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Buying a used MPV for £7k - what are my best options?

We currently run a 2007 C4 Grand Picasso 1. 6HDi, at only 78k the turbo has blown, fortunately a warranty company is supplying a new one but a local specialist told me that the PSA 1.6HDi is a mucky engine and should be avoided as it create a lot of carbon etc. Has this engine been improved at all since 2007?

I don't want to risk further early morning breakdowns with my two young sons so armed with £7k and the main requirements being a good size boot and 3 rear seats that are all a good size (not a tiny middle seat) what can you recommend?

Looking on Auto Trader I see a mix of high miles or age or the same 1.6 engine, where should I start finding a suitable car that will give me at least a couple of years (40k) happy motoring

Asked on 22 October 2015 by matthewnsarah07

Answered by Honest John
The first thing you need to do is not merely replace the turbo but also replace the oil feed pipe to the turbo bearings and the oil return pipe back to the engine because both of these can get blocked with carbon restricting the oil supply to the turbo and hastening its demise. If you don't do this the replacement turbo may lest no more than 1,000 miles. Yes, the engine has been improved by switching from 16 valves to 8 valves, increasing the power to 115PS, and giving it s 6 speed rather than 5-speed transmission from 2011. The engine goes in a lot of vehicles: Citroen, Peugeot, Ford, Volvo and Mazda.

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