Hey guys,

I drive a 2008 Seat Leon FR with the Volkswagen 2.0 TDI 170hp (CEGA engine code). It has about 206,000 km (~128k miles) and still runs well, but I know the next repairs will be expensive:

• Dual-mass flywheel (~€835 / $870 outside VW)

• Timing belt kit (~€700 / $730)

• And possibly turbo, injectors, DPF, etc in the future.

That’s why I’m considering switching to a gasoline car that’s cheaper to maintain and easier to work on myself.

My concern is this: how can I be sure that moving to a gas car will actually be cheaper and more durable in the long run? Turbo diesels are known to last very high mileage, while small gasoline engines (at least here in Europe) don’t usually go as far.

I’ve been looking into the Toyota 1.6 VVT-i (1ZR-FE), but either they’re too expensive or have too many miles. My budget is around $5-6k, and ideally I’d like a compact car (Auris, Mazda 3, etc.) with about 85–120 hp. I wouldn’t mind going smaller (like a Yaris), but I need to be able to drive on the highway occasionally without destroying a tiny engine.

My main goal is to find something reliable and easy to work on that can run on E85. I plan to install a conversion kit and also replace the spark plugs and coils. Where I live, most of the Toyota available are Yaris models made in france with 1.0–1.3L engines, and I don’t really trust those small motors to last 200 000km +, especially given the high prices.

From what I understand, a 1.6L engine is kind of the sweet spot here in Europe – not too thirsty, still reliable, and good enough for highway use. A 1.8L would probably consume noticeably more fuel (can anyone confirm?).

Fuel prices are really high in Europe, so running on E85 makes a lot of sense: even with 20–30% higher consumption, it still comes out way cheaper (basically half the cost compared to regular gas). I’ve also looked into factory flex-fuel models, but there are very few available here, so most people use conversion kits.

👉 So here’s my question:

• Should I keep my Leon and just deal with the upcoming expensive repairs?

• Or is it actually smarter to switch to a small gas car around 1.6L for cheaper and more reliable long-term ownership? And if so, which models ?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has made the switch from a high-mileage diesel to a gas car. Did it end up being more reliable and cost-effective, or was it a mistake?

Thanks!