Short commute car
Discussion
Sounds like the perfect scenario for something electric, or hybrid, which could be interesting like a BMW i8 if you've got a spare £100k.
Otherwise just get something small and petrol which will be cheaper and warm up fastest and have less to go wrong; I'd avoid a diesel with a particulate filter unless you're also going to go for long journeys from time to time.
You could try leaving a solar trickle charger in the car all the time to help keep the battery topped up.
An electric heated front screen will help with faster de misting or ice clearing.
A bigger car may not warm up well enough and will put more load on the battery; you may get constant condensation in the exhaust, for example, and struggle to demist it before you get to the station, but if you can keep the battery charged, keep the DPF empty if it has one, and service it often enough to offset any increased degradation then just get what you want - it's only a car and most of them are fairly infallible these days.
Otherwise just get something small and petrol which will be cheaper and warm up fastest and have less to go wrong; I'd avoid a diesel with a particulate filter unless you're also going to go for long journeys from time to time.
You could try leaving a solar trickle charger in the car all the time to help keep the battery topped up.
An electric heated front screen will help with faster de misting or ice clearing.
A bigger car may not warm up well enough and will put more load on the battery; you may get constant condensation in the exhaust, for example, and struggle to demist it before you get to the station, but if you can keep the battery charged, keep the DPF empty if it has one, and service it often enough to offset any increased degradation then just get what you want - it's only a car and most of them are fairly infallible these days.
Willy Nilly said:
Most of the wear occurs while the engine is cold and you engine will spend most of its life cold. It would probably come under severe service in the operators manual.
I've always wondered about this - if it was a 20 mile commute instead of 2 you've still got the few miles at the start where the engine's not up temperature. I presume that any wear that occurs in those first few miles won't be undone by the 18 extra miles when the engine is up to temp, so why is the longer journey 'better' for the car? I would have thought it's the number of cold starts that is the more important factor, which for commuting is usually going to be 2 per day irrespective of how far it is. But anyway I agree that in the OP's situation I'd be thinking A) bike or B) cheap jap petrol shed.
I'm gutted no one is recommending the Audi Quattro !!
I know electric is going to be the most sensible aside from a bike, but it's not worth getting all sorted to ride a bike for 5 minutes in the rain at 6am - and I really fancy NOT being sensible for once.
I'm liking the squashed 911!
I know electric is going to be the most sensible aside from a bike, but it's not worth getting all sorted to ride a bike for 5 minutes in the rain at 6am - and I really fancy NOT being sensible for once.
I'm liking the squashed 911!
Willy Nilly said:
Most of the wear occurs while the engine is cold and you engine will spend most of its life cold. It would probably come under severe service in the operators manual.
Every journey starts with a cold engine, the initial wear doesn't miraculously go away on a longer journey. Changing the oil more regularly than the recommended service interval is always a good idea (short trips or not), but imo you could get away with pretty much anything on a new car if you're only planning on keeping it for a few years.Getting a snotter just for the station run is one option, but brings the hassle of another car/rfl/insurance, I'd just use the main car and take it for a proper run out once a week, or maybe connect a trickle charger periodically.
The issues are:
1. On a short journey the engine will not get up to temperature. This will mean greater fuel consumption. More condensation in the oil which may make it go "milky" in appearance.
So, change the oil more frequently. Or go for a long run at the weekends.
2. Most of the wear occurs in the first few minutes after a cold start. This doesn't change whether you do a 2 mile or 200 mile journey.
No more wear than any other car started twice a day.
3. In the winter your battery may slowly deteriorate as it may not get fully recharged after only 2 miles.
So, you might need to replace your battery more often or provide some means to charge it - solar panel on the dash or a charger in the garage periodically.
If it's your only car and is used for other journeys I don't see any issue.
I do lots of short journeys - home / school / nursery / office most days but this is brought up to a total of 12000 miles per year with longer journeys. This has been fine on all of my cars since the Corrado, including three turbocharged Audis.
Go for it!
1. On a short journey the engine will not get up to temperature. This will mean greater fuel consumption. More condensation in the oil which may make it go "milky" in appearance.
So, change the oil more frequently. Or go for a long run at the weekends.
2. Most of the wear occurs in the first few minutes after a cold start. This doesn't change whether you do a 2 mile or 200 mile journey.
No more wear than any other car started twice a day.
3. In the winter your battery may slowly deteriorate as it may not get fully recharged after only 2 miles.
So, you might need to replace your battery more often or provide some means to charge it - solar panel on the dash or a charger in the garage periodically.
If it's your only car and is used for other journeys I don't see any issue.
I do lots of short journeys - home / school / nursery / office most days but this is brought up to a total of 12000 miles per year with longer journeys. This has been fine on all of my cars since the Corrado, including three turbocharged Audis.
Go for it!
nipsips said:
I do about 2 miles into town everyday, then 2 miles out at night. Mostly stop start in a Mondeo auto. No doubt not up to temperature but no issues so far it seems. Oil still nice and golden after 6000 miles (due a change).
That's good know, and interesting points from others about the wear being the same as any car that is started twice a day and does longer runs - it's what I've never understood about the whole concept of modern cars being less reliable if they are not run for a longer period.Time to stop thinking about electric cars and do a proper Pistonheads search for an old XFR!!
RYH64E said:
Willy Nilly said:
Most of the wear occurs while the engine is cold and you engine will spend most of its life cold. It would probably come under severe service in the operators manual.
Every journey starts with a cold engine, the initial wear doesn't miraculously go away on a longer journeyJRM said:
That's good know, and interesting points from others about the wear being the same as any car that is started twice a day and does longer runs - it's what I've never understood about the whole concept of modern cars being less reliable if they are not run for a longer period.
Time to stop thinking about electric cars and do a proper Pistonheads search for an old XFR!!
There is an issue with the dpf on modern diesels, it needs to get good and got in order to regenerate, but for the journeys you describe a petrol engine would be much better anyway.Time to stop thinking about electric cars and do a proper Pistonheads search for an old XFR!!
Im surprised no one has suggested the new upcoming McLaren??
If not as I have found the short commute I do I am quicker on my bike than in a car and I'm in rural Nottinghamshire. Even more so in winter as the time it takes to defrost your already there.
Alternatively a Renault twizzy.
If not as I have found the short commute I do I am quicker on my bike than in a car and I'm in rural Nottinghamshire. Even more so in winter as the time it takes to defrost your already there.
Alternatively a Renault twizzy.
Willy Nilly said:
Most of the wear occurs while the engine is cold and you engine will spend most of its life cold. It would probably come under severe service in the operators manual.
On such a short commute, by the time you have demisted/defrosted your windows you would have knocked a big hole in the journey by bike.
An electric car would be the most suitable car. If you can afford it then buy what you like, but it seems a huge extravagance to buy a new car, even if it is a tiddler, for this job when you could get a snotter to neglect and leave at the station.
Sorry to be a buzzkill but I completely agree. Having a nice car to drive 2 miles to the station and back every day is a massive waste of time and money. I had to park a cheap but very tidy 205 GTi in a public car park for a year a few years ago when my company was doing some building work and the staff car park was unavailable. It got keyed, driven into by other cars, headlight smashed etc and that was only an 1800 pound car (albeit a very tidy one). If anything, you want your car to be the old, battered one that no-one wants to park next to! Also, space can be at a premium in station car parks, so the smaller the better. Presumably you will use it for some longer journeys too though? Definitely don't get a diesel and a smaller petrol engine would be better for this kind of use.On such a short commute, by the time you have demisted/defrosted your windows you would have knocked a big hole in the journey by bike.
An electric car would be the most suitable car. If you can afford it then buy what you like, but it seems a huge extravagance to buy a new car, even if it is a tiddler, for this job when you could get a snotter to neglect and leave at the station.
Plenty of cheap, older cars that I would like to own, so I would use it as a good excuse to own a few of them virtually depreciation-free over the next few years.
Really, just buy anything, like a focus or a fiesta or a honda civic even better, an auto box in a mondeo. Give it the odd 30-45min run and it will be fine. Service regularly if you desire but it prob won't matter a hoot.
I sometimes take my BMW 750 to work which is 2.5miles away. It's barely warmed up but it usually gets a long run at weekend or I take a long route home to keep battery topped up
I sometimes take my BMW 750 to work which is 2.5miles away. It's barely warmed up but it usually gets a long run at weekend or I take a long route home to keep battery topped up
Roger Irrelevant said:
Willy Nilly said:
Most of the wear occurs while the engine is cold and you engine will spend most of its life cold. It would probably come under severe service in the operators manual.
I've always wondered about this - if it was a 20 mile commute instead of 2 you've still got the few miles at the start where the engine's not up temperature. I presume that any wear that occurs in those first few miles won't be undone by the 18 extra miles when the engine is up to temp, so why is the longer journey 'better' for the car? I would have thought it's the number of cold starts that is the more important factor, which for commuting is usually going to be 2 per day irrespective of how far it is. But anyway I agree that in the OP's situation I'd be thinking A) bike or B) cheap jap petrol shed.
As been said however it won't do much damage, just get any old s
tter.I do similar and currently have a Fiat 500. It is reliable but does suffer from stuff like quickly corroded exhaust. Before that I had an Aygo which was fine apart from a stubborn gearbox. I park on a side street and walk 6 mins rather than use the station car park, saving £1300 a year which covers the running costs of my car. That allows me to justify the TVR for the weekend. My main criteria was easy to park ie short and starts every time. I generally arrive and depart in darkness so as well as running cold the engine is under full electrical load. I just kill the stop/start to avoid draining the battery. Neither 500 nor Aygo has let me down. Originally I was going to get a Smart but it was just so hateful to drive I couldn't even do 5 miles a day in one.
Old sheds are fine but if you need guaranteed starts every day I would think twice. I had an old Puma as a interim after a write-off which was a blast and it would make sense on current policy but not sure how dependable it would be. Although I'm a car enthusiast I detach myself now from urban grazes and kerbed wheels, it just comes with the territory. If you really want a decent car that needs pampering, buy two like I did !
Old sheds are fine but if you need guaranteed starts every day I would think twice. I had an old Puma as a interim after a write-off which was a blast and it would make sense on current policy but not sure how dependable it would be. Although I'm a car enthusiast I detach myself now from urban grazes and kerbed wheels, it just comes with the territory. If you really want a decent car that needs pampering, buy two like I did !
JRM said:
Hi Guys, I'd appreciate a bit of advice on very short commuting.
I need to get a car for a 2 mile commute to the station and I know it's not supposed to be good for any car as they probably don't warm up properly, but what exactly are the issues that it causes and is that an old fashioned view and modern cars can cope much better? What can be done to improve my luck, if I need to - more frequent oil changes? going for a blast once a month? Or maybe a trickle charger if the battery doesn't recharge in such a short distance?
Am I better sticking to petrol over diesel and why?
I reckon an electric Renault Twizy is probably the mot sensible thing to buy, but I just can't bring myself to do it, so am thinking of about a 7 year old Jaguar XF or Mercedes CLS. Alternatively I saw a 1983 Audi Quattro 8v for the same money!!! So what I really want is someone to reply saying that they run a 1983 Audi everyday for a 1 mile commute and it works perfectly!!!
Thanks
Do you have any friends I need to get a car for a 2 mile commute to the station and I know it's not supposed to be good for any car as they probably don't warm up properly, but what exactly are the issues that it causes and is that an old fashioned view and modern cars can cope much better? What can be done to improve my luck, if I need to - more frequent oil changes? going for a blast once a month? Or maybe a trickle charger if the battery doesn't recharge in such a short distance?
Am I better sticking to petrol over diesel and why?
I reckon an electric Renault Twizy is probably the mot sensible thing to buy, but I just can't bring myself to do it, so am thinking of about a 7 year old Jaguar XF or Mercedes CLS. Alternatively I saw a 1983 Audi Quattro 8v for the same money!!! So what I really want is someone to reply saying that they run a 1983 Audi everyday for a 1 mile commute and it works perfectly!!!
Thanks
Maybe live life on the edge a little & take in the occasional 10 mile drive. Then 99.99% of cars will be up to the job & wont let you down!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff