James Ruppert: Why you should be pumped for cheap diesels Car News

Diesel isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s hard to argue about the benefits in terms of economy and the long trip to demolish. But what if you only do short jumps? Would you be crazy to consider burning oil? Maybe, but I chatted with a reader who for all kinds of complicated reasons has to stick to diesel. Indeed, about ten years ago, I knew someone who still bought basic Ford Fiesta Ds for local races. These days there are some DPFs to contend with, but in reality teen diesels are great at what they do and because they might not be ULEZ compatible they offer great value. -price.

Let’s start with a Fiesta and not the old commercial grade Ds. We can move quickly to a pretty groovy-looking 2013 1.6 TDCi Zetec with 50k miles, yours for £ 6,500. A three-door with four previous owners, it has low profile alloy rims and certainly looks the part, plus it can return well over 70 mpg overall which is really good news. There are cheaper Fiesta-shaped options, of course, and a 2007 1.4 TD Climate Style with five useful doors and 110,000 miles is still a £ 30 a year car. Plus, that should give you around 60mpg. Oh yeah, and the price is £ 795 with new MOT and good recent service history.

It is almost impossible to go wrong with a Volkswagen and especially a Polo. A 2008 1.4 TDI match with around 130k miles costs just £ 895. The one I saw was a five-door, five-owner, which will do over 60 mpg combined. It might sound like a good first car, but I’ve found that young people are punished for diesel so the petrol version is better for a novice driver. If not, what emergency, emergency or second car to have.

When it comes to tiny diesel engines, it has to be a Smart. They can be loved or hated, but often that’s all that most of us will need. As long as the ECU isn’t blinking and history is checked, these are fun little purchases. Mega mileage can be a hassle, but a 2009 Pulse with five previous owners and less than 50,000 miles costs £ 1,900. The zero road tax is another bright spot on this, as is the 80 mpg potential.

Indeed, the more you look at these micro-diesels, the more you realize that it is about the low road tax and the reassuring and solid MPG. Along with an Alfa Romeo Mito, a 2010 1.3 JTDm with just over 100,000 miles adds appropriate pint-sized styling for £ 1,950. Long live the small diesels.

Tales from Ruppert’s garage