The problem with these is that £5k budget will get you a 1.6 turbo diesel (yes, that one!) and, apart from the odd one or two 1.6 petrols, nothing else.

My understanding is that the 'diesel of doom' tag sticks hardest to the 16valve version of the PSA 1.6 HDi. We've run the 8 valve version in our 2013 'lingo to well over 100k miles with no doom so far.

I appreciate it's not much of a budget but keen to keep the car as streamline as possible. All the Zafira's I've seen look like small scale buses which I don't imagine are that economical for the commute.

What's wrong with the diesel? 1.6 is what I'm aiming for. Seems to be a greater selection of diesels on offer with family cars (maybe because people are trying to get rid of them). I'm tempted as commute is a good half hour at 40/50 mph as well motorway for the supermarket.

<< I'd still avoid buying one used without very detailed service records which shows evidence that the correct oil has always been used and that the service intervals were shorter than (apparently) recommended by the manufacturer, which I believe at least initially, was 20k miles. >>

My 207 HDi calls for 12,500 miles, which = 20K kilometres. I have always changed oil and filter about every 8K miles for just the reason you suggest. Although it was never serviced at a Pug dealer, my indie used correct oil, 10/40 semi-syn, which it has always had.

Last April I booked it at the local ATS for MoT and oil change, took it there and was told they would use 'the recommended 5/30 oil'. I said I wanted 10/40 but they wouldn't budge so I went elsewhere.

Edited by Andrew-T on 21/12/2020 at 09:25

I appreciate it's not much of a budget but keen to keep the car as streamline as possible. All the Zafira's I've seen look like small scale buses which I don't imagine are that economical for the commute.

With all respect Alex, the thread title says estate/MPV. MPV's by their very nature are taller and more spacious/practical/versatile versions of normal family cars. So if you don't want something with the proportions of an MPV (like a Zafira or Picasso), why put MPV in the title?.

As for aerodynamics, this will be more of a factor the faster you are travelling, but unless you spend a lot of time at or above the national speed limit of 70mph, the difference between an Astra and a Zafira won't be as big as you think.

What's wrong with the diesel? 1.6 is what I'm aiming for. Seems to be a greater selection of diesels on offer with family cars (maybe because people are trying to get rid of them). I'm tempted as commute is a good half hour at 40/50 mph as well motorway for the supermarket.

With regards to diesel, £5k is a price point where you are going to have relatively modern diesel engines, i.e, complex, and with emissions equipment like DPF filters to worry about. Because of this complexity, not only will servicing cost more, but if something goes wrong on it, the cost to fix it is going to be considerably higher than with a simple naturally aspirated petrol, possibly to the extent of effectively writing of the car. So you should be very wary of going diesel unless you do the mileage to justify it, or tow something heavy (and so need the torque).

Edited by badbusdriver on 20/12/2020 at 18:06

Why stick with petrol?

Reliability. Diesels are far more complex and much more likely to go expensively wrong. At this money petrol is the way to go unless you can easily fund four figure repair bills.