Doing big miles what car?
Discussion
Help me choose the best commute option.
New job means 45k miles a year, bit of stop start but mostly Scottish A roads.
£6k a year to take the train, including parking but still do 6k miles getting to and from the station so would probably need a station car unless I kept the z4 for that.
Currently do 8k miles a year in my Z4MC so don't want to put 45k miles on that. Should keep it as they are still appreciating but I don't have the space so if I change it will have to go.
Something that would do more than 50mpg would rival the train for costs and if you could do 70mpg I would be at least £100 better off assuming £200 a month for a maintenance budget.
If you include depreciation the train probably still comes out on top but driving is probably my preferred option.
Was thinking of trading my Z4 for a low milage 520d with a decent list of toys and approved warranty, probably an ED with the small wheels and better economy. Anyone doing something similar who can comment on reliability and running costs. Worth just going for an old Volvo or ford rather than put the miles on a newer car?
New job means 45k miles a year, bit of stop start but mostly Scottish A roads.
£6k a year to take the train, including parking but still do 6k miles getting to and from the station so would probably need a station car unless I kept the z4 for that.
Currently do 8k miles a year in my Z4MC so don't want to put 45k miles on that. Should keep it as they are still appreciating but I don't have the space so if I change it will have to go.
Something that would do more than 50mpg would rival the train for costs and if you could do 70mpg I would be at least £100 better off assuming £200 a month for a maintenance budget.
If you include depreciation the train probably still comes out on top but driving is probably my preferred option.
Was thinking of trading my Z4 for a low milage 520d with a decent list of toys and approved warranty, probably an ED with the small wheels and better economy. Anyone doing something similar who can comment on reliability and running costs. Worth just going for an old Volvo or ford rather than put the miles on a newer car?
Relocation not an option for now but on the cards in a year or two. Train takes about 5hrs a day (two changes so some waiting on connections) and driving could get that down to 3hrs depending on the traffic/time of day. 35hr week and flexible hours outside 10am-4pm which helps the car journey time.
Getting on for five months out of work so it's the best opportunity I've been offered and I'll just have to make the commute for now.Can borrow the wife's z4 2.5 roadster for fun so probably move my m coupe anyway. Crz not a bad shout as a station car though not sure I'd want to do a large mileage in one.
Train is 20 mile drive + £1 a day parking + £38 return ticket but goes down to £550 on a monthly. Total for the train is about £650 a month.
Car is a 81 miles A and B road journey mostly A92 or the longer but faster 96 miles if I go the motorway route to Edinburgh. 1 1/2 hrs each way with a clean run.
For 50mpg about £4500 in fuel (£3200 if you got 70mpg). Can get 25k out of a set of tyres and would need three services on a 5 series type car maybe options for a service pack but anything else would be covered by warranty if bought approved used. £800 tyres + £800 servicing + £400 for extras. £2k a year. Car £430 to £540 a month depending on mpg.
I will still do 6k miles at weekends and holidays in whatever car I have and obviously ignoring depreciation.
Train is 20 mile drive + £1 a day parking + £38 return ticket but goes down to £550 on a monthly. Total for the train is about £650 a month.
Car is a 81 miles A and B road journey mostly A92 or the longer but faster 96 miles if I go the motorway route to Edinburgh. 1 1/2 hrs each way with a clean run.
For 50mpg about £4500 in fuel (£3200 if you got 70mpg). Can get 25k out of a set of tyres and would need three services on a 5 series type car maybe options for a service pack but anything else would be covered by warranty if bought approved used. £800 tyres + £800 servicing + £400 for extras. £2k a year. Car £430 to £540 a month depending on mpg.
I will still do 6k miles at weekends and holidays in whatever car I have and obviously ignoring depreciation.
Threads like a conclusion so been out shopping 
Deal done on a 11k mile approved used 320ed with a load of kit (auto, leather, lumbar adjust, pro nav, adaptive lights etc.) Should be good for at least 60mpg,service pack on it already so 39k miles with no service cost and 16in wheels so cheap summer tyres and already have winter wheels and tyres from a 1 series that should fit. Might take the train sometimes if the weather is bad and the car when I need to be back earlier. Best news is I got a bit more than I paid for my z4mc two years ago against it.
Deal done on a 11k mile approved used 320ed with a load of kit (auto, leather, lumbar adjust, pro nav, adaptive lights etc.) Should be good for at least 60mpg,service pack on it already so 39k miles with no service cost and 16in wheels so cheap summer tyres and already have winter wheels and tyres from a 1 series that should fit. Might take the train sometimes if the weather is bad and the car when I need to be back earlier. Best news is I got a bit more than I paid for my z4mc two years ago against it.
I've done the sales rep 80k mile company car stuff many years ago in mk1 diesel Mondeo and various vag 1.9td and I used to drive my all the cars in my history as my only daily drivers which was often up to Aberdeen on summer tyres twice a week so sure I'll manage.
First day on the train today, some delays, lots of standing and a full car park. Not bad on the way down but a pain on the way back. Total door to door time 2hr 37min out and 2hr 5min on the way back (first day so they let me go a bit early to catch the express train), £41.10p because I found some free parking a few minutes away. Should be able to get that down a bit with weekly tickets for about £30 a day.
For the new car it claims over 70mpg but lots getting 60 actual so see how it goes. 320ed should be able to do it at a relaxed cruise in about 1hr 30min (will try it in the z4mc tomorrow). 162 miles at 70mpg would be a fuel cost about £11 a day. Service pack for this year so no service cost and maybe two sets of 16in tyres at £500 each so £4 a day for tyres. Total cost by car £15 a day so more than half.
If it works out I will probably take the train over winter weeks when it is frosty or snow forecast and then drive the rest of the time to save some cash and the 2hrs a day extra.
Drove a few options on Saturday and was going to wait a bit but my turn to get a sensible car anyway so even if I get the train the diesel will be used for long trips down south. Still have another petrol z4 roadster I can borrow from my wife.
First day on the train today, some delays, lots of standing and a full car park. Not bad on the way down but a pain on the way back. Total door to door time 2hr 37min out and 2hr 5min on the way back (first day so they let me go a bit early to catch the express train), £41.10p because I found some free parking a few minutes away. Should be able to get that down a bit with weekly tickets for about £30 a day.
For the new car it claims over 70mpg but lots getting 60 actual so see how it goes. 320ed should be able to do it at a relaxed cruise in about 1hr 30min (will try it in the z4mc tomorrow). 162 miles at 70mpg would be a fuel cost about £11 a day. Service pack for this year so no service cost and maybe two sets of 16in tyres at £500 each so £4 a day for tyres. Total cost by car £15 a day so more than half.
If it works out I will probably take the train over winter weeks when it is frosty or snow forecast and then drive the rest of the time to save some cash and the 2hrs a day extra.
Drove a few options on Saturday and was going to wait a bit but my turn to get a sensible car anyway so even if I get the train the diesel will be used for long trips down south. Still have another petrol z4 roadster I can borrow from my wife.
Edited by Crusoe on Monday 26th September 18:53
Had the 320ed out tonight for an extended test drive, was averaging high 70s once warmed up so over 60 is possible quite easily and more if you keep the speed down and avoid too much stop start. Due a service and a couple of minor marks touched in but nice and comfy, minimal effort with the 8 speed auto and it handles quite well on 16 in wheels. Pick it up Saturday. Left leg feeling it after 4hrs in the z4mc today. 78 miles with the satnav on shortest route, made some wrong choices hitting traffic on the way in so stuck for longer than I should have been and took 2hrs on the way in, but suggested route out was better in 1hr 40
Cross country to Dundee then A92 over the bridge, switch onto A91 then A90 the final 20 miles or so. Cuts at least 20 miles a day but see how it goes. At the bridge by 7 today and back over by 4:30 so missed most of the traffic, just over 3hrs on the road and going slightly faster so just 68 mpg shown on the computer. See what the actual is when I fill up though looks like I might just get a whole weeks driving from one tank. 12hr day not too bad so far.
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