Recommendations For A 30 Mile Commute
Discussion
Hello everyone, first post and thread.
Some advice please.....
Got a new job which involves a 30 mile each way commute. The journey involves A roads mainly. I currently have an 09 plate Vauxhall Astra Club 1.4 petrol, not sure the old girl is up to it long term, will probably have to work hard resulting in wear and tear and excess fuel consumption.
Any advice on a good work horse that will get me to and from work doing the 60 mile per day trip? Diesel? Automatic?...
I’ve only got a 2k budget so something within that. Even if I get 3/4 years out of it that would do the trick.
Mrs JediJim is learning to drive so will probably keep the Astra in the family, it’s reliable and has a full service history.
Some advice please.....
Got a new job which involves a 30 mile each way commute. The journey involves A roads mainly. I currently have an 09 plate Vauxhall Astra Club 1.4 petrol, not sure the old girl is up to it long term, will probably have to work hard resulting in wear and tear and excess fuel consumption.
Any advice on a good work horse that will get me to and from work doing the 60 mile per day trip? Diesel? Automatic?...
I’ve only got a 2k budget so something within that. Even if I get 3/4 years out of it that would do the trick.
Mrs JediJim is learning to drive so will probably keep the Astra in the family, it’s reliable and has a full service history.
Edited by Rogerout on Thursday 29th October 13:45
I did a similar mileage for many Years. Pretty much all Motorway, Some Start/Stop. Some free flowing.
Started in a 1.4 Rover, 1.6/2.0 Primeras and ended up in a 2008 Kia Ceed Diesel. All manuals
All were up to the job. The Ceed gave the best MPG around 50mpg. worst was about 35.
The Astra will most likely be fine and pretty economical.
Give it a try for a while.
You may find you want better economy or an Auto if a lot of Start/Stop. Or something a bit more comfortable.
Very impressed with the Ceed. Now with a Colleague on 200K and very little has gone wrong.
Started in a 1.4 Rover, 1.6/2.0 Primeras and ended up in a 2008 Kia Ceed Diesel. All manuals
All were up to the job. The Ceed gave the best MPG around 50mpg. worst was about 35.
The Astra will most likely be fine and pretty economical.
Give it a try for a while.
You may find you want better economy or an Auto if a lot of Start/Stop. Or something a bit more comfortable.
Very impressed with the Ceed. Now with a Colleague on 200K and very little has gone wrong.
If that’s a 5 day a week commute, I’d be wanting a comfy diesel.
I’ve just stopped doing a 35 mile each way commute down A and B roads. Takes about an hour each way, and I did it in a Volvo V70 D5 manual. I that car it was ok, comfy, quiet, smooth and enough power to make progress.
Can your Astra do the commute, of course it can. But it will make it harder work than it needs to be.
How important is economy to you, as you’re looking at 1200 miles per month which in a diesel will be two tanks, probably more in a petrol depending on the car and how you drive it. I got myself into a place where I drove for economy and tickled 50mpg each day.
I’d certainly be going diesel if I were you, something comfy, and as we go into the winter months, good lights! Commuting for an hour in the dark on country lanes can get very tiring.
I’m a Volvo geek but I’d look at something like an S40/50. Avoid the 1.6d though, it’s a turd, go for the 2.0d.
I’ve just stopped doing a 35 mile each way commute down A and B roads. Takes about an hour each way, and I did it in a Volvo V70 D5 manual. I that car it was ok, comfy, quiet, smooth and enough power to make progress.
Can your Astra do the commute, of course it can. But it will make it harder work than it needs to be.
How important is economy to you, as you’re looking at 1200 miles per month which in a diesel will be two tanks, probably more in a petrol depending on the car and how you drive it. I got myself into a place where I drove for economy and tickled 50mpg each day.
I’d certainly be going diesel if I were you, something comfy, and as we go into the winter months, good lights! Commuting for an hour in the dark on country lanes can get very tiring.
I’m a Volvo geek but I’d look at something like an S40/50. Avoid the 1.6d though, it’s a turd, go for the 2.0d.
I could do without the expense of a new car however, the other half was progressing well with her driving until covid, now she doesn’t want to start up again until January. We just had a newborn so that’s put her driving back too.
The Astra is doable, I suppose but as other posters have said it’s bit terribly comfortable for longer journeys. The 1.4 petrol club doesn’t have much get up and go, but fine for town driving.
It seems to be going through oil too, I’m topping it up every few weeks.
So it seems a diesel is the best option then ? Never had one nor have I had an automatic..
The Astra is doable, I suppose but as other posters have said it’s bit terribly comfortable for longer journeys. The 1.4 petrol club doesn’t have much get up and go, but fine for town driving.
It seems to be going through oil too, I’m topping it up every few weeks.
So it seems a diesel is the best option then ? Never had one nor have I had an automatic..
S40 2.0TD is a good shout.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009123...
I had the 1.6d but I would avoid this engine.
Car was great apart from that. Did 120 miles per day in it.
Not the sharpest handling but comfortable commuter.
Focus 2.0TDCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007271...
this ones an auto but lots of manuals about.
ETA Civic looks good value.
Looks great in red IMO.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...
Auris - utterly dependable
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007151...
As is the Avensis
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009123...
I had the 1.6d but I would avoid this engine.
Car was great apart from that. Did 120 miles per day in it.
Not the sharpest handling but comfortable commuter.
Focus 2.0TDCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007271...
this ones an auto but lots of manuals about.
ETA Civic looks good value.
Looks great in red IMO.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...
Auris - utterly dependable
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007151...
As is the Avensis
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007201...
Edited by GreatGranny on Thursday 29th October 16:16
The C200/220 C Coupe is the pick they're bulletproof & the running cost are sensible too.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010155...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010155...
It's the boring answer but 'better the devil you know', if the Astra runs well it'll probably be the most cost effective option.
I was in a similar position a few years ago, running an old Omega 2.2. It drove perfectly but I started doing a 90 mile daily commute and decided I wanted something a bit newer and better on fuel. I bought a 320d and it turned out to be a complete dog, cost me a fortune before I sold it on at a massive loss. Meanwhile I had sold the Omega to my FIL who ran it for another 3 years with no problems.
I was in a similar position a few years ago, running an old Omega 2.2. It drove perfectly but I started doing a 90 mile daily commute and decided I wanted something a bit newer and better on fuel. I bought a 320d and it turned out to be a complete dog, cost me a fortune before I sold it on at a massive loss. Meanwhile I had sold the Omega to my FIL who ran it for another 3 years with no problems.
Your Astra should be ok for a while, I had a Ford C-Max 1.8 tdci that I expected to keep for 6 months and had it over 3 years taking it from 93k to 149k.
£2k isn't a lot, but if you have it handy and ready to go you may get a bargain, join some of the facebook groups to pick up the tips on what to look out for.
On the C-Max if going for the diesel I'd recommend looking at a lower mileage Mk 1.5 with the 1.8tdci, as it is fairly economical, has a bit of shove 118bhp and fixing an injector will not write the car off at £30 to £40 as it doesnt require coding by a dealer, unlike a 2.0litre. Make sure it has the cambelt change as it needs changed at 10 years or 125k miles (but 100k is safer as many snap before 125k) and is very expensive to replace (£700+) as the wet belt or chain equivalent needs changes at the same time too
The front windscreen demister is great on a cold morning.
Watch out for:
a recent alternator (buy genuine as cheap ones are a false economy)
a recent battery (I had the original calcium battery to about 11 years).
Steering rack issues
My tip to buying a car at this end of the market is to buy with 4 matching premium tyres or at a push premium tyres matching on each axle. 205/55 16" tyres aren't the most expensive, so if they can't afford good tyres they'll have skimped on the maintenance as well.
£2k isn't a lot, but if you have it handy and ready to go you may get a bargain, join some of the facebook groups to pick up the tips on what to look out for.
On the C-Max if going for the diesel I'd recommend looking at a lower mileage Mk 1.5 with the 1.8tdci, as it is fairly economical, has a bit of shove 118bhp and fixing an injector will not write the car off at £30 to £40 as it doesnt require coding by a dealer, unlike a 2.0litre. Make sure it has the cambelt change as it needs changed at 10 years or 125k miles (but 100k is safer as many snap before 125k) and is very expensive to replace (£700+) as the wet belt or chain equivalent needs changes at the same time too
The front windscreen demister is great on a cold morning.
Watch out for:
a recent alternator (buy genuine as cheap ones are a false economy)
a recent battery (I had the original calcium battery to about 11 years).
Steering rack issues
My tip to buying a car at this end of the market is to buy with 4 matching premium tyres or at a push premium tyres matching on each axle. 205/55 16" tyres aren't the most expensive, so if they can't afford good tyres they'll have skimped on the maintenance as well.
https://www.motors.co.uk/car-57997963/?i=0&m=s...
What about something like this? A 1.5 cd Renault Clio. Tax £30 for a year and apparently 60 mpg....
What about something like this? A 1.5 cd Renault Clio. Tax £30 for a year and apparently 60 mpg....
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