USED BUYING Guide - Best DiESEL CaRs for £500

The emergence dieselgate can only produce one good thing - some deals are of great use

Diesel is deader than disco. It's official.

A year after Oilburnermageddon, because I've been rather elegant calling the whole thing a disaster emission Volkswagen, continue to have a domino effect on the car industry. Suddenly, the combustion engine oil does not look too clever. Which resulted in Renault hinted that the costs meet stringent emissions targets for 2020 are likely to cause the loss of the diesel range. Considering that heavy oil is a solid 60% of sales, it would be interesting times - in the used car market.

The new car showroom unlikely to change in the next few years with all sorts of different propulsion systems under the bonnet, but down in the front yard motors are used, diesel will be with us for decades to come. It can be worn all kinds of government incentives and penalties to switch and memos, but diesels are not going away, so while they are serviced, which one should you buy?

As a rule, I would remain inexpensive, disposable until the entire situation becomes clear. At least that position would also make me feel better about the 530d I had. So it is all about the condition and history. I am wary of diesel engines mile high, but if history shows that all injectors have been replaced in recent years, there is not much to go wrong. In spite of everything, of course.

So with £ 500 in your pocket, you might think that the choice is limited to cleverly trash. Well, how about the 2004 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Ghia was HPI clear? Inevitably, it's a tow bar and 218,000 miles, but this is a car dealer with MOT one year. It would be wonderful to think that you can squeeze years of that with not too much bother.

Some classified ads go, though, is the Peugeot 307 with a list of advice MOT long as your arm, so it is worth avoiding. As a low-mile 2007 Mondeo Titanium with issues injector as spare parts or repairs for the same money.

As I grow older, I find myself looking Rovers, and I think 2003 25 2.0 TD would laugh to £ 500. It was only 50k miles on the clock, too, so it should not be worn out or anything.

If the diesel Brits are your thing, I see the 2005 Jaguar S-Type 2.7D Sport with fancy wheels and lots of chrome discolored at just under £ 2000. It looked like a laugh, a bit blingy and has done 164K miles.

Diesel, then, is still with us and there's tons of stuff around. Opportunity is at the lower end and it is the safest place to buy. Just do not panic, people.

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