Best value Cheap Turbo Diesel Hatchback....?

Atomic Pineapple

Just wondering what you guys reckon would be the best value for money turbo diesel out there at the minute? preferably a hatchback.

Something thats cheap to buy at the minute sub €5k, but still looks good, isn't too old, has decent power to it, 120bhp min, and isn't gonna give too much trouble over a substantial period.

Something that will take the commuter run in its stride but not be really boring?

Ferris

draffodx wrote: »

Just wondering what you guys reckon would be the best value for money turbo diesel out there at the minute? preferably a hatchback.

Something thats cheap to buy at the minute sub €5k, but still looks good, isn't too old, has decent power to it, 120bhp min, and isn't gonna give too much trouble over a substantial period.

Something that will take the commuter run in its stride but not be really boring?

Actually in shock from you asking that ?

I would say a 1.9 tdi Golf but this has a better engine and is a little bit stylish.

A coupe but not hatchback here.

Atomic Pineapple

Ferris wrote: »

Actually in shock from you asking that ?

I would say a 1.9 tdi Golf but this has a better engine and is a little bit stylish.

A coupe but not hatchback here.

Have to get something for driving a commuter route in anticipation of getting a job

On the plus side it'll be complimented by a twin turbo Rx7 for driving everywhere else (hopefully)

Should have said I'd rather not get a Golf, looking for something different.

The 406 is lovely but the 2.2 engine pushes the tax too high and out of the cheap bracket that I'm trying to stick to.

The 147 is a nice one though and something I hadn't thought about, definitely gonna have a look into them now

Nforce

You'd easily get a Pug 306 1.9 Turbo diesel with that budget

Atomic Pineapple

Nforce wrote: »

You'd easily get a Pug 306 1.9 Turbo diesel with that budget

I cant though cos if I started looking at 306's I'd simply end up buying a GTI-6

madmac187

Don't buy a golf they are a pile of poooh, soft clutch, soft fly wheel parts alone €750 and will go handy. Had a passat same bits soft out.

Opel astra or opel vectra cheap to fix, don't break down and if needs be, you can get second hand parts no bother. Even if you're stuck and has time you can put Vauxhall parts into them and they are third of the price just have to import them is all.

Never had one but Toyota Avensis meant to be dynamite. Bit slow despite what they say.

JHMEG

draffodx wrote: »

I cant though cos if I started looking at 306's I'd simply end up buying a GTI-6

You actually probably wouldn't, considering what you're coming from.

Ford Focus 1.8D's are cheap-ish and relatively plentiful and probably as reliable as a VW T-diddly-I

colm_mcm

SEAT Leon TDI?

JHMEG

colm_mcm wrote: »

SEAT Leon TDI?

Ara jaysus...

In that case Octavia T-diddly-I.

colm_mcm

sorry, I meant an early Civic IMA.

cept they're slow and rarely get near the manufacturers claimed mpg....


let the games begin


nah seriousy, the old shape Leon is a handsome car, it doesn't scream bargain basement the way an Octavia Mk1 does, and the interior is the same design as the A3.

Atomic Pineapple

JHMEG wrote: »

You actually probably wouldn't, considering what you're coming from.

Ford Focus 1.8D's are cheap-ish and relatively plentiful and probably as reliable as a VW T-diddly-I

True a HDI would probably be a decent enough car.

Yeh I was thinking about looking at a diesel Focus, what sort of power output do they come in?

colm_mcm wrote: »

SEAT Leon TDI?

Yeh, I like them, they seem to be fairly pricey though - http://www.carzone.ie/search/SEAT/Leon/1.9-TDI-/200840190232508/advert?channel=CARS

madmac187

Your seat can suffer from the same problem too difference is the parts are rebadged as seat and are cheaper.

Had 2 focus diesel vans in work not good one went back and was never to be seen again, having problems with the cpu causing the thing to loose power and be hard unreal on diesel. Don't get me wrong they are a nice looking car. The petrols are brilliant because they have a system where if they overheat they drop down on to 3 cylinders so the head won't blow.

colm_mcm

draffodx wrote: »

Yeh, I like them, they seem to be fairly pricey though -

Probably plenty of them across the water

Nforce

draffodx wrote: »

I cant though cos if I started looking at 306's I'd simply end up buying a GTI-6

Sure If it's petrol ya want....there was a VW Caddy with a VR6 transplant up for sale recently on Vagdrivers

Atomic Pineapple

colm_mcm wrote: »

Probably plenty of them across the water

Your not wrong there




http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1119143.htm

That one makes me want to up my budget significantly!

JHMEG

colm_mcm wrote: »

the old shape Leon is a handsome car, it doesn't scream bargain basement the way an Octavia Mk1 does,

It's the noise and smoke I'd be *not* in favour of.

I like the Leon a lot, probably a better Golf than the Golf, but that 1.9 engine dates back to the 1890s...

coolbeans

Surprised nobody's mentioned this...bit of a Q car too in my humble opinion!
This one's over budget but food for thought all the same.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Skoda/Fabia/VRS-TDi-/200927194462671/advert?channel=CARS[/URL]

It's a Skoda Fabia VRS TDI. I'd have one, but then again I'm not a badge snob.

Atomic Pineapple

Yeh I was thinking about the fabia, I'm not a badge snob either but I just dont like the look of them, would I ever get an Octavia Vrs in budget anytime soon?

coolbeans

draffodx wrote: »

Yeh I was thinking about the fabia, I'm not a badge snob either but I just dont like the look of them, would I ever get an Octavia Vrs in budget anytime soon?

Wasn't suggesting you were. They don't look much but I'd get great satisfaction from the looks on Beemer and Benz drivers' faces as I boost by them on back roads. They're surprisingly quick. Anyway, just a thought. The one in my previous link is particularly tempting although I'd be getting a HPI check just to be sure.

Atomic Pineapple

Yeh very good point there coolbeans, unfortunately the only Vrs Fabias or Octavias in Ireland seem to be around the 7k mark

benj

how about a Mondeo Tdci 130 bhp?

HashSlinging

madmac187 wrote: »

Your seat can suffer from the same problem too difference is the parts are rebadged as seat and are cheaper.

The parts are all labelled "AUDI VW SEAT SKODA"

pick up a leon would be a lot cheaper over the in the UK, but there as rare as hens teeth over here. What about the ibiza??

link

colm_mcm

benj wrote: »

how about a Mondeo Tdci 130 bhp?

had a very happy few days in a Mondeo 130 ebony a few years back, surprisingly swift, 6 speed box, nice handling, and remarkably good on fuel considering how it was driven.

Bit too repmobile though.

Atomic Pineapple

benj wrote: »

how about a Mondeo Tdci 130 bhp?

I'd rather get a hatchback though

HashSlinging wrote: »

The parts are all labelled "AUDI VW SEAT SKODA"

pick up a leon would be a lot cheaper over the in the UK, but there as rare as hens teeth over here. What about the ibiza??

link

The ibiza suffers the same as the fabia, it just simply doesn't look good

colm_mcm wrote: »

had a very happy few days in a Mondeo 130 ebony a few years back, surprisingly swift, 6 speed box, nice handling, and remarkably good on fuel considering how it was driven.

Bit too repmobile though.

Yeh its not what I'm after anyway

bazz26

draffodx wrote: »

I'd rather get a hatchback though

The Mondeo is available as a hatchback. Most in the UK are.

Atomic Pineapple

bazz26 wrote: »

The Mondeo is available as a hatchback. Most in the UK are.

3 door?

colm_mcm

I always liked the Stilo JTD. later ones had most issues ironed out. they're very good looking, have loads of gizmos, and not too common round here.

Atomic Pineapple

I've driven the stilo before, mate has one and it wouldn't be for me, would ya get a decent one under 5k anyway?

L1011

At this stage you should be able to, all years seem to have been tarred with the 02/03 ones reliability issues when the ones towards 05 were way more solid.

colm_mcm

The petrol Stilos aren't too hot. but the JTD is plenty quick. they're dirt cheap in Ireland if you could find one.

therte's a 03 3dr 115bhp Dynamic JTD for 3750

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/Stilo/1.9-Dies/200928194529051/advert?channel=CARS

so an 05 for 5 wouldn't be out of the question

Atomic Pineapple

MYOB wrote: »

At this stage you should be able to, all years seem to have been tarred with the 02/03 ones reliability issues when the ones towards 05 were way more solid.

colm_mcm wrote: »

The petrol Stilos aren't too hot. but the JTD is plenty quick. they're dirt cheap in Ireland if you could find one.

therte's a 03 3dr 115bhp Dynamic JTD for 3750

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/Stilo/1.9-Dies/200928194529051/advert?channel=CARS

so an 05 for 5 wouldn't be out of the question

would that 03 suffer the reliability issues? for that price it might be worth considering

L1011

It... depends... you'd really want to see the full service history and look to see if theres been visits in to the dealer for random electrical problems - these were the biggest problems the early ones had.

Parents had an 02 5 door and it was a lovely car bar stuff like the electric windows opening themselves!

bazz26

draffodx wrote: »

3 door?

Well you were considering a Leon so assumed you were not limited to 3 doors.

colm_mcm

draffodx wrote: »

for that price it might be worth considering

Tread carefully there. get it independently checked before you buy.

Atomic Pineapple

bazz26 wrote: »

Well you were considering a Leon so assumed you were not limited to 3 doors.

Sorry I'm not, I just looked up mondeo hatchback and it only showed 5 door versions i was wondering if there was a 3 door version

colm_mcm wrote: »

Tread carefully there. get it independently checked before you buy.

i think i'll leave it so

Drummerboy08

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200928194531204



This has caught my eye recently. Great to drive, diesel, looks the part too. I know its over budget, but I reckon if you bargained hard, you might get it for 6k.

Atomic Pineapple

yeh a focus would be nice, isn't there two different diesel engines? one being significantly better than the other?

Drummerboy08

draffodx wrote: »

yeh a focus would be nice, isn't there two different diesel engines? one being significantly better than the other?

That shape is rare in Diesel - thats why that one caught my eye. The new shape is available in a 1.6 or 1.8TDCi. Much of a muchness as to which one you choose.

HashSlinging

Think the 1.8 TDCI was a bit unreliable something to do with the block being made of iron.

bazz26

draffodx wrote: »

yeh a focus would be nice, isn't there two different diesel engines? one being significantly better than the other?

MkI Focus was available in 1.8 TDDi (100bhp) and 1.8 TDCi (115bhp). TDDi is pretty old, TDCi is a common rail unit but pretty rare in the Republic, most were sold in the uglier Ghia saloon here. That black one in the link looks like a UK import as a Sport model was never offered in the Republic. The 1.8 TDCi is a pretty reliable unit and still sold in the MkII Focus at present

galwaytt

draffodx wrote: »

Just wondering what you guys reckon would be the best value for money turbo diesel out there at the minute? preferably a hatchback.

Something thats cheap to buy at the minute sub €5k, but still looks good, isn't too old, has decent power to it, 120bhp min, and isn't gonna give too much trouble over a substantial period.

Something that will take the commuter run in its stride but not be really boring?

...well, I think if we look at why you want it, you'd come up with something else. You have an RX-7, so the converse of that is some fuel-sipping widget. No prob there.

But a sub-5k, fuel sipping widget, needn't be diesel.

Diesel brings new woes: as other people are quick to point out, they are not cheap to maintain (shades of RX, there.....:p ), and at that price point in particular, most will be a little 'tired'........

Diesel is also, more expensive.
Diesel tax cars, generally larger, costs more.
And so, generally, will the insurance.

Which means, you're assuming a small, sub 5k Turbo Diesel is the cheap option in terms of purchase and/or running costs.

Actually, it's not. You need small petrol.

A 1.3 Mazda 3, or Corolla 1.4, will outperform all of the above diesels, money-wise.

Petrol is cheaper.
Petrol engines are cheaper/easier to maintain
Petrol engines are smaller, and so tax, cheaper, so insurance cheaper.

The last truly cheap diesel car, with no complications I can think of, is a Saxo 1.5d. Non-Turbo. It will average 69-70mpg all day, and you can't kill it. (no electronics or fancy turbo's, see.............) AND it's a small engine.

Time to re-evaluate..........?

Atomic Pineapple

The low power output on the low cc petrol engines is a bit off putting though, I dont want a really slow car, want something that will have decent power to it as well

JHMEG

galwaytt wrote: »

Diesel is also, more expensive.

While I agree with the rest of your post I'm pretty sure than even in Galway diesel is quite a bit cheaper than petrol. This unfortunately has to be included in the maths.

That 1.5 diesel French engine is also suitable for messing with veg oil afaik.

draffodx, here's an unusual one for you. An EK Civic 1.5i LS. It's VTEC-E but relatively highly strung. Has an Econo mode where the engine trips into 12-valve operation when cruising (light on the dash confirms and you can feel the twitch). A mate has a saloon one and he averages 52 mpg, while putting out 114bhp and fairly decent poke.

L1011

JHMEG wrote: »

While I agree with the rest of your post I'm pretty sure than even in Galway diesel is quite a bit cheaper than petrol. This unfortunately has to be included in the maths.

99.9 vs 114.9 in one station I passed in Galway today.

galwaytt

JHMEG wrote: »

While I agree with the rest of your post I'm pretty sure than even in Galway diesel is quite a bit cheaper than petrol. This unfortunately has to be included in the maths.

Diesel 102 vs Petrol 114 today here. That's not a big enough saving to pay for buying a more expensive diesel car.

That 1.5 diesel French engine is also suitable for messing with veg oil afaik.

...but a cheap one ??

draffodx, here's an unusual one for you. An EK Civic 1.5i LS. It's VTEC-E but relatively highly strung. Has an Econo mode where the engine trips into 12-valve operation when cruising (light on the dash confirms and you can feel the twitch). A mate has a saloon one and he averages 52 mpg, while putting out 114bhp and fairly decent poke.

The Renault 1.4 16v engine is 95bhp. In a small enough car, it's a flier. I always found it very nippy in a facelifted Scenic, and it hovered around the 40mpg mark most of the time.

galwaytt

quick scan of Carzone throws up this: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Megane/1.5-DIES/200927194506820/advert?channel=CARS

ticks all the boxes OP ?

colm_mcm

1.5 dci would be dog slow though

JHMEG

galwaytt wrote: »

Diesel 102 vs Petrol 114 today here. That's not a big enough saving to pay for buying a more expensive diesel car.

As much as I dislike diesel it's hard to ignore that price difference when combined with the additional economy a like-sized diesel will give.

galwaytt wrote:

The Renault 1.4 16v engine is 95bhp. In a small enough car, it's a flier. I always found it very nippy in a facelifted Scenic, and it hovered around the 40mpg mark most of the time.

That's on the upper end of the 1.4's alright, tho I think the Corolla 1.4 vvti is also 95bhp. Otoh, 114bhp in an 1,100Kg car is also reasonably nippy, and returning 50 or so mpg is quite remarkable.

colm_mcm

the 1.4 petrol in the new (now old) model Megane is a joke, despite having 95bhp, it really struggles with the weight of the Megane. the old model with the same enginr was quite nippy for a 1.4 though.

galwaytt

colm_mcm wrote: »

the 1.4 petrol in the new (now old) model Megane is a joke, despite having 95bhp, it really struggles with the weight of the Megane. the old model with the same enginr was quite nippy for a 1.4 though.

correct, it's the 'old' one (pre '04 iirc) that's the nippy one.

Hey, OP, how about this: I owner from new. Had a spin in this about 10 days ago. If I got rid of my diesel Saab, I'd be shopping for something like it tbh, http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=3058031 (haggle-able..I asked !

Atomic Pineapple

Sorry Dont want a Megane, new or old, I'm fussy