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Decent Car for Commuting

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raflad67

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Well it looks like I may be commuting around 45 miles each way and need to get a decent car with good mpg. I will get htd so not all bad!

Any goaters got any ideas or aware of any decent deals at the mo? I would be looking to spend around 4 - 5K.

cheers
 
Have a look at parkers.co.uk

They have a "choose a car" facility where you can input your requirements and budget.
It will kick out a list. Pick one and it gives a good review of the car and will offer other cars to consider.

A very useful website.
 
Same distance I used to commute when I was at Leeming. Used to do it in my 2L Mondeo TDCi. Still got it and I love it. Cheap parts and good MPG. Comfortable ride and quite punchy when it needs to be. Like a poor mans 3 Series
 
Not a bad first chice

Not a bad first chice

Somthing mondeo sized should do you fine, it's a commute I might be making myself soon so thinking about it at the moment.

Anything TDi should do you, I'd avoid a french car (although peugot can be reliable) if you could stretch to a Passat or Octavia you'd be taking a boost in your reliability, not too expensive to service these days either.

Audi, BMW and Volvo tend to be a bit more expensive to service/repair (although less will probably go wrong) unless you've got a local independant specialist.

I'll be trying my hardest to get an Octavia when I start too luck.

Linky to some examles
 
I have a 2ltr HDi Peaugot 406, and if I sit at around 55-60 mph on the motorway I can get from Swindon to Düsseldorf and back on one tank of Diesel, Just over 800 miles :PDT_Xtremez_30:

But it is too big for the 10 miles each way I do now, so a smaller diesel would be better for me.
 
have a look at skoda reliable and fuel efficient,under it all its a v.w. not all taxi drivers can be wrong.
 
Another vote for Skoda from me, just cheap VW's really with the reliability to boot.
 
I bought an N reg Citroen ZX Estate for £250 in 2005 as I was commuting from Coningsby to Warton every week. (189 miles each way)

The thing looked like a complete skip but was mechanically sound.

Sold it for scrap in 2008 for £110 and the only thing that ever went wrong was a snapped clutch cable and it passed 3 MOTs. The 1.9 TDi lump was bullet proof.
 
Although I've had this one since new - my 11 year old V70 2.5 TDI still averages 58+ MPG (at 180K+ miles) and I use it on a simlar daily distance, 80 Miles/day.

I can confirm the MPG because I still do all the maths on a continuous spreadsheet started in 2004.

I believe it's not worth £500 - but it's keeping all that mileage off my "Weekend" cars.

Annual running costs of less that £1K (cos thats my limit to scrap it) plus Diesel (now hitting £80 to fill up once every 7 or so working days - I dont count fuel as a cost against this car as I'd use fuel whatever car I used!)
 
If its just a commuter why spend 5k on it?

I've recently got rid of a 1996 306 XRDT which gave fantastic economy, has enough room in the back for bags, and cost £450 to buy and buttons to insure and maintain

I've replaced it with a late 2003 Volvo S60 D5. Paid 2.5k, insurance is still cheap, economy is 56MPG average (I managed a 63MPG run to Waddington from Brize and back) Reliable, very comfy and a great stereo

I considered when getting the volvo going for a mk3 mondeo (Loads available for a lot less than 2.5K (2003 ish))
also considered very late nineties Passat 1.9 TDIs, (can get them for little more than 1K)

Clio 1.5 DCIs (2002 ish) are incredibly economical but can cost more to buy than a mondeo TDCI of the same age...You have to think about how you want to spend your money, on a car that will give you the cheapest A-B option, or the most reliability per £, or the best all rounder per £. and on the latter note, it has to be the Mk3 mondeo TDCI (But dont spend 5k on one, get a 2K one and spend the 3K on keeping said car fuelled, taxed, maintained and insured for many moons)
 
I use a hire car fairly often and for size, comfort and economy mixed with performance the best I have had has been a VW Jetta, not quite as big as a passat but pokey and more economical then smaller petrol engines. I was impressed and as a comparison I drive a 190ps 2ltr Saab Turbo, my leaving gift to me as Bruggen closed:S (14 Sqn left!) 10 years old still love it!!!! :PDT_Xtremez_19:
 
Or even Try a Ford Focus TDDI I get (on average) 62 MPG which ain't bad.....you can pick up a 55/56 Reg Focus from about 3K, Best of luck with your choice. :PDT_Xtremez_14:
 
I've got a new focus, petrol jobbie, OK to drive but the road noise is hellish after the Golf I had. It is more fun to drive than the golf but I'd go for a mondeo if I had to do 80+ miles a day in it.
 
gemarriott said:
I've got a new focus, petrol jobbie, OK to drive but the road noise is hellish after the Golf I had. It is more fun to drive than the golf but I'd go for a mondeo if I had to do 80+ miles a day in it.
Click to expand...

That could be down to the tyres. Some are a harder compound, last longer but noisier.
 
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