Best MPG Car For A Young Driver?

Mxty

Hi Guys,

Was wondering if you could help me out with a few suggestions.

It is a while before I actually need to purchase a new "used" car but I thought I would get some ideas and prices down so I know roughly what it is going to cost.

In Decemember I'm moving into my own flat, a good 30+ miles away from work so I'm going to have to commute everyday so I'm looking for a car that isn't too expensive to buy used and records a nice MPG figure.

The small hitch is that I will be 20 when I decide to purchase this with one years no claims (given all goes to plan of course), so I also need to look at something that isn't going to cost me a bomb to insure...

So far my thoughts are leaning towards a Renault Clio 1.5dci any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

forgotmyname

MPG and tax is not the be all and end all of the cars costs.

You have one years no claims, So what car do you have now? Why not keep it?

Buying something newer may give you a few extra mpg, But people forget about depreciation. Spend £10,000 on something because it does 60mpg.
But forget that its costs them £2000 a year just to sit there before they actually drive it.

My sister has a megane and its a heap of.... Electric issues...

BeenThroughItAll

forgotmyname wrote: »

MPG and tax is not the be all and end all of the cars costs.

You have one years no claims, So what car do you have now? Why not keep it?

Buying something newer may give you a few extra mpg, But people forget about depreciation. Spend £10,000 on something because it does 60mpg.
But forget that its costs them £2000 a year just to sit there before they actually drive it.

My sister has a megane and its a heap of.... Electric issues...

This, only I'd be much less polite about the Renault suggestion. Horrible things, you couldn't give me one.

Mxty

I have a very old Ford Ka (S Reg), although it has been reliable I fear it may not be something I can trust to get me to and from work everyday. It'll end up packing in pretty quickly.

I would think about a new car on Finance but it is simply not something I can afford at the moment.

@BeenThroughItAll - What problems have you had with the Clio's? The 1.5dci offers a nice MPG range and I can pick an oldish one up at a reasonable price.

Strider590

Well, basically you can't have it all............

A 4 year old large car that does 35mpg, for £4000 (Vauxhall Insignia 1.8)
or
A 4 year old small car that does 38mpg, for £7000 (Vauxhall Corsa 1.2)

(not actual prices, but the difference is about right)

If you want small, you pay the premium and you'll never recover that by getting an extra few mpg. Small cars = worse value for money and only slightly better fuel economy.

BeenThroughItAll

Mxty wrote: »

I have a very old Ford Ka (S Reg), although it has been reliable I fear it may not be something I can trust to get me to and from work everyday. It'll end up packing in pretty quickly.

I would think about a new car on Finance but it is simply not something I can afford at the moment.

@BeenThroughItAll - What problems have you had with the Clio's? The 1.5dci offers a nice MPG range and I can pick an oldish one up at a reasonable price.

I haven't owned a Clio. As I say, you couldn't give me one. I have experience of the Renault range in general, and whilst they make nice looking, comfortable cars, they're horribly unreliable and expensive to fix when (not if) they go wrong. Electrical problems are their favourite way of emptying wallets.


I work with a lot of young people fresh out of Uni. With their first pay cheque, a lot of them rush out and buy cars, often new Renaults on whatever 'please buy me' deal they're doing at the time, because they're cheap, look nice, and everyone knows the Clio is a great first car, right?


None of them seem to buy another. They move on to Golfs, Yarises, Polos, 1 Series', A1s, A3s, Civics, etc. Never other Renaults.

mjoneseyjones

Mxty wrote: »

I have a very old Ford Ka (S Reg), although it has been reliable I fear it may not be something I can trust to get me to and from work everyday. It'll end up packing in pretty quickly.

I would think about a new car on Finance but it is simply not something I can afford at the moment.

@BeenThroughItAll - What problems have you had with the Clio's? The 1.5dci offers a nice MPG range and I can pick an oldish one up at a reasonable price.

Look for actual user reviews of the car/model you're interested in on places like Honest John and Parkers.

Franch cars get a lot of stick for historical reliability issues. Much of this is unfair, as many of these issues are historic as French engineering has caught up reliability wise with other marques.

I don't like Franch cars, more for the way they look and feel (often cheap imo) but writing them all off as garbage is as silly as people who spend thousands over the odds to buy Volkswagen cars because of the historical assumption they are all bulletproof.

Mxty

Small cars are expensive due to the insurance yes but I can be looking at any size, I just want it to be cost efficient.

I currently pay £100 a month for my Ka so i've already factored that cost in, after my years no claims this will go down to around £600ish but thats similar to the Clio 1.5dci which is far better mpg and would only cost me around £1000-1500 depending on mileage

sh0597

I have a diesel Yaris as my first real car (had access to a mk4 fiesta before).


I reckon that would be a good car for you. The only mistake I made was not getting one with air con. I have heard good things about Renaults 1.5dci engine though.

citykid5

I'd go for a pug 107 or Citroen c1 eygo should get a 56 Redgrave for about 2k if that's within your budget 60ish mpg low tax I think £20 a year and group 1 insurance

worried_jim

Strider590 wrote: »

Well, basically you can't have it all............

A 4 year old large car that does 35mpg, for £4000 (Vauxhall Insignia 1.8)
or
A 4 year old small car that does 38mpg, for £7000 (Vauxhall Corsa 1.2)

(not actual prices, but the difference is about right)

If you want small, you pay the premium and you'll never recover that by getting an extra few mpg. Small cars = worse value for money and only slightly better fuel economy.

I couldn't agree more. I may only get 18mpg but the car only cost £500 and has every luxury to make driving a pleasure, I may have had to pay double to get a car with 40mpg and would have missed some of the luxury.