Petrol motorway cruiser, does my man maths make sense?
Discussion
By the end of the year, I will (fingers crossed) be joining the RAF and so relocating from the midlands to Lincolnshire, then on to who knows where. This being the case I will need a second car because, (a) I need to leave the current 1.6tdi Altea with the boss so she can get about with the little one, and (b) because I can't feasibly do relocations and trips home on my cbr600f.
So the research begins for a cheap, reliable motorway cruiser. Being an old man at heart I quite like the idea of the comfort, quiet, and reliability of a Lexus, but a V8 is a bit out of my budget for running costs, so in true PistonHeads fashion the is250 became a contender. But obviously if you're doing long journeys, then diesel is the way forward? The IS diesel was awful, so I looked into another reliable and comfortable old man car, the Volvo. Specifically the S60 in 5 cylinder D4 variant (in order to make use of the £30 per year tax).
By my man maths, and going by a 10k mileage per year and at current average fuel prices of 189 and 198, the diesel will cost me £790 per year less in fuel and tax if it can manage a genuine 50mpg (I put the Lexus at 38mpg as a conservative estimate, not sure how likely 40+mpg is on motorway jouneys with that car in auto), a saving that could go up or down depending on how often I'm actually doing the long drives and if the Lexus can break the 40mpg barrier
BUT. Cost of car has to be considered. For a D4 in SE trim you're looking at 4-5k and those will be 120-150k miles with varying levels or service history (I know, condition is more important than mileage). But for about 1k less I can get into a very well specced Lexus (got my heart set on the nav with mark levinson audio upgrade) usually with better history and lower mileage. So I'm potentially looking at a year 1 saving with the Lexus, and the Volvo taking longer to offset the higher purchase cost. And after a year I'll be on more money so can take the hit on the lower mpg petrol.
Does my logic make sense? Or is there another car that would beat both for purchase cost, running cost, and comfort/refinement around the 3-5k mark?
So the research begins for a cheap, reliable motorway cruiser. Being an old man at heart I quite like the idea of the comfort, quiet, and reliability of a Lexus, but a V8 is a bit out of my budget for running costs, so in true PistonHeads fashion the is250 became a contender. But obviously if you're doing long journeys, then diesel is the way forward? The IS diesel was awful, so I looked into another reliable and comfortable old man car, the Volvo. Specifically the S60 in 5 cylinder D4 variant (in order to make use of the £30 per year tax).
By my man maths, and going by a 10k mileage per year and at current average fuel prices of 189 and 198, the diesel will cost me £790 per year less in fuel and tax if it can manage a genuine 50mpg (I put the Lexus at 38mpg as a conservative estimate, not sure how likely 40+mpg is on motorway jouneys with that car in auto), a saving that could go up or down depending on how often I'm actually doing the long drives and if the Lexus can break the 40mpg barrier
BUT. Cost of car has to be considered. For a D4 in SE trim you're looking at 4-5k and those will be 120-150k miles with varying levels or service history (I know, condition is more important than mileage). But for about 1k less I can get into a very well specced Lexus (got my heart set on the nav with mark levinson audio upgrade) usually with better history and lower mileage. So I'm potentially looking at a year 1 saving with the Lexus, and the Volvo taking longer to offset the higher purchase cost. And after a year I'll be on more money so can take the hit on the lower mpg petrol.
Does my logic make sense? Or is there another car that would beat both for purchase cost, running cost, and comfort/refinement around the 3-5k mark?
Is the D5 Volvo lump ULeZ compliant? You may not need to head to any urban areas with the charge but it’s something else to add into your costs.
Personally I’d be looking at something from the VAG stable if you’re going diesel. I’ve got an Ibiza with the 140 2.0 tdi and it’s currently returning 71mpg from my commute of 95% motorway. Appreciate the Ibiza is on the small side for your needs but they stuffed that engine in everything…
Personally I’d be looking at something from the VAG stable if you’re going diesel. I’ve got an Ibiza with the 140 2.0 tdi and it’s currently returning 71mpg from my commute of 95% motorway. Appreciate the Ibiza is on the small side for your needs but they stuffed that engine in everything…
Get the petrol. You're not doing massive miles so the savings are never going to be huge. At your budget, you're buying on condition and the Lexus will likely be the more reliable car. Neither is a particularly cheap brand to repair when they do go wrong.
Don't forget your Home to Duty pay.
https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/raf/travel/t...
Don't forget your Home to Duty pay.
https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/raf/travel/t...
CarCrazyDad said:
If you want something reliable, economical and sensible plenty of Bluemotion Golf's in that price range.
Thats something you don't normally see in the same sentence, Golf diesel and reliable....Mondeo or Insignia in diesel form, but there is nothing wrong with the petrol IS if thats what you like, your better off driving something you like that costs extra to run over something cheaper that you hate.
Ive got a 2015 Seat Leon TSI. Its only a 1.2 engine with 110bhp, but it has a 50L fuel tank, manual gearbox and on a run gets near as damn 60mpg. And it was only £30 road tax. Even around town its getting 55mpg. Slightly bigger than the Golf its based on and has all the essential creature comforts that you need. Cheap motoring!
stevemcs said:
CarCrazyDad said:
If you want something reliable, economical and sensible plenty of Bluemotion Golf's in that price range.
Thats something you don't normally see in the same sentence, Golf diesel and reliable....Mondeo or Insignia in diesel form, but there is nothing wrong with the petrol IS if thats what you like, your better off driving something you like that costs extra to run over something cheaper that you hate.
Parts are also cheap, they're easy to work on, and significant online owner forum / club presence means virtually everything can be diagnosed with help from enthusiasts
Adrian250 said:
Ive got a 2015 Seat Leon TSI. Its only a 1.2 engine with 110bhp, but it has a 50L fuel tank, manual gearbox and on a run gets near as damn 60mpg. And it was only £30 road tax. Even around town its getting 55mpg. Slightly bigger than the Golf its based on and has all the essential creature comforts that you need. Cheap motoring!
Colleague was equally praising his 1.2 Skoda Octavia. Said it had enough go too. So that 1.2 engine seems quite special.V6Nelo said:
Colleague was equally praising his 1.2 Skoda Octavia. Said it had enough go too. So that 1.2 engine seems quite special.
I have the 1.4 petrol turbo Octavia. 50 mpg without trying, 150 BHP, so wayenough get up and go for a 70 mph country and £30 a year road tax.
Bigger on the inside than it's predecessor, the BMW 3 series.
I'll be helping shift a family sized fridge tomorrow.
I am very happy with the Skoda. I am disappointed I didn't get one years ago.
Jim the Sunderer said:
I understand those Lexus IS250s should be only ran with E5, which is more expensive.
I'd bin any notion of a Volvo, they attract a sort of perverse tax due to Mildreds and f
king idiots like me.
I'd bin any notion of a Volvo, they attract a sort of perverse tax due to Mildreds and f
king idiots like me.Lexus UK said:
Lexus and E10 petrol – which models can use the new fuel?
The good news is that the vast majority of Lexus models with a petrol engine or hybrid powertrain and that were officially supplied within the European market since January 1998 are compatible with E10 petrol. The only exceptions to this rule are the following models:
Lexus IS 250 with 2.5-litre V6 4GR-FSE engine made between August 2005 and September 2007
Surprised at Lexus.The good news is that the vast majority of Lexus models with a petrol engine or hybrid powertrain and that were officially supplied within the European market since January 1998 are compatible with E10 petrol. The only exceptions to this rule are the following models:
Lexus IS 250 with 2.5-litre V6 4GR-FSE engine made between August 2005 and September 2007
I have a 250 and can get 40+mpg on a run but that's at 70mph with cruise using premium fuel.
Any IS before 08 needs to be ran on E5 but the car feels much much better with it and you'll get an extra 20+ miles from a tank
There's a couple things to look for on an IS if you're considering one but they're solid cars overall perfect for your needs.
I'd also highly recommend an Accord 2.2 I-dtec
Any IS before 08 needs to be ran on E5 but the car feels much much better with it and you'll get an extra 20+ miles from a tank
There's a couple things to look for on an IS if you're considering one but they're solid cars overall perfect for your needs.
I'd also highly recommend an Accord 2.2 I-dtec
Thanks for the responses everyone. I know a bluemotion golf would a sensible choice, but I can't shake this irrational aversion of them simply because of how commonplace they are. I've heard some people refer to them as the car for people not interested in cars.
I used to work as a stereo fitter for Halfords so I've sat in my fair share of VAG interiors (not to mention the Altea we currently own, which we only ended up with because we got it cheap from her parents) and while they're nice enough, they are pure white bread in my opinion. My main want, besides frugality and reliability, is a quiet cabin and comfy seats. The Seat and my previous Honda Jazz are both horrendous for road and wind noise at national limit speeds. Would the equivalent Audi A3 be any different in terms of cabin refinement to the VW, or is it literally the badge change and a bit more leather? There doesn't seem to be a huge disparity in cost on the used market for the diesels around 2009-2012 sort of era.
I'm still leaning towards the Lexus a bit more, partly because it is such a lot of car for the money, but also because it's a car I'm genuinely interested in owning as opposed to a purchase through necessity. Would I be stupid letting my heart rule my head for not getting a lower specced, cheaper to tax and more fuel efficient car just because it doesn't inspire me?
I used to work as a stereo fitter for Halfords so I've sat in my fair share of VAG interiors (not to mention the Altea we currently own, which we only ended up with because we got it cheap from her parents) and while they're nice enough, they are pure white bread in my opinion. My main want, besides frugality and reliability, is a quiet cabin and comfy seats. The Seat and my previous Honda Jazz are both horrendous for road and wind noise at national limit speeds. Would the equivalent Audi A3 be any different in terms of cabin refinement to the VW, or is it literally the badge change and a bit more leather? There doesn't seem to be a huge disparity in cost on the used market for the diesels around 2009-2012 sort of era.
I'm still leaning towards the Lexus a bit more, partly because it is such a lot of car for the money, but also because it's a car I'm genuinely interested in owning as opposed to a purchase through necessity. Would I be stupid letting my heart rule my head for not getting a lower specced, cheaper to tax and more fuel efficient car just because it doesn't inspire me?
Look it sounds like you really want the IS250 so go & buy one at worst it'll cost you an extra tank of fuel a month vs a diesel BUT you'll be in the car you want as others have said make sure you get an E10 compliant one.
All IS250's suffer with the headlights creaming but it's a £100-150 fix at a bodyshop.
SE-L:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
SE-l, lower spec but a facelift model:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204134...
All IS250's suffer with the headlights creaming but it's a £100-150 fix at a bodyshop.
SE-L:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
SE-l, lower spec but a facelift model:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204134...
eleveneleven said:
I have a 250 and can get 40+mpg on a run but that's at 70mph with cruise using premium fuel.
Any IS before 08 needs to be ran on E5 but the car feels much much better with it and you'll get an extra 20+ miles from a tank
There's a couple things to look for on an IS if you're considering one but they're solid cars overall perfect for your needs.
I'd also highly recommend an Accord 2.2 I-dtec
I’d back the OP on his want for a Lexus every time but based on personal experience as an owner I’m surprised you get 40 on a run. I took a photo once when the OBC read 44 after a hundred or so mile drive but - it reads high by at least 10%, it was filled and reset at a motorway service station with a warm engine, and I was stuck in 60-65mph traffic for most of the journey. The wind may even have been behind me Any IS before 08 needs to be ran on E5 but the car feels much much better with it and you'll get an extra 20+ miles from a tank
There's a couple things to look for on an IS if you're considering one but they're solid cars overall perfect for your needs.
I'd also highly recommend an Accord 2.2 I-dtec
. They’re too bloody good. Current car doesn’t fit my needs in terms of load and passenger space but when I look at what I can get as a replacement for my hard earned it’s still a very decent steer compared to some much newer cars and I’m reluctant to switch. Moreso as time goes on as it’s easier to get rid of a car that you haven’t owned for long than one you’ve owned for a long time in some ways.
W201_190e said:
An IS250 is probably the most reliable car you could buy. The only two issues they seem to suffer with is rotten exhausts and some reports of excessive carbon build ups in the engine. The exhaust can be pretty expensive if a replacement is required.
I can affirm on the exhaust, I’ve had to get welding done twice at the mufflers and once had to have it done at the Y joint. I don’t know the technical terms. The latter wasn’t cheap but thankfully not the whole exhaust. I’ve had to do it on other cars too though. I don’t know if it’s due to my lifestyle and lots of short journeys but I’m no stranger to getting my fingers literally burnt trying to remove a broken exhaust mid journey on three different cars, I’m quite good at it these days .In my IS250 sel, 35-38mpg on a long run was the best record. Around London it was 26-28 which is reasonable for a 2.5v6.
Never had a problem over my 2 years. Sold at 95k but felt like it could do 200k very easily. One strange noise was a little vvti lifter rattle on startup but heard it's quite common.
Main thing to check other than the exhaust is for a noisy water pump. Heard these can fail over time. Great car. Lexus build quality grows on you.
Never had a problem over my 2 years. Sold at 95k but felt like it could do 200k very easily. One strange noise was a little vvti lifter rattle on startup but heard it's quite common.
Main thing to check other than the exhaust is for a noisy water pump. Heard these can fail over time. Great car. Lexus build quality grows on you.
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