Best cars for 100+ mile commute

tired_dad

how much does the train cost 3 times a week.

120miles each way is a big drive. 240. miles round trip.

Outlay for car/fuel/insurance/depreciation/servicing/mot

I cannot imaging the car is cheaper. Only unless you already own the car anyway. In which case the outlay and depreciation are covered.

720 miles a week. assuming 46w a year, that's over 33k mileage alone.

Get the train mate. Enjoy the freedom

ceredigion

120miles in 1h 15m. = 96mph
just saying.

energy1x

tired_dad wrote: »

how much does the train cost 3 times a week.

120miles each way is a big drive. 240. miles round trip.

Outlay for car/fuel/insurance/depreciation/servicing/mot

I cannot imaging the car is cheaper. Only unless you already own the car anyway. In which case the outlay and depreciation are covered.

720 miles a week. assuming 46w a year, that's over 33k mileage alone.

Get the train mate. Enjoy the freedom

It's 60 miles each way, 120 round trip. Sorry if this wasn't clear originally.

System

tired_dad wrote: »

Get the train mate. Enjoy the freedom

There's a lot of people heading into London on certain rail franchises who completely disagree. Certainly those using Southern Rail wouldn't agree with you as they turn up every day just hoping there's going to be a train at all. Hull trains recently didn't do too well when all but one of their trains was out of service due to maintenance problems. Throw in many local branch lines running old Pacers and the current strikes that are on the go and it isn't a pretty picture.

energy1x

The train is indeed with southern rail! So yes, hit and miss and not something to 'enjoy' by any stretch.

attila_

the OP has asked for car suggestion advice. Not people’s thoughts on whether a train is better. Half of the posts on here are about train commuting!

OP until 8 months I was doing a 140 mile round commute 5 days a week. From experience, comfort will become your most important factor (other than mpg!) I had an audi a4 tdi 2009. Excellent comfort, just under 200,000 and still felt fine. You can pick a decent one for your budget with plenty of life left.

As a previous OP said, if its long distance then wear items such as clutch, dmf, brakes etc are less per mile. I was on same clutch. I also never had a dpf issue as I could see it regularly regenerating through my app.

Golf will be ok but I think they feel twitchier than a longer wheel base saloon or estate. I woul rather go for a passat or jetta over a golf for long distance.

Herzlos

Sometimes the best car is a train though.

But not Southern Rail. You want to actually get to work reliably, and can reassess when someone else takes over the franchise.

Jimi.K.

Surprised at so many of the comments recommending the train. Have you people ever commuted by train in the UK?!

Assuming its a relatively popular route you'll rarely get a seat, usually be crammed in like a sardine, experience regular delays and cancellations, hang around on cold drafty platforms, and to top it all off probably pay 4x the amount you would if driving!

For example, a peak train from Swindon to Maidenhead costs £46.50 return! A diesel rep-mobile would easily do the 110mile return trip on less than £10 worth of fuel and wear and tear on easy motorway miles like those would be negligible. Obviously you have car purchase costs, insurance, servicing, beak-down cover etc, but assuming you have a personal car anyway those costs are more or less fixed.

From an environmental point of view we should all be making more use of public transport, but otherwise it's hard to justify British trains unless you work in the centre of a very busy city.

Jimi.K.

OP, I'd recommend a higher-mileage diesel saloon. Higher mileage means it's likely done lots of easy motorway miles and will be less likely to suffer DPF problems - diesels love to be driven! It will also cost you less to buy.

Something like this would be a lovely place to spend 3hrs and should easily do 250k+ miles with just regular servicing:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201810291936923