Best Value for 80-Mile Daily Journey?

wdw2003

Any recommendations for combining something that will give me about 20,000 miles per year with reliability and a relatively low cost? Having ditched our second car few years ago, we'll now need another one, but want to minimise outgoings.

I was thinking of maybe a Focus diesel of 20-30k miles for about £8k or maybe up to £15k for something else if new was better. I hate spending money on cars, so really want to minimise the pain.

I'd prefer up to £8k if poss, but am flexible.

vax2002

Moving house usually works out cheapest.

s_b

20,000 miles per year is a lot for a second hand car
you will therefore need to be meticulas with service schedules if you want reliability
8o miles a day 5 days a week
choose wisely
i would be looking more for comfort,reliability,fuel consumption,servicing costs,price of tyres,type of rims fitted,etc etc
so would look at more than a focus

wdw2003

Definitely don't want to move, so that's out. I'm big on servicing at the right time and spending whatever's necessary, but would need to balance age with newer and guarantees. It's a tricky equation. Maybe a Mondeo? I do like the look of the A1 though, as it should have better quality bits in it than the Aygo I have, although a lot dearer.

Strider590

For those miles i'd buy an older motorway mile muncher, Mondeo, Vectra/Insignia, etc etc.
I'd also buy a commuter bike as a backup and to save cash/hassle during the summer months (but that's just me). Then I wouldn't give a rats about warranties/guarantee's..... I'd have a £4000 car a £2000 bike, no finance debt and a few K left over to spend on better things

martinthebandit

Strider590 wrote: »

For those miles i'd buy an older motorway mile muncher, Mondeo, Vectra/Insignia, etc etc.
I'd also buy a commuter bike as a backup and to save cash/hassle during the summer months (but that's just me). Then I wouldn't give a rats about warranties/guarantee's..... I'd have a £4000 car a £2000 bike, no finance debt and a few K left over to spend on better things

seems the right answer to me (although personally as the wife has a car I would just go with the bike)

Trebor16

Only problem with motorcycles is that over 20000 miles they will need many services. Most bikes need a service every 4-6k. There are only a couple of bikes I can think of off the top of my head (Triumph Rocket 3, Aprilia Shiva) that have 10k service intervals. So your bike will need at least 3 services every year at that level of mileage.

Throw in the cost of replacement tyres on top of this and the costs can mount up.

When you think there are Vauxhalls and Peugeots out there that have a 1 year or 20000 mile service interval then it may be worth looking at them, as well as other makes which have the service indicators that come on dependent on driving style. Some of the VW/Seat/ Skodas out there could get a lot of miles between servicing on the long life regime.

s_b

Trebor16 wrote: »

Only problem with motorcycles is that over 20000 miles they will need many services. Most bikes need a service every 4-6k. There are only a couple of bikes I can think of off the top of my head (Triumph Rocket 3, Aprilia Shiva) that have 10k service intervals. So your bike will need at least 3 services every year at that level of mileage.

Throw in the cost of replacement tyres on top of this and the costs can mount up.

When you think there are Vauxhalls and Peugeots out there that have a 1 year or 20000 mile service interval then it may be worth looking at them, as well as other makes which have the service indicators that come on dependent on driving style. Some of the VW/Seat/ Skodas out there could get a lot of miles between servicing on the long life regime.

so you would do the long life service regime even though its out of warranty and you need long term reliability?
mint
trebor
mint

bigjl

Get a nice Mondeo Mk4 tdci for that money.

Try and getas low miles as you can but they will take huge mileages if well maintained.

Even my mega mile mk3 would easily deal with that kind of mileage, to be honest my school run is nearly 30 miles twice a day.

A little less if i go to work after dropping off no1 son.

Any motorwY muncher will take these miles easily.

Stick to 3 yr old ex fleet with a full.comprehensive history.

I would avoid low milers, too much money to buy and you are going to pyt big miles on it so you will lose lots at resale.

I would avoid things like Clios or Corsas as a rep size diesel hatch will almost match it for economy round town and often beat it for economy on a long run, something that i have noticed with the wifes Clio dci and my Mondeo tdci.

Which repmobile you chose is up to your likes and dislikes.

bigjl

As far as service interval goes i would personally use good quality oil and change it at around 6/7k, i would never advise a long service interval, the oil costs a fortune and the only reason they were invented was to appeal to fleet managers.

The Police and Ambulance service change oil at low intervals and don't use the extended interval lark.

Either do Addison Lee the largest minicab company in the UK.

grizzly1911

bigjl wrote: »

Get a nice Mondeo Mk4 tdci for that money.

Try and getas low miles as you can but they will take huge mileages if well maintained.

Any motorwY muncher will take these miles easily.

I would avoid things like Clios or Corsas as a rep size diesel hatch will almost match it for economy round town and often beat it for economy on a long run, something that i have noticed with the wifes Clio dci and my Mondeo tdci.

Which repmobile you chose is up to your likes and dislikes.

Lot of good points there.

Agree on avoiding the small stuff. We have an Avensis Diesel (worth a look) and a Small Diesel 1.3TD and there isn't much to choose between them at legal limit cruising MPG wise. The smaller one is better around town.