Buying a diesel car?

[WindFlower92]

Hi all, got a bit of a dilemma! Me and DH need to get a new car. He's set on getting a Discovery 3 - I know absolutely nothing about cars but I like the look of them so I agree! I've just seen today that Bristol have banned diesel cars; not an immediate problem as we don't live there (but it is nice to visit so wouldn't want to rule it out!), but will other cities be doing the same? I don't want to spend nearly £7,000 on a car that in a year or two I can't drive!

Then there's the moral dilemma - it would mostly be used for short journeys as family and work are close. Is this worse than long journeys? I don't suppose there is any way around this?

LASTLY, if all this means getting a diesel car is a bad idea, what are the alternatives that are similar to a Discovery 3 so I can suggest them to DH and look like I know what I'm talking about?

Thanks lovely people!

How old is it? You could also be liable for the £12.50 a day ULEZ (ultra low emission zone) charge if you came to London.

Euro 6 became mandatory for new cars in September 2015, so most of the 9.5 million diesel cars on the road before that date will be liable for the charge, along with most pre-September 2016 diesel vans.

At the moment I think it is confined to areas within the North / South Circular but it is due to be extended to anywhere within the M 25

What?? OMG never knew diesel cars were banned I prefer diesel as much cheaper to run as strange as that sounds. Sorry doesn't help you much OP I'm just shocked about the ban

We had a discovery 3. Best car we ever had. Much better than the Range Rover we replaced it with and the Mercedes crap I currently have. Try and get a manual gearbox if possible. It was super reliable and never let us down ever.

Diesels aren't recommended if you only drive short distances. They require your vehicle to heat up sufficiently to burn off the soot that the DPF collects. I worked in the motor industry for years and saw lots of big diesel cars sold to mums or old couples who only used them for pottering around and they ended up with costly repair bills when the DPF got blocked.

Can you not get a petrol?

What say anything said. DPFs are a nightmare if short journeys are the thing you do.

If you are only using it for short journeys (not regular motorway driving) you should consider either an electric car or a hybrid. No need for a diesel if you are only driving local. This is the way forward and you should look at these options, before settling for a diesel.

This kind of policy is highly likely to be replicated elsewhere, especially when the health benefits are shown. There is already the ULEZ in London which in effect is similar and I've heard Manchester considered some kind of congestion zone and Diesels are always top of the "naughty list".

There are loads of alternatives but probably best to let him choose if he knows about cars but just google (or look on autotrader etc for) Petrol SUVs for an idea.

I drive 120km round trip for work so i need a diesel car. there is nothing out there at the moment to match what driving i do aswell as within budget with regards to electric or hybrid. If you are only driving short distances every day, then petrol or a hybrid is your choice. Most car manufacturers have some sort of version of a hybrid so i would do my research, go to dealers and see what they have on offer, see whats online. Range Rover do an electric version so you need to decide on affordabilty etc. New diesel cars are not heavy polluters as old diesel cars and in most cases more environmentally friendly than petrol cars. You need to do a list of your needs annual millage size and budget and do your research on whats out there. There is lots of talk on moving to electric cars etc but be aware that car manufacturers are not there yet capacity wise in providing the world in what is needed so need to see what can do you however long you are going to keep the car.

Diesel is better for the environment, bad for humans. We have a diesel pickup which we love, if cities ban them then for us it won’t be a issue as we actively avoid visiting towns and cities.

@wexone I drive a hybrid and I average 75mpg. A diesel isn't going to get that. My driving is pretty much 50/50 urban to dual carriageway

Coming from Blackpool to the NE a few weeks back, I averaged 83mpg over a 200 mile trip.

More mpg at a lower cost per gallon too. A mild hybrid might not get great mileage, but a full hybrid will.

@smileygiraff - I live in Ireland, the structure is not avalable in Ireland to support driving long commutes for full Hybrids so i was not risking it. My average weekly driving is 1,500km sometimes more. Diesel is still my go to for my needs at this moment in time. There are Hybrids out there that covert to petrol after a certain amount of KM but the experts all told me that they woldn't support my driving. I have just bought a new car and spent about months reserching and testing cars.

Thanks all - he still seems pretty set on the Discovery so I'll leave him to it I guess! But thanks for the feedback, something to think about!

Diesels aren't banned in Bristol. There is a proposed ban which would come into effect in 2021. There will be a consultation with residents and business owners before any decision is made.

I doubt very much that any business owner is going to approve plans which will reduce the number of customers using their services.

This ban won't happen. It's just a soundbite from a local "politician".

Euro 6 compliant diesels are cleaner than petrol cars.

Buy the diesel. Live your life.

We have a verso with a dpf, 07 plate, so pretty old and a complete nightmare for small journeys! We've had so many problems with it!
I would say get a petrol car with a small engine for short journeys.

I've just seen today that Bristol have banned diesel cars;

It's not even been approved. Let alone happened. I wouldn't worry too much at this stage, particularly with an older second hand car purchase.

I drive a diesel car because I do 1000 kms a week to/from work. Mostly motorway.
My fuel costs are already high but a petrol car would bankrupt me.
Sadly my budget doesn't run to a modern, more fuel efficient one.

I only chose a diesel car because of the commute, if I was doing short trips or town driving I would certainly have bought a petrol car.

A £7k discovery will be an absolute money pit

Expensive to run, maintain and fix. Thats why its cheap

I hope you're rich if you're going to buy a discovery and only drive it short distances. It will spend most of its life in a garage because of that.

I drive one of those euro approved diesels SUVs that only costs me about £30 a year to tax. And it hasn’t been banned from entering Bristol! 😄

But I wouldn’t buy a cheap Discovery; it will as pps said be an absolute drain on your wallet. And ecologically a poor choice.

Oh god didn't even see you were getting one for up to 7 grand. 😂😂 Good luck is all I can say. You should maybe go more research, the car will no doubt have a ton of miles on it. Why get something that old and used when you can get something that will actually work frequently, is younger and has less mileage?

But I get it, it's the badge. Only you can't really say you have a discovery when it spends its life being coaxed back to life by a mechanic. And parts are obviously mega expensive, oh and tyres even the cheap ones which you really shouldn't buy anyway will be eye wateringly expensive.

We have a Diesel that is getting into its dotage so it is beginning to have major fails. Yesterday we were quoted a repair bill of £1200-£1500 and it made us think we would be better off getting a second hand, newer replacement for the money instead.

We would infinitely prefer another Diesel as they are cheap and reliable to run and the new ones are very green. However, we are worried about the demonising of Diesel and that Green policies will punish us for our choice.

I have looked at electric and hybrid cars and they cost £24,000 to £50,000 and upwards and I cannot possibly afford that.

It is no wonder the car industry is about to fall off a cliff . Between the Green agenda and car lease plan financing being about to crash, there is a real crisis and sales have dropped like a stone.

My DH would love a Disco like the OP wants. But I think a second hand Petrol Ford Fiesta is going to be what we will end up with.

We have a diesel Dacia Sandero Stepway and it's a fab car. Zero tax for the first 3 years and £20 since. It's lovely to drive, has the feel of a 4x4 but is great in the city as well. I've had a Discovery and it always felt like I was driving something too big for the area.

OP please do not buy that car. Forget whether it’s diesel or petrol.....£7k for a discovery is cheap, Very cheap!! Probably high miles and it will have lots of problems and always be in the garage....unless your DH plus a mechanic?!

Discos are great cars but older ones cost a hell of a lot to run and keep running!

Echo what pp are saying. Don't worry about getting a diesel but do worry about buying an expensive to maintain/run car on the cheap. I have one and it's great but I wouldn't buy one without warranty.

Eeek this isn't sounding good! DH and his dad are quite good with cars (FIL used to be a mechanic) so maybe that would help a bit. Hmmm I'm veering away from this car now tbh; 7 grand is a lot for us and I just don't want to waste it :\