What car...

KierNet

I stupidly decided it would be a good idea to get a BMW 528i. After getting <20mpg, its turned out to be a bad idea, so currently trying to sell it.

In the mean time, I'm looking for a new car. I'm hoping to get around £1,000 for my BMW, which will be my budget.

Needs to be cheap to run, not too fussed what it looks like, but no Micras, KA, Fiestas etc.

Currently looking at getting another Focus, but open to ideas. Cheap insurance is also a bonus!

What are Skoda Octavias like? Seen one for around £500, insurance is only £400 a year.

Tobster86

I get around 30mpg from my 1997 BMW 323i with enthusiastic driving, mainly country lanes. I've had 40 on the motorway.

It'll be the same M5# engine as your 528i but displacing 2.5l instead of 3l, and pulling significantly less weight.

I drove our company's Skoda Octavia 1.9TDI and was very impressed at both performance, economy and comfort (if slightly empty handling, but not too bad). It's supposed to have only 108bhp but I've driven a new 130bhp diesel Astra that was lifeless by comparison. On the job I did it averaged 51mpg (on it's display) for a motorway drive that, well, I'm not going to go into much detail about but it didn't take a very long time.

Rolandtheroadie

Got myself an Audi 80 TDI for £550 with a good MOT and a bit of tax a couple of months ago and think it's great.
Love the look to them, you could go for an A4 if you're wanting something that looks a bit more modern (and perhaps an airbag or 2).

s_b

theres something wrong with that 528
they are seriously fuel efficient if in tune

jaydeeuk1

Agree with SB. When's the last time it had a good service? New air filter, oil & filter and sparkies?

thegirlintheattic

You can get an octavia with 170 bhp which does 42 mph.

floopnoodle

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

You can get an octavia with 170 bhp which does 42 mph.

I'd want a lot more than 42

Tobster86

scotsman4th wrote: »

Got myself an Audi 80 TDI for £550 with a good MOT and a bit of tax a couple of months ago and think it's great.

I was given one of these which had sat on a farm drive for 3 years unused. Despite sitting unused for this long, it started on the first turn with no smoke (it never did smoke).
I can honestly say it was probably the best car I ever have and ever will have owned.
I fitted a conventional mechanical injector pump and accelerator cable to it and ran it on vegetable oil for about 25,000 miles, before having a prang on some black ice that rendered it beyond economical repair.

They're rediculously old now, but I would still put more money on one of them driving to Moscow and back without any problems than any modern car.

KierNet

s_b wrote: »

theres something wrong with that 528
they are seriously fuel efficient if in tune

I have a VERY heavy right foot. I do all town driving, 90% of my trips are less than 3 miles. With a bit of duel carriageway to put my foot down.

I've tried being more eco, but I just go back to my old ways .

getmore4less

KierNet wrote: »

I have a VERY heavy right foot. I do all town driving, 90% of my trips are less than 3 miles. With a bit of duel carriageway to put my foot down.

I've tried being more eco, but I just go back to my old ways .

Keep the car and get a bike.

KierNet

getmore4less wrote: »

Keep the car and get a bike.

Too lazy xD. Unless you mean a motorbike? Been looking at getting a 125 to get to and from work, will save £500 a year just in fuel. Two years time and its pretty much paid for itself.

Some good news...sold some shares from work, and getting £1,550 in the next 10 working days. Can pay my parents back, pay off my overdraft, and be £50 a month better off. Infact, £100 better off as I'm not paying my parents back anymore.

So I might get to keep it, unless I get a decent offer on eBay (anything over £1,200 I think I'll take).