Compact diesel for £18k

[thenortherner]

I've a 2020 Abarth Competitzone and I'm covering around 1,500 miles per month. The car's being driven as it's meant to be and returning 28mpg. But even with gentle driving it's no better than high 30s. With this month's fuel bill coming in at £520 - granted I did more miles than usual - and normally around £300-400, it's perhaps time for it to go.

I can afford to keep it but I'm a tight arse and want something to offset the rising cost of living with, so I'm no worse off. Plus it's not exactly the most comfortable car to do those sort of miles in.

I'm going to switch to a diesel. I'm looking for:
£18k spend max
Compact size - no bigger than a Focus ideally but even a MINI's fine (in the past I had a 15 plate Cooper D which was great)
Reliable / no known major issues with the model
Reasonable kit
50mpg+ no issue
Preferably a more 'prestige' brand
Euro 6!
Not covered more than 30k miles already

I've looked at A1s with the 1.6 TDI engine but believe they're a bit rough engine-wise and not great value considering they're not usually well specced.

Quite like the Volvo V40. I had a D2 inscription and it was decent enough. Well specced. Good value. A bit long in the tooth though I spose now.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208028...

Thanks,

[Canon_Fodder]

Can you get a 218d coupe or GC for that money?

[ninjag]

There's petrol options that will return over 50mpg (usually more accurate to their stated mpg than diesels) and it's cheaper at the pump per litre:

Audi A3 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206277...
BMW 118i https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208229...
Volvo V40 (those seats look gooood!) https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206176...
Volkswagen https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207278...

Or

DS 5 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208108...
Infiniti Q30 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208178...
Lexus CT 200h https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205045...

[Silenoz]

I'm getting over 50mpg on my petrol Mini Cooper auto. Mines a 21 plate, but you'll get a nice one for your budget and it'll keep an element of fun that your Abarth has.

[Bobupndown]

Mk7 Golf GTD.

[Shappers24]

Anything from the VAG stable with the 2.0 TDI engine will hit 50mpg without trying.

I have an older ‘12 plate Ibiza FR with the 140bhp engine and on a run it’ll tickle 70mpg, can imagine even the newer ones being more economical.

You mention the Cooper D… what about the cooper SD. Should have decent handling and its a solid 2 litre Diesel engine.

[dmsims]

Do you do lots of short journeys?

Commute length ?

[Stuart70]

Golf GTD

[ZX10R NIN]

thenortherner said:

I've a 2020 Abarth Competitzone and I'm covering around 1,500 miles per month. The car's being driven as it's meant to be and returning 28mpg. But even with gentle driving it's no better than high 30s. With this month's fuel bill coming in at £520 - granted I did more miles than usual - and normally around £300-400, it's perhaps time for it to go.

I can afford to keep it but I'm a tight arse and want something to offset the rising cost of living with, so I'm no worse off. Plus it's not exactly the most comfortable car to do those sort of miles in.

I'm going to switch to a diesel. I'm looking for:
£18k spend max
Compact size - no bigger than a Focus ideally but even a MINI's fine (in the past I had a 15 plate Cooper D which was great)
Reliable / no known major issues with the model
Reasonable kit
50mpg+ no issue
Preferably a more 'prestige' brand
Euro 6!
Not covered more than 30k miles already

I've looked at A1s with the 1.6 TDI engine but believe they're a bit rough engine-wise and not great value considering they're not usually well specced.

Quite like the Volvo V40. I had a D2 inscription and it was decent enough. Well specced. Good value. A bit long in the tooth though I spose now.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208028...

Thanks,

There's an answer that is the Infiniti Q30 (being a tight arse ) you'll appreciate that you can keep 4k in your pocket & be rolling around in an A Class (every component is Mercedes apart from the bodywork) A220d AMG Line & imo it actually has the better interior:

Q30 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206227...

With the older Sport above (16) you get the AMG seats, with the newer (68) one below you don't:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204154...

But they do fit your brief are a good car & apart from the actual badge you still get the premium car you're looking for & 4k on the hip, win win

With those miles your biggest cost will be depreciation so spending less on the initial purchase price softens the depreciation curve.

[PT1984]

If you like the V40 then get the D4 manual. It’s 99kg/km C02. This means £0 road tax. Get the Polestar map, then it’s as swift as you need. Mine gets 500 per tank minimum. 600 on a long run. Get the R Design which I believe is firmer damped. Mine rides well on PS4s. The only issue I have had in 3 years are a broken mirror motor.

[ED209]

Shappers24 said:

Anything from the VAG stable with the 2.0 TDI engine will hit 50mpg without trying.

I have an older ‘12 plate Ibiza FR with the 140bhp engine and on a run it’ll tickle 70mpg, can imagine even the newer ones being more economical.

You mention the Cooper D… what about the cooper SD. Should have decent handling and its a solid 2 litre Diesel engine.

Really? My A5 with that engine has averaged 44mpg over 9000 miles.

[thenortherner]

All, many thanks for the replies.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I do like the car - it's just under 2 years old and I bought it when it had only covered a few thousand miles - it's in perfect condition and the service history is spot on. The issue is one that sounds ridiculous - restraint. I find myself hammering it almost each and every trip. And that's not because I find it especially enjoyable either, it's actually pretty tiring a lot of the time. But I find myself driving cars as they were meant to be driven and it's always been the same across the dozen or so hot hatches I've had. I need to keep hold of my licence for work, and thus far it's clean. I'm in my late 30s, doing a fair number of miles, maybe it's time to grow up!

I could keep hold it of it and drive it more sedately, and maybe scrape high 30s the gallon. But then I ask myself what's the point? Feathering the throttle, or sat on the inside line of a motorway...that's not going to be enjoyable so I might as well be sat in something far more comfortable and far less costly to run if I'm about to do that.

And that's why I'd probably rule out the fun, economical petrol engines mentioned, i.e. A1 TFSI, Cooper etc - I'll probably just end up driving them in much the same way, and probably get slightly better economy, but a lot less fun and performance. So I'm going to rule them out.

I've found when I've had economical cars in the past - Cooper D, V40 D2 - I drove them very sedately because that's the sort of driving they encouraged, and there's no performance to actually exploit even if you wanted to.

I drive around 24 miles each way every day, mostly NSL dual carriage ways and motorway. And of a weekend I often do 100 mile round trips, almost all motorway. Business / work related miles are fairly minimal but I expect them to creep in the near future to a few thousand a year potentially.

The GTD's a decent car but there's something about the image of them I'm not sure on

As for the Infinity - I'm a tight arse but it's not for me I'm afraid

Cooper SD - had one in 2015 from new - stuck 35k miles on it and never missed a beat. Great car but they seem very strong money used at the moment, and often comparitively badly specced. Certainly wouldn't rule out another though but would prefer to buy from MINI approved used for warranty reasons but they're few and far between

V40 D4 - looks good, good value for money but read the engines can be problematic compared to lesser D2s?

I'm considering a Passat (I know it's far from compact!!)
https://www.cazoo.co.uk/car-details/dfc81a4e-1d7e-...

It's the lesser 1.6 engine rather than 2.0 but seems decent enough?

V40
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208168...

Whatever I got for, it needs to be well specced and both of those models are well kitted up for my price range and with sensible miles

[georgeyboy12345]

Here's what I'd be looking at

Mini Cooper SD
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208218...


Audi A3 2.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202032...


VW Golf GTD
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207288...


Seat Leon 2.0 TDI FR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...


BMW 120d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203113...


Alfa Romeo Giulietta JTDM-2 Super
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208198...


Volvo V40 D4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207137...


Ford Focus ST TDCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208269...

[jam_up]

Another vote for a mk7 / 7.5 GTD.

Mine was faultless when I did 20k p/a for my previous job. Adaptive cruise as standard (works great!), carplay for podcasts and running at a quiet 1700 rpm in 7th @ 70mph - I was so much fresher getting to work compared to the GTI I had prior!

I averaged 47-48 mpg, but 55+ is easily achievable on a run (i was heavy footed around town!). I’m averaging 40 now but that’s purely short runs / local driving.

If auto isn’t a necessity then I’d go for a mk7.5 over a mk7 - they look to be in your budget. The digital dash and bigger infotainment screen really lifts the interior. I considered the Volvo V40 D4 myself 3 years ago. A fine car in its own right, but just a very dated interior imo.

Good luck!

[dmsims]

If you consider the GTD (and no one in their right mind would) then take a look at the GTE

Faster, more economical, better equipped and a lot cleaner

[georgeyboy12345]

dmsims said:

If you consider the GTD (and no one in their right mind would) then take a look at the GTE

Faster, more economical, better equipped and a lot cleaner

They are great cars, but not a great suggestion for the OP’s usage profile. He’ll be better with a euro 6 diesel.

[stevemcs]

Do you really need euro 6 ? I would avoid it where possible

If you liked minis then go back to one, the Mercedes A Class 2.0 is more economical than the vow though, and less to go wrong - unless it’s euro 6

If emissions isn’t a problem then a mk5 fiesta zested s tdci and keep the 500

[thenortherner]

Why / why not E6?

I'd wanted something 2016+ onwards anyhow but E6 because of residuals and the M60 / Manchester centre soon enough likely going to charge for anything no E6 compliant.

[blue al]

Mini Sd f56 from 2014 on is euro 6

Look hard and you can find some quite high spec ones, if you push to 35k twice as many available as at 25k

They remap well, to better than Jcw base numbers see Lohen/super chips ( my car made 227 hp, 459nm ) slightly more available with intercooler upgrade.

Lifetime average 50mpg, seen 70mpg on a good run. Had mine for thick end of 100k over 7 years
fully loaded apart from hk and hud.

Edited by blue al on Monday 29th August 09:30

[Fusion777]

Golf GTD. You mentioned their image, so you could consider a GT if you wanted something more subtle. Not quite as well equipped, but still reasonable and can get a newer/lower mileage car for the money.