120 mile commute - budget £6k

[StinkyBoy]

Morning,

The wife unfortunately has missed out on a transfer nearer home due to cost savings. So she is stuck commuting 120miles for another financial year.

We have decided to PX her 1.4i Astra in and get an oil burner...

The budget is £6k. £6.5k is feasible. However, it would be useful to see what we could get for £6k.

The choices are:

1. 05/06 Fabia VRS (1.9 TDi)
2. 05/06 Golf GT TDi
3. 05/06 Passat

We are looking for the cheapest car to run, service and insure out of the 3 above.

Out of the above, i am seriously leaning towards the VRS. Partly due to its engine, I had the same engine in my 2002 A4, and it was bombproof...

Cheers
Don

[edo]

VrS for me.

[skilly1]

I had the same issue. I went for a SAAB 93 1.9tid. Does 44 mpg, pretty quick and very comfortable. Picked up a 2005 model, 39,000 miles full leather and all accessories for £7k

[StinkyBoy]

edo said:

VrS for me.

Yup, i'm thinking the same..

What is the VRS like as a Motorway workhorse?

[StinkyBoy]

skilly1 said:

I had the same issue. I went for a SAAB 93 1.9tid. Does 44 mpg, pretty quick and very comfortable. Picked up a 2005 model, 39,000 miles full leather and all accessories for £7k

Wow, lot of car for the money.

How is it for reliability?

[hornetrider]

vRS get's my vote. Mind you when faced with the same commute dilemma a few years back I bought a Bora (115bhp PD). It was leathered up and had a DSP stereo - was a great bit of kit for munching up the miles. So don't rule out a Golf if it floats your boat.

[skilly1]

StinkyBoy said:

skilly1 said:

I had the same issue. I went for a SAAB 93 1.9tid. Does 44 mpg, pretty quick and very comfortable. Picked up a 2005 model, 39,000 miles full leather and all accessories for £7k

Wow, lot of car for the money.

How is it for reliability?

The rear parking sensors are intermittent, and I had to have a replacement wiring loom needed for one injectors (known week point), cost £20. but that's about it. I have done 30,000 miles since buying 10 months ago.

[y2blade]

have you had a look at the Volvo S60 D5?

a lot of car for the money

Edited by y2blade on Monday 26th July 10:23

[edo]

Should just about get this in budget.

2006 SKODA Fabia 1.9 TDi PD 130 vRS
38,000 miles
5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Diesel, 38,000 miles, Metallic Silver. 6 Speed Gearbox, Tailgate Spoiler, Sports seats, ABS, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Folding rear seats, Immobiliser, Rear Head Restraints, Passenger airbag, Radio/CD, Rear headrests, Traction control, Alarm, Electric door mirrors, Front electric windows, Front fog lights, Front head restraints, Heated door mirrors, PAS, Rear wiper, Remote central locking, Steering wheel rake adjustment, Steering wheel reach adjustment, Trip computer, Body coloured bumpers, Drivers airbag, Height adjustable drivers seat. Insurance Group:9, FULL MAIN DEALER SERVICE HISTORY, £6,995

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[StinkyBoy]

y2blade said:

have you had a look at the Volvo S60 D5?

a lot of car for the money

Edited by y2blade on Monday 26th July 10:23

Yup, looked into the S60 D5. Stonking value for money.

However the turning circle is meant to be abysmal. Out drive is quite narrow....

is the turning cycle really that bad?

Cheers

[ExPat2B]

I realise everyone is different, but if it was me that was doing a 120 mile communte ( presumably in traffic ) , I would want something saloon sized with comfy seat ands an automatic gearbox.

I have driven a 2006 Fabia, and while I do think it one of the finest Diesel "hot hatches" and one of the few cars you can "enjoy" using the performance of without dropping below 30mpg, making it eminently usable in the real world... it wouldnt be my choice for a long distance daily commute.

In addition, the 6 speed gearbox is spaced quite close, and the powerband of the Diesel is relatively narrow......it means lots of gear changing in traffic.

[Jgtv]

Diesel Signum.
Boring as watching paint dry but its comfortable, pretty frual, cheap to buy, cheap to look after, big boot, Lots of kit, practical. Although it only has 4 seats, plus one little one thats not that comfortable.

I have a petrol one, boring but does the job I need, its very good on long journeys.

[y2blade]

StinkyBoy said:

y2blade said:

have you had a look at the Volvo S60 D5?

a lot of car for the money

Edited by y2blade on Monday 26th July 10:23

Yup, looked into the S60 D5. Stonking value for money.

However the turning circle is meant to be abysmal. Out drive is quite narrow....

is the turning cycle really that bad?

Cheers

not really, it doesn't seem any worse than other cars of the same size to me

I've done 600 miles in my new (to me) one since Friday evening, very impressive

[entwisi]

Accord CDTI???????


or left field option, something petrol and a LPG conversion. I've been doing a similar mileage for last 13 years. up to now I've run

Alfa 155 on LPG
saab 9000 on LPG
Volvo V70 T5 on yep, LPG
Audi A8 4.2 QS on ( You get the idea...)

but at Xmas I needed to swap for a particular reason and the only thing at the time that seemed to fit was an Accord CDTI. I get 45mpg at quick motorway speed, its pretty comfy, is well screwed together, leather, toys, mines an estate and is pretty spacious. mapped does 180 bhp and ~ 300 ft-lbs

[JakesterUK]

Really boring, but I have a 180 mile communte and brought a 2.0Hdi 307 Pug to do the job, will never set your heart on fire, but is well spec'd, comfortable, cheaper tax group, and I get 650-700 miles from a tank despite being driven 'at pace' with the A/C on nearly full time..

[Merlot]

All this talk of 120-180 mile commutes makes my eyes water.

240-360 miles a day, every day - just to get to work and back?

Crikey.



PS.. S60 D5... I had one for 4 years and it was spot on, powerful, extremely comfortable and the sort of car that munched the miles effortlessly without breaking sweat or making a fuss.

[solidstatelogic]

Volvo D5 all the way. Awesome car, so reliable and nice handling. Comfortable too.

[Phil Dicky]

Forget the smaller cars, get a Volvo D5, Saab 9-5 or 9-3, Mondeo, Vectra, all are built with high mileage in mind more comfortable and more relaxing. I'd consider an auto as well makes the jams a little less of a pain.

[nottyash]

Another vote for the Fabia VRS here.
I bought one new and the stupidest thing I ever did was sell it.
Went great with a remap!;)
I used mine on motorways, doing 25000 a year, it had 185-190BHP 300lb ft torque and still, even when pushed was giving 46MPG.

Edited by nottyash on Monday 26th July 21:32

[visual123]

Volvo S60 D5 would probably be my number one choice, followed by the Fabia vRS. Polo GT TDIs and Ibiza TDI 130s are also worth a look as they're the same.

Saab 93s and 95s are also really very comfortable. Mondeo TDCi - worth a look as they're nice too.