Small car under 20k - Turbo Diesel.

Kryton · 12-08-2010, 08:23 PM

Been looking at late model small cars lately, under the $20000 mark - secondhand of course and theres some really good ones out there.
So, i have been looking at whats available in the Turbo Diesel range and would like to see what everyone else would be looking at if they were to consider a small car.

As much a girls car as it is, the 07 Astra 1.9 CDTi looks like a good bit of kit.
110kw and 320nm (manual) and combined 6l/100km makes it a big contender - especially considering what they are going for at Auction (Even fixed price!).

Might even consider a small petrol too if it is economical enough.
So, what else would be worth looking at?

Not interested in the stories of how awesomely great some LPG Falcon is either.

Ghiadude · 12-08-2010, 08:29 PM

Used focus TDCi of the same vintage??
CLICK HERE FOR CARSALES SEARCH

Kryton · 12-08-2010, 08:39 PM

Pretty much the same on paper.
Bit better fuel economy too.

Franco Cozzo · 12-08-2010, 09:26 PM

See if you can find someone with a Fiesta ECOnetic who wants to sell it, 60Kw and 200nm of torque from 1.6L tdci, would make a nice fun car they weigh just under 1100kg I think.

4L/100km fuel economy too

Yellow_Festiva · 12-08-2010, 09:37 PM

Diesel i30? May even get a Holden Cruze as a demo for just under 20K.

rag top · 12-08-2010, 09:50 PM

Mazda 3 MZR-CD.

360nm, 6 sp, and 6L/100km.

TEKILA · 12-08-2010, 10:29 PM

just letting you know my focus is for sale, you can have it for $15,000
get 650km out of a tank avg 8.0lt/100km

see the below link

http://www.fordforums.com.au//showthread.php?t=11304875

sgt_doofey · 13-08-2010, 06:57 AM

I could recommend a Peugeot T6 307. From 2006 onwards they had all the problems sorted out with the older T5 307. The ones after August 2006 also got a couple of upgrades like chrome surrounds on the fog lamps and grill, and MP3 capability for the CD Player. We just missed out on the MP3 functionality on ours by a few months probably.
Example
Great car. 100KW, 320Nm of torque provides a great driving experience. We get roughly 6L/100km out of our 2.0L HDi.
The XSE Touring wagon also has all the bells and whistles including ESP and 6 airbags. It's only rated 4 stars in ANCAP tests but has all the safety features you'd need.
We've had ours since new and can't complain about it. Have done just over 80,000kms in it since August 2006.

**Polyal** · 13-08-2010, 07:04 AM

I am with Sgt doodey on this one. A French diesel is the way to go IMO. Our barina will need an update in a year or so and I'd go pretty much any of the frogs. C4 or 307 would be the picks, I'd go the Citroën for something different

Kryton · 13-08-2010, 09:41 AM

What are parts prices and availability like on the Frenchies?

smoo · 13-08-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

What are parts prices and availability like on the Frenchies?

Pretty good if you're buying out of Europe. ebay.co.uk and a few companies over there that deal with parts for a specific brand. Remember in that part of the world they are just like our Corollas and Lancers, its daylight robbery the prices on parts they charge down here, simply because of the badge.
I'd also look at a Mk V Golf TD or the Jetta 1.9TD in 6 spd manual.

**Polyal** · 13-08-2010, 10:55 AM

Yeap vw is good too. I drove a 2002ish Audi a4 tdi while in France recently for about a month. My first diesel experience and I was surprised to say the least.

Was getting 800-1000ks a tank, power was good enough.

As for parts, the mother and law has a 4x4 scenic, a quarter window got smashed and there was a 6 week wait. Dealers fault but still it was a while. But that model is relatively rare, if you go something common then you should have no worries.

A previous model focus diesel would be a safe option, then you would only have diesel specific stuff to worry about even then it should be ok.

rag top · 13-08-2010, 11:17 AM

I'd still check out the mazda 3; I drove the focus first, then jumped in the 3;
Was a no-brainer after driving it back to back. 6L/100 around town is okay in my books, and has more torque than the old AU wagon it replaced.

**Polyal** · 13-08-2010, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rag top

I'd still check out the mazda 3; I drove the focus first, then jumped in the 3;
Was a no-brainer after driving it back to back. 6L/100 around town is okay in my books, and has more torque than the old AU wagon it replaced.

Nothing wrong with a 3 that's for sure, but when it comes to diesel I'd trust a euro before anything else. I haven't driven the mazda, I'm sure it's fine but the euros just have more experience.

How much does a new/used Eco thing fiesta go for?

rag top · 13-08-2010, 12:23 PM

euro spares is what scares me away from buying one. And as you said earlier Polyal, 6 weeks to get a window replaced; I couldn't afford that sort of down time.

grandpa_spec_F6 · 13-08-2010, 12:30 PM

It may be a little out of the budget, but I went for a drive in a turbo diesel ford focus... and it would happily beat the pants off my falcon any day of the week. The torque surge once the turbo wakes the engine up is huge!

Wheel spin through first, chirped second and even into third, was mighty impressed!

TP351 · 13-08-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

As much a girls car as it is, the 07 Astra 1.9 CDTi looks like a good bit of kit.
110kw and 320nm (manual) and combined 6l/100km makes it a big contender - especially considering what they are going for at Auction (Even fixed price!).

There's a reason they're cheap, Astra = POS

Focus or the frog cars are the way to go!

Stay away from Cruze too, it's just a rebadged Daewoo.......

sgt_doofey · 13-08-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

C4 or 307 would be the picks, I'd go the Citroën for something different

C4 and the 307 use the same engine. It's a PSA developed one. Even now, the diesel mini's are using the same PSA developed diesel engines too.
Parts and pricing isn't too bad. Allow some time for parts to come over from France should it be outside of normal servicing. As stated, eBay UK is a great resource for parts. Service interval for the French diesels are 20,000kms and the cam belt is 9 years or 180,000kms, so nice long intervals to help reduce the running costs.
Lots of info on the Aussie Frogs web site should you be interested: http://www.aussiefrogs.com

Stoney! · 13-08-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rag top

euro spares is what scares me away from buying one. And as you said earlier Polyal, 6 weeks to get a window replaced; I couldn't afford that sort of down time.

That's funny, cause a lot of mazda's spare parts are actually more expensive than VW's, specially electrical. Scary because mazda's have a lot of electrical problems too.

Stoney!

Stoney! · 13-08-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TP351

There's a reason they're cheap, Astra = POS

Focus or the frog cars are the way to go!

Stay away from Cruze too, it's just a rebadged Daewoo.......

Someone forgot to take their blinkers off....

Stoney!

Kryton · 13-08-2010, 01:16 PM

Certainly some good ideas have been put forward.
really amazing how much car you can get for stuff all these days.

Speaking of Mazda Spares, i priced a new ignition barrel for my 1975 Mazda 929 (around 10 years ago) from the local Mazda dealer.
$350 and a 6 month wait for it.
Nissan are no better for prices either - pretty much anything imported is going to be costly.

Yellow_Festiva · 13-08-2010, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

Certainly some good ideas have been put forward.
really amazing how much car you can get for stuff all these days.

Speaking of Mazda Spares, i priced a new ignition barrel for my 1975 Mazda 929 (around 10 years ago) from the local Mazda dealer.
$350 and a 6 month wait for it.
Nissan are no better for prices either - pretty much anything imported is going to be costly.

Yes and no!

Depends on the parts, and how bothered you can be to do some of the running round yourself.

I have recently priced and imported some parts for a European car (Fiat Coupe). I first called the local "specialist" as recommended by my mechanic.

Clutch: $800, Water pump: $600, Thermostat: $400 (included housing), Timing belt (belt ALONE): $200, Pulley kit: $400, Air filter: $100.

Notice how they were all nice even numbers?... I think the guy on the other end just assumed I was some city slicker who had NFI about the parts I was asking for... All parts quoted were on the spot.. no 'looking up' it seemed.

Haaaa, I spent 30 minutes on Google, called 2 UK suppliers and got:

Water pump, thermostat, Timing belt kit (belt AND pulleys), 3x air filters for... 366 pounds ($660) including delivery (in 5 days!) by Fedex.

Got parts fitted by local mechanic no worries...

The fun never ends it seems... tonight / this weekend I need to locate a rear electric window motor for my Citroen convertible... Have a few numbers for the UK I will try tonight, but will call the local guy this arvo just to see what the prices will be like.

My honest advice, if it is a daily driver. Stick to Korean or Japanese.

barra240t · 13-08-2010, 03:28 PM

You will easily find a used VW Polo Tdi under that price, 1.9L

Kryton · 13-08-2010, 03:54 PM

Kinda like the VW's.
had a quick look at carsales before and for less than 20k, an 05/06 Golf 2.0TDi Comfortline can be had.

GTP 044 · 13-08-2010, 05:11 PM

I know it was a petrol, but I had a VW Golf GTI 2001 model and it was a fantastic car. Good build quality too. If I didn't wan't to have my GT-P, I would certainly have another Golf GTI in the garage.

**ebxr8240** · 13-08-2010, 06:30 PM

Euro cars this size don't have the durabilty as the Jap auto's..
Most Euro cars are manual...

TP351 · 14-08-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoney!

Someone forgot to take their blinkers off....

Stoney!

Stoney, I've been a mechanic for 26 years and I know a POS when I see one. Ask anyone in the trade, Astra/Vectra's are rubbish....... And Daewoo's? Well.........

Oh, I assume you mean "blinkers" by the the ommission of VW in my recommendations? I obviously wasn't thinking, VW/Audi would be a very good choice, in fact I'd put them in front of the Focus or the Frenchies.

Franco Cozzo · 14-08-2010, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TP351

And Daewoo's? Well.........

We had one come in the shop with 45,000km on the clock (Holden Viva) and it had a leaking steering rack already.

naddis01 · 14-08-2010, 01:08 PM

I own a current model diesel Mazda 6. I personally wouldn't touch a previous generation Mazda diesel. Well the 6 anyway but I assume the 3 is basically the same mechanicals. The previos generation ones had troubles with the DPF and oil dilution problems. Also had turbo failures. Maybe because of the oil dilution problems I guess. From what I have read, they have got on top of the issues with the current ones.

So If I was me, and I was looking at a Mazda diesel, I would try and stick to the current generation ones.

As for how they drive, I can highly recommend a Mazda diesel. Grandpa Spec Au's description of the Focus is pretty much the Mazda as well. They can be a little dead below 1500rpm, but once over that there is a good surge once the turbo spools up. When kept in this torque band, it can be quite a quick car as far as a family wagon goes.

You didn't mention if it had to be auto? If it does that discounts the Mazda's straight away.

glavas · 14-08-2010, 01:30 PM

you can buy a new lancer es for 20k. or a 2008 vrx lancer for about 22k. if ya worried about fuel economy there very good on fuel. about 8l/100km. ya see the problem with small cars is that there mostly fwd, they are small so not much leg room or cargo room, there slow and joyless, they do what ya want them to do but they have no soul. better of spending another 20k on top of that and ya can get a wrx there small but there got some go and there awd.