Buying a cheap runaround
Discussion
Okay guys so this year is going to be a fiscally tricky one for me, I need to pay for my wedding amongst other things. So I'm trying to cost cut starting with the daily driver. I'm moving from a BMW 728i which got me 26mpg and I'm looking for a cheap runaround. Wanting to spend 1-2k max but most importantly good mpg. I was looking at a Ford Focus Mk1 or 2. The 1.6's state they should get around 40mpg combined.. but I'm being told that in reality that is more like 30. Any other suggestions?
Zetec-S said:
Ran a 1.6 petrol Focus for over 10 years, unless you drive everywhere in lead boots you'll not have a problem getting close to 40mpg on mixed driving. 50mpg on a long run is also achievable if you take it steady.
Really? I thought it was strange that the official stats would be so far out. There's a lot of owners on forums, even this one, saying that they get 30 on average. Was yours a mk 1 or mk 2? If you want something reasonably economical without having to drive like a saint, I'd say you're probably better off spending a little bit more to get something with a low pressure turbo. They may not have an ultimately higher economy potential, but in my experience they require far less restraint to get somewhere near that potential.
When my OH turned 40, in 2009, she wanted a 'proper' car - rather than the city cars she had previously owned (Vauxhall Nova, Ford Fiesta, VW Lupo)
She chose a (new) Honda Jazz which we owned until the middle of last year and we replaced it with (wait for it) a Honda Jazz (hybrid). I was very sceptical of Jazz ownership (driving around with a trilby on the parcel shelf!) but I became a convert. Comfortable, spacious (magic seats) and boringly reliable. In the 14 years we owned it - 120,000 miles - the only costs were servicing, new tyres, 1 new battery and brake pads. We averaged mid 50's mpg - on a long run we could get over 60 mpg.
Dirt cheap insurance, no rust, ultra reliable.
Only problem being 'image'........ but if you want a cheap runaround I doubt you could do better.
£1-2 k well within budget
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/search?make-id=26&...
Caveat: Of course your OH may feel that you have lost the will to live..... or be turned on by seeing you as a rational individual, sacrificing 'your' extravagance for the common good!
She chose a (new) Honda Jazz which we owned until the middle of last year and we replaced it with (wait for it) a Honda Jazz (hybrid). I was very sceptical of Jazz ownership (driving around with a trilby on the parcel shelf!) but I became a convert. Comfortable, spacious (magic seats) and boringly reliable. In the 14 years we owned it - 120,000 miles - the only costs were servicing, new tyres, 1 new battery and brake pads. We averaged mid 50's mpg - on a long run we could get over 60 mpg.
Dirt cheap insurance, no rust, ultra reliable.
Only problem being 'image'........ but if you want a cheap runaround I doubt you could do better.
£1-2 k well within budget
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/search?make-id=26&...
Caveat: Of course your OH may feel that you have lost the will to live..... or be turned on by seeing you as a rational individual, sacrificing 'your' extravagance for the common good!
We had a MK1 1.6 Focus Zetec for 3 years, which we did about 40 thousand miles in, a great car, seemed to average late 30s from memory, the only thing is that they are getting on a bit now and definitely prefer the MK1 to the MK2.
Have you thought about something classless, like a Fiat 500, we ran one for a year and it only cost me £100 in that year to get a new key / remote for it as it only came with one. It was our 2nd car but I did loads of miles in it, they are everywhere and you have to drive them hard to make progress, which is all part of the fun, great economy as well, ours was a 1.2, just be careful with red ones as all the ones I looked at suffered from lacquer peal.
Have you thought about something classless, like a Fiat 500, we ran one for a year and it only cost me £100 in that year to get a new key / remote for it as it only came with one. It was our 2nd car but I did loads of miles in it, they are everywhere and you have to drive them hard to make progress, which is all part of the fun, great economy as well, ours was a 1.2, just be careful with red ones as all the ones I looked at suffered from lacquer peal.
Micholas said:
Zetec-S said:
Ran a 1.6 petrol Focus for over 10 years, unless you drive everywhere in lead boots you'll not have a problem getting close to 40mpg on mixed driving. 50mpg on a long run is also achievable if you take it steady.
Really? I thought it was strange that the official stats would be so far out. There's a lot of owners on forums, even this one, saying that they get 30 on average. Was yours a mk 1 or mk 2? _Rodders_ said:
How many miles do you do?
Have you actually worked out the difference between 26mpg and 40mpg for the miles you do.
Might not even cover the cost to change within the year.
Have you actually worked out the difference between 26mpg and 40mpg for the miles you do.
Might not even cover the cost to change within the year.
Jetblackonetenth said:
Can I just say 2k buys a lot of fuel for the BMW
I do about 230 miles a week give or take. Around 40% is stop start traffic. On Sunday I fill the tank up (£110ish), that'll last me probably until the following weekend, or maybe the Mon/Tues if I'm lucky! If the mrs wants to go out and about on the weekend, then it's even worse. Trust me there has to be a cheaper way of getting from A to B for the next 6-9 months. Micholas said:
Okay guys so this year is going to be a fiscally tricky one for me, I need to pay for my wedding amongst other things. So I'm trying to cost cut starting with the daily driver. I'm moving from a BMW 728i which got me 26mpg and I'm looking for a cheap runaround. Wanting to spend 1-2k max but most importantly good mpg. I was looking at a Ford Focus Mk1 or 2. The 1.6's state they should get around 40mpg combined.. but I'm being told that in reality that is more like 30. Any other suggestions?
I have inherited my mum 2009 Honda Jazz. its the 1.4, and on average im getting 44mpg (mix of town and motorway). Been through the parking wars, but everything works, flew through another MOT at 95k with advisories on tyres only. Like a tardis inside, and comfy.
Its a little noisy on the motorway, but comfortable sits at 70mph on the commute to work.
alfaspecial said:
When my OH turned 40, in 2009, she wanted a 'proper' car - rather than the city cars she had previously owned (Vauxhall Nova, Ford Fiesta, VW Lupo)
She chose a (new) Honda Jazz which we owned until the middle of last year and we replaced it with (wait for it) a Honda Jazz (hybrid). I was very sceptical of Jazz ownership (driving around with a trilby on the parcel shelf!) but I became a convert. Comfortable, spacious (magic seats) and boringly reliable. In the 14 years we owned it - 120,000 miles - the only costs were servicing, new tyres, 1 new battery and brake pads. We averaged mid 50's mpg - on a long run we could get over 60 mpg.
Dirt cheap insurance, no rust, ultra reliable.
Only problem being 'image'........ but if you want a cheap runaround I doubt you could do better.
£1-2 k well within budget
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/search?make-id=26&...
Caveat: Of course your OH may feel that you have lost the will to live..... or be turned on by seeing you as a rational individual, sacrificing 'your' extravagance for the common good!
How did you get 50+ mpg in yours? Mine is the 1.4 and currently around 44mpg. To be honest I like to hustle mine around on the country lanes to get that VTEC noise She chose a (new) Honda Jazz which we owned until the middle of last year and we replaced it with (wait for it) a Honda Jazz (hybrid). I was very sceptical of Jazz ownership (driving around with a trilby on the parcel shelf!) but I became a convert. Comfortable, spacious (magic seats) and boringly reliable. In the 14 years we owned it - 120,000 miles - the only costs were servicing, new tyres, 1 new battery and brake pads. We averaged mid 50's mpg - on a long run we could get over 60 mpg.
Dirt cheap insurance, no rust, ultra reliable.
Only problem being 'image'........ but if you want a cheap runaround I doubt you could do better.
£1-2 k well within budget
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/search?make-id=26&...
Caveat: Of course your OH may feel that you have lost the will to live..... or be turned on by seeing you as a rational individual, sacrificing 'your' extravagance for the common good!
Every other jazz i have seen has been driven by a pensioner but does cost buttons to run, and I cant remember it ever breaking down or not starting. Apart from servicing I cant remember mum having to get anything else replaced?
Ours does feel like the clutch is on the way out, and being a passenger at times with my mum her clutch control wasn't the best at times.
I'd be going for one of these Civics.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401115...
Engines are incredibly reliable and you get 44mpg on the combined cycle (officially), let's say 40mpg rounded down.
A Nissan Note will be similarly frugal but coming from the 7er a little part of you will die every time you get in it. The cabin of the Honda is a really nice place to be and should help soften the blow.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401115...
Engines are incredibly reliable and you get 44mpg on the combined cycle (officially), let's say 40mpg rounded down.
A Nissan Note will be similarly frugal but coming from the 7er a little part of you will die every time you get in it. The cabin of the Honda is a really nice place to be and should help soften the blow.
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