Tricky choice?

FreddieFrugal

Moto2 wrote: »

Cut the yearly fuel consumption by cycling to work in the lighter/warmer months?

Depends if OP can spare the doubling of the journey time and whether they're physically able to cycle. Or if they have to regularly carry fairly sizeable loads of paperwork/materials for their work, or other passengers.

Or if the A road that they have to use is suitable for cycling on safely, if they have to avoid it, that could be increasing their journey time even further. Not to mention if it's a hilly area.

if they've got dogs that need walking in the morning, plus everything else they may not be able to spare the extra time needed to cycle that distance.

I'd say Focus Estate, just as there's a fair number available sub £6000, or you could look at a van type vehicle as others have suggested, or a small mpv

soupdragon10

I can't cycle due to health problems and 16 miles along narrow country lanes and A roads would probably land me in hospital.


Thanks to those who have come up with useful suggestions - I will certainly look at the Berlino and Skoda options - if necessary I will get a dog ramp for our rottweiller cross.



What are opinions on the Citroen C3? came across this when looking at Berlingos. Is this a reasonable option? never had a Citroen before.

I only mention the daily mileage - I do a lot of additional mileage which is why I need fuel economy as I will be retiring in the fairly near future and want to make sure I have a car that is both fuel efficient and will allow me to transport my dogs (and now cutting down on my dogs is not an option to reduce my outgoings).

RichardD1970

soupdragon10 wrote: »

What are opinions on the Citroen C3? came across this when looking at Berlingos. Is this a reasonable option? never had a Citroen before.

You'll get people telling you to avoid French cars, but I have a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 1.6HDi which is fine, no problems at all (yet). Has loads of room and get an average of 40mpg mainly on very sort runs.

Stigy

Skoda Octavia estate? The 1.9TDI is ecconomical and for 6k you'd get a newer car than an equivalent VW and still have the build quality and reliability!

DominicH

The C3 is smaller than a Focus, so it's probably too small.
For dogs, I think you want a low boot lip and seats that fold completely level with the boot floor, which does make the space in the back significantly more usable. That generally means an estate, although there are some hatchbacks with truly flat-folding seats, such as the Honda Civic or Honda Jazz.

arcon5

40mpg sounds pretty typical for a petrol car in your price range. Usually those getting upwards of that are either in diesels (which are typically more expensive to maintain) or in newer cars which I suspect will be at least a few £ks above your budget.

motorguy

Peugeot 307 SW 1.4 or 2.0 HDI (avoid the 1.6)

Lots of room, cheap as chips, cheap to run

forgotmyname

This reminds me of someone that wanted a more efficient car because they take their dogs on a 60 mile+ round trip to take them for a walk.
Needed something more fuel efficient.

I just thought why would the dogs want to travel 30 miles for a walkies?

FreddieFrugal

RichardD1970 wrote: »

You'll get people telling you to avoid French cars, but I have a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 1.6HDi which is fine, no problems at all (yet). Has loads of room and get an average of 40mpg mainly on very short runs.

That sounds like perfect recipe for disaster for a modern diesel

RichardD1970

FreddieFrugal wrote: »

That sounds like perfect recipe for disaster for a modern diesel

Sounds like it, but in nearly 4 years of ownership with that pattern of driving there has never been a problem.

With regards the DPF the user manual says that if the light comes on then run the car at 40mph for 15 minutes.