Potentially 1 of about 7 makes - best used diesel estate for 4-5k???

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Tue 4 Jan 2011 11:43
Potentially 1 of about 7 makes - best used diesel estate for 4-5k??? - pint6x

I'm changing my Volvo V70 which is high mileage and getting very expensive to keep going.

I'm going to trade it for one of the following and I don't really know which will be the most reliable, given that I will be buying it with approx 100k miles and will take this to 200k over the next 5 or 6 years. What do you peeps think?

All potential buys are approx 4 to 6 years old

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 115 or 130 hp estate (LX, Zetec, Edge, whatever....)

Honda Accord 2.2 CDTi estate (difficult to find for my budget)

Mazda 6 2.0 121 or 136 hp (TS, TS2, whatever...)

Skoda Octavia Estate 1.9 TDi 105 hp (either pre or post facelift) (Classic, Ambience, whatever...)

Toyota Avensis D4-D Estate 121hp

Vauxhall Vectra CDTi 1.9 120 or 150 hp estate (Club, Elite, whatever.....)

Hyundai Sonata 2.0 diesel saloon (a bit left field but i like 'em)

I've found horror stories to go with just about every car listed above, including Dual mass flywheel failure, costly Diesel Particulate filter replacement, cambelt failure, suspension failure, electrics failure, swirl valve in inlet manifold failure etc. etc.

But which, in the opinion of the esteemed readership of this forum, will be the most painless to own given the mileage it will already have done, and the mileage I intend to do in it? which will be cheapest to keep going? which will be most reliable?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cheers - phil

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 4 Jan 2011 15:19
Potentially 1 of about 7 makes - best used diesel estate for 4-5k??? - john96

I think that the more you look on the net about cars, the more you find to put you off!!

A FSH and hpi check is about as much as you can do. Overall condition should tell you how its been used. Test drive is important. I was in a focus ghia, and was underwhelmed. Up to that point I was going to get one, as on paper it was what I wanted.

6 months on I am still looking!!

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 4 Jan 2011 16:23
Potentially 1 of about 7 makes - best used diesel estate for 4-5k??? - oldtoffee

Mondeo or the Octavia would be my shortlist. Probably plump for the Octavia if I could find one with a complete service history with fixed interval servicing - 10k oil changes by a franchised dealer to maximise the chance the correct oil (important) being used. Lots of very good VAG independents capable of looking after it at reasonable rates and the engines are said by those in the know to be good for high mileages.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 4 Jan 2011 16:55
Potentially 1 of about 7 makes - best used diesel estate for 4-5k??? - Lygonos

What oldtoffee said.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 4 Jan 2011 17:14
Potentially 1 of about 7 makes - best used diesel estate for 4-5k??? - Trilogy

Octavia would be good, but the ride is harsh firm in one I test drove. A neighbour who has one agrees. The diesel engine is a bit noisy, which I tend to cancel out with the radio or a CD.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 4 Jan 2011 17:26
Potentially 1 of about 7 makes - best used diesel estate for 4-5k??? - 659FBE

The Octavia would be my choice too - but it's essential to do your homework.

There were two generic types of diesel engines fitted to the Octavia - the older with the Bosch VE type rotary fuel pump and the newer PD. The change over was, I think in MY '04 but I believe Mk1 PD Octavias are a bit rare.

If you can find a good PD, which should now be within your budget, you should have an easily fixable car which goes as well as the V70 and use a bit less fuel. The VE engines are perfectly worthy, but lack the "shove" of the PD. Correct oil is essential, but a mid-period PD without a DPF (as this would be) is a gem worth finding.

Unlike the Volvo, which is (in pre-Ford form) also a well made and long lasting vehicle, the VAG vehicles benefit from a huge supply of pattern spares, pattern diagnostic software and Internet knowhow. This improves its long term economic prospects considerably.

659.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 16 Jan 2011 13:16
Potentially 1 of about 7 makes - best used diesel estate for 4-5k??? - Boulder2k9

+1 for the Skoda Octavia, great cars PD engines are noisy but good on fuel and super reliable if maintained properly.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link