Sub 5k small diesel commuter. Audi A2 or W169 A-Class?

[white_goodman]

My wife has a new job with a longish commute (70 mile return), so is looking for a cheap to run and insure (sub 5k) small car. The thing is that the kids are getting older now (13 and 11), so it needs to have decent space in the back and in the boot for all their sports kit etc. The problem with small cars in general in my experience e.g. Fiesta is that they’re quite small inside, although others (Polo?) may be different and these 2 cars seem to buck that trend. She does also like a quirky car (having owned a Fiat 500 and a MINI Cooper between us in the past) but having driven MPVs/crossovers for the last 8/9 years, she does like to be sat up a bit higher too. On that basis, these 2 cars would seem to fit the bill very well and I have to admit that them having a “posh” badge does help too!

I’ve driven an A2 once about 20 years ago and although there are no doubt better driving small cars, I actually found it quite charming. I was in my 20s at the time, so it wasn’t really my sort of car ie I thought it looked a bit weird but 20 years later, I quite like it, it still looks quite modern, has some mk1 Audi TT vibes and with a few cosmetic tweaks, they could probably launch it as a new EV and it would probably sell quite well for the right price. I had that 1.4 TDI 3 cylinder diesel engine in a mk4 Polo 10+ years ago and although it was probably the most boring car that I’ve owned, it was pretty punchy if unrefined and probably the most reliable/cheapest to run car that I have owned. Negatives are that it looks like they’re fairly rare, a nice one will still cost 3-4k, the youngest one is 20 years old and with that aluminium structure, if you have a bump, you’ll probably write it off.

The A-Class I have a bit more of a checkered history with having ran a few first gen cars (A140s/A160s) in the early 2000s as company cars. After the initial novelty of being 22 and driving a new Mercedes, I came to realise that they weren’t actually very good cars! Quite ugly, not very well built, uncomfortable, a bit gutless and thirsty and a rather bouncy ride but I understand that the 2nd gen (W169?) car was much better in every way. Is it bigger than the A2, I don’t really know, I haven’t been in one? They still don’t seem that common but do have the advantage of being newer (I think the last ones were 2012)? There’s a very tidy 2012 Avantgarde SE with only 30k up for just a shade under 5k on A/T but is that a bit crazy spending 5k on a W169 A-Class when there are probably newer, better driving and bigger cars available for the same money?

Both appeal for their clever engineering, high driving position and space/efficiency in a compact footprint anyway but maybe there are better options out there. We’re thinking manual, diesel for the miles she is going to be doing and I doubt either the A2/A-Class diesels are ULEZ compliant but we don’t live/drive into any ULEZ zones currently, so not really an issue.

Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 18th March 22:04

Edited by white_goodman on Wednesday 19th March 15:45

[ZX10R NIN]

Q30:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503140...

C Max:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503049...

Kuga Titanium X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502068...

500X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502209...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503170...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410034...

Sportage KX-3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503049...

[white_goodman]

ZX10R NIN said:

Q30:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503140...

C Max:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503049...

Kuga Titanium X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502068...

500X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502209...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503170...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410034...

Sportage KX-3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503049...

Thanks. Some pretty nice cars there for the money for sure but I'm not sure any of them will pass scrutiny with "the boss" lol! Thing is we have a CX5 (2.5 petrol) right now for family duties and she says that is too big, most of the above will be similar/bigger. Granted the 500X would be a bit smaller but she has already expressed in the past that the only 500 variant she likes is the original 3 door hatch. We went petrol on the Mazda for future-proofing (we liked the car and the Mazda diesels have a bit of a bad rep), as it's a 2021 car and I do quite like driving it but it's not fantastically economical, which didn't matter when she got it, as she wasn't doing the miles. I guess that I might take that on, as my Golf is getting on a bit and my working arrangements are a bit more flexible but given the choice, I would have leant towards something more like a 5-Series or similar.

[dmsims]

Left field - an EV?

Could cost a bit more but will save loads on fuel (~£1500 p.a.)

[stevemcs]

Just buy a vw up, cheaper to run, don’t really go wrong, 60mpg on a run.

[edc]

Has a w169. Good for what it is but not sure it's the go to for a 70 mile commute. How about a w246 B class?

[white_goodman]

edc said:

Has a w169. Good for what it is but not sure it's the go to for a 70 mile commute. How about a w246 B class?

35 miles each way. Did that kind of commute down the M6 in my Polo TDI 15 years ago, so should be fine I would have thought?

In response to the other suggestions, I love the VW Up but it is a bit too small and lacking in power/torque for predominantly fast A-road/motorway driving I would have thought? I have considered a cheap EV myself too but for the budget the range is a bit marginal and compromised for the longer journeys that we need to do. The only quirky cheap EV that I can think of is the i3 and she hates how they look. Also, only one spot on the drive currently, which tends to be reserved for the larger/nicer car (currently the CX5), so the POS car gets parked on the street.

[Skodillac]

For room in the back contained within a compact package, the Polo-based Skoda Rapid and SEAT Toledo are the answer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503190...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409103...

[white_goodman]

Skodillac said:

For room in the back contained within a compact package, the Polo-based Skoda Rapid and SEAT Toledo are the answer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503190...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409103...

Thanks. Potentially a good shout. I didn't even realise that those 2 cars existed!

[white_goodman]

white_goodman said:

Thanks. Potentially a good shout. I didn't even realise that those 2 cars existed!

ETA, those 2 cars are quite long (nearly 15 feet), not far off the CX5. She has to street/parallel park, so something shorter like an A2/W169 A-Class are better in that respect (around 13 feet), so fit into smaller spaces.

[Gas1883]

Are those older smaller cars going to stand up to that kind of mileage you’re talking of your wife doing ? I’ve done 34,000 miles ( 46,000-80,000) in apx 19 months doing a 60 mile per day work commute , add in normal stuff & the mileage seems to go up a thousand every time you look at the speedo , we’ve even taken to switching cars to try & keep the mileage reasonable .,
I’d of thought if the cars 10 yrs old it will be 80,000 + , soon be 120,000 .
I wish I’d just brought a 1/2,000 pound shed & then if you bang the mileage on it like you will it won’t make a lot of difference to final value , you won’t loose a lot .
I agree with diesel though as even though my car is decent on fuel it’s still eye watering the amount of fuel I’m chucking in it per week , though electric sounds a decent shout but I’ve no knowledge of them .
I’d just buy a cheap insignia , your wife will enjoy the comfort after a few weeks of that commute , 30 / 35 miles to work doesn’t sound far but I find it far enough it’s nice to have a bit of comfort .

[ZX10R NIN]

white_goodman said:

Thanks. Some pretty nice cars there for the money for sure but I'm not sure any of them will pass scrutiny with "the boss" lol! Thing is we have a CX5 (2.5 petrol) right now for family duties and she says that is too big, most of the above will be similar/bigger. Granted the 500X would be a bit smaller but she has already expressed in the past that the only 500 variant she likes is the original 3 door hatch. We went petrol on the Mazda for future-proofing (we liked the car and the Mazda diesels have a bit of a bad rep), as it's a 2021 car and I do quite like driving it but it's not fantastically economical, which didn't matter when she got it, as she wasn't doing the miles. I guess that I might take that on, as my Golf is getting on a bit and my working arrangements are a bit more flexible but given the choice, I would have leant towards something more like a 5-Series or similar.

The Q30 is an A Class so that might sway the boss

[white_goodman]

Gas1883 said:

Are those older smaller cars going to stand up to that kind of mileage you’re talking of your wife doing ? I’ve done 34,000 miles ( 46,000-80,000) in apx 19 months doing a 60 mile per day work commute , add in normal stuff & the mileage seems to go up a thousand every time you look at the speedo , we’ve even taken to switching cars to try & keep the mileage reasonable .,
I’d of thought if the cars 10 yrs old it will be 80,000 + , soon be 120,000 .
I wish I’d just brought a 1/2,000 pound shed & then if you bang the mileage on it like you will it won’t make a lot of difference to final value , you won’t loose a lot .
I agree with diesel though as even though my car is decent on fuel it’s still eye watering the amount of fuel I’m chucking in it per week , though electric sounds a decent shout but I’ve no knowledge of them .
I’d just buy a cheap insignia , your wife will enjoy the comfort after a few weeks of that commute , 30 / 35 miles to work doesn’t sound far but I find it far enough it’s nice to have a bit of comfort .

Insignia? Cheaper than I thought ie you can get quite a new one for 5k, whereas an Audi/BMW/Mercedes would normally be significantly older for that money. Are Vauxhall diesels reliable now? They didn't used to be. Those old Euro 5 VAG/Mercedes diesels just run for ever don't they? 200k+ miles on an Audi A2 isn't unheard of.

[carinaman]

ZX10R NIN said:

white_goodman said:

Thanks. Some pretty nice cars there for the money for sure but I'm not sure any of them will pass scrutiny with "the boss" lol! Thing is we have a CX5 (2.5 petrol) right now for family duties and she says that is too big, most of the above will be similar/bigger. Granted the 500X would be a bit smaller but she has already expressed in the past that the only 500 variant she likes is the original 3 door hatch. We went petrol on the Mazda for future-proofing (we liked the car and the Mazda diesels have a bit of a bad rep), as it's a 2021 car and I do quite like driving it but it's not fantastically economical, which didn't matter when she got it, as she wasn't doing the miles. I guess that I might take that on, as my Golf is getting on a bit and my working arrangements are a bit more flexible but given the choice, I would have leant towards something more like a 5-Series or similar.

The Q30 is an A Class so that might sway the boss

ZX10R what's your opinion of the 2.2 Diesel AWD DCT Q30?

[ZX10R NIN]

carinaman said:

ZX10R what's your opinion of the 2.2 Diesel AWD DCT Q30?

It's the exact same car as the 2.1d A220 AMG Line, they're pretty much bulletproof (the 2.2 is just badge engineering it's the same Mercedes drivetrain) the car is a good one & for me the interior is nicer vs the A Class.

I've supplied a lot of Infiniti's over time & they're a good option.

[white_goodman]

ZX10R NIN said:

It's the exact same car as the 2.1d A220 AMG Line, they're pretty much bulletproof (the 2.2 is just badge engineering it's the same Mercedes drivetrain) the car is a good one & for me the interior is nicer vs the A Class.

I've supplied a lot of Infiniti's over time & they're a good option.

Just re the Q30. Infiniti are now a defunct brand in the UK, so how is parts availability/ease of getting them repaired?

[ZX10R NIN]

white_goodman said:

Just re the Q30. Infiniti are now a defunct brand in the UK, so how is parts availability/ease of getting them repaired?

On the Q30 drivetrain/electrial/hardware is all Mercedes A Class so parts are widely available, I have clients aho have their 30/50 models serviced at Mercedes specialists others just get there's done at Nissan.

My family use good Indy's close to them.

[stevemcs]

If you know the part numbers you can get the bits from Merc, otherwise its Nissan. We have seen one with a knackered rear diff, other than that what breaks on the merc breaks on the infinity, they are nicer inside than the Mercs though