Bangernomics reliable diesel needed.

I'm in need of a reliable diesel on a small budget of up to £1500. I'm afraid of a Golf (and to some extent of a Bora) due to possible DMF issues in this budget range. An estate/hatchback might be handy (my main car is a petrol 3 series saloon - avoided diesel just now due to DPF).

Any thoughts on what I should go for? It did cross my mind that I could try for an automatic VW to avoid the DMF issue(?). Couldn't find any sign of there being a Mk1 Seat Leon diesel Auto.

I wonder if a Citroen ZX 1.9 diesel might be a good bet as it should be cheaper to buy than an equivalent 306, but possibly harder to sell later? Another alternative I thought of would be a 406 diesel estate, but I'm also unsure whether to avoid a HDi? I like my BMWs but want to keep insurance down as this would be a second car.

Asked on 16 October 2012 by Paul

Answered by Honest John

It's impossible to tell you which diesel for £1,500 will be reliable because the potential for unreliability for this sort of price is huge. That said, I've been in a 300,000 mile 406 2.0HDI that ran almost as smoothly as one with 30,000 miles. Buying cars more then 10 years old can avoid DMFs altogether.

Tags: cheap cars diesels bangers used cars

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