Buying a used compact estate - petrol or diesel? | Ask Honest John

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Buying a used compact estate - petrol or diesel?

I want to buy a used compact estate car (Focus/Golf size). I cover 20,000 miles per year on mixed A roads and country lanes. I'm looking at 09/10 model year and plan to run it into the ground. Would you recommend a used diesel or petrol for overall lowest lifetime running costs (repairs, tax, fuel etc.)?

Asked on 8 June 2016 by Rob

Answered by Honest John

If you can find a 2009 or 2010 with a chain cam diesel engine that doesn't have a diesel particulate filter then that could be your best bet. KIA cee'd 1.6CRDI SW or Hyundai i30 1.6CRDI SW both delayed fitting DPFs until they absolutely had to. In the future, such cars may be banned from any city centres, but you wrote A road and country lane driving so that should not be a concern.

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