Petrol or diesel - commuting

ben_m_g

Hi all,

Despite looking, relevant threads didn't seem to answer my questions.

So here it is:

I'm commuting 80 miles a day, at the moment car sharing.

While this is far cheaper, it means an extra hour added on to the daily commute and staying late every time there is an issue (not great on a day that is already 12 hours long).

My current car is on a lease purchase and limited miles, although I intend to hand it back (and negate the extra mileage charge) every trip adds wear and tear risking charges when I do so.

So i'm looking at a very cheap run around, nothing flash, nothing fast just something that will get me A to B.


The questions are:

- Petrol or diesel? (i'm often told that I might just be doing enough miles for diesel??)

- Small or larger engine? (a 1.0 would be fine as mostly single lanes, but larger engines can take more abuse).

- What car? current options are: Ford Ka 1.3 petrol, Mondeo 2.0 petrol (high mileage) Rover 400 (mid-high mileage), Micra 1.0 (low-mid miles) polo 1.9 Diesel Low mileage needs repair.).

JustinR1979

Budget? Type of roads?
Would go diesel for those miles, will also help to have a bigger car and more power - a 1.0 petrol will hardly be great for overtaking, or feel that good on the motorway.
Pretty !!!!!! cars you've listed, would pick the polo as it has the cracking 1.9 diesel.

Foxy-Stoat_3

Any 1.9tdi PD engined manual car will suit your needs. Look at cheaper makes, Skoda Fabia or Octavia will see you spending £0.11- £0.13 per mile in diesel.

MK4 Golfs will be dearer but no better.

ben_m_g

JustinR1979 wrote: »

Budget? Type of roads?
Would go diesel for those miles, will also help to have a bigger car and more power - a 1.0 petrol will hardly be great for overtaking, or feel that good on the motorway.
Pretty !!!!!! cars you've listed, would pick the polo as it has the cracking 1.9 diesel.

Budget... there isn't one. I am just so fed up with the car share that I need to make a change.

The cars listed are the first page of cars near me under £500 on autotrader. I've got to weight insurance and road tax on the car choice.


Overtaking isn't a major thing for me as the roads here don't allow for it.
The polo looks ok, but without an MOT, I will have to look.

OddballJamie

Get a diesel Rover 75 or MGZT with the BMW engine, waft around in comfort on a budget.

With a low budget take a look on the bangernomics board for tips.

smjxm09

I would avoid a petrol Mondeo. You would be lucky to get 30 miles to a gallon out of one regardless of the version.

forgotmyname

Except a petrol Mondeo is probably the sensible choice. The MK3 2L is very reliable.
I had one and it never even blew a bulb. Basic oil and filter changes and it just kept going. 150,000 miles and it still purred.

I swapped it for a diesel and my daughter giggles and says she heard us coming home. Should have bought a proper tractor.
But it does lots of mpg's.

JustinR1979

Also, if looking at £500 cars, gonna be a bigger petrol engine.

ben_m_g

Thanks all, really helpful replies.

I haven't brought a sub £500 car for years, but if it's done right not only does it make my commute far more tolerable but in a few years when OH is ready she can take it for her first car. win win.

Can someone point me towards the "bangernomics" thread. My search-fu is failing me.

worried_jim

ben_m_g wrote: »

Thanks all, really helpful replies.

I haven't brought a sub £500 car for years, but if it's done right not only does it make my commute far more tolerable but in a few years when OH is ready she can take it for her first car. win win.

Can someone point me towards the "bangernomics" thread. My search-fu is failing me.

My Pleasure-

Your Bangernomics successes
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3803929