6 Great Diesel Cars That Could Suddenly Get Very Cheap

Diesel is on the way out. One way or another, in 20 years there could be almost no diesels left on the road, and certainly no new ones. The latest evidence in the fight to rid the streets of the worst particulate-emitting cars comes in the shape of planned daily charges for people driving older diesels into UK cities.

With early leaks of Government ideas suggesting a cut-off point of 2006 for defining which cars are and are not among the worst offenders, therefore defining which escape the new taxes, it could make pre-2006 diesels very cheap indeed. We’ve trawled through the classifieds to find a small bunch of those cars you might be able to find for bargain basement rates in six or 12 months’ time.

Skoda Fabia vRS

With the very earliest cars registered during the ‘53’-plate window, there’s over two years’ worth of Fabia vRS classifieds to inspect. Powered by a 1.9-litre four-cylinder diesel that also saw the insides of everything from the Seat Ibiza to the Skoda Superb, the Fabia has often been found to cough out closer to 150bhp than its claimed 130bhp.

We found this one for £3995 with just 60,000 miles on it, but that could slump even further if demand drops in the wake of new emissions rules. It’s a huge giggle, monstering through second and third gears with plenty of torque that all arrives in one hit, plus a light and surprisingly sweet gear shift action. This is great value now, let alone if it loses any more value.

Ford Mondeo ST TDCi

The Mondeo ST TDCi was, and is, all the car you could ever need. This generation was fantastic to drive thanks to ideal proportions, trademark Ford steering directness and loads of interior space for the family. It had 153bhp from the 2.2-litre diesel up front, and could hit 137mph if you tried hard enough.

Just look at what you can already get for your cash. Just £4250 buys you a 2005 model with sat-nav, part-leather seats, the correct Performance Blue metallic paint and a paltry 46,000 miles on the clock. It’s barely run in. You’d want to check turbo bearings for wear in case it’s lived a life of short journeys, but imagine how cheap this could get if emissions regs slash general demand…

Jaguar X-Type

If you prefer your cars buttered on the more comfortable side, how about a Jaguar X-Type? Based on the contemporary Mondeo and sharing the same engines, the X-Type looked good and was seriously luxurious, with wood, leather and smugness throughout. The Sport versions even managed to look less boring than the lesser trim grades.

This 2005 estate in Sport trim is for sale right now at £4495, with nearly 68,000 miles covered and a kit list as long as your arm. Climate control, a heated front windscreen, part-leather upholstery and 17-inch alloys that don’t – unlike on today’s Jag’s – look ridiculously small. If prices dropped even further, this could be a serious motorway mileage bargain.

Volkswagen Golf (MkV) 4Motion

A Golf is a great all-rounder. It always has been. But when you add four-wheel drive and a potential price cut in the wake of emissions rules, it’s a proper winner. The fifth-gen Golf may not be the most exciting car in the world, but with 4Motion it has an added element of all-round usability, whether it’s across fields or through the winter.

Check out this one. It’s the well-spec’d GT version with the solid 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel under the bonnet. It’s only covered 80,000 miles and both the cambelt and water pump have been replaced. Knock a bit extra off for the emissions nonsense and you’ve got a peerlessly capable everyday compact hatchback.

BMW 330d (E90)

Things get really interesting when you remember the 330d has been built for a long time. There are plenty of E46s out there in the classifieds, but you can even get the newer E90 version. It’s a bit of a weapon, with a 3.0-litre straight-six diesel pushing 231bhp and a mighty 369lb ft of torque to the rear wheels.

Start shredding tyres with this little chap. It’s a 2005, ‘55’-plate 75,000-miler with a manual gearbox, detachable tow bar and full leather seats. Sounds like a nice, practical motor to us. It doesn’t look like it has sat-nav but for £6000, who cares? Imagine what the price might fall to as diesel becomes ever-less popular…

Alfa Romeo GT JTDM Cloverleaf

Okay, so Fiat Crysler’s 1.9 JTDM diesel was never the quietest or most refined. In fact it was bloody noisy, but it’s the only choice for buying Alfa Romeo’s hugely sexy GT while hanging onto miles per gallon in the 40s and 50s. The interior was always a bit basic but you do get a good spec and fast steering that helped even the diesel feel cat-like into corners.

Our favourite pre-2006 one in today’s classifieds is this elegant silver example that comes with a fresh MOT, an unusual pale blue leather interior and a six-speed manual cog whisk between the front seats. The seller seems to be claiming that the engine is ‘blissfully quiet’, but ignore that. Maybe he means when it’s turned off. Anyway, for just £3995 it’s hard to find a more appealing diesel Alfa, and it could get even cheaper. With less than 50,000 miles on it, too, this one will hopefully last a good while.