Motorway cruiser

[stev58]

I'm going to be doing 30k miles a year, practically all on motorways. Priorities are:

• Economy. I want something that is (relatively) efficient when cruising at 80 mph.

• Reliability.

• Comfort. Obviously due to the amount of time that's going to be spent in the car, and the fact that I'm over 6'. Very occasionally I can envisage having to sleep in the car overnight, so it would be a bonus if the seats could be reclined far enough to allow this comfortably.

A secondary priority is boot space for occasionally carrying bikes and other stuff, but it does not necessarily have to be an estate. A larger hatchback with efficient use of space (when rear seats folded down) might be enough.

I have given myself a budget of around 5k but prepared to be quite flexible with this.

I'm not really bothered about styling, features, 'fun', or age except to the extent that it impacts reliability and maintenance costs. Some manufacturers and models obviously age much better than others. Performance has to be adequate for this type of driving.

I've been advised to look for something diesel and made by VW, but I'm a bit put off by the reliability and service costs of anything German, especially if it will already have a few miles on it.

Edited by stev58 on Sunday 23 October 02:24

Edited by stev58 on Sunday 23 October 02:30

[stev58]

Thanks to everyone's advice. More than one recommendation for Volvos, but don't they have a mediocre reputation for reliability compared to say, Skoda, Honda or Toyota?

[stev58]

Lots of tempting suggestions, but I'm starting to lean towards a Focus Econetic 1.6 (2005 model without the DPF). It seems hard to beat the economy/reliability combination for a car that age. I'm basing this on the NCAP extra-urban figures and reliabilityindex.com. The all round reviews of this car seem generally positive as well. Does anyone have experience of this car compared to something like Passat/Accord/Volvo S60 etc? I can accept that it's going to be a less premium experience but, bearing in mind that I've spent most of my life driving around in Corsas and Fiestas (but at much lower mileages) would it be tolerable?