Buying used diesel car for very low annual miles - foolish?
Discussion
I've always Leased my cars upto now because of my financial situation.
But I should be able to afford hire purchase or a Loan from the Spring '25, as I would prefer to own a car.
Because of my budget, it will be a second-hand car, and I have worked hard all my life so I would like a posh car, estate car ideally, with a nice engine.
But there are hardly any petrol estate cars from BMW, Jaguar and stuff, for around £20.000. Most of them seem diesel.
I only drive 10 miles each day, and do a motorway journey once each month.
Would getting a diesel estate, like a 3 Litre, which there are lots more of about than petrol 3 Litre, be a big mistake because of diesel Particle Filter and things like that? Or would it be O.K if I give the car a 'run' once per month only?
Thankyou! Bernard.
But I should be able to afford hire purchase or a Loan from the Spring '25, as I would prefer to own a car.
Because of my budget, it will be a second-hand car, and I have worked hard all my life so I would like a posh car, estate car ideally, with a nice engine.
But there are hardly any petrol estate cars from BMW, Jaguar and stuff, for around £20.000. Most of them seem diesel.
I only drive 10 miles each day, and do a motorway journey once each month.
Would getting a diesel estate, like a 3 Litre, which there are lots more of about than petrol 3 Litre, be a big mistake because of diesel Particle Filter and things like that? Or would it be O.K if I give the car a 'run' once per month only?
Thankyou! Bernard.
66HFM said:
BMW 330 / 340 petrol; Audi / Skoda with the 2.0TFSi 2.0 280bhp (or higher);
Have you thought of buying a car with the savings you have rather than having to borrow to get a nicer car, I appreciate if you've been leasing a car you'll be used to new(ish) rather than an older car...?
I would love a 330i but they seem outside my budget (just), so I have been looking at 530i. These are very rare, which is what made me ask about diesel, as there are lots more 530ds about.Have you thought of buying a car with the savings you have rather than having to borrow to get a nicer car, I appreciate if you've been leasing a car you'll be used to new(ish) rather than an older car...?
I only have around £5.000 in savings, and don't want to pay more for more than 3 Years, and the Baloon of P.C.P puts me off. But I know what you mean - I am used to driving new cars because I have always leased. A BMW from 2018 or 2019 won't feel too old though, should it?
Pica-Pica said:
That will not hurt a diesel engine. My mileage has dropped, and I do similar. I do not wish to change it, and it copes with that usage. It’s all about the torque, really.
He is going out to get a car, where as you're keeping what you already had. Some diesel engines are ok, but he would be much better off just getting a petrol. BPickles47 said:
Pica-Pica said:
That will not hurt a diesel engine. My mileage has dropped, and I do similar. I do not wish to change it, and it copes with that usage. It’s all about the torque, really.
That's good to hear, so you've never had the DPF light come on or nothing?davek_964 said:
It would be a mistake because you said that you want a "nice engine". That's not a diesel.
Some of the 6 and 8 cylinder diesels are nice to use for me, and they feel lovely and torquey(especially in comparison to a naturally aspirated petrol engine). The more modern 6 cylinder turbo petrol engines are worth considering for the OP as well I think, because they are good at having a torquey feel to them as well. BPickles47 said:
I've always Leased my cars upto now because of my financial situation.
But I should be able to afford hire purchase or a Loan from the Spring '25, as I would prefer to own a car.
Because of my budget, it will be a second-hand car, and I have worked hard all my life so I would like a posh car, estate car ideally, with a nice engine.
But there are hardly any petrol estate cars from BMW, Jaguar and stuff, for around £20.000. Most of them seem diesel.
I only drive 10 miles each day, and do a motorway journey once each month.
Would getting a diesel estate, like a 3 Litre, which there are lots more of about than petrol 3 Litre, be a big mistake because of diesel Particle Filter and things like that? Or would it be O.K if I give the car a 'run' once per month only?
Thankyou! Bernard.
Personally, I'd avoid a modern diesel if you're doing two 5 mile journeys every day and only a long run once a month.But I should be able to afford hire purchase or a Loan from the Spring '25, as I would prefer to own a car.
Because of my budget, it will be a second-hand car, and I have worked hard all my life so I would like a posh car, estate car ideally, with a nice engine.
But there are hardly any petrol estate cars from BMW, Jaguar and stuff, for around £20.000. Most of them seem diesel.
I only drive 10 miles each day, and do a motorway journey once each month.
Would getting a diesel estate, like a 3 Litre, which there are lots more of about than petrol 3 Litre, be a big mistake because of diesel Particle Filter and things like that? Or would it be O.K if I give the car a 'run' once per month only?
Thankyou! Bernard.
If you search autotrader for petrol, estate, >3.0litre and up to £20k, it throws up lots of Audi, Volvo, BMW and Merc to choose from.
But I'm not sure the short runs are good for a big petrol engine either.
I'd also say, go test drive some of the more powerful petrol hybrids.
Quick, smooth, quiet on a long run.
Bit lacking in petrolhead cylinder-count snobbery and badge kudos maybe?
BPickles47 said:
Pica-Pica said:
That will not hurt a diesel engine. My mileage has dropped, and I do similar. I do not wish to change it, and it copes with that usage. It’s all about the torque, really.
That's good to hear, so you've never had the DPF light come on or nothing?BPickles47 said:
I've always Leased my cars upto now because of my financial situation.
But I should be able to afford hire purchase or a Loan from the Spring '25, as I would prefer to own a car.
Because of my budget, it will be a second-hand car, and I have worked hard all my life so I would like a posh car, estate car ideally, with a nice engine.
But there are hardly any petrol estate cars from BMW, Jaguar and stuff, for around £20.000. Most of them seem diesel.
I only drive 10 miles each day, and do a motorway journey once each month.
Would getting a diesel estate, like a 3 Litre, which there are lots more of about than petrol 3 Litre, be a big mistake because of diesel Particle Filter and things like that? Or would it be O.K if I give the car a 'run' once per month only?
Thankyou! Bernard.
You'll get a nice petrol estate for that budget.But I should be able to afford hire purchase or a Loan from the Spring '25, as I would prefer to own a car.
Because of my budget, it will be a second-hand car, and I have worked hard all my life so I would like a posh car, estate car ideally, with a nice engine.
But there are hardly any petrol estate cars from BMW, Jaguar and stuff, for around £20.000. Most of them seem diesel.
I only drive 10 miles each day, and do a motorway journey once each month.
Would getting a diesel estate, like a 3 Litre, which there are lots more of about than petrol 3 Litre, be a big mistake because of diesel Particle Filter and things like that? Or would it be O.K if I give the car a 'run' once per month only?
Thankyou! Bernard.
E63:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410245...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311063...
CLS63:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407091...
S6:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410275...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410315...
RS4:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408022...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410315...
540i:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408072...
340i:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403257...
C43:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404118...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410014...
C63:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410034...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410034...
Just be aware that a lot of cars you would expect to be three litre petrol sixes are not anymore, they're turbocharged fours. Less important to avoid them than the four cylinder diesels, but just another ordinary workmanlike four pot at the end of the day, and if your priority is a "nice engine" you're not going to get one with those.
otolith said:
Just be aware that a lot of cars you would expect to be three litre petrol sixes are not anymore, they're turbocharged fours. Less important to avoid them than the four cylinder diesels, but just another ordinary workmanlike four pot at the end of the day, and if your priority is a "nice engine" you're not going to get one with those.
I proberbly need to test drive some cars nearer the time. Is the engine in something like a BMW 530i not very exciting then? Shame; but thankyou for pointing that out. In the past, I did own a couple of v6 diesels. But maybe I'm crazy wanting something nice if I do such low miles. Ive just always liked cars!!Have you considered going fully electric?
Might not work if your motorway journey is long and time critical, but £20,000 will get you a wide choice of Audi eTrons for example, widely discussed on here. 6 months time and the choice of models is likely to be wider with lots of electric cars coming to the end of lease.
Might not work if your motorway journey is long and time critical, but £20,000 will get you a wide choice of Audi eTrons for example, widely discussed on here. 6 months time and the choice of models is likely to be wider with lots of electric cars coming to the end of lease.
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