Cheap Reliable Diesel

B

bluestreak56

Veteran
 Maidenhead
Just wondered if anybody could help on this front.

My friend had a Mk4 Golf GT TDI 150 written off last year. Since she couldnt afford another Golf she was adamant on buying a Focus.

We managed to get a 2002 Focus TDCI (115) with 96k on the clock for under £2k but it has been the most unreliable POS Ive ever known.

In 1 month all 4 injectors died, we had them reconditioned, 6 months later they all died again. We had them and the glow plugs replaced. 6 months later the Dual Mass Flywheel and Clutch have both gone.

We are looking to get rid of this hunk of junk and replace it with something German / Jap as I was insistent on her buying in the first place.

Naturally a nice Polo 1.4TDi would be great, or another Golf TDi but budget restrictions mean it will need to be a sub £2k car up to 10 years old, very reliable and as little mileage as possible.

Any suggestions?

So far I'm seeing :

2001 Nissan Primera 2.0 TD 8kl £850
2001 Skoda Fabia 1.9 SDI 95k £1250
2004 Nissan Primera 2.2dCi 67k £1495
2003 Nissan Almera 2.2 DCi 81k £1800
2005 Mazda MAZDA6 2.0d TS 88k £1899
2005 Mazda MAZDA6 2.0d TS 90k £2100
2005 Hyundai Getz 1.5 CRTD 76k £2200

Thanks in advance :)
 
I had a Fabia VRS and it was fantastic, never missed a beat and after 18months of faultless ownership I sold it for a £750 profit. The 1.4 diesel is dirt cheat to tax and insure, if you can get beyond the badge it's a great little car.
 
Have you considered Lupo Diesel such as this one??

EDIT - Just spotted car is CAT D. However, there are others for similar price available. One is an SDi (no turbo) 1.7D with 70k on the clock.

Insurance group 4. 65mpg and VW reliability? Bit small is the only downside, and it's butt ugly... :oops:
 
Thanks for the feedback guys:

Peugeot is unfortunately off my list due to being French, my colleage has a 307 and its in the shop twice a week for EML and electrical issues (54 plate)

Fabia VRS would be an option as its dub engined but alas the issue is price - nothing much under £3k

Adamski the Lupo is on my radar especially with the 1.4TDi as I mentioned its the best engine I think. Might be a bit small for her (lupo) but Ill try to convince her..

SDi im staying away from purely because on paper its gutless and she does about 14k a year with a lot of travel to Bradford and back
 
There is no way of predicting which of your listed cars will be most reliable based solely on make and model, at this age/price level it's better to treat each motor on an case by case basis. Condition, history, careful examination of the basics and a good test drive is the only way to go.

I had two engines in a Golf TDi in under 70k miles and over 100k miles from an old Citroen AX D with no serious faults, which is counter intuitive to say the least.
 
I have a VW Bora 1.9tdi as a daily, 177K miles and still going strong all that its cost me is servicing once a year and interim oil change plus cam belts at every 60K, not even any advisory's on the MOT just over a week ago. They are getting cheap now and the same mechanics to a Golf Mk4 and road tax is £120/yr.....Best of luck in your search :thumbsup:
 
If she does loads of miles look at something bigger, volvo S60 etc...

Get a D5 one tho
eg:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201216464498910/sort/default/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/3000/model/s60/make/volvo/postcode/dl14jz/page/1/radius/1500?logcode=p
 
Robb said:
If she does loads of miles look at something bigger, volvo S60 etc...

Get a D5 one tho
eg:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201216464498910/sort/default/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/3000/model/s60/make/volvo/postcode/dl14jz/page/1/radius/1500?logcode=p
Click to expand...

Not a bad shout. Thing is she never drives with anyone else and is why the family hatch size has always suited her.

The Volvo is certainly an option although perhaps not with that high mileage.

For the time being she's had her DMF and Clutch replaced and is going to keep the car at least until the MOT is complete in June.

Thanks for all your feedback people :thumbsup: much appreciated
 
I've done 79k on my 07 Citroen C4 which has only had a CD replaced in that time. Still drives like the day I had it.
Might be one car to look at. I think you can pick them up secondhand fairly cheap. Focus size car.
I've got the 1.6hdi egs model. About 54mpg general mixed driving.
 
Don't go down the S60 route. I had one a few years ago. It was awful. They have the steering of a supertanker. So bad that my wife would not drive it. Worst. Car. Ever.
 
PaulG said:
Don't go down the S60 route. I had one a few years ago. It was awful. They have the steering of a supertanker. So bad that my wife would not drive it. Worst. Car. Ever.
Click to expand...

Dont really understand this as i thought mine was brilliant for doing miles in, agreed the turning circle is big but thats because of the horizontally mounted 5-cylinder engine combined with wide wheels, focus ST is exactly the same. Once you get used to it its not a problem what so ever?

On the plus sides they are reliable as a bomb shelter, the interior in more comfortable than my own bed and to this day iv never heard a sound system in a car as good as the dolby surround one I had in my S60, that and on a run it used to sit happily at quick motorway speeds and get 54mpg on the dot.

If I wanted something cheap to do miles in I would buy another one tomorrow,
 
Mine was a complete dog. Ended up getting shot of it after the air-con compressor bearings failed causing the aux belt to overheat and snap and take the power stearing with it. Volvo specialist wanted £750 to fix. Quick trip to a breaker got me a replacement & got it fitted for under £200. At the time it also had a major oil leak and a huge list of other problems.

It may work OK on a motorway, but round town it was hopeless.

I hated that car with a passion.
 
Have you considered a Saab - I have a 9-5 2.2 TiD estate as the family shed (transports dogs, kids, trips to the dump, airport runs, winter daily etc) - yes, its bigger than the average family hatch but we've had the car 6 years, only major (?) part changed has been intercooler (£300 incl VAT and Labour, used the equivalent Vauxhall part), running at 120K miles, pulls well (without a remap), solid build, interior pretty solid also. Excellent car, and parts are at Vauxhall prices. Ours is an 2004/04 - the 02/03 models should be around £2k (a quick search on ebay shows 19 candidates http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Saab-/182...3286.c0.m1539&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=&_udhi=2,000)
 
Gargybloke said:
I've done 79k on my 07 Citroen C4 which has only had a CD replaced in that time. Still drives like the day I had it.
Might be one car to look at. I think you can pick them up secondhand fairly cheap. Focus size car.
I've got the 1.6hdi egs model. About 54mpg general mixed driving.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: This. I have an 05 C4 1.6hdi. Drive it like its a rental and have covered 14k miles in the last 12 months, taking it up to 80k total. Cheap, quickish (for a diesel!), cheap to tax etc, quirky. Just be prepared for the odd electrical gremlin that comes and goes. I've replaced two bulbs on mine and one £5 hose seal. Oh and it's got every conceivable extra and is very comfortable.
 
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