The Best Diesel Cars You Can Buy For £2000

In the age of austerity, it's important that we get the most out of our great British pound (or USD). For car guys and girls like us, this sentiment applies to our car buying decisions; we want something stylish, economical, comfortable and fun to drive.

Like it or not, it's the dreaded black pump that makes the most economical sense. Modern (ish) diesel cars are no longer the stuff of nightmares, despite what the Fast and Furious franchise might have us believe...

With that in mind (and with your 'best diesel cars for £2000' input on Facebook), here is a selection of six diesel-powered cars that you'll actually enjoy owning, running and showing off.

Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD

The 2.4-litre JTD is stylish, fun to drive and comes with a punchy and refined 150bhp oil burner that gives the 156 a 0-62mph time of around 9.4sec. For upwards of £1300, expect to bag a 2003 car with leather, air con and low miles. If you're tempted to get one, make sure it comes with a full service history and check the clutch, suspension and, you guessed it, electrics.

Land Rover Discovery Td5

For a go-anywhere, comfortable diesel 4x4, it's the Disco Series II you should opt for. Prices for the much-improved Series II (compared with the rust-ridden Series I) kick off from £2000 and for that you'll be sitting pretty behind the wheel of a 2.5-litre, inline-five Td5-engined model, which nine out of ten buyers opted for when new. For a vehicle of its size and weight, ride and handling are excellent and the cabin is huge. When buying, look out for damage underneath from off-roading.

Fabia vRS

For the ultimate blend in performance, economy and fun, the 1.9-litre Fabia vRS takes some beating. The VW-sourced engine packs a healthy 130bhp and 230lb/ft torque, which is good enough for a 0-62mph time of around 8.0sec. What's more, you'll see upwards of 60mpg if you go easy. For £1900 you can't go wrong.

Golf GT TDI 130

Another solid buy on the used diesel market comes from another 1.9-litre VW-powered product. The Mk4 Golf GT TDI 130 is a car for the 'spirited discerning driver', offering over 50mpg and a top speed of just shy 130mph. Handling, safety and performance score highly and owners rate the GT TDI for its image and reliability. When buying, make sure the car comes with a full service history and check that the timing belt and tensioner were changed at 60k miles.

Mercedes W124 300

Oft referred to as bombproof, the W124 Mercedes was utterly over-engineered, which meant it would swallow huge miles with ease. The diesel-powered 300D is a case in point with many models on the used car market boasting well over 200,000 miles. For upwards of £1300, this future classic (it's almost there) is unrivaled in this list for its waftability, reliability and ability to perform as a bona fide work horse. Owners love the W124, which is why they tend to keep hold of them for many, many years.

BMW E46 330d

If it's style, performance and badge snobbery you're after, then say hello to your £2k diesel champion. Of all the Facebook comments, it was the E46 330D, which was alluded to most. And for good reason. Early 330d BMWs (184bhp) blew the competition into the weeds thanks to their responsiveness, refinement and brilliant handling. Just £1500 buys you this 140mph oil-burner, although most on sale will be Touring models, which may put some buyers off. Reliability is top notch, but suspension components have a tendency of failing, so check this thoroughly.