20k miles a year. How would you do it?
Discussion
Some people would have you believe you need a huge barge with air suspension and adaptive cruise control for doing that mileage. Up until recently, I was doing the same in a 1990s Peugeot 306! Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a top-of-the-range Merc S-Class would have been a lot nicer, but the Pug is still comfortable, reliable and economical. I don't do so many miles at the moment, but wouldn't consider replacing the car if I went back to doing it again.
I think people forget how modern and capable sub-£1,000 cars are these days.
I think people forget how modern and capable sub-£1,000 cars are these days.
My wife and I both managed over 24000 miles each in one year pre-covid. That's right, nearly 50000 miles.
I was commuting a couple of days a week to Southampton from Somerset, she to Bristol daily. Plus a trip the south of France.
I had a BMW 530d. 2016 model and it managed to do 40mpg and was utterly faultless, normal servicing only from BMW main agent.
She has (still does) her BMW 320d X-Drive. 2017 model, it managed 50mpg and was again utterly faultless and normal servicing only.
Both cars were bought <10000 miles as approved used and maintained by BMW main dealer. The only additional work done was I like to vacuum out 4 litres of oil and replace it every 7000 miles as I don't hold with the idea of 18000 mile oil changes!
If I had to go back to commuting I would have another 6 cylinder diesel BMW in a heartbeat.
Having had both the extra refinement of the 6 makes it much nicer on a long commute when the smallest details on the car can really grate.
I was commuting a couple of days a week to Southampton from Somerset, she to Bristol daily. Plus a trip the south of France.
I had a BMW 530d. 2016 model and it managed to do 40mpg and was utterly faultless, normal servicing only from BMW main agent.
She has (still does) her BMW 320d X-Drive. 2017 model, it managed 50mpg and was again utterly faultless and normal servicing only.
Both cars were bought <10000 miles as approved used and maintained by BMW main dealer. The only additional work done was I like to vacuum out 4 litres of oil and replace it every 7000 miles as I don't hold with the idea of 18000 mile oil changes!
If I had to go back to commuting I would have another 6 cylinder diesel BMW in a heartbeat.
Having had both the extra refinement of the 6 makes it much nicer on a long commute when the smallest details on the car can really grate.
What's your actual journey distance and profile? Can you charge at home?
There's some reasonable high mileage deals to be had on Ioniq38kWh, and that will reliably do a 100 mile day at motorway speeds.
Alternatively look for a Nissan Leaf 40kWh, about £15,000 they can be had. A Renault Zoe 40kWh might be slightly cheaper.
Bit shedding in a cheap diese (Skoda/VW/Pug TDi) is usually the cheapest way, bit not necessarily the most reliable or most comfortable.
There's some reasonable high mileage deals to be had on Ioniq38kWh, and that will reliably do a 100 mile day at motorway speeds.
Alternatively look for a Nissan Leaf 40kWh, about £15,000 they can be had. A Renault Zoe 40kWh might be slightly cheaper.
Bit shedding in a cheap diese (Skoda/VW/Pug TDi) is usually the cheapest way, bit not necessarily the most reliable or most comfortable.
Stick Legs said:
My wife and I both managed over 24000 miles each in one year pre-covid. That's right, nearly 50000 miles.
I was commuting a couple of days a week to Southampton from Somerset, she to Bristol daily. Plus a trip the south of France.
I had a BMW 530d. 2016 model and it managed to do 40mpg and was utterly faultless, normal servicing only from BMW main agent.
She has (still does) her BMW 320d X-Drive. 2017 model, it managed 50mpg and was again utterly faultless and normal servicing only.
Both cars were bought <10000 miles as approved used and maintained by BMW main dealer. The only additional work done was I like to vacuum out 4 litres of oil and replace it every 7000 miles as I don't hold with the idea of 18000 mile oil changes!
If I had to go back to commuting I would have another 6 cylinder diesel BMW in a heartbeat.
Having had both the extra refinement of the 6 makes it much nicer on a long commute when the smallest details on the car can really grate.
I managed 41k miles in a year once in the E90 330d. It was a cracking motorway/distance car I thought. I'm another one who speaks highly of a 6 cylinder diesel engine for covering big miles. You get good range and mpg, plus decent performance too. I was commuting a couple of days a week to Southampton from Somerset, she to Bristol daily. Plus a trip the south of France.
I had a BMW 530d. 2016 model and it managed to do 40mpg and was utterly faultless, normal servicing only from BMW main agent.
She has (still does) her BMW 320d X-Drive. 2017 model, it managed 50mpg and was again utterly faultless and normal servicing only.
Both cars were bought <10000 miles as approved used and maintained by BMW main dealer. The only additional work done was I like to vacuum out 4 litres of oil and replace it every 7000 miles as I don't hold with the idea of 18000 mile oil changes!
If I had to go back to commuting I would have another 6 cylinder diesel BMW in a heartbeat.
Having had both the extra refinement of the 6 makes it much nicer on a long commute when the smallest details on the car can really grate.
A 320d would give you a bigger range and more mpg, but I personally prefer the 6 cylinder diesel engine for sure.
TurboHatchback said:
I would buy a 2016 W213 Mercedes E220d. £20 tax, crazy fuel economy, 9 speed auto which does 1300rpm at 70mph, excellent seats, extremely quiet and comfortable. I can't think of a better compromise assuming the budget stretched that far.
^^ This ^^Good value, well built, reliable great to drive.
WonkeyDonkey said:
Do it in whatever car you want. I did 20k a year in my k series Elise. Was fine.
I could probably do it on my pushbike, but it's not exactly ideal. It needs to be cheap, it needs to be comfortable to reduce fatigue from things like road noise and it needs to be reliable.
From the other poster asking about profile, it's just shy of 100 miles round trip and it's 75% motorway/dual, 20% A road and 5% town.
Chicken Chaser said:
WonkeyDonkey said:
Do it in whatever car you want. I did 20k a year in my k series Elise. Was fine.
I could probably do it on my pushbike, but it's not exactly ideal. It needs to be cheap, it needs to be comfortable to reduce fatigue from things like road noise and it needs to be reliable.
From the other poster asking about profile, it's just shy of 100 miles round trip and it's 75% motorway/dual, 20% A road and 5% town.
Edited by sjc on Saturday 10th July 07:13
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff