I just can't find anything interesting

[BlueEyedBoy]

Ok, due to fuel costs looking likely to spiral ever upwards, and the wife's school run car (328) getting about 23mpg, we want to get something that is going to at least double that, but obviously the more the better. I have a budget of about 10K to spend on this, but as I know I will hate the car, more than happy to spend as little as possible to meet requirements. I have tried to look on Autotrader, but everything I look at just depresses me that I am actually goign to buy this type of car, but I know it makes sense long term.

Requirements are:

5 doors
over 45 combined mpg
Over 3 years going to cost at little as possible to look after.
Looks ok, I know I'm not going to get a looker here, but something that won't spoil the view of the house. Something like a golf.
Has a max of around 40K on the clock.

and if possible, I would like real world links to cars, so I can actually buy one.

The other question is... I have a saab 9-3 aero coupe, very good condition with ECU remap and Koni adjustables, which is fast and the other car is a 328 e46 estate also in good condition, which is a nicer family drive. I just bought a bike, and don't think I am really going to ever need 2 cars. Would you:

1) Chop them both in and get the eco machine
2) Keep one of them, and which one?
3) Buy an MX5 (which there is no chance in hell I will ever do)

Cheers

[anonymous-user]

Boring but...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Or a cheaper, slightly older one

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

For a vanilla car that will see you through several years of zero hassle motoring, can you really look elsewhere? Classless, good chassis, toys, cheap to run and insure, ticks all the boxes.

Or a bit more interesting:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Edited by Opulent on Thursday 27th January 08:36

[N Dentressangle]

Swap the 328 for a 330d?

[V8mate]

How many miles does she do? Because ten grand buys a hell of a lot of fuel economy differential.

[Gruber]

How long is the school run? Unless its a fair distance and the car is properly up to temperature for most of it, you won't see mega-mpg out of a derv.

[wildman0609]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1560677.htm

covers most bases, and the one I would get

[BlueEyedBoy]

V8mate said:

How many miles does she do? Because ten grand buys a hell of a lot of fuel economy differential.

She drives at least twice a week about 150 mile round trip to her office. School run about 15 mile round trip (twice or 3 times a day) general other trips. We use the car at the weekend too, so probably around 15K a year.

[BlueEyedBoy]

Not sure I want to get another beemer as yes it might meet fuel requirments, but they are not cheap to run. Just had to buy 4 new tyres for hers, £700, on a stter that would more likely be £300. When things go wrong, they will be costly, and I think the later beemer interiors feel low rent.

[SVX]

Volvo V50 diesel should meet all the requirements if you can find one in budget... Not too offensive to look at, and a reasonable load lugging capability. I drove a friends recently and was quietly impressed.

[uncinqsix]

You can have looks...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2407755.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2135184.htm

[Imafreeman]

Keep the £10k as buying a new car and losing money on the transaction, depreciation, insurance etc will totally outweigh keeping the current car for a good many years.

[Hitch78]

Opulent said:

Boring but...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Or a cheaper, slightly older one

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

For a vanilla car that will see you through several years of zero hassle motoring, can you really look elsewhere? Classless, good chassis, toys, cheap to run and insure, ticks all the boxes.

Or a bit more interesting:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Edited by Opulent on Thursday 27th January 08:36

A Ford Mondeo is not classless - classless begins at VW, Volvo etc. Not that I mind, but many would.

That 3 Series seems good value and Alfa 159s are beautiful.

Edited by Hitch78 on Thursday 27th January 09:27

[Somnophore]

A 330d will not do 45+ mpg combined

[jamieboy]

Hitch78 said:

That 3 Series seems good value and Alfa 159s are beautiful.

You'd struggle to get 45mpg+ from the 159, though.

[soda]

Somnophore said:

A 330d will not do 45+ mpg combined

Mine manages it ok, I'm rarely under 43mpg over the course of a tank.

[BlueEyedBoy]

soda said:

Somnophore said:

A 330d will not do 45+ mpg combined

Mine manages it ok, I'm rarely under 43mpg over the course of a tank.

I guess you are not doing cold start, 15 miles and then stop, all in traffic?

[BlueEyedBoy]

uncinqsix said:

You can have looks...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2407755.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2135184.htm

Very nice, but I doubt cheap to run. I am thinking Ford Focus levels of commitment.

Edited by BlueEyedBoy on Thursday 27th January 10:54

[Hitch78]

The issue here is that you want ALL of the boring things; so you're going to get a boring car. Change just one of your parameters and you might be in luck.

Otherwise a Focus is probably a good, if boring, bet.

[sim16v]

I'd suggest a Mondeo as well.

Before you dismiss it, go and drive one.

Like for like, they have a spec not normally seen in a 3 series, they are huge inside and I managed about 42mpg, but driving "briskly".

Some of my colleagues who had the same cars would easily get 50mpg.


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2376509.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2418667.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2424477.htm


I ran an ST for 3 years and 65,000 miles, and in the time i had it, apart from normal servicing, it needed new handbrake cables!

Nothing else failed, it was quick and comfortable.

I actually prefered it to my current new shape 2.2 Titanium and compared to family members who run an A6 and a Saab 9.3, apart from the Ford badge, they thought the ST was better than both.

Edited by sim16v on Thursday 27th January 11:18

[Piersman2]

soda said:

Somnophore said:

A 330d will not do 45+ mpg combined

Mine manages it ok, I'm rarely under 43mpg over the course of a tank.

But... 43 is 45- , not 45+ as requested by OP.

I know, just saying.