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£2k Small Diesel Runabout

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Old 04 March 2016, 02:00 PM
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nickwrxstiV2
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Default £2k Small Diesel Runabout

I'm after a 2nd car to use everyday. I'm not too fussed what it is, as long as it's small, very economical and it's reliable.


I have 2.0 TFSi Passat which has the Mk5 Golf GTi engine in it. Great car but jesus is it thirsty!


I do around 25 miles a day so wouldn't mind a small diesel to save the pennies!


So, my thoughts so far -


1.4 TDi Polo 9N3 (2006ish)
1.6 Mk6 Fiesta TDCi Zetec S
1.4 Mini One


Any more I've missed, or any comments/experiences of the above?


Cheers,


Nick.
Old 04 March 2016, 06:39 PM
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markjmd
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With that kind of mileage to cover, why bother with a diesel at all, when a good 1.3/1.4 petrol is still going to get you 45/50 mpg easy, be far less hassle to maintain, weigh and smell far less, and be generally more fun to own and drive?
Old 04 March 2016, 08:02 PM
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beef-on-the-bone
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skoda fabia, seat ibiza if you're used to vag stuff

for 25 miles i'd be inclined to go for petrol, unless it's all a steady a road drive
Old 04 March 2016, 08:27 PM
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With that little mileage I'd agree that a small petrol is the way to go - Corsa, Fiesta, Fabia etc... will all give great mpg with some creature comforts.
Old 04 March 2016, 08:45 PM
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fpan
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For 25 miles a day a diesel isn't worth it and with £2k you would buy a shed anyway.
Getr a panda 100HP or a similar small engined petrol cars as mentioned.
Old 04 March 2016, 08:46 PM
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fpan
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For 25 miles a day a diesel isn't worth it and with £2k you would buy a shed anyway.
Getr a panda 100HP or a similar small engined petrol cars as mentioned.
Old 04 March 2016, 09:35 PM
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lozgti1
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Originally Posted by fpan
For 25 miles a day a diesel isn't worth it and with £2k you would buy a shed anyway.
Getr a panda 100HP or a similar small engined petrol cars as mentioned.
Quite like those
Old 05 March 2016, 08:15 AM
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nickwrxstiV2
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Ok guys, thanks for the input. The reason I was looking at a diesel was just the fact they returned amazing mpg. The 25 miles is mostly traffic as I commute in 'Rush hour'.

Another reason would be that if I got a small petrol engine car, I'd probably rev it high on many occasions to get it to 'move', whereas a small diesel, I accept was slow and just tootle around everywhere, giving me better fuel economy. I hope that last bit makes sense!!!

Last edited by nickwrxstiV2; 05 March 2016 at 10:09 AM.
Old 05 March 2016, 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by nickwrxstiV2
Ok guys, thanks for the input. The reason I was looking at a diesel was just the fact they returned amazing mpg. The 25 miles is mostly traffic as I commute in 'Rush hour'.

Another reason would be that if I got a small petrol engine car, I'd probably rev it high on many occasions to get it to 'move', whereas a small diesel, I accept was slow and just tootle around everywhere, giving me better fuel economy. I hope that last bit makes sense!!!

My local runaround is a Peugeot 306 diesel, a brilliant little car with great handling. Cheap to maintain and available, if you can find one, for well under your £2k limit.
Old 05 March 2016, 02:44 PM
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If I were in your shoes I'd be looking for an old Fiesta be it petrol or diesel. Reason being is that I think it will only begin to increase in value and you could probably sell it on in a few years time and make a few quid
Old 05 March 2016, 07:51 PM
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nickwrxstiV2
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Originally Posted by wrx300scooby
If I were in your shoes I'd be looking for an old Fiesta be it petrol or diesel. Reason being is that I think it will only begin to increase in value and you could probably sell it on in a few years time and make a few quid
What do you mean old? Mk3?
Old 07 March 2016, 02:44 PM
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Serious

An ancient **** bucket rusty festa ?!
Old 07 March 2016, 06:04 PM
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25 miles in traffic, cycle or get a moped a lot cheaper
Old 07 March 2016, 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by andy97
25 miles in traffic, cycle or get a moped a lot cheaper

Yes but he wants to be in a car not under one!
Old 07 March 2016, 09:02 PM
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Smart roadster if you want something a bit different. lots of low mileage Nissan micras about, driven by old dears, cheap as chips to buy and run, and fairly reliable.
Old 08 March 2016, 07:51 AM
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Polo's are great little cars until they break, then it's typical pricey German parts. I found this out the hard way. Girlfriend had a Mini Cooper for 4 years, same issues when it needed repairs, very pricey. I'd personally look at a small petrol if you're in stop/start traffic, OR a pre DPF diesel unless you wanna cough up replacements/gutting of it.

Once I sell my Bimmer I'll be looking at something similar (small car, astronomical mpg for regular 110 mile round trips to my girlfriends).
Old 08 March 2016, 08:00 AM
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Originally Posted by chocolate_o_brian
Polo's are great little cars until they break, then it's typical pricey German parts. I found this out the hard way. Girlfriend had a Mini Cooper for 4 years, same issues when it needed repairs, very pricey. I'd personally look at a small petrol if you're in stop/start traffic, OR a pre DPF diesel unless you wanna cough up replacements/gutting of it.

Once I sell my Bimmer I'll be looking at something similar (small car, astronomical mpg for regular 110 mile round trips to my girlfriends).
110 mile round trip for a sh@g...... , someone's busy on POF
Old 08 March 2016, 09:02 AM
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Originally Posted by donny andi
110 mile round trip for a sh@g...... , someone's busy on POF
Tinder mate
Old 08 March 2016, 10:46 AM
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DO NOT go diesel.

A petrol 1 litre or 1.2 will be economical and more reliable. trust me...said he, whose new-ish diesel cars have cost him £2000 in two years!!!
Old 08 March 2016, 12:47 PM
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nickwrxstiV2
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OK, deffo small petrol then.


I did wonder about parts prices for the Polo and the Mini.


I think I'll look at a small 1.2ish petrol then.


IS LPG any good on these small cars? My thinking is that it'll return similar, if not more MPG for the cost of LPG per litre.
Old 08 March 2016, 01:57 PM
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RS_Matt
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Audi A2 1.4 TDI

A billion miles per gallon.

very nippy too for just 88bhp. A ton of fun!
Old 08 March 2016, 02:05 PM
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markjmd
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Originally Posted by nickwrxstiV2
OK, deffo small petrol then.


I did wonder about parts prices for the Polo and the Mini.


I think I'll look at a small 1.2ish petrol then.


IS LPG any good on these small cars? My thinking is that it'll return similar, if not more MPG for the cost of LPG per litre.
My thinking is that you're never going to find that small a car with that small an engine where someone's done a conversion. Why bother, when you're already getting in the region of 50mpg, and when the new tank etc is just going to eat up a large amount of the already limited boot space in your 3-door hatchback?
Old 08 March 2016, 04:18 PM
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What about a 1.9 cdti Astra? 150 version and not bad on mpg
Old 08 March 2016, 07:42 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by nickwrxstiV2
What do you mean old? Mk3?
You should be able to pick up a Mk 2 for the money you are talking about.

Originally Posted by dpb
Serious

An ancient **** bucket rusty festa ?!
Yep dpb, serious A true investment
Old 08 March 2016, 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by RS_Matt
Audi A2 1.4 TDI

A billion miles per gallon.

very nippy too for just 88bhp. A ton of fun!
Says the man who thinks a 300 hp wrx is "fast" where's my salt shaker?
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