Finding an economic car

talksr

Hi, I now need to drive into work every it will be between 80 and 100 miles per day. In my 2004 1.6 astra this is costing me between 60 and about 85 a week and really depends on where my work needs me to go.

I feel it would be a good idea to get something smaller. I have found a corsa 1.0 litre 58reg for only 5250 with 2 previous owners. Seems a lovely car with a nice small engine for a reasonable price. But the tax is £120 a year. My current car is band g (£150) this one would work out at band E.

Does anyone know if I would notice less fuel consumption in a car like this? Its just going by the tax price, I would end up paying £30 or so less. Does not seem like a huge reduction. And I am finding it hard to source diesel vehicles of the same size in my area as I know these would be very economical. Can't afford a shiny new one, but would like to get as close to new as I can for reliability.

MX5huggy

Sound likes some form of torture to me, 2 to 3 hours a day in a 1.0 Corsa. I would be looking for a diesel 1.8 focus or similar.

gilbert_and_sullivan

If you really want to stay with petrol then a C1/107/Aygo would cover about 60 or so mpg, bit small for this sort of mileage as well but seem to stand the strain...£35 VED too.

Corsa 1.0 litre is that the 3 cylinder jobbie? if so it wouldn't pull you out of bed and 2 owners on a 58 plate, i'd be worried it was an BSM or renter.

Have you looked at all makes both petrol and Diesel, i saw brand new pre reg Citroen C2 at Citroen Nuneaton t'other day at very good prices, overlooked pleasant little motor.

Lots of differing cars to choose from, worth lateral thinking and not just the obvious route.

kiddy_guy

Depends what MPG you get and what sort of run you'll be doing. My daily run is 85 miles and I get 52mpg from my seat toledo mpv. I'm well happy with that, but I can get 60mpg+ on a good run.

What needs do you have from your car bar economy. For that sort of mileage, you'll be doing 25000+ miles per year, so reliability and durability are key. Volvo S40 D?

Personally I would not enjoy that sort of daily trip in a little buzzbox, and I couldn't survive without Cruise control either.

talksr

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

If you really want to stay with petrol then a C1/107/Aygo would cover about 60 or so mpg, bit small for this sort of mileage as well but seem to stand the strain...£35 VED too.

Corsa 1.0 litre is that the 3 cylinder jobbie? if so it wouldn't pull you out of bed and 2 owners on a 58 plate, i'd be worried it was an BSM or renter.

Have you looked at all makes both petrol and Diesel, i saw brand new pre reg Citroen C2 at Citroen Nuneaton t'other day at very good prices, overlooked pleasant little motor.

Lots of differing cars to choose from, worth lateral thinking and not just the obvious route.

Hi, thanks for your info and advice.
Not sure if it would be a renter, it was registered on 31/12/2008 and has only done 11k. It is silver, no wear on pedels, few dents and scratches on driver door, but no parking dings or scrapes on bumbers. But service book lost, so don't know about validity of remaining warranty.
I am not sure if it is the 3 cylinder. It is a "Corsa Breeze Plus 1.0 12V". It is the model which has A/C and an electric sunroof.

Did look at the C2's. I am quite tall and thought they seemed quite cramped for me compared to the corsa. Also I have an astra at the moment, so I am used to vauxhall. Not saying a change would not be nice!:D

talksr

kiddy_guy wrote: »

Depends what MPG you get and what sort of run you'll be doing. My daily run is 85 miles and I get 52mpg from my seat toledo mpv. I'm well happy with that, but I can get 60mpg+ on a good run.

What needs do you have from your car bar economy. For that sort of mileage, you'll be doing 25000+ miles per year, so reliability and durability are key. Volvo S40 D?

Personally I would not enjoy that sort of daily trip in a little buzzbox, and I couldn't survive without Cruise control either.

Thanks for your post. I completely agree with all that you have said.:beer:
Yes, I have considered my other needs bar economy and to be honest I really just need economy and cheapness!
I graduated this year, don't have that much money, and at 23 can't really afford the insurance for a larger vehicle.I would like to get something as new as I can for reliability.
Although my current one does have cruise control. But you are right, "buzzbox" - made me laugh, but true. Won't be the same experience.

I will be using the M11 from Stansted, I used to commute this way and to be honest, on a working week you will have about 10 15 mins of clear motorway before you hit the traffic near to Leyton heading into London. From there is its mainly start stop or up to 60ish at the most. So I wont have to much flat motorway to cover.


Lastly, reliability is key, as you said. That is why I thought a 58 reg 11k would be far more reliable than my 70k 2004 astra.

Kilty_2

Don't touch a 1.0 Corsa D with a bargepole - horribly underpowered.

It's probably ex-hire-wreck as said, too. BSM aren't daft enough to use them and will use 1.2/1.4 petrol / 1.3 CDTIs.

You really want a diesel rather than an underpowered petrol for this kind of driving, imo.

Consider an Astra H 1.7 CDTI - they're insurance group 6/7 and although it's an old clattery engine it's solid and returns good economy.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Service book lost, thats a good one, walk away. Pound to a penny it's ex BSM, and i'd almost gurantee it's the 3 cylinder which struggled to pull the previous much lighter model along.

If you like your Vauxhalls, nothing to stop you getting an Astra Diesel, if you fancy auto the 1.9 (proper auto) Diesel is a nice drive, you are doing a fair bit of traffic so proper auto box might make your daily traffic much easier to bare.

Edit, Kilty. BSM did use a goodly number of these 3 cylinder jobbies which you rightly detest, i used to deliver them, had to take a run up to get them on the top deck.

Kilty_2

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Edit, Kilty. BSM did use a goodly number of these 3 cylinder jobbies which you rightly detest, i used to deliver them, had to take a run up to get them on the top deck.

Surprising, but OK . LOL @ that though

I drove one as a learner (Arnold Clark dual control £9/hour hire job - imagine what those would be like to buy on 58 plates :eek::eek::eek:)

My own driving instructor had a 1.4 Corsa D and said he wouldn't entertain any of the smaller petrols.

Kilty_2

OP - £5250 would get you a 1.7 CDTI Astra on a 55/06 plate with around 40-50k on the clock.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Kilty wrote: »

I drove one as a learner (Arnold Clark dual control £9/hour hire job - imagine what those would be like to buy on 58 plates :eek::eek::eek:)

I want one of those...:rotfl:;)

Soon as the OP mentioned lost service book you just know it's got something to hide.