£2k'ish - high MPG diesel?
#31
Pros and cons to it, main one being at least the £2k car can be sold after and won't depreciate an awful lot, or even if only £1k back then that's still £800 'up' on your plan with room to budget a service and a potential small fix if needed
#32
So tempted to get a 330D and have some fun too but then I'm thinking I should be sensible and get a run of the mill Astra (been offered a 55 plater 1.7cdti for £1800 and they do 55-60mpg all day long apparently)
Need to decide tomorrow - start work Monday and weekend is already chocablock with other stuff!
#33
Won't be easy going from a fun scoob to a diesel used for mpg, at least it would only be sensible for a few months then you could go back to another fun car. That Astra sounds like good value providing the mileage isn't massively excessive.
I only commute 50 miles a day and the scoob is killing me, any more and I would be regretably changing to a diesel.
I only commute 50 miles a day and the scoob is killing me, any more and I would be regretably changing to a diesel.
#37
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
Resigned...LOL
My choice for my wife was:
Leon TDi
Astra CTDi
Focus TDi
Renault Megane TDi
Mainly because of the size. She didn't want small, but didn't want large either.
I test drove a few. The Focus was in 136 bhp Titanium, had all the toys but we both hated the seats and the performance was disappointing.
The Leon had nice seats and drove well in both 105, and the newer 140 bhp.
The Megane, we couldn't find one to drive and were put off by horror stories about Renault electrics.
We've bought an Astra CDTi SRi 150 on a 58 plate.
Mainly because, for the same money, we got a younger, higher specced car with less miles on it.
There are loads about and parts are dirt cheap. A good first mod is to have the washer jets off and replace them with some off an Insignia which give a flat fan of water instead of a jet. £4.50 off ebay.
The seats are lovely, the ride is nice, it goes well, and I've just had cruise control retro-fitted for around £90, which will give excellent motorway mpg.....worth looking for, or looking at whether your chosen vehicle can easily have it fitted. Mine had to have a new stalk, which was clip out, clip in, and half an hour on the Vauxhall dealer's computer to get it to recognise it. First use saw the "range" rise from 437 miles to 475 miles when the cruise control was on. Interesting. Well worth the money outlay for a car which will do some motorway miles Most Astra "H" cars can have it done the same way. That's 04 plate on.
What to look for:
Gearbox noise...especially on cars up to 08 plate with the 150 bhp engine.
Water in the cabin, esp driver's side carpet, early cars.
Engine poor start and stalling on 1.7 CDTi models.
Any lights that stay on after the engine starts.
Best model: for you, probably a 1.9 but not the 150 bhp one.
DO check out the seats: the internet has comments from folk who bought the higher specced design and Elite cars and found the seats too soft and not supportive enough on long journeys
HTH
My choice for my wife was:
Leon TDi
Astra CTDi
Focus TDi
Renault Megane TDi
Mainly because of the size. She didn't want small, but didn't want large either.
I test drove a few. The Focus was in 136 bhp Titanium, had all the toys but we both hated the seats and the performance was disappointing.
The Leon had nice seats and drove well in both 105, and the newer 140 bhp.
The Megane, we couldn't find one to drive and were put off by horror stories about Renault electrics.
We've bought an Astra CDTi SRi 150 on a 58 plate.
Mainly because, for the same money, we got a younger, higher specced car with less miles on it.
There are loads about and parts are dirt cheap. A good first mod is to have the washer jets off and replace them with some off an Insignia which give a flat fan of water instead of a jet. £4.50 off ebay.
The seats are lovely, the ride is nice, it goes well, and I've just had cruise control retro-fitted for around £90, which will give excellent motorway mpg.....worth looking for, or looking at whether your chosen vehicle can easily have it fitted. Mine had to have a new stalk, which was clip out, clip in, and half an hour on the Vauxhall dealer's computer to get it to recognise it. First use saw the "range" rise from 437 miles to 475 miles when the cruise control was on. Interesting. Well worth the money outlay for a car which will do some motorway miles Most Astra "H" cars can have it done the same way. That's 04 plate on.
What to look for:
Gearbox noise...especially on cars up to 08 plate with the 150 bhp engine.
Water in the cabin, esp driver's side carpet, early cars.
Engine poor start and stalling on 1.7 CDTi models.
Any lights that stay on after the engine starts.
Best model: for you, probably a 1.9 but not the 150 bhp one.
DO check out the seats: the internet has comments from folk who bought the higher specced design and Elite cars and found the seats too soft and not supportive enough on long journeys
HTH
Last edited by alcazar; 11 January 2013 at 11:36 AM.
#38
alcazar - thanks for the detailed response mate.
The astra I'm looking at is a 1.7CDTi - from what I saw the guy didn't have any engine start/stalling issues.
Looked on the web and it seems to be doing 65mpg approx.
Been told that I might be in london office more than I thought which means I can train it it so a car is not as critical as it was yesterday
Still tempted to splash out and treat myself ... if you can call buying a £2k a treat lol
The astra I'm looking at is a 1.7CDTi - from what I saw the guy didn't have any engine start/stalling issues.
Looked on the web and it seems to be doing 65mpg approx.
Been told that I might be in london office more than I thought which means I can train it it so a car is not as critical as it was yesterday
Still tempted to splash out and treat myself ... if you can call buying a £2k a treat lol
#39
Scooby Regular
Easy. Golf gt tdi 130. get a standard one and don't modify it. Clutches start going when you map. Loads around for that money, cheap tax, easy fix and easy mid 50's, 6 speed. I never bought one without full history and was picky enough to avoid if the stereo or alloys were changed to non vw. TBH I wouldn't go near Ford/vauxhall/French at that money.
I've had half a dozen gt tdis, 130 is the all round pick. 150 is tempting, but fan and cam issues.
I've had half a dozen gt tdis, 130 is the all round pick. 150 is tempting, but fan and cam issues.
I will be geting rid of my Pug 306 Hdi if so.
That is one mighty commute, I suppose you have got to think of it only being short term.
Last edited by Ste RB5138; 11 January 2013 at 12:50 PM.
#40
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Bit out of the box, but why not a new shape mr2. 47 mpg, buy now and make £500 in the summer and they're very reliable. I had one a couple of years ago and made £500 by buying in March and selling in July.
There's loads and loads of gt tdi 130s around for £2k or even less.
There's loads and loads of gt tdi 130s around for £2k or even less.
#43
Mr2?! Really surprised they are £2.5k and it never occurred to me. However, with a wife and two kids it'd be nice to use the car for them too (even if I don't I'll get accused of being selfish with an MR2 lol)
1.5CLio - too lightweight for my liking on the motorways
Seat Ibiza - will check out
thanks guys
1.5CLio - too lightweight for my liking on the motorways
Seat Ibiza - will check out
thanks guys
#46
It would be a vw pd tdi for me but dont map it, 130 model. With the miles your doing it would average 55mpg sitting at 75mph all day long.
Ive had the 150 gti diesel which was mapped 210bhp/300lbft and the clutch went bang, but averaged 50.1mpg no matter how i drove it.
But.. i have been driving a 330d sport for the last three years and sometimes i can do up to 250 miles a day, best car ive ever owned, bought it with 120,000 miles on the clock remapped it to 245bhp 370lbft at 146,000 and its now done 167,000 and nothing apart from consumables has gone wrong. Oh and they go on forever, 300,000 miles no problem well looked after.
I generally have the cruise set at 70mph all the time but i do drive it hard to clear it all out, and this does 44.8 mpg average! amazing for a 3.0 straight six, real wheel drive too
Astras? sorry but they have never done anything for me, probably good mile munchers though!
Ive had the 150 gti diesel which was mapped 210bhp/300lbft and the clutch went bang, but averaged 50.1mpg no matter how i drove it.
But.. i have been driving a 330d sport for the last three years and sometimes i can do up to 250 miles a day, best car ive ever owned, bought it with 120,000 miles on the clock remapped it to 245bhp 370lbft at 146,000 and its now done 167,000 and nothing apart from consumables has gone wrong. Oh and they go on forever, 300,000 miles no problem well looked after.
I generally have the cruise set at 70mph all the time but i do drive it hard to clear it all out, and this does 44.8 mpg average! amazing for a 3.0 straight six, real wheel drive too
Astras? sorry but they have never done anything for me, probably good mile munchers though!
Last edited by maff125; 12 January 2013 at 08:45 AM.
#48
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
Volvo s60 D5. pre late 2005 model (non dpf model, they had trouble with diesel filling up the sump), 163bhp 5 cylinder (sound nice for a diesel) extremely comfortable car to drive. Go for manual as autos can cause problems. 40-45mpg. As on a lot of diesels the injectors can fail, and intercoolers can split on the pre 05 models. Avoid cars with sunroof.
We have had a few Vauxhall combos at work with 1.7cdti engines. Worst vehicles I have driven, gearbox, steering, and seats all shocking. Can't comment on Astra though. Vauxhall use Fiat diesels, think cambelt change is around 50k miles and water pump needs replacing at the same time or it is very likely to sieze and shred the cambelt.
We have had a few Vauxhall combos at work with 1.7cdti engines. Worst vehicles I have driven, gearbox, steering, and seats all shocking. Can't comment on Astra though. Vauxhall use Fiat diesels, think cambelt change is around 50k miles and water pump needs replacing at the same time or it is very likely to sieze and shred the cambelt.
Last edited by WRXrowdy; 12 January 2013 at 11:28 AM.
#49
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The Astra 1.9 cdti isn't too bad a car to be honest, the Missus down sized her my57 330D to a my57 Astra and you do notice the mpg difference between the two but on the other hand the 330d was more enjoyable to drive.
Soon i shall be buying a my06 mondeo 2.0 tdci titanium x with 75k and in excellent condition for £2000, they are a lot of car for the money!
Soon i shall be buying a my06 mondeo 2.0 tdci titanium x with 75k and in excellent condition for £2000, they are a lot of car for the money!
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