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!

Jump to 5:45 in the video where he talks about the common mechanical failures as they get older. I'd buy almost any Japanese car over a LR.

Diesel + Short trips = ££££

A diesel car needs regular, long journeys or the DPF will just clog and cause issues. Add to that the fact it's a discovery and I'd be running away very quickly. Even without factoring in any new legislation this will be an absolute money pit.

Edinburgh are banning euro 5 and below diesels from large areas of the city from june 2020, and there will be a fine if a Mon compliant car is caught on camera in the zones. Other cities are looking at the same thing in several areas of the UK already.

Whenever anyone mentions a Land Rover to me, I imagine one on the back of a tow truck with Attenborough saying "...and here is a Land Rover in it's natural habitat".

My local JLR dealer has closed the sales department and spent £2m on a huge service department. Which says everything about the reliability they expect.

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 :\

You could get so much more for your money and to suit your needs on the second hand market than a Disco.

If you want something about that size look at a Subaru Forester or a Toyota RAV4. Much, much more reliable.

I have a 2009 Subaru Forester with 146k miles on it that's never needed a major repair.

A £7k discovery will be an absolute money pit

I second this. Several members of mine and DH's family run Discoverys and you seem to get what you pay for.

Avoid it OP.
Your DH wants the car for the wrong reasons.
It is not a car for short journeys. Look at a Honda CR-V or something if you want the height.

Whenever anyone mentions a Land Rover to me, I imagine one on the back of a tow truck with Attenborough saying "...and here is a Land Rover in it's natural habitat8

We have one that is 65 years old. It lives outside and starts on the button. It's never failed to get us home.

In London right in the centre currently has a charge for diesel cars and that is going to be extended but only to within the North and South circular

"From 25 October 2021 the ULEZ boundary will be extended to create a single larger zone bounded by the North and South Circular Roads."

I have a diesel but do not drive into centarl London or within the N/S circular so even in 2021 I should be okay.

We sold our old touring caravan a few years ago and the swanky diesel 4x4 was written off around 6mths later. (lorry lost its load and crushed it - it was parked up)
We couldn't decide what to buy with the payout so when the insurer asked for the hire car back - we took a chance on a £700 20yr old petrol hatchback with less than 30k just to see us through whilst we decided what to buy... bought it blind and had it sent down on a car transporter!!
Yep, still driving it, just flown through the MOT again with no advisories...what's not to love. The payout is still sat in the bank - lol

just another year, I promise I'll look for something else...promise!!