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Big Commute Car Advice

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  • bigjl
    bigjl Posts: 6,457 Forumite
    Interesting choices.

    But for the OPs budget do you think any of those will be in a condition to take large numbers of commuting miles day in day out for a couple of years!

    Millions of miles every year are done in Mondeos, Insignias or Octavias in fairly low specification.

    And there has to be a reason why Audi only give a 3yr/60k warranty. No confidencs in the product long term?

    Even Jaguars have 3yr/unlimited miles.

    I still think there has been some decent advice offered.

    A car that needs £700/800 worth of tyres every year or so probably isn't at the top.of my list. No matter how comfortable.

    My 08 V50 seats were some of the most comfy i have ever had in a car.

    But due to high residuals you get more for you money with other cars.
  • DUTR
    DUTR Posts: 12,958 Forumite
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    bigjl wrote: »
    Interesting choices.

    But for the OPs budget do you think any of those will be in a condition to take large numbers of commuting miles day in day out for a couple of years!

    Millions of miles every year are done in Mondeos, Insignias or Octavias in fairly low specification.

    And there has to be a reason why Audi only give a 3yr/60k warranty. No confidencs in the product long term?

    Even Jaguars have 3yr/unlimited miles.

    I still think there has been some decent advice offered.

    A car that needs £700/800 worth of tyres every year or so probably isn't at the top.of my list. No matter how comfortable.

    My 08 V50 seats were some of the most comfy i have ever had in a car.

    But due to high residuals you get more for you money with other cars.

    Well he is currently as I understand, doing the journey in an Astra, but if it were me, then I would go for a saloon as I suspect most of the journey will be extra urban, and practically, there will be no difference in the MPG compared to the small medium hatchbacks, but more likely a more relaxed drive.
  • skivenov
    skivenov Posts: 2,204 Forumite
    How many mpg's are you actually getting from your Astra? I used a 1.6 petrol vectra for work a few years back, and I don't recall it being at all bad on fuel.

    If the Astra's getting (say) 40-45mpg and a diesel will be getting (say) 55-60mpg, diesel costs more per litre than petrol, how many miles do you need to do to justify spending £6000?

    That said, I'd personally make enquiries at some B+B's in the area and see if they'll do you a decent rate for in the week.
    Yes it's overwhelming, but what else can we do?
    Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute?
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,611 Forumite
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    bigjl wrote: »

    The 1.9dci is a well known hand grenade.

    But i have not hearf the same about the 1.5dci.

    It is fitted to many different cars.

    Nissan Qashqui to Dacia Dusters. And a whole lot of Renaults for many years.

    Certainly doesn't have the same reputation as the 1.9.

    Perhaps the higher tuned versions are more troublesome?

    Or maybe in previous generations such as the mk2 Clio?

    Ours has been troublefree. My sister has my dads old Quasqui with the same 1.5dci lump. Again reliable and super.economical.

    I know somebody that drove from Peterborough to East London for five years in a petrol Kia.

    Have looked seriously at the current Megane with a 1.5dci engine to replace the Clio. But wife not sold on the looks.

    I personally avoid ALL renault diesels in the trade, but i have had issues with specifically with the 1.5. I would say Renault diesels have cost me into the thousands in terms of warranty claims or lost profit.

    As i said *maybe* the latest ones are better.
    bigjl wrote: »

    I am not a huge fan of VWs as i think they are expensive for what you get. I would be much more likely to advise a Skoda or Seat.

    It depends. I gave £12,400 for a 9 month old Golf 1.6 TDI S with 13K miles from a main VW dealer. That was on a par with the sort of money Skoda dealers and Ford dealers were looking for their variants. Dynamically the Golf has the edge over the skoda and i didnt need the extra space that an Octavia would have given me.
    bigjl wrote: »

    The Sweeney have a Skoda Superb in London, 4x4 petrol engined version. The current one was put on the run last year. And replaced an old shape Superb with the same top spec petrol engine and 4x4(the one that looked like a lwb Passat).

    When fleet managers as well placed as the Met Police start using Skodas it is time to pay attention.

    London Ambulance now uses Skoda Octavias, 4x4, 2.0 tdi with DSG box.

    East.of England are going the same way.

    Yorkshire Ambos have had Octavia Scouts for a few years now.

    Met Police Traffic are now moving from BMWs to Octavias. As are the Area Cars.

    I think that makes sense for them. A bigger car for less money with the same running gear.

    If a bigger car is a priority for the O/P then its worth considering, but i would contend that you can buy a Golf for "similar" money to the Skoda variant, with the added value of it being dynamically a better car, and stronger residuals.
    bigjl wrote: »

    The OP could also consider the new Skoda Rapid. They are pretty cheap new. There may be a ex demo around for not much more than budget.

    Again, not a great car. If you read the reviews its got very poor levels of refinement and is just "average". I considered one, but that put me off.
    bigjl wrote: »

    Though i do find myself drawn to an above average miles ex fleeter. Bought for pennies at Auction at 3 yrs old.

    More stone chips the better as it has been on the motorways a lot.

    It was how minicab drivers bavk in the day bought their cars.

    3yrs old. High miles. Low cost. Run into ground and repeat.

    Yes, makes sense. They'll have full manufacturer service histories and have been well maintained. Worth noting though that "everyone" is looking for a cheap diesel at auction - both trade and private buyers alike - so prices might not be that much cheaper than you could otherwise get a from a car supermarket, plus they will warrant it, offer finance and take trade ins.
  • jbainbridge
    jbainbridge Posts: 2,027 Forumite
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    Winger15mk wrote: »
    Any have any thoughts on the Diesel Renault Megane? Seen it can get a whopping 80mpg on spec! And has bt/sat nav?

    I have one - 80mpg is not realistic - I've no idea how they come up with it. Driven reasonable carefully I can get 59mpg. As a car I like it.
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,611 Forumite
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    DKLS wrote: »
    I see the usual dreary tat has been mentioned, if your spending 180 miles per day you needs some where nice to sit, have a look at oil burning 5 and 7 series and Audi A8/A6s,

    And the can do 60mpg can they?
  • rev_henry
    rev_henry Posts: 4,965 Forumite
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    motorguy wrote: »
    And the can do 60mpg can they?
    The 520d can do 58 allegedly, iirc.
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,611 Forumite
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    edited 16 April 2014 at 3:20PM
    rev_henry wrote: »
    The 520d can do 58 allegedly, iirc.

    You dont.

    http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/bmw/5-series-e60-2003/520d

    Probably mid 40's on a run. I've had various 320d's and they all averaged 42-45mpg. My son has an 09 120d M Sport and hes getting 42mpg.

    Any 5 series i have had were 535d's but was getting early 30's.

    I'd an E70 X5 3.0d and got 28mpg - probably on a weight par with a 7 series.

    Any 3 litre Diesel BMW 5/7 or Audi A6/A8 diesel will be mid to late 30's at very best.

    Any 2 litre diesel BMW 5 or Audi A6 will be early 40s.

    All will be old and / or leggy examples at that price, with associated maintenance costs of of £40K to £70K cars.

    Which is all exactly why i drive a newish golf diesel rather than an older exec car.
  • rev_henry
    rev_henry Posts: 4,965 Forumite
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    motorguy wrote: »
    You dont.

    http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/bmw/5-series-e60-2003/520d

    Probably mid 40's on a run. I've had various 320d's and they all averaged 42-45mpg. My son has an 09 120d M Sport and hes getting 42mpg.

    Any 5 series i have had were 535d's but was getting early 30's.

    I'd an E70 X5 3.0d and got 28mpg - probably on a weight par with a 7 series.

    Any 3 litre Diesel BMW 5/7 or Audi A6/A8 diesel will be mid to late 30's at very best.

    Any 2 litre diesel BMW 5 or Audi A6 will be early 40s.

    All will be old and / or leggy examples at that price, with associated maintenance costs of of £40K to £70K cars.

    Which is all exactly why i drive a newish golf diesel rather than an older exec car.
    Yes I do, I did say allegedly.

    http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/bmw/5-series/saloon-2010/54789/
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,611 Forumite
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    edited 16 April 2014 at 5:55PM
    rev_henry wrote: »

    Sadly that model of 5 series is the F10 and as such it isnt within the O/P's budget, its the previous one - the E60 - that you can get for that, if you're prepared to go for a high miles and / or oldish one.

    And i'm sure you realise that government stats are rarely how it is in the real world anyway. It would be clearly foolish to think - or to set an expectation - that a large heavy exec barge would be capable of similar fuel economy to say a small hatchback diesel.

    Hence why i went to the trouble of giving "actuals" for the cars that DKLS mentioned, that are within the O/Ps price band.

    I am sure you would agree such cars are realistically not an option for the O/P, if hes trying to save on fuel and running costs.
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