Ideal Commuting Car

[Thorny]

Hi all,

I've got a new job which will involve a 60 mile daily commute - not a huge amount I know but it will likely be through some nasty traffic. Therefore I want a nice commuting car, definitely auto, probably diesel. Budget up to 20-25k. I would welcome your thoughts. Oh, and it can't be too flash for the office car park so although I like the idea of 7 series or A8 I think it is too much for the car park, so far I am thinking

BMW 530d/535d saloon
Gold Mk6 GTD
BMW 330d/335d touring

Anything else I should be looking at - I think diesel Audis are probably a bit dull? I'll be swapping my 130i for it.

Thanks,

Thorny

[Herbs]

VW Phaeton

[Jonboy_t]

If you're doing 60 miles a day, save some of your cash and get a £10-£15k VAG. It won'te excite you, granted, but it will go for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles etc etc etc.

Should see at least 40-50mpg out of a decent one, rapid enough to use in what will inevitably be a lot of 50-70mph stop start journeys and they have been known, pretty regularly, to keep going well over 200k miles.

Then spend the rest on something tasty........

[T5R+]

Depends if you have another vehicle? If so, get something dull (eg VW/Volvo/Honda) but reliable/comfortable and get a nice "weekend car".

If only one vehicle - it has to be the 535D.

[CaptainSlow]

Octavia vRS DSG and a £10k Caterham for the weekend.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Herbs said:

VW Phaeton

+1000

never owned or even driven one but admired from afar. A very cool piece of kit indeed if you can afford to run a diesel version of.

[CDP]

Jaguar?

If you've got a long commute it's a good way of arriving at the other end relaxed.

[John D.]

Mercedes 300ce.

Works for me

[6potdave]

The Golfs really not in the same category as the others. I would say 535D.

[CDP]

Citroen C6.

You wouldn't know you got out of bed...

[Locknutz]

The BMWs are a good, but obvious, choice. What about something like a Lexus IS as something slightly different. It won't be as dynamically interesting as a BMW but is a comfortable place to sit for a long commute.

[CDP]

CaptainSlow said:

Octavia vRS DSG and a £10k Caterham for the weekend.

Use the Caterham to use on nice days when you get bored with the daily grind.

[2 Wycked]

I used to do an 80 mile commute in a Volvo 850 2.0S Auto that I got for free. Any other old, well-maintained, car could handle it just as easily. Seriously, spend your money on something a little more exciting.

Also, why're you worried what other people will think in the car park? If you choose to buy a second hand 730d or XJ6 TDVi instead of a brand new Audi A3 TDI what's it to do with them?

[chrisispringles]

Herbs said:

VW Phaeton

This. To everybody else it's 'just' a VW, but I bet it would be nice knowing that your car is much better than your boss'. If not then get the 535d, it hermetically seals you from the outside world like nothing else I've ever been in, which is what you want for commuting really, but it'll still play if you want it to.

[captainzep]

CaptainSlow said:

Octavia vRS DSG and a £10k Caterham for the weekend.

£10k Volvo S60\V70 D5 in black or grey with all the toys. -A genuinely restful drive with enough go to keep up with the traffic comfortably and a 5 cyl warble. 45-50mpg.

£15k for fun.

[CDP]

2 Wycked said:

Also, why're you worried what other people will think in the car park? If you choose to buy a second hand 730d or XJ6 TDVi instead of a brand new Audi A3 TDI what's it to do with them?

Depends. Some offices can be quite political. There are people who get quite jealous about these things, especially if there are suspicions about pay differences. The uninitiated maybe not see his new Golf costs the same as an older XJ6 but just it as a £45K car...

(They also don't think that Golf will be worth half what they paid for it in three years)

[2 Wycked]

CDP said:

2 Wycked said:

Also, why're you worried what other people will think in the car park? If you choose to buy a second hand 730d or XJ6 TDVi instead of a brand new Audi A3 TDI what's it to do with them?

Depends. Some offices can be quite political. There are people who get quite jealous about these things, especially if there are suspicions about pay differences. The uninitiated maybe not see his new Golf costs the same as an older XJ6 but just it as a £45K car...

(They also don't think that Golf will be worth half what they paid for it in three years)

But why does that matter? I got some stick off people at work for owning a Jaguar Sovereign; the standard "We're obviously paying you too much" or "did Mummy and Daddy buy you that?" type thing; The fact was that my car was 17 years old and in actuality their modern ecoboxes were worth considerably more.

I didn't concern myself over it and it's not hindered the promotion opportunities I've been offered, so who really gives a damn? I'd genuinely hate myself if I caved into the pressures that other people try to inflict on me and, for that matter, everyone else.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

2 Wycked said:

CDP said:

2 Wycked said:

Also, why're you worried what other people will think in the car park? If you choose to buy a second hand 730d or XJ6 TDVi instead of a brand new Audi A3 TDI what's it to do with them?

Depends. Some offices can be quite political. There are people who get quite jealous about these things, especially if there are suspicions about pay differences. The uninitiated maybe not see his new Golf costs the same as an older XJ6 but just it as a £45K car...

(They also don't think that Golf will be worth half what they paid for it in three years)

But why does that matter? I got some stick off people at work for owning a Jaguar Sovereign; the standard "We're obviously paying you too much" or "did Mummy and Daddy buy you that?" type thing; The fact was that my car was 17 years old and in actuality their modern ecoboxes were worth considerably more.

I didn't concern myself over it and it's not hindered the promotion opportunities I've been offered, so who really gives a damn? I'd genuinely hate myself if I caved into the pressures that other people try to inflict on me and, for that matter, everyone else.

2wycked its sadly just the way some offices work. You can end up in a situation where the bhy stressful behaviour of colleagues whether same level or senior isnt worth the hassle.

It can also upset customers turning up and seeing flashy cars. Some customers are weird and see a companies success as as them being ripped off.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Its depressing you cant seem to hire a phaeton anywhere.

Booo!

[CDP]

Tallbut Buxomly said:

It can also upset customers turning up and seeing flashy cars. Some customers are weird and see a companies success as as them being ripped off.

Around the Cambridge area there's a superstition about the three 'F's outside a company:

Flags
Fountains
Ferraris

OK a 17 year old Sovereign hardly counts but customers and prospective investors all look at car parks.

Which reminds me, I need a better car...