Diesel sedan options for daily driving to replace my erstwhile Audi Q5

I genuinely fell in love with the BMW 2 series. I also explored the used car market & found some amazing deals on mint A6 TDIs and 530D M Sport.

BHPian speedfreak77 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello Team, it's been a long time. I have been caught up with loads of work and have not been active recently.

I posted about my beloved Q5 where I decided to reregister her in Bangalore and keep her for a bit more while but long story short, she came to Bangalore, I drove her for a month and before reregistering here where the RTO quoted me over 4 big ones the car just gave up and the instrument cluster lit up like a Christmas tree. A friend of mine wanted to take her for a joyride and let's just say it ended up in a sour misery. After this, with a really heavy heart, I decided to part ways with her because all the hassles were really not worth it for me.

Now, the new car bug has bitten me really hard. Considering all the cars in my family are SUVs, I was particularly looking at sedans. I went to Navnit Motors BMW and checked out the 220D Gran Coupe M Sport, I have to say I was really impressed with that car.

Fast forward, ended up test driving the Mini Cooper JCW, A class Limousine, and the Jaguar F-Pace (I really don’t know why I test drove this one but really just wanted to feel this car). Now, I genuinely fell in love with the 2 series, those frameless doors and the sporty design appealed to me a lot, especially in that black sapphire metallic colour.

Now, having been quoted over 50 big ones for this car, my mind sort of hit a wall and I asked myself is it really worth the money, spending so much on that car because the interior was a tad basic and it's a baby BMW with a FWD after all.

Started going through the pre-owned market and found really amazing deals on mint A6 TDIs and 530D M sport. I have never purchased or owned a pre-owned vehicle and no one in my extended family has too. Even though the kid in me is telling me to be a brave man and buy the 5 series, the wise man in me says to bite the dust and get a brand spanking new 2 series or the A class. I know a lot of you lot will suggest me to go for the X1 or Q3 but I am strictly against EVs or Petrols. This car will be driven upwards of 15k kms a year and diesel is what I need.

So Team, help a friend out to pick his new daily. Please do consider that I will be driving this car myself every day and I don’t really have passengers, it’s always me or a plus one. Also attaching a picture of my beloved Q5 so that everyone can give her a good farewell.

Here's what BHPian ex-innova-guy had to say about the matter:

For Preowned Route

The answer to the preowned route lies right in your post itself.

Not much experienced myself but from what knowledge I have gathered from the forum, the German cars need to be looked after once the warranty expires and you genuinely need to keep at least 1L aside for miscellaneous expenses apart from the regular maintenance of the car.

Another important factor is that will the preowned car be under warranty. The amount to replace any part if it goes kaput will be significant.

Most of the owners service their cars in a reputed FNG in later years. Do you have a trusted FNG?

Experienced members can guide you better on this.

For New Car Purchase

From what I read you are more inclined towards a sedan but since you are looking for a diesel please take a TD of Diesel XUV700.

If you are conscious about brand value then the BMW 2GC is surely a stunning car.

Another fellow member is in a similar boat and you can refer to the same here.

All the best for your purchase!

Here's what BHPian DicKy had to say about the matter:

Sorry if I am missing something. But the BMW X1 has a diesel version, right? Doubtful since you clubbed it together with EVs/petrols. Then again, the X1 and GLA diesels are more expensive than the 2 series/A limo by a good 6-8 lakhs. You are caught between a rock and a hard place. The proper diesel Germans (read 3,C,X3,GLC) will cost you 75+ lakhs, while on the other end, the only diesel low rider is the Tata Altroz. So it is either 2 series/ A class or cough up 8 lakhs more for the BMW X1 or Merc GLA.

If you loved the 2 series and can afford it easily, then go for it. No use hoping for a RWD German if you can't stretch to 75 big ones or want to go the used route.

Or the left-field options are the Citroen C5 Aircross and the Hyundai Tucson.

Just now saw that the A class no longer has a diesel.

Here's what BHPian lamborghini had to say about the matter:

For a new to pre-owned car ownership, I would suggest finding models that are within the warranty period (less than 2-3 years old) with 20K or less on the odo. These vehicles will most likely be serviced and maintained by the company workshop - a record of which will be available when you carry out a pre-purchase inspection by them.

Also, you can extend the warranty as well.

For a fun-to-drive sedan : I would also look at petrols. Not for any other reason except that diesels command a premium in the used car market that could nullify the fuel savings, and unless it's a 530D - the petrols will outperform them.

Cars I would look at are the 330i, 530i, new A6, and even a few odd pieces may pop up like a CLS - there is one in Mumbai that seems tempting though requires heavy negotiations and the cost of re-registration to be factored in.

In diesels your best bet is C300D or a 530D.

In case you're buying a pre-owned car out of warranty, do get a detailed PPI carried out by the Authorized showroom and scan over the car for any damage due to water / accidents / abuse / poor maintenance. Keep a healthy budget aside for maintenance and hope it never has to be used! I'd factor in 30L-35L which would get you a clean, late generation, low run E350 W212, or an F10 530D.

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