Change to Diesel?

nicecupotay

Our car is a 2006,1.6 petrol Avensis,and we are thinking of changing to diesel because my wife's boss has offered to pay the VAT on diesel for her as part of a bonus(she works for a transport company).

I've checked the value of other Avensis similar to ours on Autotrader(it has 99,000km on it,a Strata,and is immaculate),so it seems worth around the 7-8K mark.

I was looking at some 2006 Passats,but of course that would mean an increase in tax as we would have to go for a 1.8/1.9.
Would these be much more economical on fuel costs to cover the increase in tax?(the Avensis does around 39MPG,and my wife puts about €60 week in petrol into it)

Would it make sense to change the car?
Any opinion's on the Passat or other model suggestions worth looking at for around the same money(could go for either a saloon or hatch)?

If ye are knocking 39mpg from a 1.6 Avensis ye should see 50mpg from a Passat diesel.

sean1141

some of them 05/06 passats gave lots of trouble. a jetta would be a better buy

gizabeer

stay away from passat's , money pit !

Check out the reviews on carsurvey.org

nicecupotay

sean1141 wrote: »

some of them 05/06 passats gave lots of trouble. a jetta would be a better buy

I had heard they had a lot of electrical problems on the early years of that model,but thought that might have just been pub talk!

Is the Jetta basically a saloon Golf?

sean1141

ya there was problems with the electric handbrake and steering coloum which had to be replaced.. i dont know if the ones that were replaced give the same trouble..
a skoda superb would be a better option.

mickdw

Perhaps consider a small bit of cash with the car and get into something like 08 focus diesel which would get you your VAT benefits and cheap co2 based tax plus of course a few more years useful life.

nicecupotay

mickdw wrote: »

Perhaps consider a small bit of cash with the car and get into something like 08 focus diesel which would get you your VAT benefits and cheap co2 based tax plus of course a few more years useful life.

Yeah,had looked at that alright,would make about €300 saving on tax and really like the Focus,but not much cash to spend on it unfortunately

166man

I would recommend a VW Passat but most certainly not the 2.0 TDI in the 05/06/07 model, stick with the less refined 1.9 TDI unit as the 2.0 gave massive trouble with the fuel injectors. Avoid this engine like the plague!

And yes you should easily see 50mpg from the 1.9TDI, great car!

PARKHEAD67

166man wrote: »

I would recommend a VW Passat but most certainly not the 2.0 TDI in the 05/06/07 model, stick with the less refined 1.9 TDI unit as the 2.0 gave massive trouble with the fuel injectors. Avoid this engine like the plague!

And yes you should easily see 50mpg from the 1.9TDI, great car!

1.9 golf is the same car. If theres no kids involved get the golf.The Passat is very long IMO.Ive a golf and kid and theres lots of room.Boot is big too.Might be cheaper to go for the golf.I know of a person with a tsi passat-05.Nothing but trouble.

PARKHEAD67

gizabeer wrote: »

stay away from passat's , money pit !

Check out the reviews on carsurvey.org

05-06.Yes.Apart from that the passat is a fantastic car.

Vicxas

Always wanted a Passat, lovely looking cars, but ive heard some horror stories that have put me off somewhat

sean1141

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

Might be cheaper to go for the golf.

a golf will still make good money. a seat or skoda would be a cheaper option

-Corkie-

I cant see you getting 7K for a Strata 1.6 Avensis. As the rest said dont bother with the Passat unless it is 08 plus.

nicecupotay

-Corkie- wrote: »

I cant see you getting 7K for a Strata 1.6 Avensis.

Yeah,just had a look on done deal,they are going for a bit less alright,I had been going by the dealer prices on Autotrader.

A Jetta looks like a good option,any opinions on their engines for a 2006?
Have kids,but wouldn't rule out a Golf or Seat Leon either,as we dont need a huge amount of boot space anymore.

-Corkie-

nicecupotay wrote: »

Yeah,just had a look on done deal,they are going for a bit less alright,I had been going by the dealer prices on Autotrader.

A Jetta looks like a good option,any opinions on their engines for a 2006?
Have kids,but wouldn't rule out a Golf or Seat Leon either,as we dont need a huge amount of boot space anymore.

Autotrader prices are always totally inflated. Jetta wouldnt be my cup of tea because the diesel mainly comes in 1.9 TDI (105BHP) and most of them are the poverty spec.

I think a Focus diesel would be a much nicer car,

nicecupotay

-Corkie- wrote: »

I think a Focus diesel would be a much nicer car,

Have you heard anything about the 1.8 diesel being better than the 1.6?

Bullseye1

Just moved to a diesel Passat and have noticed a big saving in fuel expenditure.

166man

-Corkie- wrote: »

Autotrader prices are always totally inflated. Jetta wouldnt be my cup of tea because the diesel mainly comes in 1.9 TDI (105BHP) and most of them are the poverty spec.

I think a Focus diesel would be a much nicer car,

The Jetta while being a smaller car than the passat I think actually has a bigger boot but is still basically a golf saloon. I think a 1.9TDI Jetta would be a nice machine and hold its value better than a Focus.

If you want a Focus though, I would take the 1.6 over the 1.8 as its a newer engine. That 1.8 has been around for years.