Help with commute car- 480 miles per week - budget £2k-2.5k
Discussion
hi all,
I am in need of a commuter car for 480 miles trip per week. 160 in a day - 3 days a week.
budget is 2-2.5k and need auto.(wife on auto license)
size =4 seater. any body type
searched on autotrader but unable to decide on the model and not sure about ebay/gumtree dealers.
any help is much appreciated. Thanks
I am in need of a commuter car for 480 miles trip per week. 160 in a day - 3 days a week.
budget is 2-2.5k and need auto.(wife on auto license)
size =4 seater. any body type
searched on autotrader but unable to decide on the model and not sure about ebay/gumtree dealers.
any help is much appreciated. Thanks
A very tall order if you ask me...well, at least if you want any reliability, longevity and/or economy out of it.
If you absolutely have to meet the brief on that sort of budget....I'd personally be looking for a cockroach....i.e. something Japanese, petrol and as bland as possible to ensure reliability, potentially at the cost of economy....but simple/cheap to service and likely bullet proof. (esp. the auto box)
Honda Jazz / Suzuki Swift / Honda Civic / Toyota Corolla / Auris / Lexus IS200 (if need the space)
Buy Private, ideally low owner, older person who's looked after it and full history
If you absolutely have to meet the brief on that sort of budget....I'd personally be looking for a cockroach....i.e. something Japanese, petrol and as bland as possible to ensure reliability, potentially at the cost of economy....but simple/cheap to service and likely bullet proof. (esp. the auto box)
Honda Jazz / Suzuki Swift / Honda Civic / Toyota Corolla / Auris / Lexus IS200 (if need the space)
Buy Private, ideally low owner, older person who's looked after it and full history
Tiny bit over budget but you prob won’t get more comfort of kit for the money ..
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1653460
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1653460
Fuel economy is going to make a huge difference at that sort of mileage and target price -
The most efficient cars cost about 10p per mile (70mpg diesel).
Other less efficient cheap petrols will cost more like 18 -20p per mile (35mpg).
So over a year the difference for you will be £2000. If this job is long term then I would borrow an extra grand or two and get something famously efficient and cheap to service with some motorway refinement - old shape peugeot 308 or Citroen for example.
The most efficient cars cost about 10p per mile (70mpg diesel).
Other less efficient cheap petrols will cost more like 18 -20p per mile (35mpg).
So over a year the difference for you will be £2000. If this job is long term then I would borrow an extra grand or two and get something famously efficient and cheap to service with some motorway refinement - old shape peugeot 308 or Citroen for example.
Hammersia said:
Fuel economy is going to make a huge difference at that sort of mileage and target price -
The most efficient cars cost about 10p per mile (70mpg diesel).
Other less efficient cheap petrols will cost more like 18 -20p per mile (35mpg).
So over a year the difference for you will be £2000. If this job is long term then I would borrow an extra grand or two and get something famously efficient and cheap to service with some motorway refinement - old shape peugeot 308 or Citroen for example.
Solid point....but I would add that you need to have your eyes wide open when making purchases of older / higher mileage diesel autos...especially something French, which are not known for their longevity or reliability.....it only takes failure / replacement of a dual mass flywheel, a turbo, injector, one of many sensors, modules, DPF to wipe out a huge amount of your fuel savings.....The most efficient cars cost about 10p per mile (70mpg diesel).
Other less efficient cheap petrols will cost more like 18 -20p per mile (35mpg).
So over a year the difference for you will be £2000. If this job is long term then I would borrow an extra grand or two and get something famously efficient and cheap to service with some motorway refinement - old shape peugeot 308 or Citroen for example.
Also....70mpg is probably unlikely at this price point....even with a full £5k budget....derv lump bolted to an auto box in a mid size vehicle....I'd suggest you'd be lucky to see 50/55mpg combined.....and the delta between petrol and diesel prices isn't working in your favour.
Seat Exeo should come into budget.
It's an old, strong A4 (b6/7) with Seat stickers on and a newer group common rail engine. The later multitronic gearboxes are OK, actually. It'll be leggy at that money but if there's evidence of reasonable maintenance they're a well-proven platform.
It's an old, strong A4 (b6/7) with Seat stickers on and a newer group common rail engine. The later multitronic gearboxes are OK, actually. It'll be leggy at that money but if there's evidence of reasonable maintenance they're a well-proven platform.
sjc said:
Tiny bit over budget but you prob won’t get more comfort of kit for the money ..
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1653460
Looks excellent.. But the fuel efficiency and tax will eat into ithttps://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1653460
MattyD803 said:
Solid point....but I would add that you need to have your eyes wide open when making purchases of older / higher mileage diesel autos...especially something French, which are not known for their longevity or reliability.....it only takes failure / replacement of a dual mass flywheel, a turbo, injector, one of many sensors, modules, DPF to wipe out a huge amount of your fuel savings.....
Also....70mpg is probably unlikely at this price point....even with a full £5k budget....derv lump bolted to an auto box in a mid size vehicle....I'd suggest you'd be lucky to see 50/55mpg combined.....and the delta between petrol and diesel prices isn't working in your favour.
Ditto.. I thought of going to those model but somethinv stopped me Also....70mpg is probably unlikely at this price point....even with a full £5k budget....derv lump bolted to an auto box in a mid size vehicle....I'd suggest you'd be lucky to see 50/55mpg combined.....and the delta between petrol and diesel prices isn't working in your favour.
Dr G said:
Seat Exeo should come into budget.
It's an old, strong A4 (b6/7) with Seat stickers on and a newer group common rail engine. The later multitronic gearboxes are OK, actually. It'll be leggy at that money but if there's evidence of reasonable maintenance they're a well-proven platform.
Ohh never saw this one.. Definitely will have a look.. Thanks It's an old, strong A4 (b6/7) with Seat stickers on and a newer group common rail engine. The later multitronic gearboxes are OK, actually. It'll be leggy at that money but if there's evidence of reasonable maintenance they're a well-proven platform.
I suspect the sweet spot is not to go for a tiny car as that's what most people with that budget are looking for - go for a Focus/Gold/Astra sized car.
Maybe a petrol engine - you might lose 10mpg over a diesel but less likely to have an expensive breakdown that a leggy diesel might give you.
(my old Lexus (2.5 litre petrol) gives 35mpg on a run, and is probably worth £2500, would be a lovely place to waft 80 miles each way to work, and I've only spent around £500 on non-routine repairs in 6 years and about 40k miles.)
Maybe a petrol engine - you might lose 10mpg over a diesel but less likely to have an expensive breakdown that a leggy diesel might give you.
(my old Lexus (2.5 litre petrol) gives 35mpg on a run, and is probably worth £2500, would be a lovely place to waft 80 miles each way to work, and I've only spent around £500 on non-routine repairs in 6 years and about 40k miles.)
Truckosaurus said:
I suspect the sweet spot is not to go for a tiny car as that's what most people with that budget are looking for - go for a Focus/Gold/Astra sized car.
Maybe a petrol engine - you might lose 10mpg over a diesel but less likely to have an expensive breakdown that a leggy diesel might give you.
(my old Lexus (2.5 litre petrol) gives 35mpg on a run, and is probably worth £2500, would be a lovely place to waft 80 miles each way to work, and I've only spent around £500 on non-routine repairs in 6 years and about 40k miles.)
Yes, but as I say on his mileage that would be £4,000 in fuel alone a year. I say borrow a grand or two for much lower fuel costs, will pay back in a year.Maybe a petrol engine - you might lose 10mpg over a diesel but less likely to have an expensive breakdown that a leggy diesel might give you.
(my old Lexus (2.5 litre petrol) gives 35mpg on a run, and is probably worth £2500, would be a lovely place to waft 80 miles each way to work, and I've only spent around £500 on non-routine repairs in 6 years and about 40k miles.)
karan99 said:
sjc said:
Tiny bit over budget but you prob won’t get more comfort of kit for the money ..
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1653460
Looks excellent.. But the fuel efficiency and tax will eat into ithttps://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1653460
I just sold a diesel alfa giulietta with 90k on the clock for £1800, would return 50+mpg, was golf sized, reliable in my ownership (40k miles). Maintenance and service was reasonably priced.
Ensure the EGR cooler has been changed and the cambelt has been done. Mine always sounded agricultural but was a good work horse.
Ensure the EGR cooler has been changed and the cambelt has been done. Mine always sounded agricultural but was a good work horse.
The most obvious answer has already been given though, something with the 1.9PD engine. Probably an Octavia but there's also the Passat and A4 worth a look.
B6 generation A4's might be the most common 20+year old car on the road. I still see a few, my brother has one with 320k on the clock so that says something.
If you look for pre 2000 cars on the road it's amazing (to me atleast) how few you'll see.
B6 generation A4's might be the most common 20+year old car on the road. I still see a few, my brother has one with 320k on the clock so that says something.
If you look for pre 2000 cars on the road it's amazing (to me atleast) how few you'll see.
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