from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP!

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Sun 5 Aug 2012 21:27
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - myothercarsathreewheeler

Evening All,

I am a long time lurker who really enjoys the forum, I havent registered before as I really havent got much to say - so many experts on here and all that. My apologies to start with a help me type post as there are a lot of these, but am hoping for a bit of help.

I currently have a 607 v6 which I purchased at 18 months old and is now just over 5 years old. The better half has a 206 1.4 which is getting on for ten years old. The 607 is a great car, I really love it to bits as its like an old armchair that transports you wherever you want to go without feeling like you have travelled. You may be surprised that otehr than 1 coild pack which needed replacing, I have never had a problem with it (touches wood).

The trouble is, that after a lot of city driving, a change in job, and a lost fuel card I really cannot justify what it is costing me. If the performance was slightly better I may feel different but the fact is that £95 will see 300 miles, or 350 on a run. My plan is to get a more economical car and then later in the year swap the wife’s 206 for an MX5 or something devilish!

I really do loath diesels, my last 3 cars (all company cars) were a Leon, a BMW 330d and a BMW 530d. All of them were fantastic cars but as an old fashioned car lover, the rattle and the smell at the pump arent really for me. Not sure why but they dont feel right but times can be hard and Id rather have the cash in the bank than the pump.

Anyway, enough jabbering. Im looking to downsize to something that will be kinder to my pocket. There are some bargains out there and I looked at larger diesel saloons and all kinds of things and while a Mondeo sized diesel would save me money, to make it worthwhile changing my car I should go for something more economical, something that will do 50+ mpg.

So, for anyone still awake Im looking for something small and comfortable, costing between £4 and 8 thousand and less than 5/7 years old. Ideally automatic (Im a lazy sod). And ideally with all the little comforts such as a stereo that doesn’t sound awful at high volume, lights and wipers that work by themselves, nice seats etc.

My shortlist is:

  • Mercedes A200 Avantgarde (a handbag on wheels?)
  • Alfa Romeo GT (probably out of place in this list?)
  • Seat Leon (what are the DSG boxes like at higher miles?)
  • Mazda3 (safe bet abeit white goods)

If anyone can convince me that I am mad and should stick to what I have then please do – I love the car and would be happy to hear this. If anyone can tell me why anything in the above is good or band and why or that I have missed xyz then I am also happy to hear this.

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Sun 5 Aug 2012 21:39
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - barney100

Have you considered a C class 1.8?

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Sun 5 Aug 2012 21:59
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - unthrottled

to make it worthwhile changing my car I should go for something more economical, something that will do 50+ mpg.

If ordinary petrols could do 50+ to the gallon then no one would be interested in diesel!

If frugal, automatic and petrol is your trio of choice, I'd say a second hand Prius fits the bill. Not sure even its fanbase would describe it as fun though...

Coming from a background of a 530D. most petrols will either be gutless or too thirsty. Is the idle noise REALLY that much of a problem? :)

Accoustically, I think the 3 litre diesel sounds great at idle, a mellow, baritone staccato growl rather than the anaemic purr from a Japanese petrol.

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Mon 6 Aug 2012 00:13
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - Avant

A warm welcome to the forum. An interesting one this: I think you have a number of options.

The 607, however good it's been to you, in the manner of big French cars is worth very little in the market. There must be a case for (rather than spending up to £8,000 now) keeping it until it goes expensively wrong and then getting a few hundred for it perhaps as scrap.

I sympathise with you about the diesel noise, but I agree with Unthrottled that a six-cylinder diesel makes a much less offensive noise - except that you've had such in BMWs and still prefer petrol. Still, if you like the SEAT Leon try one with the newer common-rail diesel - much smoother and quieter than the previous PD engine. What's your wife's view on diesels? Would she be happy to have one for now - which you could do long runs in?

So you could think of turning in the 206 for a smallish diesel, perhaps a Leon or Golf, or perhaps one of the new, pretty economical, TFSI petrol engines from the VW/Audi group. Then keep the 607 if possible till you can afford an MX-5.

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Mon 6 Aug 2012 08:26
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - craig-pd130

All good points above - I would add that if you're looking for a diesel auto, don't expect more than 40mpg if you're lucky ... autoboxes do make a dent in diesel economy, sometimes a very significant dent depending on the specific drivetrain.

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Mon 6 Aug 2012 09:21
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - balleballe

Mazda's 2.2 diesel engines are not without problems, however if you get the 'sport spec' you'll get a mazda 3 with a Bose speaker system.

If you get a petrol, if will feel lacklustre compared to diesels as mazda's engines tend to lack torque in the lower rev range, 40-45mpg is achievable on a run (doing 70mph) though, so it's not bad

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Mon 6 Aug 2012 10:54
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - Happy Blue!

Why not buy a small car with a big petrol engine. BMW 130i?

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Mon 6 Aug 2012 17:56
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - gordonbennet

Welcome myothercarsathreewheeler

An alternative view.

Take a long hard look at your present car, will it see another 4 or 5 years, good idea to get a serious appraisal from a competent specialist indy.

Then get your present car LPG'd, look after it to make sure it lasts.

My '96 3.2 litre MB does around 250 mixed road driving for roughly £38 to £40 of LPG @ 69ppl....LPG best bought from indy suppliers not garage forecourts.

I agree with you about Diesels, though i've run them since the early 80's and been very glad of the savings, but the latest designs are getting too clever for their own good and unless i am offered an irresistable bargain, then LPG or Hybrid is for me from now on..

Edited by gordonbennet on 06/08/2012 at 17:58

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Mon 6 Aug 2012 19:30
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - injection doc

I would consider Passat 2.0TDi 140bhp

Great car, extremley comfortable and my DSG one used to return 58+mpg on a run. outstanding for a 2.0ltr. I used to drive 600-900 miles in a day .

Not a pretty car but had three as company cars and to be honest beat most hands down.

My only other great cars were 2.0 & 2.2TDCi Jaguar X types. Comfort and great economey 40-53 mpg great looks just lacked rear leg room. 100% reliable over . I had three that did 70k+ each no problem at all.

I went from a V6 petrol Omega CD and 3.0GSi 24Carlton before that. never looked back.

My E class 250 merc was a back breaker and unreliable from day 1. By 16000 miles In 5 weeks i had enough !

Alfa 2,4TD great fun, goes like the clappers but economey not so good.

Mazda leave well alone.

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Mon 6 Aug 2012 21:00
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - Bobbin Threadbare

Mazda petrol = great, Mazda diesel = pretty poor.

If I wanted a diesel, I'd be looking at a Skoda or an Audi of some sort, but, like the OP, I'm also a petrol fan, and it's becoming less worth having a diesel lately.....

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Mon 6 Aug 2012 22:32
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - myothercarsathreewheeler

Good evening all and thank you for the the replies, you are very kind.

I have looked at saloons such as mondeo, vectra and passat etc. My thoughts were that a mid sized saloon felt like a watered down version of the my current saloon and a car of that size didnt save enough in fuel to warrant a change. What I mean is that I dont want to got from a car I really enjoy to a car I wont and only save a small percentage.

The Leon and Mazda3 seem to be the best of the mid size haches, other than the stuff that really holds its value such as the focus/golf and I think that the Leon is a golf in a bad frock anyroads.

The Alfa is on there because, well one has to love the Alfa. However I have reservations that it will cost more in garage bills that fuel.

I did look at things like the 130i and the Clio 197, but again while exciting I dont think that they would save me a lot of cash. Im not sure on LPG, a cabbie I spoke to in Edinburgh said that his conversion with tank in the tyre well only gave a 200 mile range.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and I will come back when I finally make my mind up. I will also try to contribute a bit more to the forum from now on.

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Mon 6 Aug 2012 22:42
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - balleballe

200 miles from an lpg tank means he must be driving quite a large engined car with quite a small tank. The cabbies around here have two tanks

Most typical tanks are around 50l. And can only fill to around 90%. That makes it capable of 10 gallons of fuel

Take into account that lpg will give approx 15-20% less mpg

So that cabbie is getting around 20mpg. He must be driving a 3.0l?

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Tue 7 Aug 2012 00:34
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - Ethan Edwards

Range...yes I get 150 plus or minus from my LPG cars...that is in addition to the normal petrol range. That said ..so what? Just means you fill up a bit more.

Is ten minutes of your time spent refuelling worth more in cash to you than saving OK lets say 25% off of your fuel cost? My time isn't.

If your is then ...Congratulations you must be Donald Trump then.

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Tue 7 Aug 2012 14:58
from a big v6 to a small diesel - HELP! - myothercarsathreewheeler

200 miles from an lpg tank means he must be driving quite a large engined car with quite a small tank. The cabbies around here have two tanks

Most typical tanks are around 50l. And can only fill to around 90%. That makes it capable of 10 gallons of fuel

Take into account that lpg will give approx 15-20% less mpg

So that cabbie is getting around 20mpg. He must be driving a 3.0l?

Yes the cabbie had a 3.0 607, the same as mine and thats what put me off to be honest. Looking at the lpg maps online there are a few more stations around these days but not common and I would probably have to take a 5/6 mile detour a couple of times per week. Not sure this is for me.

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