Is a diesel unsuitable to our driving needs?

Buyingcar2012

We have had our 3rd child and at the moment we need a car upgrade to take everyone! 5,3 and new born.

My wife would like an XC60 and I actually like it as well. My concerns are that a diesel isn't suited to our driving needs.

My wife would use the car and would do a 15km commute (total)about 4 days a week in dublin city (D 12,6,4) traffic. At weekends we'd do a road trip now and again but that's usually weather dependant so not too frequent. Every 5/6 weeks we'd head south along the M7.

Friends tell me that this type of driving will eventually cause problems for a diesel engine. Secondly it appears that diesel engines are the bad boys in the motor pollution stakes and will be a dinosaur in the years ahead as we move towards electric or whatever.

What do you reckon?

punisher5112

Petrol don't go near the devil juice.

If you change cars regularly it wouldn't be an issue but if it's a keeper it wouldn't suit as dpf and other costly repairs.

Lantus

I do more km a day than you would do in a week and I have a petrol and family. There are a good number of 7 seater SUVs that offer small high powered engines. Plus hybrids.

biko

You really need to sit down and crunch the numbers to figure out the costs of each option.

Read reviews and see what they have to say
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volvo/xc60-2008-2017
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/car-reviews/volvo/xc60/209451/

Buyingcar2012

biko wrote: »

You really need to sit down and crunch the numbers to figure out the costs of each option.

Read reviews and see what they have to say
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volvo/xc60-2008-2017
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/car-reviews/volvo/xc60/209451/

Thank you for all replies so far. My main concern is not the fuel costs but
1. the likelihood of our low mileage type of driving causing engine problems.

2. The fact that Diesel engines are going to be penalised and possibly phased out in non commercial vehicles. I was planning to spend €20K so in 5 years when changing the car I don't want to have a huge depreciation.

punisher5112

Buyingcar2012 wrote: »

Thank you for all replies so far. My main concern is not the fuel costs but
1. the likelihood of our low mileage type of driving causing engine problems.

2. The fact that Diesel engines are going to be penalised and possibly phased out in non commercial vehicles. I was planning to spend €20K so in 5 years when changing the car I don't want to have a huge depreciation.

Look up the hybrid versions.

CeilingFly

The mileage you do just does not suit diesel - if anything it suits electric.

Diesel car do need regular open driving runs to run smoothly. Not every one will ahve an issue, but many do - and then the blame the last fuel stop and claim "dirty fuel".

I wouldn't be worried about penalties on diesels - that will be on new ones and its a few years away yet. But 15k km a year just doesn't warrant it.

Lexus NX Hybrid would be something I'd look at - same sort of market as xc60

View Profile

XC60 might be too small for three kids all in kids seats on the same row.
What about the XC90 or a Citroën Grand Picasso?!

duffman3833

no idea on the budget but what about MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV
Link

Lantus

Buyingcar2012 wrote:

Thank you for all replies so far. My main concern is not the fuel costs but 1. the likelihood of our low mileage type of driving causing engine problems.

Hard to say. Might have an issue, might not. Your engine is only just getting warm and you are at the end of your journey. Unless the equivalent diesel is no more expensive than petrol or cheaper I wouldn't bother.

Petrol will give you a smooth pleasant drive at no additional cost, in fact petrol engines are often cheaper and will heat up quicker and be cheaper to service in the long run avoiding any potential issues. Hybrid or electric would be ideal for you.

You need to check those seats re 3 kids though. Tight fit in any big car.

biko

If you consider other other things like shopping/luggage/friends etc that you may need to put in the car as well maybe a MPV would be a better option.

Bunch here http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/recommended/best-people-carriers-and-mpvs
have a read and see what you think

R.O.R

Unfortunately, I can confirm the answer to the Op's question is not really.

We're on our 2nd XC60 since early 2013. Wife's commute is 6km each way, dropping kids to creche about half way, then same on the way home. Try to take it on a motorway spin at least every other weekend, but sometimes we don't get to, and we've had engine management lights on both (previous was a 2.4 5 cylinder, new one is a 2.0 4 cylinder) which I suspect is due to emissions related issues. Not down on power though.

You'd also struggle with 3 kids in the back. We've 2 (5 & 6) so currently in high back boosters, and there's just enough room to fit a cushion booster between those on the odd occasion we need to carry a 3rd child in the back, but then you pretty much have to remove one of the high back boosters to get the seatbelt on the middle seat.

Apart from that, they are fantastic vehicles - only issue with the newer FWD models is that there's too much torque from the engine so they are a handful in lower gears under acceleration - really miss the AWD from the old one just for that reason (but not the tax or fuel consumption).

Just before Christmas one of my customers had a moment's lapse of concentration on the motorway, with the cruise set at 120 km/h, and failed to notice the stopped traffic in front of him. Went straight in to the back of a big generator being towed by a LandCruiser, without even braking from 120 km/h - Volvo, generator and LandCruiser all written off, but he walked away with a slight bruise from the seat belt and no other ill effects!

Lantus

5008, I'm leaving it there.....