Howdy all I'm looking for some information/ advice on buying a diesel.

Basically I'm doing 30 mile a day for my job ( mainly back roads/main roads average 50-60mph everywhere) and I'm getting 30mpg out of my 1.4 8v polo and putting a lot of miles on the poor girl, I'm looking to get a diesel and want some options from people who have owned/ had experience with diesel cars not people who hear that this car does this or that car should get that.

I'm saving at the minuite and looking around the £2000 mark in the near future all going well (could save longer for a sure winner) I'm looking for something with abit of poke to it and as reliable as possible. Ideally I want a 6n2 tdi as everyone I see who owns one on here said they are bullet proof and go for a long time.

There is a few must haves: PAS, E/W and some form of central locking (ideally remote but not a must)

Just want some advise of what people have owned how realiable they were/are and most importantly the best bits and the worst including known common faults and if they are costly.

All help is much appreciated as the best knowledge is from people who have had experience with them. Mainly want to stay with the VAG group but all options welcomed

Until recently, i did 55 miles a day to work.

Approximate cost in fuel per day was as following;

Peugeot 207sw 1.6d - £7.00

MK2 Polo 1.6 16v - £6.50

Corsa ecoflex - £8.50

Peugeot 306 2.0 16v cab - £12.00

Polo 6n 1.4 16v - £10.50

Golf MK4 PD TDI - £9.00

Peugeot 206 1.4 8v petrol - £9.00

The most efficient was bizarrely a bike carb'd motor with the second biggest petrol engine, thanks to it being half the weight of three of the others and having the longest gearing - this meant it was driven very differently.

The diesels have all needed to be worked through the gears, particularly the Corsa, so they were ran relatively inefficiently. 207 was just best on fuel absolutely, but then it was very new (0-18k), unfair against the Golf with over 100k.

Cheers for the info buddy! I have considered a peugeot as I work for them so can fix them cheap etc I just think bodywork seems abit cheap and taky on them My mums got a Astra 2.0 diesel and she does the same mileage in a day and is getting around 55mpg and putting in £25 a week as apposed to my £50 a week... It's killing me!! That's why it's gotta be a diesel. I know she won't drive as hard as me and it probably doesn't help me having a big exhaust as I put my foot down a little more.

What was your mk4 golf like? Do they pull ok or take an age to get anywhere? Also what's tax cost on them?

Still got the Golf - pulls like a train for a second between 2-3k but then runs out. Typical diesel, really. Not very practical to have to stir the gearbox almost constantly to keep it in range, does mean there's great punch right where you need it but only once you've mastered the ratios. The driving style required to get anywhere can be unsociable.

I much prefer a petrol's ability to stay in one gear most of the journey, though that does mean having a light foot and teasing the thing along gradually, with a laid-back attitude. I'm a better driver in a petrol because of this.

Sierra saphire turbo diesel, mine has PAS but being made way back when its weighted nicely and is more of nice a light assistance rather than taking away all feel of what the cars doing. It's also got full E/W (some thing my 2002 focus didn't even have), mine has no central locking but most of the sierras my dad had when I was a kid did so I guess mine was just poverty spec before some one raped a 4x4 cossie for most of its parts

It's silly economical using half as much diesel on my weekly commute than the tdi focus did, and although its by no means quick it still feels like a real car unlike all the modern cars I've driven...

That said it's probably not the sort of car you were expecting to be mentioned in this thread, but it is a td and I have got experience of it which is what you asked for

That said it's probably not the sort of car you were expecting to be mentioned in this thread, but it is a td and I have got experience of it which is what you asked for

No it wasnt but yes thanks for letting me know... as i said anything welcome so i may have a little peak at prices of them etc cheers man

what about a bora i had one last year great on fuel and abit of poke being a 130, tax/insurance weren't to bad and it had all the goodies e/w c/l a/c cruise control etc but like said above its a completely different drive compared to petrol's

How about this???

65mpg when you drive it right!

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?...p;#entry2329617

Looks mint mate tad too far + not fully got funds yet but GLWS

This may come as a surprise to most - the Sierra is about the same weight as the 6n2.

Might be a bit over budget but my Fabia VRS was one of the best cars iv owned,2 yrs and 30k miles without a single breakdown, quicker than you would think pisses the 330d drivers off regularly) good on fuel and tuneable.

^^ Some dude local to me has a tuned one, it really does shift, stock they're obviously quicker than a 6n valver but it left my old one for dead.

This may come as a surprise to most - the Sierra is about the same weight as the 6n2.

Really? Every days a school day... Not sure a 6n2 is as much fun on a loose gravel car park mind

I have a 6n2 1.9sdi, bought it cause I do 70miles a day on the motorway. It's pretty good on fuel, up to 65mpg, usual average is around 50mpg (combined).

It is slow and it does take some getting used to but at the same time it is more torquey compared to my 1.4 8v (similar power).

I would recommend one if you don't mind it not being so quick, and if you drive it sensibly you can get good miles out of it.

Reliable too!

This may come as a surprise to most - the Sierra is about the same weight as the 6n2.

Really? Every days a school day... Not sure a 6n2 is as much fun on a loose gravel car park mind

I only had a 1.8 CVH one (preferred MK2 Cavaliers). That only needed rain and a bit of provokation.

The 1.3 3dr was under a ton - that probably needed gravel though..

My derv defo needs gravel for any real fun, it will light up the inside wheel out of junctions in the rain if provoked but it needs a lot more boost and a xr4x4 LSD to have non gravel induced fun I reckon

My derv defo needs gravel for any real fun, it will light up the inside wheel out of junctions in the rain if provoked but it needs a lot more boost and a xr4x4 LSD to have non gravel induced fun I reckon

How much do you want one of the afformentioned diffs???

If one came up cheap enough i'd probably have it if I had the spare cash as its a nice thing to have but its not some thing I need now and thanks to Fords lack of rust protection its not some thing that's hard to come by as and when I feel I need one

I have a 6n2 1.9sdi, bought it cause I do 70miles a day on the motorway. It's pretty good on fuel, up to 65mpg, usual average is around 50mpg (combined).

It is slow and it does take some getting used to but at the same time it is more torquey compared to my 1.4 8v (similar power).

I would recommend one if you don't mind it not being so quick, and if you drive it sensibly you can get good miles out of it.

Reliable too!

Hey i used to have that engine in my 6n2, got to say that they are robust as i used to give it the beans for being sooo slowwww andd still rewarded me with excellent fuel ahahah :-D ..... i miss it tho as my current engine is a handfull to tame

If one came up cheap enough i'd probably have it if I had the spare cash as its a nice thing to have but its not some thing I need now and thanks to Fords lack of rust protection its not some thing that's hard to come by as and when I feel I need one

Ah ok, well I am almost certain I have one sitting around.

Alright mate hope you are well :) i bought a mk5 golf tdi due to miles i do each easy(same as you) plus trip from notts to bristol every other week. It has been amazing great torque and i get 50-70 mpg depending how i drive it. If you can get a fabia vrs or something along those lines depending on money i would say they are well worth it.