So...do I buy Diesel, dull, dull, dull

[Hatemyhusband]

I’m not a car person by any means, but I need to buy a better car, really with 3 full seats across the back.

My searches lead me to the S Max, but all I seem to be able to find (up to 12.5k) are diesels.

Now, I’ve had diesel and I don’t dislike it, but that was back when diesels were the car to have, now I’m assured they are not such a good thing with higher tax/fuel prices/environment and harder to get shot of.

But that’s all I can find!

Is diesel such a bad buy or am I over worrying on this? I also do short runs rather than long drives, so I’m concerned I won’t do the journeys that Diesel engines need.

Anyone throw any light on this??

[UntamedWisteria]

If you mainly do short journeys, buy electric instead.

Running costs are lower, plus you get to feel good about saving the planet.

For 12.5K there are lots of good 2nd hand EVs out there.

[Hatemyhusband]

Unfortunately I don’t have any drive for a charger. I used to have one, when I had a drive to put it on

[BobbinThreadbare123]

I have a diesel. I do too many miles to go for petrol cars. It made economical sense and I think there's some scaremongering about what the government is going to do to punish diesel drivers. For the time being, it works for me.
Short journeys isn't so bad as long as there's some longer bursts every so often.

[UntamedWisteria]

Can you charge the car at work?

[Hatemyhusband]

I also worry why everyone is getting rid of their diesels? It’s literally all there is in any car I look for

[Hatemyhusband]

@UntamedWisteria

Can you charge the car at work?

Unfortunately not. When I did have electric it was pretty hard to conveniently charge away from home, and although it’s short journeys it’s lots of journeys and it just runs the battery down too fast

[Shmithecat2]

What plate is the car? Modern diesels have DPF. If you're only doing short journeys, stay away from it. Modern diesels need regular journeys at high revs (at least 2000rpm, over 60mph constantly for at least 15-20 mins to regenerate the filter.

[Hatemyhusband]

@Shmithecat2

What plate is the car? Modern diesels have DPF. If you're only doing short journeys, stay away from it. Modern diesels need regular journeys at high revs (at least 2000rpm, over 60mph constantly for at least 15-20 mins to regenerate the filter.

At my price it would be a 2015/2016 at best.

I do a lot of driving, but not long drives, it’s lots of 20 minute journeys with school runs, going to work, school clubs etc. I don’t do long journeys tbh

[VeniVidiWeeWee]

There are 39 on Car Gurus alone.

[Shmithecat2]

Then, NO, steer clear of diesels. Faulty DPFs cost a fortune to sort.

[Shmithecat2]

I've just done a quick search of 2015 and newer S Max, petrol on auto trader - there's 46.

[Hatemyhusband]

There are a lot, but most are either high mileage, too old (I would like 2015 as I have an 07 plate now and am sick of older cars) and are usually about 100 miles away!
I also only have a max 12,500 to spend

[ShakeaHettyFeather]

We drove a S-Max on holiday and disliked its boat-like rocking feeling, and it didn't have nearly as much space inside as a Galaxy/Sharan which aren't really bigger.

There's a lot of Galaxys about from ex-minicabs so can be a good deal. I love mine despite being diesel, but it is about to fall foul of the London ULEZ expansion - check requirements of cities near you before buying. If you live well outside such zones, an older diesel may well be very cheap now.

[Cecilia2016]

I have XC90 Volvo diesel and yes the cost of road tax is expensive compared to the petrol one. I’m planning to get a petrol one or electric once my 3 years is over next year rather than that I have no problem with my car and don’t do long distances either

[WisestIsShe]

I've got a mini MPV (grand cmax) and I definitely didn't want a diesel. Sadly most MPV/mini MPV seen to be diesel because it provides better oomph at low speed high weight than petrol does.
So I have a 1.5 diesel with a little turbo. Not my first choice but limited market.

[WisestIsShe]

Oh, and £30 a year road tax.

[VeniVidiWeeWee]

How about a Skoda Superb estate, 2016, 44,000 miles, £11,950?

www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action?zip=LU7%202PB&fuelTypes=2&maxPrice=14000&showNegotiable=true&sortDir=ASC&sourceContext=usedPaidSearchNoZip&distance=50&sortType=DEAL_SCORE&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d2493#listing=143914508

[rslsys]

More pollution generated in actually building a car than it will produce if you drive it for a million miles. The fact you are buying a second hand car should be enough.

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

Nothing wrong with a diesel. Crack on.

[TerfTerfTerf]

I've got a 64 plate diesel Mondeo estate. £20 pa road tax, 47mpg and fits a full height Billy bookcase without a murmur 😀 I put Esso fuel in it as the cheaper supermarket fuels don't have the cleaners added and they clog the DPFs. My DPF hasn't been replaced yet. 3yr old diesel ex-fleet cars are also cheap as chips.

[IloveJudgeJudy]

I had a Diesel Zafira. Lovely car, DH's old company car that had done 30-40,000 miles p.a. Also, we knew it had been serviced properly. I didn't do long journeys in it on a daily basis - mostly school runs/to work and back with the odd 300 mile trip in between. Such a large diesel car really doesn't like such small journeys. It hasn't really got time to warm up before it's being turned off. I always had to have a heavy duty battery and it had to be changed fairly frequently. So, from my experience I would say, get a petrol car.

[Bananaman123]

Ive had mainly diesels a d prefer them, always reliable. No tax at all on mine, clio so bit smaller than you are looking for

[Hatemyhusband]

Yeah I would prefer petrol. I can just foresee problems with not driving enough. I had a diesel that I used to like (years ago), I’ve had a petrol Zafira (didn’t like it) a scenic (ok) and an electric car (nice but not big enough)
I just don’t want to get something that I’m stuck with when tax rises and the price of diesel rises.
Just decent petrol cars seem harder to come across, which is a shame!

[Hatemyhusband]

I bloody hate buying bloody cars.

[AbyssusAbyssumInvocat]

If you drive enough that the engine/exhaust system gets warm DPF shouldn't be a problem. I have had brand new diesels every six months for three years. Drove 25-30 mins to work and then back in the evening. Never had a problem. I now have a petrol. It's so thirsty for such a small engine. I will never have petrol again.

Diesel gate is a bit of a storm in a very large teacup. Everyone knows new diesels (EU6) are very clean and no more damaging for the environment. The engines are stronger and most people recommend them for economy. If you don't drive to London regularly and I think the other place is Bristol (can't drive in with a diesel but can with a hemi v8 🙄) then crack on.