Small diesel Hatchbacks

[qwerty]

Looking to buy a cheap to run daily that me and the wife can share, means I will focus more funds on the cortina hopefully

Always bought VAG diesels in the past so need people's opinions on non VAG stuff.

Clio dci's, citroen/pug 1.4 and 1.6hdi's, corsa cdti's, fiesta tdci's. Which are good which are bad or should I just play it safe with a Fabia or Lupo sdi?

[mgbizzle]

1.5D AX, light enough to still be fun

[composimmonite]

I'm bias - got a 54 reg 1.4TDi Fabia and rate it very highly. Nippy and amazing economy.

Paul H

[mdw]

Don't go anywhere a dci clio!

I'd vote for a pug 106, I drive one every day great little car!h

[jrevillug]

1.6 HDi - run away. They kill turbos for a hobby. Engine is in some Fords as a TDCi IIRC as well. 1.4HDi - think they're ok, if they have been serviced religiously.

Regardless, all of those are modern(-ish) engines so subject to all the normal modern diesel stuff: don't bother if you're doing short trips, as they'll block the DPF and need regular regenerating. Watch out for DMFs and injectors.

I had a 97 Clio diesel for a while; old tech 1.9 NA mechanical pump engine; tough as old boots, and still resonable economy (didn't see less than 45mpg, might dip a little if you only drive in town). Bit more agricultural than the modern common-rail stuff, but still fun to chuck down the twisties.

[stealthstylz]

306 D Turbo or HDi every time. Cheap to run, reliable and parts are ridiculously cheap if needed. Just make sure the auxillary belt has been changed regularly.

[loudandproud205]

Agree with above the 306 is much better compromise over the 106. You can actually enjoy travelling around and still feels fairly modern in the 306, where as the 106 feels very very basic but will do 65mpg with ease.

[qwerty]

Thanks for the suggestions guys

Wife has discounted them all for being too old. Found and immaculate Citroen ZX diesel 55k for 495 her reply "its old"

Argh buying a car with the other half is a right pita.

[welshpug]

Xsara 110 hdi, same floorpan, made till about 04, intercooled 2.0 where the 306 only got the non ic 90.

[composimmonite]

I've just sold my 03 Peugeot Expert 2.0HDi. The clutch failed and parts alone were nearly £600 (flywheel £450 & clutch kit £150 as it was suggested on various forums that the dual mass flywheel will need replacing at same time if still the original (150,000 miles). Didn't get quotes to have a garage change as the book time is 6-8 hours which wouldn't mean a hefty labour bill on top. In the end "cut my losses" and sold it for £350 as simply not worth spending that sort of money on something which with other cars is a simple sub £100 clutch kit.
With that in mind I wouldn't touch another car fitted with a PSA HDi lump !

Paul h

[welshpug]

xsara did not have a DM flywheel.

gotta love basing an experience of believing what forums suggest as being gospel as to what is wrong with a flywheel without inspecting it, and disregarding half the worlds passenger car diesel engines :lol:

[djoptix]

The 1.6 HDi is incredibly sensitive to people putting the wrong oil in it (so I'm told).

I had a 1.5 AX and it was brilliant. If that's too old I'd look for the newest Saxo you can find with the 1.5D lump.

[jamie89]

I know you said none vag but I'm using a polo 6n2 1.9sdi and as a cheap daily and can't fault it one bit, egr blank, inlet de-coked and a decat, I'm getting between 90-100 miles to a tenner. Unbelievable on juice. Not the fastest thing in the world but with mpgs like that who cares haha

[domino1971]

Hi there mate theres a wee peugeot 205 1. for sale on gumtree with 31,000 miles on it ? Not mine but it might be genuine looks clean enough. I have a peugeot 1989 309 gld with 47,000 on it from new its got full history but my young cousin has his eye on it for his 1st car .

[lilbob]

corsa cdti

[qwerty]

What are the 1.3cdti engines like in the Corsa's? I quite fancy a 206 2.0HDI I can imagine they would be quite entertaining to drive.

[THE_Liam]

May 3, 2014 1:23:29 GMT stealthstylz said:

306 D Turbo or HDi every time. Cheap to run, reliable and parts are ridiculously cheap if needed. Just make sure the auxillary belt has been changed regularly.

This. They aren't amazing on fuel because they're such old-tech, but if they've got a Bosch VE pump you can run them on 74p a litre veg oil. I've run them on it pure, all through winters, no issues at all. I've had 4 of them now.

[taurus]

May 12, 2014 12:44:29 GMT qwerty said:

What are the 1.3cdti engines like in the Corsa's? I quite fancy a 206 2.0HDI I can imagine they would be quite entertaining to drive.

The FIAT 1.3 cdti engine in the Corsa (and Astra) is curse word. Not nice to drive and beset with many many problems. All the usual DPF issues, heads crack, leaks, chocolate timing chain. A mate started work at a Vx dealership last year, it takes a couple of pints before he stops ranting about what he's had to do to the endless stream of those things they get in.

[qwerty]

May 12, 2014 17:44:35 GMT taurus said:

May 12, 2014 12:44:29 GMT qwerty said:

What are the 1.3cdti engines like in the Corsa's? I quite fancy a 206 2.0HDI I can imagine they would be quite entertaining to drive.

The FIAT 1.3 cdti engine in the Corsa (and Astra) is curse word. Not nice to drive and beset with many many problems. All the usual DPF issues, heads crack, leaks, chocolate timing chain. A mate started work at a Vx dealership last year, it takes a couple of pints before he stops ranting about what he's had to do to the endless stream of those things they get in.

Ah its the same thats in Fiats? My dad had a Panda Multijet Diesel and it was totally reliable. Quite peppy in a Panda as well.

[taurus]

May 12, 2014 19:16:39 GMT qwerty said:

May 12, 2014 17:44:35 GMT taurus said:

The FIAT 1.3 cdti engine in the Corsa (and Astra) is curse word. Not nice to drive and beset with many many problems. All the usual DPF issues, heads crack, leaks, chocolate timing chain. A mate started work at a Vx dealership last year, it takes a couple of pints before he stops ranting about what he's had to do to the endless stream of those things they get in.

Ah its the same thats in Fiats? My dad had a Panda Multijet Diesel and it was totally reliable. Quite peppy in a Panda as well.

Depends on the year. FIAT had so many problems with the 1.3 diesel that they withdrew it for a while. They tend to be fine up to about 65k if used on motorways regularly and given regular services. After that the failure rate really kicks in. The GPO (or whatever they're called these days) used to run their diesel vans way over 100k, but they got rid of most of their 1.3cdti Combos once problems started to show up.

My brother had one and loved it - for about 6 months. Then he was sad.

On the Corsa, which is heavier, they have a big flat spot just at the point where you need to pull out from junctions briskly. The Corsa D is even heavier, and they've retuned the engine to meet emissions which has made it even worse.

FIAT of course have dropped it and gone over to their Multiair engine.