Which Diesel - non boaty

david_e

david_e

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www.touraine.blogspot.com
Car for SWMBO and for our 400 mile round trip to the boat at the weekend (my gas guzzler would be better but is tres costly)

Q1 Are diesel engine cars more expensive 'cause they cost more to make or 'cause they can get away with it?

Between the following which are the more reliable better value and why?

PSA 2.0litre 90hp and 100(110?)hp
VW 1.9 100hp and 130hp (latter is quite costly)
Ford 1.8 TDci and 2.0L TDci (have heard that the 2.0L is thirtsy for a diesel)

All the above have an abundance of imports/late model low mileage used, any other star performers?

(is there no end to this spending?):-))
 
If you want the best and don't mind the badge go for a SKODA. Had a Felicia with the VW 1.9 diesel engine and after 130,000 still not using a drop of oil and would do 50 mpg cruising in high seventies.

Son has got the 1.9 Turbo diesel Octavia. Will do in excess of 125, but if being "sensible" gets a good 50mpg.

The engine is heavier than a petrol so the car has to be stiffened to take the extra weight.


Phil
 
Peugeot and VW engines (found in the Skodas) all good except the <100bhp models, the more powerfull ones are actualy more economical and much better to drive. Don't touch any of the Fords or Vauxhalls.
 
mixed bag

i have had several diesels of late:

discovery: unreliable rubbish
citroen 1.9 turbo: quick, 45 mpg, electrics a bit dodgy
peugeot 1.9 non turbo: slow, 45 mpg, reliable.

good luck.
 
Anything based around the VW/Seat/Skoda/Audi 1.9 TDI would seem to be a good bet. VERY impressed with the Octavia and usually manage to average 50mpg from a Passat estate (the older 115bhp model). Reliability 100% so far.......

I've also got quite a few miles behind the Peugeot HDI engine. Not bad at all, but prefer the VW and Skoda 'cos I think the interior build quality is better - residual values too!
 
Hello there

my farther has got a 1.9hp VW passat TDI which he is over the moon with, Fuel comsumption Is far better than a petrol engine and dont rattle like they used to. I Have had a drive myself a few times and I am very Impressed with It .

He brouht the passat from holland and got a better deal there as Its a rip off here.
I am going for the VW Golf GT TDI, soon as they are very good to and very quick if and when you need it also the MPG is in the 40mpg to 50mpg .
 
When I lived in the UK we had a 205 and a 405 Peugeots. We put over 100,000 miles on both of them in the space of 3 years back and forth So'ton - London without a mechanic getting under the bonnet. If they have managed to make them even better in the past 8 years I would not hesitate to buy another. Never see them here so I drive a 93 Lincoln.T.C. Not a bad car at all. Gets 20mpg (US gall) out of a 4.7ltr lump. Now has 185,000 on it and still runs like a sewing machine though a qt of oil every 300 is needed! Funny thing, diesel is more expensive than petrol in the US.
 
I had the vw 1.9 tdi in a passat could get 55+ to the gallon driving on motorway at 75-80mph. I now have a VW sharan 1.9 tdi and can still get 50mpg.

Iwould recomend this engine no problem.

Cheers
John

P.S both vehicles had the bigger TDI with the bigger BHP.
 
David, I've been a deisel man for years

Personal experience in order (enginewise!)


Cavalier good
Vectra Excellent
Discovery .. Shite .. never ever buy one ..
Volvo V70 .. Brilliant

I had a petrol Passat GT once, probably the best car I've ever had.

Jim
 
I have driven exclusively diesel for last 20 years but in France it is 3/4 price of petrol. Mainly Peugeot's but now Passat V6 TDI.

Why change ? Spoke to engineer responsible for diesel pump develoment for VW - VW concentrate on torque rather than out and out power which means eg that top gear acceleration from about 60mph up is actually faster and smoother than nearest petrol equivalent. I also wanted 6 cylindres.

Peugeots are marginally more comfortable and have a stiffer chassis unless you go for the VW sports suspension option.

Boot is spacious but car is relatively long and narrow. Good leg room but not a great deal of space inside. Had to buy a roof box to get stuff home after the Xmas holidays.

We did > 2500 miles mainly motorway and got over 40mpg. Car now has 130k km on clock and motor indistinguishable from new. I usually get 400 - 500 miles on a tank.

Was recently in a A6 taxi (same platform and engine) in Germany driven by a little old lady who could hardly see over the wheel. She sat at a steady 125 mph and said she changed her last one when it reached 900 000 km!

PSA and VW are both excellent.

Good luck.
 
Latest Ford Mundeo TCDi is reckoned to be the mutts and we had a shed load at previous Co. all dead reliable and fairly economical.
Previous Co. had dozens of Audi A4 TDis which were good as well, don't like A4 but engine seemed OK.

Passat is a fair weight and apparently performance suffers, also issues with security. Colleagues one has not been 100% reliable from what I hear!


Jim
------
 
Re: and the rover V8s were terrible!!

Not sure what you mean by V8's being terrible, they've over the many years of production been very reliable and have only recently been discontinued.
40 years of continuous production isn't bad for an engine, especially one built by Rover.

Jim
-----
 
Re: and the rover V8s were terrible!!

The good news is that Rovers didn't design that engine. But they did have the 'bright' idea more recently of boring it out to 4.6 without paying too much attention to how much metal would be left, hence the early engine failures being experienced by newer Range Rovers.
 
I have an M reg Ford Escort estate with the 1.8TD in it. I bought it with 90K on the clock and have put another 50K onto it and it still goes like a train. If you're gentle on the pedal you can easily get 50mpg. Parts are relatively cheap. It's a bit rusty but it's had a hard life with sea air, heavily salted roads and being used as a van.

Don't know about the modern Passats but I had one 8 or so years ago with the 1750 diesel in it - crap bodywork/trim but the engine was astonishing - I had it up to 90mph and still accelerating when I drove it down to the auction and got a regular 60mpg out of it.
 
I bought my first diesel 4 weeks ago - Audi A4 TDi ( 130 hp ) - it's not cheap to buy but I reckon it'll pay for itself over a few years. Build quality is excellent and I'm getting 60 mpg on motorway journeys. Audi also have a variable servicing policy . Basically the car will tell you when it needs a service depending on how you drive . Mine seems to have decided on approximately 20,000 miles between services. Also have a look at a Ford Focus TDi. I hired one to get back home after delivering a boat to Torquay and I used 19l diesel to get back to Brighton.
 
I have the Peugeot 306 estate with the 90 bhp TDi engine - excellent engine, loads of torque, could cruise all day at 80/90 mph and still get good mpg. I get about 50mpg with going to anf rom work.
BUT have you considered LPG?? Fuel cost MUCH less, if you have a late model petrol car can be converted for about £1500, downside is that you have to put the extra fuel tank in the spare wheel well or in the boot. Or get a Dual Fuel Vauxhall or Volvo. LPG is worth it if you do a big mileage, and can get a grant on the conversion(sometimes...!)

dickh
I'd rather be sailing... :-) /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
 
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