Diesel or Petrol?

Don't forget to check the cambelt change schedule. The cost can be significant and make a vehicle which has already had it changed and won't need another during your ownership a much more economical buy than an otherwise identical vehicle which will.
 
Happy to be corrected on this but I believe the Honda 2.2 diesel has a timing chain rather than a belt and I don't think it has a particulate filter (perhaps the later versions do but I'm referring to the 2005 vintage). It does however, have an EGR which was the subject of a recall not long after the engine was first introduced. Dealer told me not to use supermarket diesel or risk clogging the EGR although I don't know if there's any evidence for or against this.
 
I think the reason a lot of these modern diesels end up with stuffed up EGR's and DPF is the type of work they sometimes get - for example 0.5 mile trips to the supermarket or loads of town driving. Not good for any car really.

They need a good run, with a bit of a heavy right foot from time to time.
 
Babylon said:
What is the financial logic in buying the higher-mileage, more expensive diesel?
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There is a logic, but as someone else noted the higher cost of diesel when new is only 10% average.

Possibly the reason for a 50% difference second hand is that everyone want a second hand diesel and there are only a few around.
 
I think the appeal of diesel cars is rapidly diminishing, as legislation forces manufacturers to include more and more equipment to meet emission laws. The potential problems in a few years' time with the current crop of diesel cars with diesel particulate filters, highly complex electronics, dual mass flywheels, etc, will lead to buyers going back to petrol.
 
"and repair costs can be high for dual-mass flywheels, "

The clutch on my 2l petrol Honda has today given up the ghost. This is the first clutch problem I have had in 35 years of driving. The garage asked me (in passing) if I knew if it had a DMF and I didn't have a clue. The first I have heard of these items was on this thread last night and now, after some googling, I am preparing for the worst if this needs to be replaced; but I still have been unable to discover if the petrol engine has one or if they only belong to the bigger banging diesel.
Can anyone answer this for me?
 
At the sort of age the OP is talking about, the diesel car is likely to be on the old "Euro 3" emissions level. It is highly unlikely to have a particulate filter, but worth checking as these can give trouble and are expensive to rectify. Also, something I'd be really worried about is what a diesel of that age wil lhave been run on. As has been said, the newer "common rail" diesel engines are highly intolerant of anything other than good quality pump diesel. Cooking oil can trash the injector pumps (and they can cost around £4k to replace)!

I think it's important to drive both under representative conditions. I tend to prefer modern diesels to petrol engines - particulary in something like a 4x4 where they need good low-down lugging ability - especially if you're going to be towing.

Also ask if it has a dual mass flywheel - these are notoriously troublesome and expensive to replace!
 
Aground said:
Happy to be corrected on this but I believe the Honda 2.2 diesel has a timing chain rather than a belt
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I don't know about the Honda 2.2 specifically and was really meaning to check for this on any used buy. An additional £500 for a belt change on their first service bill is something a used car buyer can do without but often overlook.
 
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