monty baber

I am looking for a diesel (as it seems many people are) for a new job (daily commute of roughly 80 miles, no motorway just twisty country roads)

My budget is looking to be in the region of £8k max and I have been trawling through threads on here all day and checking autotrader for cars suggested.

The 320d gets mentioned a lot but the later 150bhp version, I have found a X plate 320d with 60k and FBMWSH for £7.5k, now I know its the earlier lesser powered model but is it any good?

I want something economical, not boring, comfortable, and a bit of poke am I being unrealistic??

Another consideration is a Golf GTTDI, there is only one near me on a T plate with 100k for £4.5k and its the 110bhp version, would the milage worry you?
(if I can do it cheaper I would'nt mind)

Thanks

logiclee

The later 320D's are great but a workmate used to have a 130bhp 2.0 before they went VNT (Not sure of the change over year). This is the engine the Rover 75 uses and it has no guts off boost and a very narrow power band.

To be honest if you are looking at something that old and low tech I'd spend the money on a PD130 VAG or Mondeo TDCi 130 as they are a far better bet.

If you decide to go cheaper then a you will be hard pushed to get anything cheaper to run than a 110TDi Golf or Octavia. They are course and noisy and dont have the surge of torque like a modern common rail or PD engine.
A good tuning box will give the 110 near 140bhp and decent performance without effecting the economy.

Only trouble with any older VAG is the handling and if you do 80 mile a day down twisty roads you may find the handling and steering a bit stoddgy and numb.

Another option for you could be a Focus TDCi which has fun handling for your commute and decent economy, as long as you get the 115 version you should have enough performance as well.

Cheers
Lee

monty baber

Thanks for the advice

makes me feel very poor

logiclee

No, its just 320D's hold their value that well that for a given budget you get lower spec, older car or far high milage than a newer, modern, lower milage Ford or cheaper VAG.

Just have to weigh up what's best for you.

Cheers
Lee