Low mileage on Diesels with no DPF fitted...GOOD OR BAD?

adammcknight

I've been told that MOST early-ish VAG 1.9TDI's (A3, A4, Golf, Passat etc) don't have DPF's fitted.

My question is should I still be looking at something with an average of 15,000 miles per year hoping it has been getting decent run-outs? Or should I be mainly focused on a full service history?

bazz26

People seem to correlate mileage with condition in this country. They assume a low mileage car is a car in tip/top condition, this is not always the case. A lot of these low mileage cars don't get serviced on time or regularly because their owners assume lack of use means they don't need regular servicing. Nothing could be further from the truth imo.

The other issue is that because people put so much effaces on low mileage, clocking or altering the mileage on a car is common and big business here. A low mileage car will sell for more money and quicker than a high mileage car irrespective of the condition of either.

On a low mileage diesel car a seller would want to produce unequivocal proof of that low mileage through service history, receipts, etc. Telling me it was serviced by a mechanic across the road would not cut it and I would assume it was not genuine.

beauf

I don't think thats what hes asking. I think its about the whole short trip issues with DPF.

I thought VAG brought in a non DPF engine for taxi's etc. I don't know about when the DPF appeared across the ranges.

bazz26

beauf wrote: »

I don't think thats what hes asking. I think its about the whole short trip issues with DPF.

I thought VAG brought in a non DPF engine for taxi's etc. I don't know about when the DPF appeared across the ranges.

You could be right, I thought he was asking about finding a low mileage diesel.

DPFs were not standard on the 1.9 TDi cars but they were fitted to some models.

adammcknight

bazz26 wrote: »

People seem to correlate mileage with condition in this country. They assume a low mileage car is a car in tip/top condition, this is not always the case. A lot of these low mileage cars don't get serviced on time or regularly because their owners assume lack of use means they don't need regular servicing. Nothing could be further from the truth imo.

The other issue is that because people put so much effaces on low mileage, clocking or altering the mileage on a car is common and big business here. A low mileage car will sell for more money and quicker than a high mileage car irrespective of the condition of either.

On a low mileage diesel car a seller would want to produce unequivocal proof of that low mileage through service history, receipts, etc. Telling me it was serviced by a mechanic across the road would not cut it and I would assume it was not genuine.

To be honest I would be one that would get drawn into that way of thinking, low mileage = better condition. But I am just wary of selling my very low mileage car (49000 genuine miles) and buying a diesel with a load of miles on it !

I'd now be more inclined to looking at a full service history as apposed to low miles though.

adammcknight

beauf wrote: »

I don't think thats what hes asking. I think its about the whole short trip issues with DPF.

I thought VAG brought in a non DPF engine for taxi's etc. I don't know about when the DPF appeared across the ranges.

I was asking a bit of both really but mainly I'm just worried about doing regular short trips in a diesel and running it into the ground. I Want something new and diesel but don't want to waste my time and money

christy02

Over the next few years there are going to be a lot of second hand, low mileage diesel's on the market due to country's obsession with them.

My folks have a 1.5 diesel scenic and mainly use it to drive 2 miles to town couple times a week and various other short drives. Its a 2010 model and has less than 20k km on it.
Apart from a few longer spins it doesn't really get warmed up.

They bought this against my advice and wonderwhy they are only getting 40mpg at best .

I wouldn't touch this with a bargepole in a year or so when they sell it on. Loads more like it around I imagine.

racso1975

christy02 wrote: »

Over the next few years there are going to be a lot of second hand, low mileage diesel's on the market due to country's obsession with them.

My folks have a 1.5 diesel scenic and mainly use it to drive 2 miles to town couple times a week and various other short drives. Its a 2010 model and has less than 20k km on it.
Apart from a few longer spins it doesn't really get warmed up.

They bought this against my advice and wonderwhy they are only getting 40mpg at best .

I wouldn't touch this with a bargepole in a year or so when they sell it on. Loads more like it around I imagine.

+1

The mam bought a6 last year. 2.0tdi gets 3miles into town and 3 miles back everyday.Madnrss and why......eh the tax is low.

Cannot wait till she starts giving out about it

ba_barabus

racso1975 wrote: »

Cannot wait till she starts giving out about it

Why? It's your inheritance she'll spend fixing it....

NIMAN

The MiL's diesel car produced a warning light, she took it to mechanic and was told it was probably due to the fact that it was driven about 10 miles into town and back every 2nd day, not getting a good run.

Of course no-one told her about this when selling it to her.

I spoke to a car salesman in NI when I was looking for an MPV - he was the only one out of about a dozen who even asked me what amount of miles the car would be doing and perhaps a petrol would suit better. The rest just wanted the sale.

I would agree that the country must be full of diesels bought since the 2008 tax change that have small mileage on them, which people will buy as they will see the low mileage, but they could be buying a lot of bother.

adammcknight

christy02 wrote: »

Over the next few years there are going to be a lot of second hand, low mileage diesel's on the market due to country's obsession with them.

My folks have a 1.5 diesel scenic and mainly use it to drive 2 miles to town couple times a week and various other short drives. Its a 2010 model and has less than 20k km on it.
Apart from a few longer spins it doesn't really get warmed up.

They bought this against my advice and wonderwhy they are only getting 40mpg at best .

I wouldn't touch this with a bargepole in a year or so when they sell it on. Loads more like it around I imagine.

You see this is my worry. I won't be doing just 5/6 miles here and there... I'll be hitting 200+ miles a week but that's not a lot either and also not a lot of it will be motorway mileage. Maybe a bit more than usual during the summer but still nothing is guaranteed as that's based on good weather!

Tbh I think I'll just get my hands on a Focus ST pay the ridiculous tax, insurance and petrol costs but at least I won't be worrying about DPF's and low mileage problems :P...

...I WISH!!