When you factor depreciation in, changing the car will cost more than fixing the DPF and turbo if they go - so if you simply want to keep your costs down, then better the devil you know.

If however you fancy a change of car ........

84k miles on clock on 2007 plate - mechanic mentioned turbos would probably need replacing in next few years (this was a year ago) as small amount of oil is appearing around them (or something to that effect).

What utter rubbish. if you've"looked after" the turbo with propper warm ups and cool downs and have changed the oil frequently and regularly and kept the compressor side clean, then there's no reason why it shouldn't do starship mileages.

If I were buying for that sort of drive cycle, I wouldn't even consider a diesel. However I agree with RT, since you already have the car you should look at the cost balance between what it will cost you to change vs what it might cost if you found yourself needing a DPF clean or replace. Also look at what it might cost to switch to a similar age GTi??

Firstly, are you sure your Golf actually has a DPF? I thought that in 2007 the 140 bhp engines didn't have one, only the 170s. I had a 140 bhp Golf TDI estate new in 2007 and I'm sure it didn't have one.

Even if it does, and you like the car, a fast dual carriageway blast of 20 miles or so every few weeks should prevent any problems.

Whether you change it depends on what you replaced the TT with. A 3-door is a pain to get a baby in and out of, but if your other car is a 5-door then presumably you can use that, and then weigh up the costs of repairs to the Golf against the cost of changing it. If you do change to something of similar age, I suggest a Toyota, perhaps a Verso which will have lots of room for baby gubbins, which always amounts to much more than you expect.

I currently do about 5K a year, mostly short journeys around town, with a long journey (several hundred miles) approximately every 4-6 weeks.

Based on my experience after purchasing a three year old diesel last year I suspect that you may well run into problems, but as others have said you will need to weigh up the costs of keeping the car and paying to recharge the DPF against purchasing a replacement.

I have had nothing but problems, and despite having specifically told the dealer (an authorised Peugeot one) about the low mileage and driving pattern prior to purchase, I was not warned about the DPF. They have told me that they were unaware of any such problems (my experiences are apparently unique) so did not advise me before hand that a petrol engine would have been more suitable. I find this rather difficult to believe after having read all the problems reported here and elsewhere.

The longer runs once a month do not appear to help. We had to abandon one journey and return home in 'limp home mode' because the DPF had become blocked (there was no previous warning despite what the car manual states) and then two months later it was blocking up again. We have had the oil changed and a software update, but the car still feels like it misfires which apparently is an indication that the DPF is clogging up.

So you do need to balance the costs of keeping the car and potential DPF issues against that of replacing it. If I were purchasing again I would definitely avoid diesel and go with petrol.

Most importantly congratulations on your imminent arrival. Make the most of the free time that you don't realise you have now!

H everyone,

Would appreciate your advice on my situation.

We're due our first baby next month and as a result are having a re-shuffle with our cars. We've already replaced the TT, now I'm weighing up whether to swap the Golf too.

Reasons I'm considering getting rid:

1) Will pretty much only be used for 10 mile round trip commutes to work in urban traffic - 30mph limits. Likely to cause DPF issues????
2) 84k miles on clock on 2007 plate - mechanic mentioned turbos would probably need replacing in next few years (this was a year ago) as small amount of oil is appearing around them (or something to that effect).
3) Leak in rear of car means boot and rear seats becomes damp under pro-longed heavy rain.
4) Only 3 door - not ideal for transporting our child, in a years time. Although this point doesn't bother me to much TBH, just slightly more awkward with a child seat.

To be honest I like the car, but would rather bail out now than risk a big mechanical issue and get next to nothing for the car in a year or so. I've been offered 3k trade in by one dealer, but I think they'll knock me down as there are a few scrapes and minor upholstery damage.

Not sure what to buy yet, was looking at similar age petrol cars, such as Civic, Golf, Focus etc I'm a bit nervous about buying something of that age, which tend to go for around 5-7k if looking at engines producing 120-140BHP. Almost getting paralysis through analysis!

What would you do in my situation?

Cheers all!
er

Yes sell it, choose a petrol car with a good main dealer service history and if it's done a high mileage in it's early years don't dismiss it. High motorway mileage is a much better than short stop-start journeys. Ex fleet or lease cars with the above are always a good bet as their driver's don't pay for the maintenace so servicing is done when needed and any warranty claims are promptly investigated and sorted out. If you can go for one that has a twelve month balance of the manufactures warranty. Most on this forum will swear by either Japanese, German marques or Fords which seem to have more problems than average

Diesel vehicles whether car or commercial will shortly become a financial liability through taxation, depreciation and the restriction to city centres

I would keep the Golf (3 door is a bit of a pain though), but I am biased as I have gone from petrol for 25 years to my first diesel, a MK5 Golf GT 2.0 TDI, non DPF. Yes they are a bit noisy and smelly, have generally more complicated engines with a potential expensive repair bill around the corner. However, if they are looked after and driven/serviced well, then you have a fighting chance of them being a reliable car. I could not go back to a normally aspirated petrol, especially under 150bhp as they feel gutless unless revved hard compared with the huge torque which the diesel has. It's just there where you need it.6th gear on the motorway is also nice and economical at higher cruising speeds. I get 54 real mpg at worse per week with mine, even commuting just 16 miles a day. My last petrol was a 2ltr MK1 Focus Zetec 3dr and before a 1.6 MK2 Focus 5dr Ghia. Both great driving cars, but totally gutless where you need it compared with the Golf. Fuel economy was also very poor, low to mid 30's.The 1.6 engine was particularly underpowered, it was awful. Modern petrols are probably better, but by how much?

I hadn't spotted that this was described as a 3 door car.

With a baby round the corner then it's a no brainer:

Get rid and buy a 5 door. Put the baby in the left side (passenger) rear seat. It's the safefest place (other than rear centre, but you won't be able to fit a seat there).

Back in the 90's in Germany an baby in a rear facing seat in the front passenger side was decapitated by the airbag in an accident. The airbag had supposedly been turned off electronically.
Manufacturers thoroughly test the mechanisms and electronics for this these days, but even so baby is still safer in the rear simply because there is more car around him in most accident situations.