Browsing for a cheap daily driver - The search is over! 27/05/2019

[tee.gilding]

I know reliability was never their selling point, but the later Alfa’s are no less reliable than any other marque, and the parts are relatively cheap.

If I needed the extra space over my 147 (which I’m doing 25,000 miles a year in and averaging 50mpg on a 210 mile, 80mph motorway cruise), then I’d look out for a 156 Sportwagon, although they’re not the easiest cars to find in diesel form, and the 1.9 16v JTDm is the sweet spot, but...

2.4 JTD for £1000

I owned a 156 once upon a time. It wasn't high mileage, but it was terrible for reliability! I spent more than the purchase price keeping it on the road over 5 years! So, yeah, while I love the look and feel of them, I'd struggle to convince myself to buy an Alfa again in a hurry...

[tee.gilding]

Thanks all for your input so far! After a bit of research over the weekend I think I've narrowed down my search based on market availability and feedback from this forum.

I had a look at pre-06 Mondeo, Focus, Golf and Passat estates to try to avoid the DPF thing. While this does bring the annual tax figure up a little bit, these cars do tend to be more affordable (at least in their purchase price!) so I think I'll aim for this era of car. But also looking in to what it available, the Ford's I saw mostly tended to be less cared for than the VW's, which leans me toward the Golf and Passats instead. And seeing as I want a decent capacity in the car, that leans me even more towards the Passat.

So, at this stage my thinking is: 2002-2005 VW Passat 1.9 TDI. They're a little more expensive on annual tax and their economy isn't as favourable as the other three, but I prefer them on an aesthetic basis so I can stomach the slightly elevated running costs.

Has anyone got any experience with these cars? Know what to look out for? Or have one for sale??

[JamieZ4C]

Great cars - especially the 130 tdi Highline. Plenty of 04 and 05 models out there. One from VW's more reliable days.

The engine really is a peach. I had an almost identical 130 tdi in a Seat Toledo. Bought it at 120k miles and 5 years/60k miles later it was still going strong. Good performance and great economy. Absolutely great car and only reason I sold it was because it was a saloon and so a nightmare getting kids stuff in and out the boot.

A few pointers here grabbed from Passat forum for you, mostly about water ingress...

check for water damage in passenger front foot well - lift the carpet and the the black box which contains the ccm (ccm controls the electrics for the doors and tailgate)

check where the battery is doesn't have any water
and in the brake servo (this can be expensive) and also dangerous

make sure all the electrics work remote central locking and the lock button on the drivers door

also get the car diagnosed with vag com for any fault codes (before purchase)

Try and test the alarm as this can also have water damage but in most cases just needs drying out.

For estates only, the pipe for the rear wiper washer jet can come apart behind the panel on the passengers side in the boot and also inside the tailgate itself. so if the boot is wet that's probably what caused it.

[tee.gilding]

Thanks JamieZ4C! That's some solid pointers, much appreciated! So it's mostly water ingress to keep an eye out for. I suppose buying in winter/spring is probably the best time then - more likely to exhibit signs of water ingress than in the summer when it's had time to dry out.

[JamieZ4C]

No worries mate, and like you say a good time of year for spotting any leaks. Good luck with the search

[tee.gilding]

So since the last time I discussed this I've narrowed my search to two cars:

• 2003-2005 BMW (E46) 320d touring (facelift)
  2002-2005 VW Passat TDI Highline

Both appeal to me both visually and practically, and are very similar on paper. The E46 will be marginally faster and a bit better looking especially if in Sport trim, but that's not incredibly important when it comes to my daily commute.

I'm heading away for a couple weeks from next week and will be putting my current daily up for sale when I'm back and fixed a couple little bits. Anyone got anything to say on either of the two models above?

[mmm-five]

The BMW diesels tend to have more problems than the VW ones.

The VW will be cheaper to run.

The BMW will be built better and handle better - and even a diesel BMW can be made into a fun RWD track car

[tee.gilding]

The VW will be cheaper to run.

I suspected as much - but there is the whole "VW diesel" stigma to then deal with...

[mmm-five]

The VW will be cheaper to run.

I suspected as much - but there is the whole "VW diesel" stigma to then deal with...

Skoda Superb or Seat Exeo/Toledo then

[BMWZ4MC]

I had a 2003 320td as my daily for a few years. The only maintenance it required were the replacement of a split turbo hose and eventually a new clutch at >150,000 miles.
Importantly, the previous owner had removed the swirl flaps (which are plastic and can break up damaging the engine). It’s a wise thing to do if running a BMW diesel of that vintage.
Mine was a compact and it was reasonably quick, efficient (except in town where a small petrol engine would have been better) and handled really nicely. I really wanted a 330d in M Sport trim but couldn’t find a good one at the time.

[Mr Tidy]

I had a facelift E46 320td Compact as my only car for three years from 2005 to 2008, and had no issues at all with it - mind you it had done less than 45K miles when I sold it.

It was never going to be a rocket, but I liked the RWD balance and with 150bhp it was more powerful than most other 4 cylinder diesels at the time. And despite using that extra power fairly often over the 40+K miles I had it the mpg averaged over 47, which I thought was good.

But I think if I was looking for a Touring I'd want a facelift 330d!

[QUIKSTER]

I've just put up for sale a car that I bought for Mrs for 6 months whilst she waited for her company lease car order.

It previously belonged to my Indi VW mechanic for years.

Its a 2002 VW Bora 1.8T Sport (180BHP) Pretty rare as find more the Diesel versions, has covered 159k miles.

Full add is on Gumtree.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/volkswagen/fo ... 1331354819

I'm after £1,350 ONO

[tee.gilding]

I've just put up for sale a car that I bought for Mrs for 6 months whilst she waited for her company lease car order.

It previously belonged to my Indi VW mechanic for years.

Its a 2002 VW Bora 1.8T Sport (180BHP) Pretty rare as find more the Diesel versions, has covered 159k miles.

Full add is on Gumtree.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/volkswagen/fo ... 1331354819

I'm after £1,350 ONO

Thanks, nice car! But I'm looking for a diesel, due to the mileage I'm covering on the daily.

I had a 2003 320td as my daily for a few years. The only maintenance it required were the replacement of a split turbo hose and eventually a new clutch at >150,000 miles.
Importantly, the previous owner had removed the swirl flaps (which are plastic and can break up damaging the engine). It’s a wise thing to do if running a BMW diesel of that vintage.
Mine was a compact and it was reasonably quick, efficient (except in town where a small petrol engine would have been better) and handled really nicely. I really wanted a 330d in M Sport trim but couldn’t find a good one at the time.

I used to run a 325ti Sport as my daily. Loved it! But I need something bigger now, hence the thought of a touring. Good to hear it was reasonably reliable - I've found one nearby on 115k miles, and I'd be getting the swirl flaps and CDV deleted as first priority!

[tee.gilding]

Reviving an old thread here, but I've been searching around now for a while (and struggling) to find a reasonable condition 320d touring for reasonable money within a reasonable distance from where I live. I narrowly missed out on one 15 miles away by getting in touch just after it sold, so I was gutted about that, but the hunt continues.

So, has anyone got, or know of, any 320d's in/around Portsmouth-Southampton-Bournemouth area, which may not necessarily be up for sale but might be considered for sale if the right offer was put forward?

Ideal spec would be:

2002 - 2005 BMW 320d ES/SE touring, facelift model
Manual, <150k miles, FSH, unmodified preferably
Darker colours (black, blue, or the darker silvers), in good condition for age (not a rust bucket or a demolition derby special please!)
Not too much of a "unique interior"! Something simple like black or grey cloth is perfect.

I keep finding cars which match my spec but are in Manchester, Glasgow, or Leeds, all of which are a very long way to travel for a car which isn't worth a lot of money!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[hopz121]

I have a golf mk5 1.9tdi as a daily and its great around 60mpg and fairy good at most things too.

Things to check,

Rust on front wings, (corrosion warranty is 12 years)
AC works (its always on in most golfs and usually this kills the compressor early)
Cambelt done every 5 years
Clutch and flywheel is around £1000+ my flywheel went at 127,000