Thinking about changing

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Sun 3 Jun 2018 19:18
Thinking about changing - Boroman
Although I’ve been very happy with my ‘13 plate Toyota Auris for the past three years, I could do with a little more boot space. I was impressed with a recent testdrive in a ‘65 plate Cee’d 3 Sportswagon and am sorely tempted as the price to change is favourable. The downside is that the car in question is a 1.6 Euro 5 diesel and I’m not entirely clear if it would be a good move for me. I currently cover around 13500-14000 miles a year which is a little below the normally accepted suitable for diesel threshold. Monday-Friday is an 8 miles each way cross town/city commute with 30mph zones all the way. Weekends usually involve a motorway journey of around at least 10 miles each way.
Do back roomers think this is enough mileage to keep a dpf healthy?
Although I’d prefer an estate, the dealer also has a pre-reg Euro 6 Ceed 1 hatch offered at a massive discount which I might consider as the boot is larger than the Auris although doesn’t have all the toys offered in the “3” spec. Would I be better with Euro 6 if I do go diesel, or should I hang fire for a suitable petrol engined car instead?
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Sun 3 Jun 2018 20:47
Thinking about changing - Engineer Andy

I doubt if that mileage and especially type of driving would keep a DPF healthy for long. You might be lucky, but the odds are against you unless you do driving above 40mph (preferably 60) for at least 20 miles a week to get a passive regen done. The petrol version will be cheaper to buy anyway, more than offsetting the better mpg (less of a difference on low speed urban driving).

The latest KIA/Hyundai petrol engines are changing over to small capacity turbocharged units that gives better mid-range oomph, but not all yet (more available in Hyundais than KIAs). The 'old' (previous gen normally aspirated) petrol engines aren't the best in terms of performance and mpg though.

What's your budget? This will determine whether you can afford a latest-gen T-GDi. Also bear in mind that the C'eed is imminently due for replacement, so dealers will be wanting to shift existing stocks of new and nearly new/demos before the new model comes along in the next few months (HJ refers to mid 2018, so it could be even June, though there's nothing yet on their UK website to say so - more likely July or August).

You may find there's lots of deals to be had, but bear in mind most will likely be diesels as more are probably ex-fleet cars, especially on the estate - I just checked KIA UK's website and for 1yr old (max) Ceed estates, there are 246 diesels and only 25 petrols available, so better deals on the older (slow) 1.4 petrols rather than the newer design (and more powerful) 1.0 T-GDi.

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Sun 3 Jun 2018 21:56
Thinking about changing - Boroman
Thanks Andy, I don’t want to go over £12k if poss; which rules out a Sportswagon with the 1.0 turbo, although I could get a hatchback at that price. The pre-reg Ceed was almost £5k off list which is why I was tempted, but you are confirming my gut feeling in that my useage doesn’t really fit a diesel. The 20 miles weekly run for a passive regen would happen most weeks but is not always guaranteed.
I’ve driven a Proceed with the 1.4 N/A engine and it felt fine to me, not sure about the extra weight of the Sportswagon though.
I do have a dilemma in that I can honestly say I’ve been underwhelmed by every small turbo I’ve driven so far, that includes the aforementioned 1.0 Kia/Hyundai version plus a couple of Ecoboosts and the Auris 1.2. I suppose it’s a matter of getting used to them but I didn’t like on-off nature of the power delivery, I haven’t tried any of the VAG offerings though which may offer a more linear experience.
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Sun 3 Jun 2018 22:51
Thinking about changing - SLO76
I wouldn’t go diesel with your usage either but I do rather like the latest Cee’d. It’s attractive, well made, drives quite well, it’s likely to be reliable and has the best warranty in the business if it isn’t as long as you buy one with a full dealer history and maintain this.

No idea if Kia/Hyundai’s latest 1.0 turbo triple will prove more robust than Ford, Fiat and Renault’s downsized efforts but they do have a reputation for getting it right when it comes to engines and I did hear one of these being given the beans while I was out walking the dog earlier and it sounded rather nice with that typical lovely offbeat 3cyl thrum.

Would I buy one, yes there’s no reason not to if you like it. They’re quite dependent on colours to sell with darker colours unpopular so bear it mind if the one they’re discounting heavily is dark blue or grey. But I’d be surprised if the hatch is much bigger in the boot than the Auris.

As with most small family cars these days the Tourer or Estate is where the wise money goes. It’ll hold its value a bit better and give you fewer reasons to part exchange it later on so it’s worth digging a bit deeper for. I’d go for the newer 3cyl turbo in this case purely because the old 4cyl 1.6 is a bit flat and bland and partly because any reliability fears are well covered by that excellent 7yr 100,000 mile warranty.

Another worthy would be a Honda Civic 1.8 which has a huge boot and is a bit more enjoyable to drive than the Auris. The Estate makes a very practical and longlived car.

Edited by SLO76 on 03/06/2018 at 22:54

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Mon 4 Jun 2018 12:58
Thinking about changing - concrete

I think for your usage the petrol option is preferable. If you don't tow or do 'starship' mileage then diesel is not for you. Skidpan posted a recent review of the VAG TSi petrol engine with which he is very pleased. That would be my first port of call for a test drive. If you are a Boroman, then I can recommend Derek Slack Skoda dealership. Always founf them fine to deal with and they do have a good stock of cars. Also my daughter has had two Ford 1.0 Ecoboost petrol engine cars and no trouble at all. Nice to drive too. Food for thought there.

Cheers Concrete

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Mon 4 Jun 2018 15:00
Thinking about changing - skidpan

Indeed we are on our second 1.4 TSi engined car and they are magic, would not consider anything else. the wife has a 1.0 TSi in a new Favbia and that seems to be a match made in heaven but I have not tried one in a larger car so cannot advise you on that.

We had a diesel Ceed for 5 years and in the last couple of years averaged under 7000 miles a year 2000 miles of which were holiday trips. We did not have a DPF issue probably because Kia programme the car to regen every 250 miles and after a little use its easy to spot when a regen is taking place. Once spotted drive for about 20 mintes allowing it to complete.

Having said that the 1.4 TSI is a better engine (make sure its a cam belt one from 2013 onwards) and note that they require they need a cam belt every 6 years or 120,000 miles, budget £400 for belt and wtaerpump at VAG dealer. The TSi is very economical (ours have avereaged about 45 mpg) and much quicker than the CRDi Ceeds.

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Mon 4 Jun 2018 18:32
Thinking about changing - concrete

Glad you are happy with your cars Skidpan. I loved my Skoda Superb. Need a diesel at present for towing but eventually will get a petrol like yours.

Cheers Concrete

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Mon 4 Jun 2018 15:51
Thinking about changing - TheGentlemanThug

A Civic 1.8 estate would be a good bet if you can find one. The hatchback still has about 70 litres of space above the Auris though.

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Mon 4 Jun 2018 19:50
Thinking about changing - skidpan

Need a diesel at present for towing

The towing limit of the 1.4 TSi is far higher than our old Golf GTi was and I towed with that for almost 7 years. The trailer with Caterham and spares on it weighed about 1200 kg and 112 bhp and 112 torques were just fine.

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Mon 4 Jun 2018 22:29
Thinking about changing - Boroman
Thanks for all the replies. I’ll probably hang fire for the time being, or at least until the right petrol engined estate turns up. There’s a Skoda dealer not too far away so I'll have a look at a TSI equipped Fabia estate, if they have one.
SLO, the pre-reg Ceed I was looking at is in bright red, and very good it looks too. The boot is only slightly larger than the Auris but enough to make a difference for me. I need to transport music gear from time to time and the extra width in the Kia boot makes a significant difference.
I’m not likely to be carrying anything heavy (just me and the missus) plus the occasional guitars and amps, which is why I’d like to try a 1.4 petrol Sportswagon as the n/a unit was pretty flexible and refined in the Proceed I drove recently.
Skidpan; your findings with the crdi correlate to those on the Kia forum, 250 mile regens are the norm, one correspondent who lives on Jersey with 35mph speed limits has ran one for years with no hassles, but to be honest I don’t feel that lucky!
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Mon 4 Jun 2018 23:45
Thinking about changing - Avant

I agree - a Fabia estate would tick your boxes, but by the sound of it your Auris is a hatch (if the boot of a Ceed hatch is bigger). The Auris estate (or Touring Sports I think they call it, although it's nit deaigned to be sporty) could be one for your shortlist.

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