Buying a diesel that will be driven very little

Zipppy

Upgrading car at mo.
Looking at a Golf TDI around a 2008-2010..dont want a 1.4 and 1.6s are rare..

However we live in the city, cycle / walk to work, and car wont be driven that much...maybe some weeks not at all.

I've heard that leaving a diesel sitting could cause issues?

Also what about the DPF ?

bazz26

If you are giving the car such little use why do you want a diesel at all? You will be paying a premium for something your not going to use enough to warrant that premium. Have you worked out any figures based on what it will cost you to own a petrol v diesel car based on your usage? Just seems to me like a single person with no family going out buying a mason house to live in by themselves.

Lantus

bazz26 wrote: »

If you are giving the car such little use why do you want a diesel at all? You will be paying a premium for something your not going to use enough to warrant that premium. Have you worked out any figures based on what it will cost you to own a petrol v diesel car based on your usage?

you can pick up a small 1.0L petrol for next to nothing and it will be cheap to buy, run, maintain and easy to park. Ideal for a city. Given your expected usage I don't see any reason to buy more?

Petrol's are not very much in vogue so you should be able to get a great deal.

Zipppy

bazz26 wrote: »

If you are giving the car such little use why do you want a diesel at all? You will be paying a premium for something your not going to use enough to warrant that premium. Have you worked out any figures based on what it will cost you to own a petrol v diesel car based on your usage? Just seems to me like a single person with no family going out buying a mason house to live in by themselves.

Lantus wrote: »

you can pick up a small 1.0L petrol for next to nothing and it will be cheap to buy, run, maintain and easy to park. Ideal for a city. Given your expected usage I don't see any reason to buy more?

Petrol's are not very much in vogue so you should be able to get a great deal.

Thanks for replies

Don't want a 1.0 litre..want something that will be powerful and comfy on the few long runs we do...parking is onstreet so it has to be a hatchback to find space.

Am not set on a diesel but most Golfs are TDIs or 1.4s...other option is an A3 but want a 5 door and they are scarce...
I dont see there being a premium on a diesel these days with the emission based road tax...

fmcg_scribe

Lantus wrote: »

you can pick up a small 1.0L petrol for next to nothing and it will be cheap to buy, run, maintain and easy to park. Ideal for a city. Given your expected usage I don't see any reason to buy more?

Petrol's are not very much in vogue so you should be able to get a great deal.

Agreed. It would be perverse (obtuse?) for the OP to buy a diesel.

Moneymaker

Why does it have to be a Golf?

No offense, but it sounds like you're falling into the trap that many Irish motorists do. A small petrol car will cost no less to tax then a diesel would and you'll save a ton of money on the lower purchase cost and cheaper servicing costs.

The ONLY reason to buy a diesel in your situation is the resale value and it'll be easier to shift most likely.

Something like a Clio or Fiesta will do the job just fine. Both are grand for long drives and I wouldn't consider them slow.

Hyundai i30, Kia Ceed, Astra, Mazda 3, Civic. You have plenty of options.

fmcg_scribe

Moneymaker wrote: »

Why does it have to be a Golf?

No offense, but it sounds like you're falling into the trap that many Irish motorists do. A small petrol car will cost no less to tax then a diesel would and you'll save a ton of money on the lower purchase cost and cheaper servicing costs.

The ONLY reason to buy a diesel in your situation is the resale value and it'll be easier to shift most likely.

Something like a Clio or Fiesta will do the job just fine. Both are grand for long drives and I wouldn't consider them slow.

Hyundai i30, Kia Ceed, Astra, Mazda 3, Civic. You have plenty of options.

Just like a Golf...? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omAwEPbHmV0

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Seriously, though, you are correct. VW Golf is a good car and is among the top 10 selling cars of all time but OP has lots of choice in that segment.

Moneymaker

fmcg_scribe wrote: »

Just like a Golf...? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omAwEPbHmV0

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Seriously, though, you are correct. VW Golf is a good car and is among the top 10 selling cars of all time but OP has lots of choice in that segment.

There's little point in investing in a "premium" car when you are doing minimal driving imo, especially when the alternatives do the job just as well.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

fmcg_scribe

Moneymaker wrote: »

There's little point in investing in a "premium" car when you are doing minimal driving imo, especially when the alternatives do the job just as well.

True. Lots of people living in, say, London take that view.

That said, some people (OP excepted, I'm sure) use their choice of car to show neighbours, friends, and relatives how well they're doing.

The "snob value" argument, if you will...

Zipppy

fmcg_scribe wrote: »

True. Lots of people living in, say, London take that view.

That said, some people (OP excepted, I'm sure) use their choice of car to show neighbours, friends, and relatives how well they're doing.

The "snob value" argument, if you will...

Haha...no snob vale I can assure you

Just like Golfs /A3s

fmcg_scribe

Zipppy wrote: »

Haha...no snob vale I can assure you

Just like Golfs /A3s

I believe you. Millions wouldn't.

Moneymaker

You see plenty of them around. 122bhp is absolutely fine for long drives in that car imo.

Tdi's belong in vans!

If you don't need one them why on earth would you want one?

Imo as OSI suggested above, the 1.4 120 hp turbo would be on the top of my last over any 1.6 tdi.

Unless of course it was the 180 hp tdi, then that just might change my mind.

Id still however prefer a faster petrol of I want clocking up many miles.

Zipppy

122bhp?

What about these beasts?

MuppetCheck

Zipppy wrote: »

122bhp?

What about these beasts?

Great engines...while they last.

Zipppy

OSI wrote: »

The twincharged 1.4 was a disaster.

so thats a no...

Ded_Zebra

OSI wrote: »

The twincharged 1.4 was a disaster.

I know nothing about them I'll admit but might be fine for someone that does next to no milage at all?

veetwin

Mrs veetwin has the 122 bhp 1.4 and it's a fine choice. Nice poke yet better on fuel than the awful 75bhp one.

For Forks Sake

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

This.

My sister lives in Dublin and does sod all driving during the week and the occasional spin down t'country on weekends.

She bought a 09 Civic 1.4 (newer i-VTEC engine) with only 19k miles on it earlier on this year. Perfect car for the sort of driving she does, will probably never break and she claims it gets about 45mpg on the longer trips. Think the tax is only €280 if that's a concern.

ba_barabus

draiochtanois wrote: »

Buying a diesel that will be driven very little - will bring you no end of hard ache

Not really. While it may not be driven for long period due to the OP covering only short distances on foot it may be used for long journeys only that need to be driven.

Its multiple short trips that cause harm.

Although I don't see any reason for the OP wanting a diesel. If they must have one what about a Megance DCI without a DPF fitted?