buying a good diesel (2008)

c1979

hi all,

I am thinking of getting a 2nd hand diesel saloon car (engine 1.8 -2.2), 2008, a good bhp over 108, with leather interior

I want to get a good mpg at least over 53 and a low CO2 under 155g/KM

I am thinking of
- Volvo S 40
- honda Accord
- VW Passat
- Saab 93
- Toyota Avensis
- Audi A4

Any advice on the above various models is welcomed

colm_mcm

How does one arrive at figures like 108 and 53?


As an aside, bhp isn't the most important figure on a diesel, eg a 120hp A4 is a lot nippier than a 177hp IS220d

heate

Budget?

heate

Also 154g/km equates to 48mpg so I'd start there!

Nissan doctor

c1979 wrote: »

hi all,

I am thinking of getting a 2nd hand diesel saloon car (engine 1.8 -2.2), 2008, a good bhp over 108, with leather interior

I want to get a good mpg at least over 53 and a low CO2 under 155g/KM

I am thinking of
- Volvo S 40
- honda Accord
- VW Passat
- Saab 93
- Toyota Avensis
- Audi A4

Any advice on the above various models is welcomed

Some weirdly precise numbers there alright.

Keep in mind that just because a car is capable of, lets say, 55mpg, doesn't mean that you'll get that. Your driving style and where you drive will dictate that.

Presumably you'll be doing mostly long motorway driving/high miles?

colm_mcm

You'll find it tricky getting a leathered avensis

166man

colm_mcm wrote: »

How does one arrive at figures like 108 and 53?


As an aside, bhp isn't the most important figure on a diesel, eg a 120hp A4 is a lot nippier than a 177hp IS220d

Is a 120bhp A4 nippier than a IS220d? I would have thought the Lexus was faster, I could be wrong though seeing as I haven't driven either?

colm_mcm

Getting the is into its power band is surprisingly hard, 6th gear is completely useless under 90mph.


Point I'm making is that peak hp figures are meaningless most of the time, torque and in gear acceleration figures are more relevant but harder to market.

166man

colm_mcm wrote: »

Getting the is into its power band is surprisingly hard, 6th gear is completely useless under 90mph.


Point I'm making is that peak hp figures are meaningless most of the time, torque and in gear acceleration figures are more relevant but harder to market.

I was just wondering about those two cars out of interest but you are completely right in saying it's the torque and in gear acceleration figures that are important with a diesel.:)

colm_mcm

The IS is quicker to 60, under 0-60 driving conditions (driving the ring out of it)

Phill Ewinn

A4 is has great economy, excellent low down torque and is massively overpriced for what it is. I'd be thinking either BMW or Ford.



*In before octavia*

colm_mcm

Seat exeo?

johnos1984

colm_mcm wrote: »

Seat exeo?

I'll give a +1 to that

bazz26

2008 Subaru Legacy Boxer diesel. Strange criteria though when spending that sort of coin.

corglass

colm_mcm wrote: »

How does one arrive at figures like 108 and 53?


As an aside, bhp isn't the most important figure on a diesel, eg a 120hp A4 is a lot nippier than a 177hp IS220d

Bad example, 2nd to 4th in the is220d very sharp and beats the audi hands down. Personal experience.

Darsad

Ticks most of the boxes with bags of power and low CO2
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-TD-0/413210302742940/advert?channel=CARS

barura

heate wrote: »

Also 154g/km equates to 48mpg so I'd start there!

Doesn't the Fiat Twin Air produce like 50g co2, yet is less efficient than a 1.2 at mpg, though that produces more co2?

colm_mcm

corglass wrote: »

Bad example, 2nd to 4th in the is220d very sharp and beats the audi hands down. Personal experience.

How many 2nd to 4th situations would you one across really, the Lexus can be fast under certain conditions - high-ish revs, (for a diesel) low gear etc

What I'm saing is that the power delivery is woeful and low down power is non existent.

I appreciate that you have one and want to sell it, but the original point remains - bhp figures don't tell the whole story.

colm_mcm

Darsad wrote: »

Ticks most of the boxes with bags of power and low CO2
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-TD-0/413210302742940/advert?channel=CARS

That's a lotta miles!

Funfair

BMW 320d most efficient engine in its class...

colm_mcm

Funfair wrote: »

BMW 320d most efficient engine in its class...

On an 08 plate will probably be over budget, althoUgh I don't think a budget has been given

freestyla

Darsad wrote: »

Ticks most of the boxes with bags of power and low CO2
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-TD-0/413210302742940/advert?channel=CARS

Sweet car but Mileage 119,000 M / 191,512 KM!

What about some Alfa?

From the list I drove Accord and Saab 93 and super nice cars, very good road feedback:
- Volvo S 40
- honda Accord
- VW Passat
- Saab 93

what comes to reliability, I know many people having Accords for ages without doing no more than oil and filters change once a year.

mathepac

bazz26 wrote: »

2008 Subaru Legacy Boxer diesel. ...

Interesting choice.

I'm a Subaru fan from way back This is the only car listed that comes with AWD as standard and at a guess, of the manual gear-box cars listed here so far. it's the only 5-speed.

A family member has one as a company wagon (his first diesel) and is in love with it (6-speed 2010 model). Smooth as silk, vibration free and a lot of the time indistinguishable from a very good petrol engined car apart from fuel-consumption and torque which is amazing from very low down in the rev range.

bazz26

The gearing in the IS220d is all wrong unless you go for the Sport model. Even before I got my 318d remapped it would leave the IS220d behind in the lower gears.

Lex Luthor

No chance getting 53mpg in the Subaru

166man

I would have suggested an Alfa 159 but I know even a diesel one won't achieve 53mpg, something like a Volvo S40 1.6D would though..

pburns

mathepac wrote: »

Interesting choice.

I'm a Subaru fan from way back This is the only car listed that comes with AWD as standard and at a guess, of the manual gear-box cars listed here so far. it's the only 5-speed.

A family member has one as a company wagon (his first diesel) and is in love with it (6-speed 2010 model). Smooth as silk, vibration free and a lot of the time indistinguishable from a very good petrol engined car apart from fuel-consumption and torque which is amazing from very low down in the rev range.

Is that the new model? What did he have before as a reference?

mathepac

Yeah unless they release something else soon it's the newest. IIRC he had some non-descript petrol thing before the Legacy (Citroen / Peugeot / Nissan) and they also have a FreeLander (1.8 petrol - don't bleedin' start me).

The fact that I can't remember is odd which means it must have been some down-market piece of junk. They used to drive the Freelander as their "better" car. I'm normally a car geek but not this time. Sorry

Green Hornet

freestyla wrote: »

Darsad wrote: »

Ticks most of the boxes with bags of power and low CO2
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-TD-0/413210302742940/advert?channel=CARS

Sweet car but Mileage 119,000 M / 191,512 KM!

What about some Alfa?

From the list I drove Accord and Saab 93 and super nice cars, very good road feedback:
- Volvo S 40
- honda Accord
- VW Passat
- Saab 93

what comes to reliability, I know many people having Accords for ages without doing no more than oil and filters change once a year.

Yeah, I've got an Accord cdti and it is uber reliable. Over 50 mpg and plenty of torque, always available.

Not too gone on the steering myself. The steering wheel is bigger than I'd like. Also find the clutch and dead pedal a bit close. Apart from that though no complaints.

Darsad

colm_mcm wrote: »

Darsad wrote: »

Ticks most of the boxes with bags of power and low CO2
http://www.carzone
.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-TD-0/413210302742940/advert?channel=CARS

That's a lotta miles!

Buts its a subaru probably just run in now

colm_mcm

Given that it's their first diesel, there's no telling how good they are at making them.

robjones1981

I had a similar choice facing me 18 months ago

I went for a 2008 passat, with white leather interior

In the end i preferred it over the accord,avensis and saab93

Been very happy with it since - no problems at all really

Great for motorway driving and medium to long journeys

I average about 6.2l to 100km - and have been told once or twice Im a little agressive and like the brakes

Can be a bit slow to move in city centre traffic - but thankfully I dont do much of that - plus Im only comparing it to a smaller petrol car

c1979

My budget is between €11.5K - €14.5 K.

Might go to UK as 2nd hand cars are just a rip off in ROI.

I would be nervous with going with anything over 50K miles, or do people think that a well serviced car at 70k is not much of a risk versus the lower mileage?

lomb

Bought a late 08 passat today in Norn Iron from a dealer 2.0l tdi se 140 common rail loaded and with semi auto climate but no leather, 75000 warranted documented miles 6550stg, MOT tested recently. Needs a service and ideally at some point front brake discs but mechanically and electrically perfect.
Seems like a bit of an old mans motor to me but its all good.
He says he has late 09 avensis new models on low co2 at 8995 stg. Sold a few to dealers in the South. Pm me if you want their details seem like nice people to deal with.

pajo1981

lomb wrote: »

Bought a late 08 passat today in Norn Iron from a dealer 2.0l tdi se 140 common rail loaded and with semi auto climate but no leather, 75000 warranted documented miles 6550stg, MOT tested recently. Needs a service and ideally at some point front brake discs but mechanically and electrically perfect.
Seems like a bit of an old mans motor to me but its all good.

awesome post. A1.

c1979

Cheers Lomb PM me their details. How much VRT did you pay on the passat?

LFC Murphy

Hi Lomb, please pm me also if ya don't mind. Thanks

Lex Luthor

Prob that crowd in cookstown?

-Chris-

pajo1981 wrote: »

awesome post. A1.

Post constructively or don't post at all please.

freestyla

c1979 wrote: »

My budget is between €11.5K - €14.5 K.

Might go to UK as 2nd hand cars are just a rip off in ROI.

I would be nervous with going with anything over 50K miles, or do people think that a well serviced car at 70k is not much of a risk versus the lower mileage?

I would go, and have already few times, for desired car even with 100k+ if it has a service booklet stamped as per manufacturer recommendation

c1979

colm_mcm wrote: »

How does one arrive at figures like 108 and 53?


As an aside, bhp isn't the most important figure on a diesel, eg a 120hp A4 is a lot nippier than a 177hp IS220d

You look at the various specifications on parker's car reviews.co.uk

c1979

got a vovlo 2.0 r design in the end 52K mile, 134 bhp and 153 co2