Cheap diesel to buy / run! Which one?? Advice?

Cheap diesel to buy / run! Which one?? Advice?

Author
Discussion

Atmospheric

5,325 posts

215 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Skoda Fabia VRS? I know nothing about them, but chaps on here recommend it. Boat anchor of an engine but will be much better on the motorway. Should be ok on an apprentice wage.

Like your thinking. Buy the best you can afford and avoid financing anything at that level IMO.

Evanivitch

21,944 posts

129 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
What state is the Clio in mechanically? Better the devil you know...

I would personally suggest keeping it well maintained (oil and filters, consumables), and look to improve your driving efficiency. That might mean driving slower, but you could also:

Keep on top of your tyre pressures (regularly check them, even run them high. Buy fuel efficient tyres which also tend to last quite well)

Remove excess weight. Do you need your back seats? Run good tyres and a can of tyre gunk. Lose the spare.

Block ~50% of the grill up and keep an eye on engine temperatures.

As well as all that, slow down going up hills, and gain momentum on the way down.

You should be able to get an extra 5MPG from that. That's 12.5% savings easy.

FredClogs

14,041 posts

168 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Shop around for the insurance first, something like a Mk4 golf or Bora Tdi will do 55mpg on the motorway (so save you £1k a year) half decent ones can be had for £1500, rust free they're pretty easy to keep on the road for 200k+ miles, but you've got the risk as with buying any 10yr old + car.

Uncle John

4,492 posts

198 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Alfa 147 JtdM.

8 valve very decent performance with mid to late 40's mpg, 16 valve fast with the same mid 40 + mpg.

benjijames28

1,702 posts

99 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
If 1500 was the cost of Years insurance on your own policy at 17 then you got very lucky.

I swear postcode can have the biggest effect on insurance. I paid a grand this year and I'm 27.

steve-5snwi

8,971 posts

100 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
306/406 hdi or Golf Tdi, however fuel costs could still be lost with any mechanical issues.

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

174 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Keep the Clio and look after it.

Section 8

541 posts

196 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Seat Ibiza FR or sport. Both 1.9 tdi with good mpg . Much like the Fabia VRS but without the white seats that get filthy . Sport has 100 bhp and FR 130. See them on Autotrader for peanuts.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

61 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Atmospheric said:
Skoda Fabia VRS? I know nothing about them, but chaps on here recommend it. Boat anchor of an engine but will be much better on the motorway. Should be ok on an apprentice wage.

Like your thinking. Buy the best you can afford and avoid financing anything at that level IMO.
Will have a look into that.

Evanivitch said:
What state is the Clio in mechanically? Better the devil you know...

I would personally suggest keeping it well maintained (oil and filters, consumables), and look to improve your driving efficiency. That might mean driving slower, but you could also:

Keep on top of your tyre pressures (regularly check them, even run them high. Buy fuel efficient tyres which also tend to last quite well)

Remove excess weight. Do you need your back seats? Run good tyres and a can of tyre gunk. Lose the spare.

Block ~50% of the grill up and keep an eye on engine temperatures.

As well as all that, slow down going up hills, and gain momentum on the way down.

You should be able to get an extra 5MPG from that. That's 12.5% savings easy.
Clio is in good mechanical shape, had a service at the beginning of the year, all filters replaced, new front coils, recently did new cambelt and water pump. Brakes were serviced before I bought it. No rust anywhere, tyres could do with replacing soon.
Thanks for the tips. I spend most of my morning in stop start traffic, what should be a 50 minute commute is very near 2 hours!

FredClogs said:
Shop around for the insurance first, something like a Mk4 golf or Bora Tdi will do 55mpg on the motorway (so save you £1k a year) half decent ones can be had for £1500, rust free they're pretty easy to keep on the road for 200k+ miles, but you've got the risk as with buying any 10yr old + car.
Been checking on price comparison sites and on the phone, everyone is around the same even after pestering them to decrease the price and give me all the discounts.

Uncle John said:
Alfa 147 JtdM.

8 valve very decent performance with mid to late 40's mpg, 16 valve fast with the same mid 40 + mpg.
I do like alfas, first car I quoted. Wouldn't even insure me on it, those that did were not cheap!! minimum was £3 grand mad

benjijames28 said:
If 1500 was the cost of Years insurance on your own policy at 17 then you got very lucky.

I swear postcode can have the biggest effect on insurance. I paid a grand this year and I'm 27.
Having 'Student' as your occupation is the biggest effect by far. I might be able to get away with it however if I have an accident commuting to the work place in the holidays (college full time for a course I need) i'd have my insurance invalidated?

Section 8

541 posts

196 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Seat Ibiza FR or sport. Both 1.9 tdi with good mpg . Much like the Fabia VRS but without the white seats that get filthy . Sport has 100 bhp and FR 130. See them on Autotrader for peanuts.

Section 8

541 posts

196 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Seat Ibiza FR or sport. Both 1.9 tdi with good mpg . Much like the Fabia VRS but without the white seats that get filthy . Sport has 100 bhp and FR 130. See them on Autotrader for peanuts.

Section 8

541 posts

196 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Apologies for multiple posts

snotrag

14,919 posts

218 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Turn the radio up.


My mate had an 1100 Fiesta, it would do 80. He fitted a big sub and amp. It would do 90.

Momentofmadness

2,369 posts

248 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Another vote for keeping the Clio and chilling out more smile

Evanivitch

21,944 posts

129 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
AVV EM said:
Clio is in good mechanical shape, had a service at the beginning of the year, all filters replaced, new front coils, recently did new cambelt and water pump. Brakes were serviced before I bought it. No rust anywhere, tyres could do with replacing soon.
Thanks for the tips. I spend most of my morning in stop start traffic, what should be a 50 minute commute is very near 2 hours!
I wouldn't bother with a diesel if that's the case. My Fabia 1.9TDi loves the motorway but MPG drops off quite heavily in traffic.

In all honesty, get a motorcycle and get 2 hours of your day back. Need only a 125cc and a CBT.

namealreadytaken

43 posts

99 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Citroen ax 1.5d will be the only thing cheaper to run and insure

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

61 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Evanivitch said:
AVV EM said:
Clio is in good mechanical shape, had a service at the beginning of the year, all filters replaced, new front coils, recently did new cambelt and water pump. Brakes were serviced before I bought it. No rust anywhere, tyres could do with replacing soon.
Thanks for the tips. I spend most of my morning in stop start traffic, what should be a 50 minute commute is very near 2 hours!
I wouldn't bother with a diesel if that's the case. My Fabia 1.9TDi loves the motorway but MPG drops off quite heavily in traffic.

In all honesty, get a motorcycle and get 2 hours of your day back. Need only a 125cc and a CBT.
I'd love one for track, not on the road. too many idiots.

PlayFair

201 posts

127 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
I mean you could get a bike and save 2 hours a day; also could save you the hassle of living much longer.

I bought a 54 plate Saab 9-3tid 115k miles for £900. Does 50-60mpg. Full tank is £60-70, will do 600-700 miles approx. great motorway cruiser.

Edited by PlayFair on Thursday 13th October 22:55

aspirated

2,539 posts

153 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
Find a sorted PD130 with a recent cam belt/waterpump/clutch change, mileage is mainly irrelevant

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

61 months

Thursday 13th October 2016
quotequote all
PlayFair said:
I mean you could get a bike and save 2 hours a day; also could save you the hassle of living much longer.

I bought a 54 plate Saab 9-3tid 115k miles for £900. Does 50-60mpg. Full tank is £60-70, will do 600-700 miles approx. great motorway cruiser.

Edited by PlayFair on Thursday 13th October 22:55
Was looking at a saab 9-3 earlier.. Insurance isn't too friendly with that one, shame.