>It wasn’t the efficiency / reliability I was concerned about, not saying that’s not an >issue, just one that I feel I can negate with buying the best possible vehicle.

I wouldn't ignore reliability - at £3k your first major repair on a diesel that age may send it to the scrap yard. Unlike your old Disco post 2009 diesels have much more stringent emissions gubbins such as DPF(some with Eloys), water cooled EGR (not the simpler earlier sort), lots of sensors and SCR may also be fitted depending on the car engine and age. Each of the above can cost well into four figures to sort out. In addition as of 20th May there is a much stricter MOT that will fail any car fitted with a DPF when new if there is any smoke at all (beware cars where DPF has been removed!)

However at 2009 there may be a few exceptions - Kia and Hyundai didn't fit DPF until 2010 and Peugeot 207 1.4 diesel (not bigger cc) wasn't fitted with one until later in 2009/10. As mentioned above you might just find a VAG 1.9pd without a DPF but beware some were fitted with a DPF at this age and this engine didn't suit it (which is why PD was phased out)

>My query was more re how the market is going with regards to a Diesel Backlash
>Only reason I’m now ‘possibly’ considering Diesel was as mentioned in my initial post

There are some great value diesels around but I suspect there may be further backlashes ahead. The first because of the new MOT and then further ones as more Cities ban some diesels. Some have already been banned in some European cities.

If you can find a really good value nearly new diesel then it may be worth it, but at £3k there is a good chance that you may be buying someones previous problem (see above).

How many miles do you do - would that suit an older DPF and worn engine?

Edited by Big John on 10/05/2018 at 21:50