Choosing a fresh car.....help required

[Gwilo]

On the hunt for an fresh car and I'm struggling.
Criteria :
Diesel - the more economical the better.
Comfortable over long distance for larger adults (100mile plus per day)
Electric windows
Air Con (pref dual zone)
Cruise control
Manual
Under 90K on the clock
Budget £6k-£8k
Now I'm looking at various offerings from VAG - Octavia, older Superbs, Passats, Jettas, Audi A4s with the 1.9 and 2.0 TDI engines.
I've even looked as Ford Mondeos and Volvo V50 2.0Ds.But i'm confused, especially over the 2.0 tdi pds from VAG - which ones have a DPF?

Also, do the 2.0 TDCI mondeos have a DPF?The Volvo one is Euro 4 compliant, which is supposed to be a DPF model, plus additive? Sounds like a faff and a major pain. It's not as fuel efficient as the VAG stuff mind you.
Is the ford unit still chain driven, or have they moved to belt driven cams as a result of the tie up with PSA?
And a few of the A4 TDI's have TDV in the description. There's a mix of views out there about this, with some suggesting this is Audi's way of saying DPF......true?
And finally, are the any options I've not considered?

[Brycie]

Sounds like you could be looking for an 2007 - 2008 A6 C6 140bhp. Oil pump prob fixed by then, no injector probs like the 170bhp version, no dpf. Big & comfy for 5 people, dual zone air con. It's not going to win you races at lights, but it does everything you'd want apart from that. Plus the boot is cavernous for 5 people's bags etc.

[Sam]

Will it be (large) adults and their luggage?

[Gwilo]

I'll check out the A6 fuel consumption. I've been spoilt up to now with a Astra doing 50mpg and the A4 1.9 sipping at 55-65mpg (calculated on mileage between fill ups, not OBC).
Does the A6 come close in the real world?

[Crasher]

Phaeton, amazing cars.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/volkswagen/phaeton/postcode/ng68pu/radius/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/price-to/8000/quicksearch/true

[Brycie]

I don't really do much urban so I've never worked that out but motorways at 70-80 with me & wifey in car and aircon on etc (real world conditions) returns 44-45mpg. If I'm consciously trying to be fuel efficient on motorway drives low to mid 50's is what I've achieved (sticking to 70 without aircon or cruise control etc).

[Gwilo]

Hmm, possibly slightly out of contention then with those figures. I do Blackpool - Manchrster twice a day, so five/ten mpg difference stacks up over a week.

Phaeton - yes, cracking cars, but heavy on fuel and that awful 'wood' hurts my eyes!

[Brycie]

How about a remap to increase the mpg? That however is where my knowledge on the subject ends, I'm not sure what sort of mpg gains you could expect from a remap, maybe somebody could advise?

[Gwilo]

Is there a way to identify if a 2.0 TDI PD has a dpf? Seen an 07 Octavia L&K estate 2.0TDI which is ticking the right boxes so far...

Also, any views on the Honda Accord 2.2 icdti estate? I believe these are chain driven cam, not belt, and non-dpf.
On paper, little difference in performance, though I am slightly disturbed by a review that said there was no dash display for fuel consumption/range in the Accord. I need to check that out.

And disturbingly perhaps, I find myself drawn to an 06 BMW 3 series 2.0D ES......costs the same to insure as the Octy and the Honda.....chain driven etc.....certainly looks to hold it's value more. Should I?

[Brycie]

Chain driven cams may last longer without changing yhan belts, but if they do start to go/rattle, it's upwards of £2k. The 2.0 TDI shouldn't have dpf afaik.

[Guest 2]

I think (and it's a big think!) only 2.0 TDi common rail engines after 2009 have a DPF fitted - my end of production 2009 has one but that's a different story.


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[chody]

the 140 2,0 tdi in vag cars for the most part dont have a dpf as far as i am aware but if you are doing 100 miles a day a dpf shouldnt present a problem as it should keep its self clean, i like the accord very nice car to drive

[EssexGonzo]

Chaps, re DPF: my 2007 A6 Tdi PD 140 has a DPF fitted. Engine code is BRE, so it does pre-date the CR engines.

I think the spec sticker in boot or service book will have a code for it but not sure. Otherwise, can you ID DPF equipment by engine code?

TBH if you don't do much town work, don't worry about DPF.

[Brycie]

I have the same engine as you EssexGonzo & I didn't think mine did have one (admittedly, just based on what I've read on the forum previously). Would there be a light somewhere on the speedo alongside the engine management/emmisions control lights if you do have one?

I'd agree that on the 140pd engine, I think motorway cruising speed in our engines is about 2,500rpm anyway, so like you say the dpf would be kept clear anyway with Blackpool to Manchester & back every day.

[Guest 2]

Look for option code 7GN on your data sticker either in your service book or spare wheel well

That is the code for DPF prep which means no dpf fitted


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[Gwilo]

The Octy L & k was an ex-fleet vehicle, so it's motorway mileage, and well serviced, with the last service being just before disposal and cambelt/water pump done.
I'll check the sticker for dpf code but it looks good so far if the price is right and the space is comfy...
Still tempted by the accord and 3 series mind you.
A mate in the trade (a merc dealer) is pushing ford mondeo tdcis as the only reasonable answer.....hmmm....

[EssexGonzo]

I have the same engine as you EssexGonzo & I didn't think mine did have one (admittedly, just based on what I've read on the forum previously). Would there be a light somewhere on the speedo alongside the engine management/emmisions control lights if you do have one?

I'd agree that on the 140pd engine, I think motorway cruising speed in our engines is about 2,500rpm anyway, so like you say the dpf would be kept clear anyway with Blackpool to Manchester & back every day.

No visible sign apart from what Chris says I reckon.

But....on the V5 my model is a 2.0 Tdi TDV. Not sure what the TDV means.

[Gwilo]

Look for option code 7GN on your data sticker either in your service book or spare wheel well

That is the code for DPF prep which means no dpf fitted


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A6 Chris....
Sorry, just the way I read your statement, that seems counterintuitive.

Code = dpf absent. No code = dpf present.
Have I got that right?

[Guest 2]

You would need to check either way.

There is a code for DPF fitted and there's a code for DPF not fitted (7GN)


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[Guest 2]

Get the option codes and decode them here http://igorweb.org/equidec/


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[Brycie]

Look for option code 7GN on your data sticker either in your service book or spare wheel well

That is the code for DPF prep which means no dpf fitted


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Just been out & had a look. Among the many codes under the Options section, it does indeed say 7GN (top row, second from the left. I wonder why EssexGonzo's BRE engine has one & mine doesn't though. Edit: Just seen that decoding site, really good that, thanks for the link.

Back to topic though I've had a focus before & it was a good car, it felt very solid to drive. How about the eco version of the Focus TDCI, £30 a year to tax & 60+mpg combined.

[gupsterg]

Only info I can add at mo as rebuilding PC & laptop :Blush2:

Ref link:- http://vag-codes.info/files/options/vag-option-codes.pdf

7GA AGM Emission standard LEV 2
7GB AGM Emission standard ULEV 2
7GC AGM Emissions concept TIER1 for Mexico with OBD
7GD AGM Emission standard EU4 China without EOBDwith hardware modification
7GE AGM Emission standard EU4 for Japan
7GF AGM Emission standard EU3 without EOBD with hardware modification
7GG AGM Emission standard EU4 DPF
7GH AGM Emission standard EU4 without EOBD without hardware modification
7GJ AGM Emission standard TIER 2
7GK AGM Emission standard TIER2 for Mexico
7GL AGM Emission standard TIER1 for BR w/o OBD
7GM AGM Emission standard, EU3 without EOBD without hardware modification
7GN AGM Emission standard, EU4, DPF preparation
7GP AGM Emission standard TIER1 for BR with OBD
7GQ AGM Emission standard, EURO IV, DPF


If another can confirm who has DPF ;) Essexgonzo!!

[EssexGonzo]

Ok ok....I had to go and look! Here's a pretty crap photo trying to avoid giving my chassis number away.

The engine code plus the letters DPF are present so I reckon there's probably one in there somewhere!http://img.tapatalk.com/2ed04930-432a-a6f0.jpg

[EssexGonzo]

Oh...and 7GN is nowhere but 7GG is........could that be he code?

[Guest 2]

Yep DPF fitted - I read somewhere DPF was an optional extra on some PD 2.0 TDi engines.


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[EssexGonzo]

Having had the car from new I do not remember choosing the DPF - and if i knew then what i know now I would have tried to avoid it.

But as it started life as my company car before I bought it from them I guess the lease company could have insisted.

[gupsterg]

If you have same car by the time they start forcing/penalizing non DPF passenger going cars like they did with commercial vehicles in LEZ, you'll be happy you got one...

At mo I'm just glad one can be retrofitted to mine via Audi when this occurs...

As I had to get rid of a perfectly good commercial vehicle cos of this in Oct 11 for the Jan 12 deadline... :(

[Eshrules]

I think relying to the original question might be too late for doing but whatever i think you should probably go with the A6 or simply just with the BMW 7 due to the overall economy and the mileage....

Bmw 7 series. Economy. Do those two go together? <sniffs>

[Gwilo]

A BMW 7 for 100 miles A day?
Maybe if I owned my own refinery.....hahahah!

I'm tooling about in 1.8D Mondeo, ticks all the boxes apart from the VAG one.

[Guest 2]

A BMW 7 for 100 miles A day?
Maybe if I owned my own refinery.....hahahah!

I'm tooling about in 1.8D Mondeo, ticks all the boxes apart from the VAG one.

Ignore him - he was a spammer ;)

I miss my old MK2 Mondeo 1.8TD :(

[JimC64]

A BMW 7 for 100 miles A day?
Maybe if I owned my own refinery.....hahahah!

I'm tooling about in 1.8D Mondeo, ticks all the boxes apart from the VAG one.

The only thing better than the 1.8D Mondeo is either the 2.0Tdci or the 2.2Tdci..........both great cars.
I've had several Mondys starting with the 1.8 up to the many 2.0 Tdci's I had and all were great workhorses.

For what you nee though the 2.0 A6 maybe even with a remap if required will tick all your boxes I'm sure.