To diesel or not to diesel

yop

Lads
A bit of advice/opinion please.

Buying a car at the moment, had an A4 130 bhp Diesel, used to do about 80 miles a day so was worth it for the diesel costs.

I had the search narrowed down to either a 04 A4 1.9 (130) or a 05 Passat 2.0 diesel or the more "fun" Mondeo ST TDCI 2.2

Then tonite I was thinking would I not be as well to get a petrol. With the price of petrol a good 10 cents dearer than diesel and my mileage daily about 9 miles. With travel to football and that I go in or about 6k miles per year would I be as well to get a petrol

I have settled more towards the Mondeo as I enjoy a bit of performance and economy. The only thing was it irking me is the near 900 euro road tax.

So what you think I should do, aim maybe for a petrol 1.8T A4? Or something similar, probably have the same BHP as the Mondeo with the same performance.

Only thing could be my insurance, I have a total accident claim on circa 100k euro so I am tied to the insurance company for min 3 years, even though I am driving 12 years my insurance is still fubar.

Anan1

At that kind of mileage, I can't see diesel as making any sense (although diesel is actually cheaper than petrol). That being said, I think the VAG 1.8T engine is essentially a diesel without the fuel economy. Do you definitely want/need a car of that size? If I were only doing 6k miles pa and didn't have a family to drive around i'd be looking at the likes of a Clio 182. (Although I don't know what your ins co would say to the idea)

yop

Anan1 wrote: »

At that kind of mileage, I can't see diesel as making any sense (although diesel is actually cheaper than petrol). That being said, I think the VAG 1.8T engine is essentially a diesel without the fuel economy. Do you definitely want/need a car of that size? If I were only doing 6k miles pa and didn't have a family to drive around i'd be looking at the likes of a Clio 182. (Although I don't know what your ins co would say to the idea)

Thanks Anan,
I know what u are saying about the Clio, I will add to that, I dont want anything smaller than the A4, the belt I took in that has me no convinced that a smaller car and I won't be here in this world.

I dont a mad boy racer car, I am 33 and not quite mid life!

galwaytt

...at that mileage, forget the diesel. As for the 1.8tA4 well........the engine is fine, it's the A4 that's mediocre.

Why not a 1.8 Gti ? Mind you, I think if you've a claim in, you're choice might be guided more by the ins co than us, tbh..........

Nice spec 2.0 Mazda 6 (petrol) or similar would be good - hell, even nice 2.0 Mondeo with all the trimmings. Shouldn't be too much competition for sales of those I'd have thought, either.........

Anan1

So we're looking for something mid-sized and safe, fuel consumption doesn't matter but tax does to an extent? What kind of budget?

Fishtits

Don't toss the diesel just yet, consider the residual value and the ability to offload it.

galwaytt

Fishtits wrote: »

Don't toss the diesel just yet, consider the residual value and the ability to offload it.

Residual value ? Are you joking ? In this country ? Whatever you buy -petrol or diesel, assume you're married to it. A pessimist, as they say, cannot be disappointed........

cost-to-change is all that counts - diesel costs more to buy, run, sell, for your mileage. Petrol cheaper to buy, but yes, sells cheaper too. Again, cost-to-change is all that counts, not the actual price itself.

..btw, nice spec 2.0 407 or similar would be good value too.

OP - what, realistically, is the budget ?

Anan1

galwaytt wrote: »

..btw, nice spec 2.0 407 or similar would be good value too.

Funny you should say that, I just hit on this one: http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200903191521871

bazz26

If the OP is worried about resale value then the old model A4 is probably not a wise purchase. It is a run out model as as more new models of similar vintage start appearing second hand the old model will drop like a stone in value.

maidhc

Anan1 wrote: »

Funny you should say that, I just hit on this one: http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200903191521871

...that won't have next to close the performance of a ST TDCi. And it is utterly overpriced for a pretty unloved car in this country!

I would be inclined to go for a petrol though. New diesels have lost the plot a bit, they were grand in the heyday of the 1.9TDi, but now are complex beasts that cost a fortune to fix, and they go wrong too often.

johndaman66

maidhc wrote: »

I would be inclined to go for a petrol though. New diesels have lost the plot a bit, they were grand in the heyday of the 1.9TDi, but now are complex beasts that cost a fortune to fix, and they go wrong too often.

Would be inclined to agree there. Somebody metioned to me in the last few days that the 2.0 TDI engine in newer passats/ audi A4's etc is suppose to be brutally unreliable. Don't know if that is true or not. Have learned to take everything I hear with a pinch of salt

yop

Sorry lads, was on a tea break!!

Budget is circa 12500 euro.

I have been onto a few UK sales for the Mondeo ST TDCI and I got an 06 plate with 68k down from 8400 pounds to 7500. (landed here for 12900).
What I also got was the same model for 7k pounds (12400) but it was the blue and I am not too keen on it, prefer the black.

Then I spotted a Nov 05 plate, all the work done on it (these are a dog on injectors) but he had an extended 2 year warranty on it until Nov 2010. Also looking at 7k, probably get for 6800. I offered him 6500 and he bawked.

So there is still go haggling to be had both here in Ireland the UK. I think a car marked at 13k MAY be got for 12k. ( OR am I WAAAY off the mark! )

yop

johndaman66 wrote: »

Would be inclined to agree there. Somebody metioned to me in the last few days that the 2.0 TDI engine in newer passats/ audi A4's etc is suppose to be brutally unreliable. Don't know if this is true or not.

Havent read that but I dont want to buy a dog of car either!!

galwaytt

Anan1 wrote: »

Funny you should say that, I just hit on this one: http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200903191521871

...I like that - and auto, too - good choice. The Peugeot auto is a Porsche-licenced Tiptronic, so I like that !

vectra

Have you considered an Octavia Vrs TDi ?
get a remap and away you go

yop

vectra wrote: »

Have you considered an Octavia Vrs TDi ?
get a remap and away you go

The Pug just doest "do it" for me!! (I dont expect it to jump and give me a BJ or that )

I have considered it for sure, I do like it, just haven't spotted anything decent out there.
I had a look at the Beemers also, some of the high spec'd 5 series are very tasty looking cars, I do like the cosmetics of a car (no I am not a lady!! ) but since I had the 130 bhp AUDI I liked the ability to over take when I wanted to (legally of course!)

On the insurance I am gonna be looking at 1-1300 per year anyway at this stage but nothing I can do. God be with the days of pay 400 euro!!!

Row

johndaman66 wrote: »

Would be inclined to agree there. Somebody metioned to me in the last few days that the 2.0 TDI engine in newer passats/ audi A4's etc is suppose to be brutally unreliable. Don't know if that is true or not. Have learned to take everything I hear with a pinch of salt

Yep have heard that also ....fuel pumps...dual mass flywheels(dmf)...diesel partical filters(dpf).....Anyway .....nowadays nearly every diesel has similar problems...:rolleyes:.....and technology is supposed to be improving....:rolleyes:......... bring back the ould yok's....:D

Henry Ford III

yop wrote: »

Sorry lads, was on a tea break!!

Budget is circa 12500 euro.

I have been onto a few UK sales for the Mondeo ST TDCI and I got an 06 plate with 68k down from 8400 pounds to 7500. (landed here for 12900).
What I also got was the same model for 7k pounds (12400) but it was the blue and I am not too keen on it, prefer the black.

Then I spotted a Nov 05 plate, all the work done on it (these are a dog on injectors) but he had an extended 2 year warranty on it until Nov 2010. Also looking at 7k, probably get for 6800. I offered him 6500 and he bawked.

So there is still go haggling to be had both here in Ireland the UK. I think a car marked at 13k MAY be got for 12k. ( OR am I WAAAY off the mark! )

Internet/phone haggling doesn't count.

You've got to get in front of the seller to do a deal. Narrow your choices down to maybe 5 cars, and get your tail over there.

Heroditas

yop wrote: »

So what you think I should do, aim maybe for a petrol 1.8T A4? Or something similar, probably have the same BHP as the Mondeo with the same performance.

Get a 1.8T A4 in the UK with 180BHP.
You'll get anywhere between 400 and 470 miles on a tank of petrol (mine takes 65L) depending on the mix of driving you're doing.
It also looks far nicer than a Mondeo (in my opinion anyway)

Antrim_Man

I just sold my Mondeo TDCi 2.2 ST and it was the best car I have ever had. It had performance (remapped to over 180BHP) and superb fuel economy. Even hard driving about Dublin I would still get 50 MPG :eek:

Also looked superb and in 3 years not a single fault. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I miss my car. Had to get an MPV for the wife

yop

It definatly is an option for sure. I am looking too at the A4 estate, some nice 04/05 S Line versions in the UK.
I do take the bike in the boot and take rubbish to the recycling centre so an estate could be the job. But a high powered one

yop

Antrim_Man wrote: »

I just sold my Mondeo TDCi 2.2 ST and it was the best car I have ever had. It had performance (remapped to over 180BHP) and superb fuel economy. Even hard driving about Dublin I would still get 50 mph :eek:

Also looked superb and in 3 years not a single fault. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I miss my car. Had to get an MPV for the wife

OOOOh, thats a shame you had to do that

What year was it? What sort of money did u get.

Henry Ford III

Antrim_Man wrote: »

I just sold my Mondeo TDCi 2.2 ST and it was the best car I have ever had. It had performance (remapped to over 180BHP) and superb fuel economy. Even hard driving about Dublin I would still get 50 mph :eek:

A clapped out Punto will do more than that

vectra

225BHP Audi TT maybe?? >> CHEAP TT :eek:

peasant

If I were you, I'd take a different approach.

For starters, at least halve the budget ... no point in sinking lots of money in a s/h car in a market where the depreciation curve is vertical.

Secondly, forget about any car that sounds "sporty" in the eyes of the insurance company ..your premium will be through the roof anyway, no need to encourage them.


So, how about a two litre "low pressure eco-turbo" (for the insurance), with lots of torques (as JC calls it), plenty of goodies and a five star safety rating for half nothing?

EDIT:
carzone link to search not working. So here's a random one as an example ...plenty more where that came from
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200850191205501

TestTransmission

vectra wrote: »

225BHP Audi TT maybe?? >> CHEAP TT :eek:

Plus VRT?

yop

vectra wrote: »

225BHP Audi TT maybe?? >> CHEAP TT :eek:

Thanks, have to bend over WAY to far for the insurance company though if I bought that!

yop

peasant wrote: »

If I were you, I'd take a different approach.

For starters, at least halve the budget ... no point in sinking lots of money in a s/h car in a market where the depreciation curve is vertical.

Secondly, forget about any car that sounds "sporty" in the eyes of the insurance company ..your premium will be through the roof anyway, no need to encourage them.


So, how about a two litre "low pressure eco-turbo" (for the insurance), with lots of torques (as JC calls it), plenty of goodies and a five star safety rating for half nothing?

EDIT:
carzone link to search not working. So here's a random one as an example ...plenty more where that came from
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200850191205501

I know what you are saying, but as a rule I wont be buying the same year as I had, the MIN I would go as low as will be a 2003.
The opinions I found here was that the Saab was a glorified Vectra (no insult to either vectras or Saab!!)

I take your point on the budget though. But with a vertical market there is also a lot of bargains to be had. I wont be changing for 3 or 4 years again so I want to buy a reliable motor also. The newer the car the higher the chance of that.

Antrim_Man

Henry Ford III wrote: »

A clapped out Punto will do more than that

50 MPG

Nforce

You'd probably get a '03 Golf R32 for your budget...if you could live with the cost of the road tax. I'd have one in the morning but for the fact that I've a wife and 2 kids to think of :).
If you definately require a saloon how about a BMW E60 5 series? You should find a petrol model within your budget,especially so if you are a cash buyer.

Antrim_Man

yop wrote: »

OOOOh, thats a shame you had to do that

What year was it? What sort of money did u get.

Was a straight swap rather than a sale. The wife now has an 05 Honda FRV which was about the same "dealer" value of about €14k

The Mondeo was a low mileage 05 and I was going to take €9.5k so the straight swap was a god send, although I still feel like the other chap got the better deal

cashmni1

Antrim_Man wrote: »

Was a straight swap rather than a sale. The wife now has an 05 Honda FRV which was about the same "dealer" value of about €14k

The Mondeo was a low mileage 05 and I was going to take €9.5k so the straight swap was a god send, although I still feel like the other chap got the better deal

9.5k would have been a steal for that car. I was considering one of those 2 years ago but the vrt was close to 8k at the time. Hence no deal.
Did you change the alloys or were they on the car when you bought it?

Antrim_Man

cashmni1 wrote: »

9.5k would have been a steal for that car. I was considering one of those 2 years ago but the vrt was close to 8k at the time. Hence no deal.
Did you change the alloys or were they on the car when you bought it?

They were on it 18" optional extras as well as rear park assist added.

gpjordanf1

vectra wrote: »

Have you considered an Octavia Vrs TDi ?
get a remap and away you go

Its already 170BHP why would ya remap it?

vectra

gpjordanf1 wrote: »

Its already 170BHP why would ya remap it?

Take it straight out to approx 210 BHP
Why else:D

johndaman66

vectra wrote: »

Take it straight out to approx 210 BHP
Why else:D

Would reliability and longevity be an issue?

vectra

johndaman66 wrote: »

Would reliability and longevity be an issue?

Not that I know of.
But hey
I am not an expert.:D

But apparently this figure is well within the safe range.

yop

Well I am 90% on the way to securing a 2006 Mondeo TDCI ST with 68k miles. But it well loaded. He will deal at 7k (11900 euro) pounds.
What you think? Am I mental!!

cashmni1

yop wrote: »

Well I am 90% on the way to securing a 2006 Mondeo TDCI ST with 68k miles. But it well loaded. He will deal at 7k (11900 euro) pounds.
What you think? Am I mental!!

No - great car, is that all in? (inc VRT?)

Henry Ford III

cashmni1 wrote: »

No - great car, is that all in? (inc VRT?)

Seems likely as STG£7000 costs slighty over €8000.

yop

Thats the price ya. It will be 12014 euro landed. So thats not too bad. I think that they would be selling here for 14k, so if I needed to shift it again I think I wouldn't lose out!! (or would I!)

Gumbo

gpjordanf1 wrote: »

Its already 170BHP why would ya remap it?

because 210bhp>170bhp

johndaman66 wrote: »

Would reliability and longevity be an issue?

no, the remap to 210bhp is well within the limits of the VRs engine and components. i know the place i got my remap done has done a few VRS's and they respond very very well, and all the remaps are TUG approved.

yop

Now 0% on that car

Had genltemans agreement for 7k on the car, he emailed this morning to say he got a call for a higher price.
Told him take it, I am not going to be haggling down on a price to go up again.

Shame, was a lovely car.

Dabko

Take the mondeo - take the mondeo. And then, give me a call so i can meet up with you and have a spin in it!!! :D:D:D

I want one, just cant afford one right now. Black is a basterd to keep clean i believe.

yop

Dabko wrote: »

Take the mondeo - take the mondeo. And then, give me a call so i can meet up with you and have a spin in it!!! :D:D:D

I want one, just cant afford one right now. Black is a basterd to keep clean i believe.

Note post above

Sale is dead in water!