p/litre....
Edited by Highway Star on Wednesday 12th January 16:17
I thought Mondeos had horrifically expensive injectors that routinely fail at 100K+?
I'm sure someone said something about the VAG diesel units needing to be properly serviced as well to avoid problems later in their lives.
No experience myself and these things are always over reported.
I do always wonder about modern diesels though, they're such highly strung things that buying a cheaper one always strikes me as as bit of gamble... Dual mass flywheels, fuel pumps, injectors etc. would negate fuel savings very quickly...
I'm sure someone said something about the VAG diesel units needing to be properly serviced as well to avoid problems later in their lives.
No experience myself and these things are always over reported.
I do always wonder about modern diesels though, they're such highly strung things that buying a cheaper one always strikes me as as bit of gamble... Dual mass flywheels, fuel pumps, injectors etc. would negate fuel savings very quickly...
Highway Star said:
You'd probably get a better Skoda Octavia with a PD engine than a Passat for the same money.
I had a Fabia 1.9 PD TDi and did 30,000 miles a year in it with no issues other than routine servicing and a cambelt change.
Been very with happy with my Octavia 2.0 TDi PD. Apart from service items and the bloody rear screen wash it's been faultless, but given that all it does is sit on the M3 at 65mph I probably should have bought the 1.9 TDi. It's not quite as quick as the 2.0 but it's cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, and if you read the Briskoda forum it seems that 15 years of development mean it's more 'sorted' than the 2.0 as well. Plus, I was annoyed when Skoda changed the recommended service interval for the cam belt on the 2.0 from 60,000 to 40,000 miles. That seems crazy short for a modern dieselI had a Fabia 1.9 PD TDi and did 30,000 miles a year in it with no issues other than routine servicing and a cambelt change.
Having a Passat myself, there are lots of faults with the newer design 2.0 PD engine pre 2007.
The 1.9 is much more reliable, using Bosch injectors as opposed to Siemens which don't last well.
Although, just thought that you'd be looking at B5/B5.5 Passats which don't have the 2.0 anyway
The 1.9 is much more reliable, using Bosch injectors as opposed to Siemens which don't last well.
Although, just thought that you'd be looking at B5/B5.5 Passats which don't have the 2.0 anyway
We ran a 1.4Tdi fabia for 50,000 miles and it was exceptionally good. Routine servicing and 2 new tyres only, and a genuine 60+mpg (measured at the pumps not the trip computer. Possibly a bit basic for you after a merc, so perhaps an octavia? I can't recommend skodas enough though, great cars for not much money.
I'm in your exact position, same money, same criteria.
I've driven, Golfs, Boras and an A4 avant. All over priced, low specced and not that special. I tried a high spec Passat B5.5 and although the high spec nearly swayed me I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Then I drove a Volvo S60 D5, its an infinitely nicer car. Better specced, better built, quicker and better looking IMO. If you haven't tried one, do, you might be surprised, diesel engines aren't really inspiring but in my price range this is as close as you can get to an interesting engine, being a 5 pot.
I'm hopefully picking one up this week for £3150.
I've driven, Golfs, Boras and an A4 avant. All over priced, low specced and not that special. I tried a high spec Passat B5.5 and although the high spec nearly swayed me I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Then I drove a Volvo S60 D5, its an infinitely nicer car. Better specced, better built, quicker and better looking IMO. If you haven't tried one, do, you might be surprised, diesel engines aren't really inspiring but in my price range this is as close as you can get to an interesting engine, being a 5 pot.
I'm hopefully picking one up this week for £3150.
Bora 1.9 pd tdi, quality feel, very reliable and frugal. £3000 will get you a 53/04 reg, don't worry about highish mileage, they go on forever.
Seat 1.4 tdi sport preferably, better suspension, great drive and you get the more torquey engine. Very surprising package. 3 cylinder pd engine, (1.9 engine with onepot lopped off), as above uber reliable and takes big mileages. £3000 should get you a 04/54 reg
Seat 1.4 tdi sport preferably, better suspension, great drive and you get the more torquey engine. Very surprising package. 3 cylinder pd engine, (1.9 engine with onepot lopped off), as above uber reliable and takes big mileages. £3000 should get you a 04/54 reg
Edited by icepop on Wednesday 12th January 19:05
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