Changing car - opinions on diesel?

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Plek Trum

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Hi all,
my partner is thinking of chnging her car in the next few months. She currently drives 2002 Honda Accord 1.8 petrol, 92k miles on clock.

She will trade this in with also approx. 20,000 euros (can go slightly higher)for a new car and is leaning towards diesel if this will help lower running costs. She currently covers approx. 22k miles per annum.

The roads she covers in Kerry can be tough going at times, so she is looking to get something that will be:
a) Cheap to tax / VRT
b) Economical to run ( interms of mileage and tyres!)
c) has a bit of 'oomph' e.g 1.8 - 2ltr engine.
d) hopefully come up a few years from 2002

So far the following have caught her eye:
VW Passat
New Honda Accord
Toyota Avensis
Volovo S40
Honda CRV

Does anyone have any opinions or recommendations on the above?
I would be interested in hearing your experiences be they good or bad or any other suggestions.. thanks!
 
When buying a diesel car new it will cost €2-3000 if not more over petrol. It will be a lot more if she gets a loan for the car. This extra cost would buy a lot of petrol.
 
Got an 06 Peugeot Diesal last month for €20k. Ex demo model with only 10k on the clock. I'm getting 65.7mpg at the minute. I know diesel is now more dearer then petrol but I do a fair mileage and reckon I am saving around €40 a week
 
She would be looking at a high spec second hand car, not a new one jackswift - all going well.

I guess she'll be keeping it for about 6 years so hopefully that initial outlay will be recouperated over this period. She will get a loan for the purchase but will have it repaid within 2 years approx, currently nothing outstanding on her own car.
 
Mpsox said:
Got an 06 Peugeot Diesal last month for €20k. Ex demo model with only 10k on the clock. I'm getting 65.7mpg at the minute. I know diesel is now more dearer then petrol but I do a fair mileage and reckon I am saving around €40 a week
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Her parents have an 05 Peugeot 407 (Estate) and find it quite hard going on tyres. What model is yours out of interest?
 
Honda Accord is one of the best diesels around - and very reliable.

Everything considered, I think it's easily the best of the above shortlist.
 
Caveat said:
Honda Accord is one of the best diesels around - and very reliable.

Everything considered, I think it's easily the best of the above shortlist.
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The 2.2i-CDTi Executive is a great looking model alright, certainly ticks a few boxes! Whats it like on tyres though - her current Accord (02 model) is relatively poor for the mileage done, then again the Kerry roads have quite a bit to answer for that I'm sure...
 
Plek Trum said:
Her parents have an 05 Peugeot 407 (Estate) and find it quite hard going on tyres. What model is yours out of interest?
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mines a 307 1.6 litre,

I'm a novice with Peugeot, Mrs Sox has always driven them and I don't recall ever having a tyre issue
 
Definitely sounds like mileage for a diesel - in same situation myself - Kerry roads and doing 20K a year - have decided to buy a new Skoda Octavia Elegance in July - not sure of exact price yet but should be around €25K - Car will depreciate by 3K - 3.5K per annum in my opinion - Does 58MPG and annual tax will only be €150. There are nicer cars out there but the Octavia offers the best value for money in my opinion. The new Volvo S40 SE Diesel is a lovely car but will depreciate more than the Octavia - similar MPG and motor tax. New Mazda 6 and new Citreon C5 both look nice and should be priced around the 30K mark. It's worth considering buying new and because of the VRT and motor tax reductions.
 
Plek Trum said:
The 2.2i-CDTi Executive is a great looking model alright, certainly ticks a few boxes! Whats it like on tyres though ...
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Apart from AWD vehicles, I'm not certain that any particular model is good/bad on tyres really - but I'm open to correction - I would have thought that road surfaces (as you suggest), type of tyres and driving style is much more of a contributory factor than the actual car.
 
Plek Trum said:
She would be looking at a high spec second hand car, not a new one jackswift - all going well.

I guess she'll be keeping it for about 6 years so hopefully that initial outlay will be recouperated over this period. She will get a loan for the purchase but will have it repaid within 2 years approx, currently nothing outstanding on her own car.
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You did say that she was trading in her old car for a new one in your first post. However if she can get a secondhand diesel at the right price and low milage she should go for it.
 
any opinions on the V50 Diesel estate 136BHP.. thinking of purchasing one in the UK ? presume it's based on the S40 ?
 
Surely the OP would be best to defer purchase until 1st July? The change in VRT rates for cars with lower emmissions should rebalance prices in favour of diesels.
Failing that, an import of a reasonably newish second hand car from UK would be more viable also after july 1st due to the VRT changes.
 
amgd28 said:
Surely the OP would be best to defer purchase until 1st July? The change in VRT rates for cars with lower emmissions should rebalance prices in favour of diesels.
Failing that, an import of a reasonably newish second hand car from UK would be more viable also after july 1st due to the VRT changes.
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This is definately something that will be considered - thanks!
 
Plek Trum said:
Hi all,
my partner is thinking of chnging her car in the next few months. She currently drives 2002 Honda Accord 1.8 petrol, 92k miles on clock.

She will trade this in with also approx. 20,000 euros (can go slightly higher)for a new car and is leaning towards diesel if this will help lower running costs. She currently covers approx. 22k miles per annum.

The roads she covers in Kerry can be tough going at times, so she is looking to get something that will be:
a) Cheap to tax / VRT
b) Economical to run ( interms of mileage and tyres!)
c) has a bit of 'oomph' e.g 1.8 - 2ltr engine.
d) hopefully come up a few years from 2002

So far the following have caught her eye:
VW Passat
New Honda Accord
Toyota Avensis
Volovo S40
Honda CRV

Does anyone have any opinions or recommendations on the above?
I would be interested in hearing your experiences be they good or bad or any other suggestions.. thanks!
Click to expand...

The VW Passat is giving lots of problems - stay away from it. The Avensis is sound and does 60MPG and will take crappy roads in its stride - I own one and I drive those types of roads everyday. The Accord is a class car. It is Firmer than the Avensis to drive and as it is 2.2l, buying anthing other than an 08 model will cost €800 to tax every year. i think the Honda does 53 MPG or so. Not sure about the Volvo. Tyre wear is purely down to tyre type. Stay away from Pirellis and other soft tyres. Go for Firestone for those back roads and you should get 20000 miles plus.
 
To refute the above, the Passat diesel is a great car. The engine they use is a great engine and the car is built for all treatment. The HDi diesel engine is probably the best diesel engine out there and is in the 407. I would stay from any japanese diesel. The Volvo s40 has the Hdi engine and they do a very economical 1.6D and a 2L.
I have a passat and if you have a bit more to spend, the Passat is a great car that will go forever and retain its value. I think the jetta is also worth looking at. The Audi A4 is another to consider but unduely expensive
 
Stay away from Pirellis ? I got 35,000 miles out of them and they were still legal....Regarding a good diesel, I'd consider a Mazda6
 
I agree with PaddyH. Octavia (diesel) is the way to go. Hubby & I have ordered one for July. We checked out the Volvo SE Flexifuel but we would have to find approx. €20,000 with our 05 petrol Octavia - and, after July, motor tax would be around €600 p.a. Also, who knows how acceptable a petrol car will be in three years when we want to trade it in? We'll upgrade to diesel Octavia for about €11,500 and motor tax of €150 p.a.
 
i have driven all of the cars from the OP's shortlist and can tell you that the accord is the best car. its a bit hard on tyres though. the avensis is as tough as old boots but no where near as nice to drive as the accord
 
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