Will Diesel cause problems if it does such low mileage?

Sobanek

If I do about 4000kms per year in a 1.9 TDI 130hp Passat, will it cause more expenses than savings?
Did the 130hp Passat B5 FL (2001) have the DPF?
Would it be a better choice to get a 1.6 16v Golf?

Alanstrainor

Sobanek wrote: »

If I do about 4000kms per year in a 1.9 TDI 130hp Passat, will it cause more expenses than savings?
Did the 130hp Passat B5 FL (2001) have the DPF?
Would it be a better choice to get a 1.6 16v Golf?

Why pay the premium for a diesel pass at passat when a petrol will be economical and significantly cheaper to buy?

I'm no mechanic so can't comment on that side of things but I think you'd be a bit mad to pay a premium for a car that will do barely any mileage.

MuppetCheck

It doesn't have a dpf for a start. People say that driving around town isn't ideal for dmfs either. You will also pay a premium for a diesel car and slightly higher road tax than the Golf.

If the price was right however and it had some tax on it why not? It won't be hugely more economical than the Golf around town but if and when you want to sell it will go quicker. Plus it's a bigger, more comfortable and more powerful car.

Work out the cost of both, the insurance, motor tax and cost of fuel and make a choice then. Personally I would pay a little more for more power and comfort and go with the Passat but it depends on your priorities.

Sobanek

MuppetCheck wrote: »

It doesn't have a dpf for a start. People say that driving around town isn't ideal for dmfs either. You will also pay a premium for a diesel car and slightly higher road tax than the Golf.

If the price was right however and it had some tax on it why not? It won't be hugely more economical than the Golf around town but if and when you want to sell it will go quicker. Plus it's a bigger, more comfortable and more powerful car.

Work out the cost of both, the insurance, motor tax and cost of fuel and make a choice then. Personally I would pay a little more for more power and comfort and go with the Passat but it depends on your priorities.

I'd rather go for the Passat myself. Had a look at one last week. 2001 1.9 tdi 130hp, climate control, onboard computer (FIS), 143k miles, €2200, but didn't take it since I still don't have cash for insurance (going to have some next month) and then the timing belt has to be replaced soon...

166man

It's gonna be tough to find a good clean example of a Passat TDI these days so take that into consideration. I'd be going petrol anyway...

vectra

Go for the Passat.
More power for cruising comfort.
Bigger car = more comfort

Diesel WILL be more economical.

166man

vectra wrote: »

Go for the Passat.
More power for cruising comfort.
Bigger car = more comfort

Diesel WILL be more economical.

Not gonna be doing too much motorway cruising at 4000km a year though. And if something were to go wrong on a 10 year old Passat turbo for example it would wipe any fuel savings.

It is a nicer car alright but at the OP's budget a petrol is the way to go.

bazz26

€2200 seems expensive for an 11 year old diesel but most VAG diesels are going for crazy money these days no matter what age or condition they are.

At driving 4k km per year though you have I don't see where fuel costs become a deciding factor. Here is a tidy 1.8t Passat that is 2 years younger for nearly the same money:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3436876

I really cannot see running costs being any different if only driving 4k km per year and it won't sound like a Massy Ferguson either.

Or a similar Highline model here:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3414443

Sobanek

I can't get insurance on the 1.8T Passat

If I did, I would've went for the Golf GTI.

cadaliac

Sobanek wrote: »

I'd rather go for the Passat myself. Had a look at one last week. 2001 1.9 tdi 130hp, climate control, onboard computer (FIS), 143k miles, €2200, but didn't take it since I still don't have cash for insurance (going to have some next month) and then the timing belt has to be replaced soon...

That's bad value for what you need imo.
I would also get a petrol. The mileage is so small that any problem as mentioned previously on a Diesel will wipe out all savings.
The Diesel is at an age and mileage where things can and will go wrong.
CV joints, window regulators, alternator, EGR valve and there are other common issues with that vintage passat. (I had one).
A petrol will be a lot easier to maintain cost wise at the rate of mileage and the trips around town that you described.
The petrol would be my choice over an over priced, over rated 12 year old diesel with 145k miles on the clock.

keithclancy

Whatever about both of them, its much easier to get insured on the 1.9TDI than it is on a 1.4 Petrol.

Or at least it was when I started out

Sobanek

keithclancy wrote: »

Whatever about both of them, its much easier to get insured on the 1.9TDI than it is on a 1.4 Petrol.

Or at least it was when I started out

It still is, €1.7k on the Passat TDI, €2.2k on the Golf 1.6 16V.

Skuxx

Sobanek wrote: »

It still is, €1.7k on the Passat TDI, €2.2k on the Golf 1.6 16V.

Not being funny, but why the fuk would you pay such high insurance to drive the car such little milage!! Buy a polo or something, get a few years no claims and then buy something a bit nicer!!
Seems crazy in my opinion!!

coolbeans

vectra wrote: »

Go for the Passat.
More power for cruising comfort.
Bigger car = more comfort

Diesel WILL be more economical.

so what? He'll have paid a premium for a diesel which will never make economic sense at the mileage he's covering. Fair enough if he likes the car but don't go on about savings when there are none. Quite the opposite in fact.

Sobanek

alan1990 wrote: »

Not being funny, but why the fuk would you pay such high insurance to drive the car such little milage!! Buy a polo or something, get a few years no claims and then buy something a bit nicer!!
Seems crazy in my opinion!!

I like comfort & power And I'll never find a Polo equipped with Climatronic and FIS for less than 2k.

166man

Sobanek wrote: »

I like comfort & power And I'll never find a Polo equipped with Climatronic and FIS for less than 2k.

Buy a petrol one.

Sobanek

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3416104

One and only polo available in Ireland with Climatronic.

bazz26

There are other cars besides VWs out there.

Sobanek

bazz26 wrote: »

There are other cars besides VWs out there.

It's really the VAG and BMW I'm really interested in. I honestly don't really like Fords, probably the material quality and the looks...

sean1141

Buy the passat over the golf imo. You wont look back. Just give it a good blast every now and then. 1.6 golfs are not the most reliable cars out there.
It sound like your first car so why are you so sure you will only do 4000km every year?? 4000km a year is nothing. I have often done that a month!!

Climatronic and FIS are not everthing. I had climatronic in the leon and found it annoying. Looks nice thats about it.

If your sure your only going to be doing the 4000km a year and its your first car buy some cheap little fiesta or similar and build up your ncb that way after a few years you will have more money for a gti etc. Start small. Most of us did.

bazz26

Sobanek wrote: »

It's really the VAG and BMW I'm really interested in. I honestly don't really like Fords, probably the material quality and the looks...

Learn to walk before learing to run as they say.

mathepac

Faced with 4,000 kms / annum, that's less than 11 kms /day, I'd buy a bicycle, save 3 or 4 grand between car, insurance and tax and cycle my way to fitness.

166man

mathepac wrote: »

Faced with 4,000 kms / annum, that's less than 11 kms /day, I'd buy a bicycle, save 3 or 4 grand between car, insurance and tax and cycle my way to fitness.

That's one option for doing 4000km a year. The OP could be heading West once a month doing that 4000km too bicycle wouldn't be great tbh.

There's plenty of ways of doing 4000km a year.

Sobanek

Yeah, I'm planning a trip to Poland in September and then occasionally maybe a trip down to Killarney / Kerry. You never know.
I have a bicycle of course, but in this kind of weather it's just not worth taking the risk of cycling to work...

(Unless I get accepted in College, which would mean 100kms a day - then I'll definitely go for the Passat TDI)

Mycroft H

If it were my money, the TDI.

They are a lovely cruising motor and as you said yourself, there is the possibility of driving bigger distances in the future. You'll find it hard to unload a petrol car now and possibly even harder in the future as more people move to diesel.

vectra

coolbeans wrote: »

so what? He'll have paid a premium for a diesel which will never make economic sense at the mileage he's covering. Fair enough if he likes the car but don't go on about savings when there are none. Quite the opposite in fact.

So what??

Sobanek wrote: »

I like comfort & power And I'll never find a Polo equipped with Climatronic and FIS for less than 2k.

@ coolbeans
There is your answer right there.

Sobanek wrote: »

Yeah, I'm planning a trip to Poland in September and then occasionally maybe a trip down to Killarney / Kerry. You never know.
I have a bicycle of course, but in this kind of weather it's just not worth taking the risk of cycling to work...

(Unless I get accepted in College, which would mean 100kms a day - then I'll definitely go for the Passat TDI)

And right here

I have no idea how anyone can speculate that a petrol car is cheaper to run than a diesel give probably twice the mpg over the petrol

sean1141

vectra wrote: »

I have no idea how anyone can speculate that a petrol car is cheaper to run than a diesel give probably twice the mpg over the petrol

Fuel wise mile per mile the diesel will be no doubt cheaper to run but what I think the guys are saying is that diesels can give trouble which can wipe out these savings, especially as the op will make doing 4000km PA.

A clutch and flywheel alone would wipe out what he would have saved on fuel alone and possibily cost him money. And thats before the saving on motor tax.

When I went from the 1.4 leon to the !.9tdi bora I recokened I would have to do almost 10k miles to make the diesels mpg pay the differance in tax. The OP is not planning on doing this milage in 3 years:pac:

Also you would get a newer, lower miles and possibly better minded car in petrol for the same money.

I can see where they are coming from but I would still take the diesel every time myself:D

vectra

I understand where you are coming from with the possibility of problems.. But to be fair they are not something that are guaranteed to give trouble.
Look the the Toledo My son is driving.
close on 200k miles.. Not a bother on it..

cadaliac

vectra wrote: »

I understand where you are coming from with the possibility of problems.. But to be fair they are not something that are guaranteed to give trouble.
Look the the Toledo My son is driving.
close on 200k miles.. Not a bother on it..

High mileage vag diesels give trouble. Fact.

Sobanek

cadaliac wrote: »

High mileage vag diesels give trouble. Fact.

Only the new 2.0 TDI units. The 1.9 TDI units are probably one of the most reliable engines in the world. They can do 500k miles without a bother.
Every apple tree will have a rotten apple in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztMzdk2KI6A

sean1141

vectra wrote: »

I understand where you are coming from with the possibility of problems.. But to be fair they are not something that are guaranteed to give trouble.
Look the the Toledo My son is driving.
close on 200k miles.. Not a bother on it..

True. My mondeo has similar milage and is as tight as a nut as thy say! But its not on its original clutch/flywheel and turbo and i would say the tolly is the same. They are not guaranteed to give trouble but if they do its expencive to repair with no savings been made via mpg as the op is not doing enough millage.
A petrol mondeo could eat swirl flaps and sh*t its self, a 1.6 golf could suffer from oil starvation due to oil sludge at the pick up but these are not guaranteed to happen either.
A diesel that gives no trouble will cheaper to run over a petrol car no doubt but if your not willing to take the risks of expencive parts failing on the diesel stay away.

Personally I am willing to take that risk:D

cadaliac wrote: »

High mileage vag diesels give trouble. Fact.

Every car will give trouble. Fact

cadaliac

No, I'm not talking about the engine itself, you are correct that the 1.9 unit is a solid lump. The cars with 145,000 miles will have wear and tear issues. They have common issues that I have already listed out. Same with most cars to be fair but the vag cars have very common issues.
The 2.0l unit after the 1.9 has a weak oil pump, which I think is sorted now. But you are talking about a 2001 car with a good bit of mileage on it and you asked if it would cause trouble in your Original post, with your low mileage and city driving.
I am telling you that it will. Like all other cars with those credentials.

sean1141

145k is not big milage

cadaliac

sean1141 wrote: »

145k is not big milage

I know. It still doesn't stop wear and tear .
We all know what we all mean. Personally I would take a diesel every time but in the case of the OP, I think petrol is the way to go.

vectra

cadaliac wrote: »

I know. It still doesn't stop wear and tear .
We all know what we all mean. Personally I would take a diesel every time but in the case of the OP, I think petrol is the way to go.

So, A petrol car with 145k miles would have less wear than a diesel?

Are you saying that EVERY diesel vag at 145k WILL give trouble?

@ Sean

According to the service history the Clutch/flywheel nor turbo was ever replaced.

sean1141

cadaliac wrote: »

I know. It still doesn't stop wear and tear .
We all know what we all mean. Personally I would take a diesel every time but in the case of the OP, I think petrol is the way to go.

But every car will suffer from wear and tear. Its part of motoring. GOing by the way the op is on about putting up miles (trip to poland, trips to kerry) I would think he is planning to use it very little around the city. Also he might be doing 100kms a day for collage in the future. I think he would be as well starting in the passat over the golf. Other than that I would think a 700euro fiesta would be the way to go. Get a years ncb built up, see if it is costing a bomb to run. If it is it will be easy sell the fiesta, at I would think, very little less than what you paid for it. Your insurance will be cheaper then and you will have an idea of the costs of running a car in ireland.

OP be aware a lot of people sell diesel vags as 130bhp when they are not. Dont go by the badge on the boot. Check the data sticker on the floor. It will be 96kw. Also dont expect much more than 40mpg in a 130 passat around town

sean1141

vectra wrote: »

@ Sean

According to the service history the Clutch/flywheel nor turbo was ever replaced.

If they were not I would say its about the only one in the country thats still on the originals at near 200k

dgt

OP despite the felty image, would you consider one of these? Has aircon...