Economical Car

emilyj

The point about the higher maintenance costs of an older car are very valid -a new timing belt (at 60-75,000 miles) can easily cost £500 or more....I have a 54 Diesel Modus, which cost £1200 in timing belt, brake discs and other bits when it came up for its 60,000 mile service last year. I get 55mpg on normal use, around 65mpg on a motorway run at 60 mph.

cyclonebri1

emilyj wrote: »

The point about the higher maintenance costs of an older car are very valid -a new timing belt (at 60-75,000 miles) can easily cost £500 or more....I have a 54 Diesel Modus, which cost £1200 in timing belt, brake discs and other bits when it came up for its 60,000 mile service last year. I get 55mpg on normal use, around 65mpg on a motorway run at 60 mph.

Well I don't know if the modus is any different to the Clio and the Mergane with the same engine but i bought a cam belt kit, water pump and serpintine belt and even the pin kit to lock the pulleys for only £102. That was only last week. Took about 6hrs to complete and that was the 1st time I'd done one on that engine.

My local garage charges £280 for that job, and a guy I know does them for £200, guess it's who you know.

mutley74

I am in similar boat as OP. have a 6 year old corolla which has had numerous problems and wish to change. I was looking at the Kia Ceed. They have 1.6 CDI Vr7 special edition model out which gives 60mpg+ i was quoted £13400 OTR price inc. metallic paint. Its similar car to Hyundai I30 but cheaper and 7year warranty instead of 5, either way much better than other manufacturer warranty. My other option is a 1 year old Astra diesel for around £11k, but i need to find one!
Also benefit of new Kia is servicing is every 20k miles for diesels, not the previous 12.5k miles.

bigjl

OP I would look seriously at the new Clio eco2 model that is coming out soon, it is a Dynamique spec, in 3 or 5 door with a 86 bhp, 1.5 DCi engine, but due to some tweeks has co2/km of under 100, so free roadtax and free congestion charge.

My wifes Clio has been faultless. And does around 60mpg on mostly urban useage.

There are many other sub 100g/km cars coming out, the New Rio coming out in September is expected to have 85g/km in the 3 cylinder diesel and will do over 80mpg.

There is also the Polo Bluemotion and I would expect most manufacturers are going to produce a sub 100g/km small family car.

What about the New Nissan Leaf, ok, it is expensive, but a range of 100 mile a day is enough for your 40 mile drive to work and 40 miles home again.

Though I must admit the new Rio looks nice, there is also a new Picanto that is also much nicer than the old one.

bigjl

emilyj wrote: »

The point about the higher maintenance costs of an older car are very valid -a new timing belt (at 60-75,000 miles) can easily cost £500 or more....I have a 54 Diesel Modus, which cost £1200 in timing belt, brake discs and other bits when it came up for its 60,000 mile service last year. I get 55mpg on normal use, around 65mpg on a motorway run at 60 mph.

Sorry to say this Emily, but bills like you have just paid are why I never let the wife take her car in for any major work, as main dealers and garages are very good at stiching up women drivers.

I just did the front pads on the wifes Clio, they cost under £20, didn't do discs but they were under £50 a pair.

I have been given a quote of £200 for a cambelt, and i am adding a water pump to that, happy to pay extra, the wifes car is a Clio DCi, so very similar to your car.

It also returns very simliar fuel consumption to your car, but I didn't like the looks of the Modus, looked a bit tall and ungainly, lots of room inside though.