Buying my last diesel car before going electric: 320d, Jetta or others

I currently have a Vento TSI AT and am looking for used car options under Rs 14 lakh.

BHPian Jangra recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My first diesel car was Getz CRDi in 2008. A 110 horses pocket rocket cost me Rs 5.75 lacs. I believe it was the most fun-to-drive car I've ever owned. Due to relocation, I had to sell and still feel bad and miss her.

In 2010, bought a Swift Vdi due to its popularity, however, continued to miss the 110-horse punch of my Getz. But it had unmatched reliability and superb drivability. Did a few cross-country trips and was my daily driver for a 100 km/day office commute.

In the same year due to the need of having 2 cars, bought Figo 1.4 TDCi Titanium which like others have said in the forum, has a handling ability like go-carts, and from the inside, it was ahead of its time. In that budget in 2010, in-built Bluetooth, 2 airbags, and ABS were a rear feature.

Anyway, I relocated to the US in 2012 and had to sell one car and decided to sell the Swift since I wanted my parents to drive the car with ABS and airbags.

Relocated back to India in 2016 and after much research on Team-BHP, bought a Vento TSI AT. It served me as a reliable caretaker and gave me the joy of riding in everyday traffic. It was my first time owning an Automatic and immediately after I was a convert. It's been seven years since I own my Vento and I love its sporty engine and gearbox that makes my commute fun and seamless.

Anyway, the post is not about the history of my car garage, I suddenly have an itch to own a diesel fun machine while I still can. My requirements are just three:

1. Should be a lot more fun to drive than Vento TSI
2. Should be equally reliable if not more
3. Do not want to spend over 14 lakhs for an upgrade (including the Vento exchange)

My recent search got me close to 3 options:

VW Jetta / Skoda Octavia

Since there is Skoda Kodiaq in my garage, not keen on buying another Skoda. Saw a few Jettas already and none were maintained even close to how my Vento is. That 7-year-old (2016) Jettas (with 55-66k on odo) looks like in their 12+. Shame! Yes, I know that one detailing will sort all the dirt and hairline scratches, but two Jettas refused to crank up to life seamlessly - I had to attempt 5-6 times every time to turn the engine on, and the initial vibration and noise of the start-up did not inspire confidence. The seller mentioned that it is usual with the Diesel Engine. While I have never owned a Diesel car for more than 2 years, can someone shed some light if that's normal, what could be the problem and is it an expensive affair to repair? If not a costly affair, may pursue this option.

This is the most light on pocket and doable option as I may have to just spend 3-4 lacks over my Vento to upgrade to Jetta - while Octavia would be about 6-7 lakhs over my Vento for pre-2016 Diesel Automatic option

BMW 320d (2013-2015)

Options with >50k km on the ODO: While many of you may advise against it, a recent post from Tuffenberg has inspired some confidence.

There are many options for 320d in the 13-16 lakhs range. The only reservation I have is "The Unknowns". Yes, I will follow the use car checklist but an eight to nine-year-old machine is more than half its life. And it could be an expensive affair to maintain, and change parts due to wear and tear. But the fun-to-drive element I believe could overcompensate.

Do nothing

Continue with my Vento for the next 3 years, and upgrade to electric. I have experienced the torque of an EV and I agree that it is significantly better than that of Diesel OR Petrol in their price range. While this option will need me to wait for 3 years, the impatient child in me will trouble me every day pushing me to upgrade now. Well, Is XUV 400 any better, and is worth putting it here along with options 1 & 2? I feel the interiors of the XUV 400 just don't justify the premium, but my options are open.

Wild card Entry

Sonet Diesel AT - Decent torque of a diesel, mileage of a diesel, loaded with bells and whistles of the current generation, can't go wrong with the new car.

What do you think?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

I wouldn't normally recommend older German luxury cars, but since you are well-versed in European car ownership:

• BMW 320d
• Go big or go home! BMW 530d. Many good to great examples are available in the 15 - 25 lakh range. If it's going to indeed be your last diesel, why not buy the best Diesel AT combination on the planet? Trust me, that 6-cylinder motor with the snappy ZF 8-speed will have you grinning like a mischievous child. Here is a sample listing to tempt you - go & bargain, no way he is getting this price. This white one would be my top pick. Here is one with higher running and is a typical 12 - 14 lakh car.
• Mercedes E350. Another 6-cylinder beast and again, many good cars in the 15 - 25 lakh range. A certified car, don't sweat too much over the mileage if it has been maintained immaculately.
• As TSI_FTW said, a used Compass 2.0 Diesel will be a relatively safer / newer buy. That engine + 6-speed MT & tank-like build and stability are enjoyable on the open road. As a DSG owner, I don't think you'll be able to live with the Compass' automatic gearbox.

Follow our used car checklist (including service history, checking past insurance claims etc.) to the T and you should be okay. There are lots of A+ independent garages in Bombay to help you maintain your cars (I go to Redline Autohaus & Sunil Shanbagh for my cars).

Here's what BHPian Shreyfiesta had to say on the matter:

I suggest you take the 3 Series route. The F30 generation offers a rare combination of practicality, comfort and performance. There are plenty of examples available in the used car market and at current prices, it's one of the best deals. 320d's 4-pot diesel offers the right balance between performance and practicality, but this engine sounds unusually loud by premium car standards. A simple remap on the 320d takes you well into 530d performance territory. Pre-LCI 320d has problems with camshaft tensioners and chains, this is identifiable by a ringing noise from the engine. Post-2016 facelift cars come with improved suspension and steering, but it's not possible to find such LCI cars in your budget. Apart from these, there are a few common 3 Series niggles like steering knock issues, wheel speed sensors, sticky door handles, etc.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

I drive a diesel manual Compass as my daily and also have a Vento TSi, as well as Kodiaq TSi in the family. As good as the Compass is, it’s got nothing on the Vento for daily city driving, with the heavy and aggressive clutch vs the brilliance of the DSG. And out on the highway, while it definitely better than 9 out of 10 cars, Kodiaq happens to be that 1 exception. Compass handles better than the Kodiaq, but the big Skoda is not far behind. It is equally stable and is in fact punchier and more refined. So, it is lose-lose either way with the excellent two cars you already have.

My suggestion will be to hold on to your cars for now, perhaps invest in stage 1 remap for both. Throw in an audio upgrade for the Vento as well, that should take care of your new car itch. I see it best that this discussion be revisited after a couple of years, with a bigger budget and many more EV options to choose from.

Here's what BHPian vredesbyrd had to say on the matter:

I'd say F30 320d. Fantastic handler and fairly reliable. Oh, and the engine is nice too.

But if you are putting it as "My Last Diesel", might as well suggest you increase your budget a little and try for a 2013-14 F10 530d.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.