Car for short commte - new vs nearly new vs old can't decide

Stoke

If you're literally only going to be doing 5 miles, with no likelihood of longer trips away from home, I would consider something like a G-Wiz, because they go for next to nothing on eBay and their equivalent MPG is about 350 or something insane. Cheap cheap cars to buy, run and maintain. I know they're not the safest cars in the world but going 5 miles a day means insurance would be incredibly cheap, tax is free and your likelihood of an accident is reduced I guess.

If you want something which can do the odd day trip as well, I'd buy a really old banger with 12 months MOT. A Ford KA or FIAT Punto is a good shout. The Punto's are better for staying rust-free. If you want a bit more reliability at the expense of some 'style' and size, the Daihatsu Cuore shares the same engine as a Toyota Yaris and are bullet-proof. Many come with air con, remote central locking, electric windows etc as standard. The original Nissan Micra is also a top top car for commuting short distances. Without stereotyping, why do you think most takeaways and pizza delivery places use them? Great fuel consumption, no cambelt to change and !!!! easy to self-service.

AdrianC

Stoke wrote: »

I would consider something like a G-Wiz, because they go for next to nothing on eBay and their equivalent MPG is about 350 or something insane.

<sceptical>
8 x 200Ah batteries = 1600Ah @ 230v = 37kWh. Let's call it 40kWh to allow for charging losses. At 15p/kWh, that's £6 for a full recharge. The price of a gallon of diesel! Great! Dirt cheap!

Except that gives you a 75 mile official range.

Now, I dunno about you, but I make 75 miles from the cost equivalent of a gallon to be fairly obviously the cost equivalent of 75mpg. Except that's the official range, and a quick google finds 50 miles is more like. So that's the cost equivalent of 50mpg. OK, so you're not going to get 100% of the charge out the batteries. So let's split the difference and say it's about 60mpg equivalent. Woo.

Cheap cheap cars to buy, run and maintain.

Don't forget to price up a replacement battery set...

Stoke

AdrianC wrote: »

<sceptical>
8 x 200Ah batteries = 1600Ah @ 230v = 37kWh. Let's call it 40kWh to allow for charging losses. At 15p/kWh, that's £6 for a full recharge. The price of a gallon of diesel! Great! Dirt cheap!

Except that gives you a 75 mile official range.

Now, I dunno about you, but I make 75 miles from the cost equivalent of a gallon to be fairly obviously the cost equivalent of 75mpg. Except that's the official range, and a quick google finds 50 miles is more like. So that's the cost equivalent of 50mpg. OK, so you're not going to get 100% of the charge out the batteries. So let's split the difference and say it's about 60mpg equivalent. Woo.



Don't forget to price up a replacement battery set...

I was simply going on what they say on eco modders. Obviously I don't own one, and I wouldn't because I need to able to do further than 50-75 miles.

Personally, I would consider a Micra, Punto, Cuore over a G-Wiz.

Arfa__

Maybe little 125cc motorbike/scooter and some half decent water proof gear. £100 and a Saturday will sort out a CBT. It'll have head lights and be able to power heated grips for warmth in winter. Economy wise, most should easily do 70-80mpg odd. A 125 should do at least 60mph, so way faster than a push bike and fine so long as you're not on any motorways/dual carriageways. No hassles parking and more space on your drive. And you can whizz past any traffic jams with ease.

Ciao!

rexmedorum

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Spend a grand on a banger and run it into the ground would be my suggestion. You'd have to be mad to buy a new/nearly new car for a short commute if you're not sure what might happen in 18 months time.

how do I recognize a good one? I quite like this idea but the other half wants me to be sure it's not going to fall apart immediately.

I've read practical advice and I'm generally reasonable at technical 'stuff' though never worked on a car (beyond wipers, screen wash bulps etc.)


What I'm wondering is: how practical is looking at usually suggested things at a dealer?

bartelbe

Easy, buy a mid to late 90's diesel. They go for very little, a few hundred pounds should get you one. The engines from back then don't have all the electronic and pollution control junk that modern cars have. So the mechanicals run forever.

As long as the body isn't too rotten, it is a cheap way to get and run a car.

Stoke

bartelbe wrote: »

Easy, buy a mid to late 90's diesel. They go for very little, a few hundred pounds should get you one. The engines from back then don't have all the electronic and pollution control junk that modern cars have. So the mechanicals run forever.

As long as the body isn't too rotten, it is a cheap way to get and run a car.

Doing 5 miles a day, you'll never get it up to temperature, so your MPG will be relatively poor. For a 5 mile trip, I can only recommend petrol.

property.advert

Forget bangernomics. You need something which will start 100% of the time and not let you down. A Kia, Toyota or Hyundai have really long warranties (as do others if yo pay for them) which is exactly what you want.

Vauxhall have a few 0% deals on atm.

arcon5

LOL

some real dodgy answers about here

getmore4less

AdrianC wrote: »

<sceptical>
8 x 200Ah batteries = 1600Ah @ 230v = 37kWh. Let's call it 40kWh to allow for charging losses. At 15p/kWh, that's £6 for a full recharge. The price of a gallon of diesel! Great! Dirt cheap!

Except that gives you a 75 mile official range.

Now, I dunno about you, but I make 75 miles from the cost equivalent of a gallon to be fairly obviously the cost equivalent of 75mpg. Except that's the official range, and a quick google finds 50 miles is more like. So that's the cost equivalent of 50mpg. OK, so you're not going to get 100% of the charge out the batteries. So let's split the difference and say it's about 60mpg equivalent. Woo.

Don't forget to price up a replacement battery set...

8 x 6v 200AH batteries 9.6kwh.