a commuting what car

[ch108]

I'd seriously consider the train even for part of the week. Although not Edinburgh to Glasgow, I used to travel Cumbernauld to Paisley for over 3 years then Stirling to Paisley. I don't know if you are going to be working in the city centre or will be travelling over the Kingston Bridge every day, but the M8 through Glasgow can be a nightmare on a regular basis. Some days it would be fine but others were torture. It only takes a minor bump or a breakdown for the whole thing to grind to a halt. My longest journey back from work was just under 3hours after an accident at Townhead. Quickest was 45minutes. My daily commute along the M8 was nearly 15years ago and I vowed never again. I dread to think what its like now and wonder if the new M74 extension has eased traffic on the bridge.

[wiliferus]

FastNReliable said:

At least with the train you'll have a reliable journey time.

I've never got the train in Scotland, but if it's anything like the South East of England, a reliable journey is one thing the trains do not provide...

[Klippie]

I commute 30 miles into Edinburgh everyday it's a nightmare going from Edinburgh to Glasgow will be worse, a small car will be perfectly fine as you won't be going very fast anyway.

Last year I bought a 1.2 Suzuki Swift for my daily run it's cheap, great to drive, comfy, quiet, has a good stereo, it costs £30 a year for road tax and does 45 - 50 mpg.

[aspirated]

Toyota Aygo

[RealSquirrels]

I hadn't considered the aygo, I guess they are pretty reliable if a bit boring.

I don't get the comments on the drive being better than the train. the train takes longer. ok the drive is long (say... 75 minutes for about 50 miles?) and slow for the distance and being on a motorway, but if you just accept that you're not going to be going very fast, surely it's better than the train for flexibility and the shorter time?

[kiethton]

If you really wanted to save money.... (and it goes through an MOT ok)

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2001...

[GreatGranny]

RealSquirrels said:

I hadn't considered the aygo, I guess they are pretty reliable if a bit boring.

I don't get the comments on the drive being better than the train. the train takes longer. ok the drive is long (say... 75 minutes for about 50 miles?) and slow for the distance and being on a motorway, but if you just accept that you're not going to be going very fast, surely it's better than the train for flexibility and the shorter time?

If you've never had to do a long commute before you will see length of commute as everything, its not.
Sitting on a train for 3 hours a day, even if its packed, is more relaxing than spending just over 2 hours per day fighting your way to work with 1000's of other commuters in a car.
I've done both because on some jobs I need the car but I was a much more relaxed and chilled person when I went by train.

[big_boz]

RealSquirrels said:

I hadn't considered the aygo, I guess they are pretty reliable if a bit boring.

I don't get the comments on the drive being better than the train. the train takes longer. ok the drive is long (say... 75 minutes for about 50 miles?) and slow for the distance and being on a motorway, but if you just accept that you're not going to be going very fast, surely it's better than the train for flexibility and the shorter time?

As i said in an earlier post, i put 10k on an Aygo in 8 months doing not dis similar driving to what you are talking about OP....things to note....

Fuel economy is rubbish cruising on M-ways, in the 10k it averaged 39MPG.

Quite boomy on the m-way because of the gearing and does become irritating

AWFUL hifi you really don't want to be spending 2.5hrs a day listening to the horrible tinny sound that it spurts out.

For the commute you describe (100 miles each day, 5 days a week, 45 weeks per year) you are looking at 22K+ miles per year just in commuting, which is well in to the territory for getting a derv on economy grounds, and really do you want to spend that many miles in something with compromised comfort levels?

Mid sized Derv all the way, its what they are designed to do, i would even say possibly an Auto. You are not driving for fun, its for work , so IMO comfort should be high on the list.

When i used to commute from Leeds to MK a few times a week (300 miles round trip), Audi A4 TDI se...perfect tool for the job and could push 65+ MPG...cruise control and a cracking stereo. Bought on 80k, sold at 140k, routine servicing and tyres plus a blown turbo was all that it needed for 60k miles. Bought for £5k at auction, sold for £3.5k

[ch108]

RealSquirrels said:

I hadn't considered the aygo, I guess they are pretty reliable if a bit boring.

I don't get the comments on the drive being better than the train. the train takes longer. ok the drive is long (say... 75 minutes for about 50 miles?) and slow for the distance and being on a motorway, but if you just accept that you're not going to be going very fast, surely it's better than the train for flexibility and the shorter time?

At least the train will be relatively consistent about the time you arrive. The M8 commute is unpredictable. I was occasionally late by car even though I thought I had left more than enough time for the journey. Theres no way to describe seeing 3 or 4 lanes of brake lights ahead when you haven't even got near the Kingston Bridge or city centre turn off!

Even if you decide to go by car, I'd try the train at least once as a comparison. An auto might be preferable too. I travelled that road in a manual car and its still the only car I've owned that needed the clutch replacing. Presumably because of all the stop start driving on a daily basis.

[bp1000]

Golf blue motion aren't they suppose to do 60-70mpg and about 7-8k to buy

If not get a 2004 105bhp 1.9tdi non dpf vag powered car. Apparently 50+ mpg, solid units, cheap to buy and less complicated