Diesel for shortish journeys but 10k miles?

[krishn]

So I'm in the market for a new car. I'll largely be doing short trips to local parks during the week, I'll probably doing about upto 35 miles over 6 separate trips a day and then upto 120miles over 8 trips on the weekend, the longest of which would be a 20 mile journey and an hour of travel time.

With that context if I used a DFP cleaner and serviced at regular intervals, am I at risk if I get a diesel car? If this is a viable option, how often do you need to use a DPF cleaner?

[Gigamoons]

If you’re not towing significant weight, I can’t think of a single good reason to buy a diesel with that usage profile.

[Robertb]

The regen function should look after the DPF if you have frequent enough longer journeys to let it get warmed up and do a regen cycle.

I don’t see how a consumer grade DPF cleaner would work.

Personally I’d buy a petrol car or EV. The savings over that mileage are minimal.

[Smint]

Would have thought a petrol hybrid would suit your usage better.

[krishn]

Thanks for the replies, I am also considering a petrol hybrid. I'm without a car at the moment as the timing belt went on my last car. I'm someone that will only buy a car that I can see and the cars localish (25m) to me are in relatively short supply for what I'm after when looking at a petrol hybrid, hence also considering diesel cars. I should mention that MPG is really important as well as ongoing running costs, but as I have a dog the car needs to be practical.

I did have a look at a Model 3 and Audi E-Tron but the insurance is concerning as I was quoted over £1k, I'd be worried about it being much higher next year

Edited by krishn on Sunday 18th February 14:15

[OutInTheShed]

Averaging 20mph and thinking that's a 'long trip' is just wrong for a diesel.

10k miles a year is 1000 litres at 45mpg.
But you won't get great mpg from any car with this kind of (ab)use.

On crazy urban use like that, my diesel shed would halve from about 45mpg to 22.
A hybrid would be good, it might save £1000 or £1500 compared with diesel?

But that doesn't go far in car buying.

A Leaf might pay for itself?

[shtu]

krishn said:

MPG is really important as well as ongoing running costs, but as I have a dog the car needs to be practical.

There a lots of small-engined petrols that provide excellent economy, and won't need endless tinkering to cope with that use.

A diesel will essentially never get up to temperature, which will affect economy, as will the additional cost of additives (that won't do very much at all).

How much does your local garage charge to unblock a DPF? There's your diesel "economy" wiped out, first time you need that done.

Petrol. Buy a petrol. Petrol. Petrol. Petrol.

(or an electric or hybrid. Just not diesel.)

[Smint]

krishn said:

Thanks for the replies, I am also considering a petrol hybrid. I'm without a car at the moment as the timing belt went on my last car. I'm someone that will only buy a car that I can see and the cars localish (25m) to me are in relatively short supply for what I'm after when looking at a petrol hybrid, hence also considering diesel cars. I should mention that MPG is really important as well as ongoing running costs, but as I have a dog the car needs to be practical.

I did have a look at a Model 3 and Audi E-Tron but the insurance is concerning as I was quoted over £1k, I'd be worried about it being much higher next year

Edited by krishn on Sunday 18th February 14:15

Auris hybrid estate would cover it if budget limited, but be aware the CAT is easy access on these so if low lifes are an issue where you live or normally park the car consider getting some decent protection added underneath.

If your budget is higher then Corolla hybrid estate the CAT is very much harder to steal, Cazoo/Cinch would make distance buying easier for you, buying blind but they have terms for rejection within a few weeks if the car isn't up to scatch.
Toyota hybrids arn't cheap because every taxi driver wants one, on the other hand every taxi driver can't be wrong.

[ChrisH79]

10k miles is definitely not diesel territory anymore. I’d take a petrol every time for short trips, and I say that as someone who currently runs a diesel daily.

[Scabutz]

We have a diesel CRV. It's 10 years old and done 94k. It went through long periods of just been used for the school run. More recently it gets a couple of good runs up the motorway per week.

We have had 0 problems with the DPF. None .

Guess a lot comes down to the car as well.

[OutInTheShed]

Not all diesel CRVs actually have a DPF....

But yes, it will vary from car to car.
And journey by journey.

The DPF is not the only thing that won't like lots of silly short runs, it won't even get the oil hot.

[E63eeeeee...]

Scabutz said:

We have a diesel CRV. It's 10 years old and done 94k. It went through long periods of just been used for the school run. More recently it gets a couple of good runs up the motorway per week.

We have had 0 problems with the DPF. None .

Guess a lot comes down to the car as well.

At 94k I'd have said exactly the same about my diesel Avensis which had a similar usage profile over the time I had it. At 97k it cost me nearly the value of the car in replacement intake and related bits.

OP - you'd be mad to get a diesel for that usage. It won't even warm up on most of those journeys, so you won't get anywhere near the claimed economy, before you have to start worrying about emissions equipment borkage. You're not looking at a tiny budget by the sound of it so I'd expect your depreciation and servicing costs to outweigh any difference in fuel costs. You could even go the other way and get something interesting with a V8. It will warm up quickly, sound great and hold its value better to compensate for any increase in fuel costs.

[ZX10R NIN]

krishn said:

Thanks for the replies, I am also considering a petrol hybrid. I'm without a car at the moment as the timing belt went on my last car. I'm someone that will only buy a car that I can see and the cars localish (25m) to me are in relatively short supply for what I'm after when looking at a petrol hybrid, hence also considering diesel cars. I should mention that MPG is really important as well as ongoing running costs, but as I have a dog the car needs to be practical.

I did have a look at a Model 3 and Audi E-Tron but the insurance is concerning as I was quoted over £1k, I'd be worried about it being much higher next year

Edited by krishn on Sunday 18th February 14:15

How much are you looking to spend?

[keo]

I agree with E63. I wish I only did 10k a year I’d definitely have something interesting. Unfortunately doing 20k a year on the motorway diesel is the correct option for me. I don’t understand why people would willingly get a diesel when other options are much more suited.

[Gigamoons]

krishn said:

Thanks for the replies, I am also considering a petrol hybrid. I'm without a car at the moment as the timing belt went on my last car. I'm someone that will only buy a car that I can see and the cars localish (25m) to me are in relatively short supply for what I'm after when looking at a petrol hybrid, hence also considering diesel cars. I should mention that MPG is really important as well as ongoing running costs, but as I have a dog the car needs to be practical.

I did have a look at a Model 3 and Audi E-Tron but the insurance is concerning as I was quoted over £1k, I'd be worried about it being much higher next year

Edited by krishn on Sunday 18th February 14:15

You’re looking at an Audi Etron… but mpg at 10k miles annually is really important??

[keo]

Gigamoons said:

You’re looking at an Audi Etron… but mpg at 10k miles annually is really important??

On second thoughts. If this is true this must be a wind up?!

[Pica-Pica]

Scabutz said:

We have a diesel CRV. It's 10 years old and done 94k. It went through long periods of just been used for the school run. More recently it gets a couple of good runs up the motorway per week.

We have had 0 problems with the DPF. None .

Guess a lot comes down to the car as well.

I have a diesel BMW 335d xdrive. In the first 4 years I did long runs regularly. Now my usage pattern is very much like OP’s, but even fewer miles. It is doing fine. I wouldn’t use a DPF cleaner. I have had no DPF issues. I will probably keep the car. People say do not get a diesel for that usage profile, but if you like loads of torque, then that is OK.

HOWEVER, if I was starting again, I would be looking at a petrol-hybrid. You have had a CRV, get another Honda. I tried a Jazz on a test-drive a few months ago. For the interior package and the external footprint, it can’t be beaten. Not everyone’s choice, but it is the choice of many.

[krishn]

ZX10R NIN said:

How much are you looking to spend?

I'd say upto £20k on a 3/4 year old car, but it really depends on what it is. I have a German Shepherd and pretty much all journeys will include him so it needs to be something with a bit of space. We faired pretty well in the 1 series. Most of my search has been around Mini Countryman, A-Class, 1 Series, 3 series estate and A3. If I really liked the car, I could stretch to £25.

Edited by krishn on Sunday 18th February 16:36

[Pica-Pica]

krishn said:

ZX10R NIN said:

How much are you looking to spend?

I'd say upto £20k on a 3/4 year old car, but it really depends on what it is. I have a German Shepherd and pretty much all journeys will include him so it needs to be something with a bit of space. We faired pretty well in the 1 series. Most of my search has been around Mini Countryman, A-Class, 1 Series and A3. If I really liked the car, I could stretch to £25.

If those cars are on your list, don’t dismiss the Jazz.
I am a BMW fan, but inside, they are very much anti-Tardis for space.

[krishn]

Gigamoons said:

You’re looking at an Audi Etron… but mpg at 10k miles annually is really important??

OK, to say I was considering an e-tron was an exaggeration. I filtered on electric cars on Autotrader as the MPG thing doesn't apply and saw an e-tron that was within my budget so I got an insurance quote. Same for the I-pace, I'm not entirely sure of their fuel efficiency. Given the insurance quotes were so high, I didn't bother looking any further.