Petrol Barge for £4k which does more than 40mpg on motorway?
Discussion
otolith said:
My 9-5 Aero estate would do high 30's to very low forties on a motorway cruise at 70. My E-class diesel estate (E320cdi) does low to mid forties in the same usage, but doesn't plummet like the Saab if you start using the performance.
Hang on old chum.We've had a conversation before regarding our similar choice in cars (namely a black elise and a 9-5 aero).
We have since sold the Aero and bought an E-Class estate.
Have you done similar?
Could just about manage that out of a 1.8 or 2.0 Mk3 Mondeo. Get a decent spec one and it's a perfectly pleasant place to be, a barge it isn't but something like that will be your best bet - relatively simple 4 pot NA engine, get one with leather and all the toys and you're laughing. 4k would buy you the very best one in the world, half that should bag a good one.
Finding one that's not a diesel is the problem.......
If diesel is definitely off the menu and you want a proper barge then your only answer is LPG.
Finding one that's not a diesel is the problem.......
If diesel is definitely off the menu and you want a proper barge then your only answer is LPG.
Mr E said:
otolith said:
My 9-5 Aero estate would do high 30's to very low forties on a motorway cruise at 70. My E-class diesel estate (E320cdi) does low to mid forties in the same usage, but doesn't plummet like the Saab if you start using the performance.
Hang on old chum.We've had a conversation before regarding our similar choice in cars (namely a black elise and a 9-5 aero).
We have since sold the Aero and bought an E-Class estate.
Have you done similar?
My sister has the Saab now - it was just getting a bit long in the tooth.
NewRulesPaul said:
Barge/40mpg/petrol
Choose 2
This.Choose 2
My E36 BMW 318iS will do 40mpg on a steady run but it's not a barge by any stretch of the imagination. Problem with £4k is that it puts you in an age group of cars were the above choice is what you're faced with. A modern BMW would do it as would, I imagine, all of its contemporaries, but you're into £30k+ territory then.
HannsG said:
I don't think one exists?
I'm talking Volvo S60 size or maybe golf. Something bigger and more refined than the Panda 100 I own.
I've had BMW 6 cylinders and I don't think I've seen any of them hit 40mpg+
what sort of mileage are we talking about here?I'm talking Volvo S60 size or maybe golf. Something bigger and more refined than the Panda 100 I own.
I've had BMW 6 cylinders and I don't think I've seen any of them hit 40mpg+
4k is a funny end of the market as its a decent bit of wedge but you are heading in to lemon lottery territory, especially for anything barge like.
i guess my point is, is you are doing 10k or less don't get so hung up on 40mpg but if you are doing decent miles without a lot of money to spend, a "barge" might end up quickly ruining you.
a petrol avensis auto would be a good compromise as you would achieve your 40mpg motorway target in a large saloon that will likely be reasonably reliable and low cost to run,
Helicopter123 said:
Jag_NE said:
HannsG said:
a petrol avensis auto would be a good compromise as you would achieve your 40mpg motorway target in a large saloon that will likely be reasonably reliable and low cost to run,
But OP specifically wants a barge?the only barges i can think of that will do 40+ are the hybrids but they are not within easy reach. Lexus GS450h's might work as there are some early ones for about 4k, big miles thought and 40mpg would be a push.
5 series estate with a whopping V8 running on LPG...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Planning to keep the Merc for a bit - I suspect that it has an enormous potential to drop a big bill on me, but I like it.
Thinking of possibly selling the Z4M and the Elise at some point and buying a newer Lotus - possibly a supercharged Elise, possibly an Evora. I must be going soft, because this winter is the first time that running the Lotus to keep the battery charged has seemed a bit of a chore. Drove it last night in the cold and wet, it was steaming up and it's bloody noisy on the dual carriageway. But it is so much fun on the right day...
Thinking of possibly selling the Z4M and the Elise at some point and buying a newer Lotus - possibly a supercharged Elise, possibly an Evora. I must be going soft, because this winter is the first time that running the Lotus to keep the battery charged has seemed a bit of a chore. Drove it last night in the cold and wet, it was steaming up and it's bloody noisy on the dual carriageway. But it is so much fun on the right day...
I bought a 2003 E320 CDI Merc for around £4k precisely for this purpose. It'll easily do over 40mpg, nearer 50mpg if you stick around the 65mph mark. Also it's an automatic, albeit a slightly old school 5 speed but it's plenty smooth enough and makes traffic a lot easier. Amazingly well spec'd for the money with heated electric seats and all that.
I keep deliberating about what I'd replace it with but it's genuinely good to drive, has loads of torque and is efficient so I'm hard pushed for a reason to change it.
Oh and with 111k on the clock it still feels like it could double that and keep going.
I keep deliberating about what I'd replace it with but it's genuinely good to drive, has loads of torque and is efficient so I'm hard pushed for a reason to change it.
Oh and with 111k on the clock it still feels like it could double that and keep going.
otolith said:
Planning to keep the Merc for a bit - I suspect that it has an enormous potential to drop a big bill on me, but I like it.
The merc tried to spit a 4K bill at us for the panaramic roof. Managed to get that down to about a grand. I think the suspension is a grand a corner when it goes. That'll be fun.
Mr E said:
The merc tried to spit a 4K bill at us for the panaramic roof. Managed to get that down to about a grand.
I think the suspension is a grand a corner when it goes. That'll be fun.
Mine doesn't have air suspension (I think). Or a panoramic roof. But it does have SBC, which seems like a time bomb, and I'm not sure how reliable the 7-speed transmission is. I am going to remap it, which is probably asking for trouble, but...I think the suspension is a grand a corner when it goes. That'll be fun.
exelero said:
HannsG said:
Would love one, but I am really put of with the DPFs.
My Saab TTID had a Dpf and even a short drive led to problems.
If you buy the one with the Euro 3 engine (163 bhp, black cover) that doesnt have dpfMy Saab TTID had a Dpf and even a short drive led to problems.
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