Buying a car for motorway - MPG advice please

clarkwgriswold

Soon I'm (hopefully) taking a job that involves a 100-mile round trip on the motorway. I had a job a few years back that was a 60 mile round trip - I drove a 1.9 tdi Golf there and would get 55 mpg if I drove properly (nothing heavy in the car, 60 mph etc etc). I've since sold that car but will need to buy a new one, so I'd appreciate some advice. The golf was fine to drive that far 2 years ago, but diesel's a lot more expensive now so what should I be looking at? Is diesel still the best option, even though it's more expensive than petrol? I've got about £3k to spend.

rev_henry

Are you going to be doing this 100 miles every weekday? Then additional going to the shops etc on the weekend? If so that's 25k+ a year so yes I'd have thought a diesel would be worthwhile.

clarkwgriswold

Sorry, yes it's a 100-mile daily round trip

mikey72

It depends on the size of car you need. We just went for a Citreon C3, diesel, to do 15k a year, based on the reported mpg. It cruises comfortably, quietly, performs well on the motorway, and is reported to go on forever. Obviously we'll get the descendants of the Battle of Hastings on, who still haven't forgiven the french, but that's to replace a Peugeot 106 that did 160k miles at 55mpg, so french is fine by me.

clarkwgriswold

As far as size goes, I'd need no smaller than golf mk4/mk1 focus.

mikey72

A diesel focus is a safe bet, I prefer french diesel engines for reliability.

jimbo_the_jetset

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/

Don't buy based on manufacturer quoted mpg. More often than not very misleading

Strider590

And unless buying new or nearly new, be careful of the DFP (diesel particulate filter) when buying a diesel that's had fairly low usage and be careful of DMF (dual mass flywheel) on diesels that haven't.... Both will set you back 4 figure sums if they fail.

Something that's already been used for the same purpose would be ideal, an ex-repmobile for example. Sure it'll have the tell-tale motorway stone chips, but mechanically it'll have had a fairly easy life for it's mileage.

mikey72

jimbo_the_jetset wrote: »

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/

Don't buy based on manufacturer quoted mpg. More often than not very misleading

Looks like mid 60's to 70's should be achievable.

almillar

For a change on this forum, you want a diesel and you're actually an ideal candidate for one! Bigger cars might cruise more comfortably than smaller ones at motorway speeds, but even small cars are being geared to be economical at 70. Bigger cars are more aerodynamic though so make more sense at higher speeds rather than town driving. As above, I wouldn't want to go below Golf/Focus size. Diesel is a few pence per litre more than petrol, but gets significantly better economy, and the car will also have better resale value when you go to sell, so it's definitely worth it if you do the milage to justify it.
If you're serious about economy, how about a BMW 116d? If that's too slow, there's a 118d and 120d to think about too. Otherwise all suggestions above, plus Octavia, Leon, A3 etc etc. You're spoilt for choice.

timbotambo

BMW 116D for £3k? Keep dreaming!

For that money you'll be looking at the large saloon diesels most likely, such as Ford Mondeo etc. I much prefer larger cars on motorways!

Rover 75 or MGZT CDTi use the BMW 2L diesel engine and are cheap as chips (and very reliable). Parts are not an issue either.