Advice Needed Please

JeanLucPicard

Hi All

I'm far from in the know when it comes to cars so I hope someone can help me on here.

I currently drive a 00 VW Golf 1.4 petrol and am averaging about a tank of fuel a week. €75-80 a week is a big expense. My work place means that I drive 120miles a week and as I live in the country I have to drive most places in the evenings.

I am thinking about changing my car to a diesel as I am told it will halve my fuel expenses. Is this true?

I know there will be some saving and I am seriously thinking of changing my car at this time.

Can anyone advise on which of these to get?
a) VW Golf Diesel....this would be my first preference
b) Ford Focus diesel.

or are there any other suggestions you might have?

My budget is around 14K.

Thanks for any help

Henry Ford III

What's your annual mileage? 22500 at a guess based on petrol @c.€1.50 per litre and 40mpg average.

The switch to diesel is marginal at best I reckon. The diesel will cost more, will need more servicing, tax and insurance may go up....

mickdw

IMO, it would be a no brainer to swap to a diesel if you could be sure it wouldnt go wrong. As it stands, most of the newish diesels are likely to cost you money in repairs compared to their petrol versions. Stuff like Dual Mass Flywheels in the diesels are costing 1200 euro to replace on run of the mill cars. A turbo failure probably the same. INjectors in some models costing 800 each etc
There will be fuel savings without a doubt. 20 to 30 euro a week Id say depending on driving type etc.
I think if you are changing cars anyway, you could get a diesel. Servicing is not going to cost anything extra hardly at your mileage. If you are getting an 08, the tax will be cheap and the resale will be good too on a diesel so the only penalty IMO of the diesel is the possibility of expensive repairs.
Still, worth a shot.

JeanLucPicard

Hi Lads
Thanks for the replies.

I was not aware that a diesel will have to be serviced more often/have expensive repairs.

I could do with that extra 20/30€ per week in my pocket mind.....


I thought diesel cars were "hardier".....see where thought gets you???

Nissan doctor

JeanLucPicard wrote: »

Hi All

I'm far from in the know when it comes to cars so I hope someone can help me on here.

I currently drive a 00 VW Golf 1.4 petrol and am averaging about a tank of fuel a week. €75-80 a week is a big expense. My work place means that I drive 120miles a week and as I live in the country I have to drive most places in the evenings.

I am thinking about changing my car to a diesel as I am told it will halve my fuel expenses. Is this true?

I know there will be some saving and I am seriously thinking of changing my car at this time.

Can anyone advise on which of these to get?
a) VW Golf Diesel....this would be my first preference
b) Ford Focus diesel.

or are there any other suggestions you might have?

My budget is around 14K.

Thanks for any help

If you are only getting 120miles + spinning around in the evenings to a full tank then there is something wrong with your car or your driving style.

You should be getting 500 miles or more to a tank easily on a 1.4 golf

Halfshaft

JeanLucPicard wrote: »

I thought diesel cars were "hardier".....see where thought gets you???

Older one's, yes. Newer modern one's, no.

JeanLucPicard

Nissan doctor wrote: »

If you are only getting 120miles + spinning around in the evenings to a full tank then there is something wrong with your car or your driving style.

You should be getting 500 miles or more to a tank easily on a 1.4 golf

Hi.
I clocked the last full tank and got 484 miles before I filled up again.

I do a lot of spinning around

sentient_6

JeanLucPicard wrote: »

Hi.
I clocked the last full tank and got 484 miles before I filled up again.

I do a lot of spinning around

Which is 780 km's. If you managed to get about 6.5L/100km about of diesel car you'll burn 50.7L's of diesel, @ €1.409 = ~€71.

You reckon your putting 75 - 80 into the car as it a week? You want to spent 14k to save a fiver a week?

JeanLucPicard

sentient_6 wrote: »

Which is 780 km's. If you managed to get about 6.5L/100km about of diesel car you'll burn 50.7L's of diesel, @ €1.409 = ~€71.

You reckon your putting 75 - 80 into the car as it a week? You want to spent 14k to save a fiver a week?

Hi Sentient

Thanks for the reply

When its put like that it is a no brainer alright. However I am looking to change the car at this time anyway.

Should I start looking at petrol models then too?

I think Im more confused now........:(

sentient_6

If you want change car, by all means do so, but it's a false economy to do so with the idea of saving on fuel.

JeanLucPicard

It is time to change car for me and as I am changing it I feel a diesel from '08 is better suited with the saving on tax and fuel.

I have given up on the idea of a Golf and I am warming towards a Focus Zetec 1.6 TDCI.

I have read opinions of people on here and it seems to get good reviews.

Am I right in saying to keep looking at the 110hp 1.6 version?

For and 08 Zetec model, and paying with cash what would I expect to be paying?

Also would I get anything for the Golf (Golf has 140K on it, year 2000)I have as a trade in?

Many thanks for your help guys.