Best Daily commuter to do 25000 miles a year?

[Maccarjm]

Currently do approx 25k miles a year to commute to work and have had enough of running a shed to do it.

Looking to spend up to £12k on a new motor, but have no idea what car would best be suited for this. The mileage I do is a cross between A and B roads (60 miles each way), which takes approx hour and a half each way. So i'm looking for something, Economic, reliable and comfortable.

Any suggestions on what would be my best bet?

[SteveR1979]

530D

[jeremyh1]

You cant go wrong with a late Toyota 2.0 d 4d Rav four

Good reliable proven engines I think the 17 plates would be around 12K

[SimonTheSailor]

jeremyh1 said:

You cant go wrong with a late Toyota 2.0 d 4d Rav four

Is this going to be a comfortable commuting car ? The journey must be over an hour at a time ?

[jeremyh1]

SimonTheSailor said:

Is this going to be a comfortable commuting car ? The journey must be over an hour at a time ?

Yes they are mine is older and I drive it long distances it is more car than 4x4 I do drive 2500 miles a week in Vauxhall Movano van so my judgement might be different from yours! I find people on here are a bit too fussy with vehicle comfort

[Maccarjm]

SimonTheSailor said:

Is this going to be a comfortable commuting car ? The journey must be over an hour at a time ?

Yes i spend approx 3 hours a day in the car, so needs to be comfortable

[heisthegaffer]

Honda civic.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=year-...

[LunarOne]

Given the state of the roads around me, you want something with smaller wheels, meaty tyres, soft suspension and a torquey engine. If you don't mind looking like a taxi driver, how about an E or S-class Merc? The reason they are associated with taxi drivers is that they handle intergalactic mileages with ease as long as they are properly serviced. I run a 1992 BMW 7-series that would fit the bill perfectly, apart from fuel consumption. Even with the smallest 3.0 engine, it struggles to get much above 20mpg. A more modern one, or a diesel would so MUCH better. It's like driving a four-poster bed, yet somehow it still handles well.

[Condi]

Did those miles in an A4 very comfortably.

[heisthegaffer]

Or Volvo V40. We have had one for 5 years and 45k miles bought at 4yearsbold and 20k miles), it's brilliant. It's the 1.6 petrol turbo and it'll do c. 45 mpg on a motorway run. Excellent air con, stereo and seats.

The newer 2.0 petrol Turbos (T2 120bhp & T3 150bhp) will do 55mpg the dealer said. I drove one of the later T3s and it was a lot quicker than mine.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=year-...

[Hoofy]

Dunno how newer Volvos are but my old S60's seats were so comfy for long journeys. It was like sitting in a sofa.

[Alex_225]

For pure comfort an S Class is going to be pretty hard to beat but you suddenly feel how big the car is on a smaller road.

I'd probably look at an E Class personally. My old E320 was excellent on long drives but not too big on smaller roads.

[bigdom]

How big a car do you need and how economical? Having driven 50-75k pa for about 8 yrs pre covid, I'd suggest nothing smaller than a 3 series.

Audi/Merc/Bmw have great sound deadening, noisy cars become quite draining over time. Stark difference in cabin noise between a 5 series & VW Golf, although that can be improved with dynamat or similar.

I'd go auto, newer ones are more economical than a manual and take the stress out. On the route you highlighted 2L diesel will easily do mid 50's, 3L mid 40's unless you have a heavy foot?

[TREMAiNE]

For 3 hours a day, comfort would be my priority...

S Class
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14816600

7 Series
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14742569

XJ
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14752115

Quattroporte (Ok, this is probably too risky!)
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14584763

A8 (doesn't have to be the W12 engine, of course!)
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14134787

If running costs are a concern, all can be had for a few grand less, leaving some money in the pot for bills.


Also, regarding fuel bills... At 25,000 miles per year and averaging £1.49 Per Litre, monthly fuel costs are as follows:

20mpg - £495
30mpg - £469
40mpg - £352
50mpg - £281
60mpg - £235

So unless you're really aiming to get over 60mpg, fuel efficiency isn't that big of an issue.
Personally, I'd rather pay the extra £90 in fuel for something comfortable and quiet that nets me 30mpg than something less refined that achieves 40mpg...

Edited by TREMAiNE on Monday 10th April 11:59

[GreatGranny]

I used to do similar mileage pre covid and my V60 D4 was ideal.

Cheap tax, 50+ mpg, great seats, decent kit and 100% reliable from 50k to 145k miles when I sold it.

[jeremyh1]

TREMAiNE said:

For 3 hours a day, comfort would be my priority...

S Class
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14816600

7 Series
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14742569

XJ
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14752115

Quattroporte (Ok, this is probably too risky!)
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14584763

A8 (doesn't have to be the W12 engine, of course!)
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14134787

If running costs are a concern, all can be had for a few grand less, leaving some money in the pot for bills.


Also, regarding fuel bills... At 25,000 miles per year and averaging £1.49 Per Litre, monthly fuel costs are as follows:

20mpg - £495
30mpg - £469
40mpg - £352
50mpg - £281
60mpg - £235

So unless you're really aiming to get over 60mpg, fuel efficiency isn't that big of an issue.
Personally, I'd rather pay the extra £90 in fuel for something comfortable and quiet that nets me 30mpg than something less refined that achieves 40mpg...

Edited by TREMAiNE on Monday 10th April 11:59

This nice bunch would be problematic as the miles creep up

[Maccarjm]

bigdom said:

How big a car do you need and how economical? Having driven 50-75k pa for about 8 yrs pre covid, I'd suggest nothing smaller than a 3 series.

Audi/Merc/Bmw have great sound deadening, noisy cars become quite draining over time. Stark difference in cabin noise between a 5 series & VW Golf, although that can be improved with dynamat or similar.

I'd go auto, newer ones are more economical than a manual and take the stress out. On the route you highlighted 2L diesel will easily do mid 50's, 3L mid 40's unless you have a heavy foot?

Yeah i'm looking for something that will do at least 50 Mpg, so 2.0L would be better than 3L.

I had looked into getting a 320D, But the timing chains have put me off ( My 116D had a timing chain that went )

[jeremyh1]

GreatGranny said:

I used to do similar mileage pre covid and my V60 D4 was ideal.

Cheap tax, 50+ mpg, great seats, decent kit and 100% reliable from 50k to 145k miles when I sold it.

OP I think this is really good advice and Granny is talking based on experience

[smn159]

Maccarjm said:

25k miles a year to commute to work

fk that, I'd be looking for another job!

If that's not possible, then a big Volvo is what you need.

[ChrisH79]

You want a sensible car for commuting. Which probably means you don’t want an older premium badged car that will be a lovely place to be until it breaks.

You want something made for the job of commuting that is largely ignored by the masses.

Insignia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202283...

Mondeo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304045...

i40

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302284...