What car? £4-5k diesel motorway hack
Discussion
Hi,
I hope some car-nuts out there can help me with my buying decision:
Current cars and use
I have a 2.2 petrol astra coupe for my wife and an Evo 8 with 360bhp for myself at the weekend. I also have a daily hack which is a 2.0 turbo diesel Vauxhall Vectra from 2002 with about 113k on the clock. I have to do a lot of miles for work and they are almost exclusivly on Motorway and major A roads. I use the vectra as it's good economy (40mpg compared to about 20mpg in the Evo) and a few extra miles will hardly dent the value by this point!
Why I want to changep
There's nothing 'wrong' with the current vectra but I've recently increased the amount of driving I have to do for work to about 2,800 per month equiv to 35k per year, which is about 60% more than previously. So now I'm doing longer journeys more frequently (4hrs trips twice per week at the min) I want something a bit nicer and a bit newer but also a fair bit faster, but also reasonable on fuel. So I'm not looking for anything 'posher' just newer and faster really.
Requirements
So far the best thing I've come up with is a Vectra C pre-facelift with the 3.0 CDTi engine in SRi trim but I've had warnings against this from mates and a few people on PH so I figured I'd see what the collective brains of PH can come up with as an alternative.
I'm looking to buy before Xmas, so long as snow/ice doesn't ruin test drive plans.
Cheers,
I hope some car-nuts out there can help me with my buying decision:
Current cars and use
I have a 2.2 petrol astra coupe for my wife and an Evo 8 with 360bhp for myself at the weekend. I also have a daily hack which is a 2.0 turbo diesel Vauxhall Vectra from 2002 with about 113k on the clock. I have to do a lot of miles for work and they are almost exclusivly on Motorway and major A roads. I use the vectra as it's good economy (40mpg compared to about 20mpg in the Evo) and a few extra miles will hardly dent the value by this point!
Why I want to changep
There's nothing 'wrong' with the current vectra but I've recently increased the amount of driving I have to do for work to about 2,800 per month equiv to 35k per year, which is about 60% more than previously. So now I'm doing longer journeys more frequently (4hrs trips twice per week at the min) I want something a bit nicer and a bit newer but also a fair bit faster, but also reasonable on fuel. So I'm not looking for anything 'posher' just newer and faster really.
Requirements
- Similar size (so Vectra/Modeo size)
- 0-60 under 9 secs (I know this isn't the be all and end all of performance, just a reasonably common yard stick)
- Over 40mpg on motorway
- Cost £4k to £5k
- Under 80k miles (lower the better)
- 2003 or newer
- 'Sporty' model (so I'd be looking at an SRi with bumpers and big wheels, rather than an Elite which foregoes these for leather seats and comfy suspension) because I like the styling of a 'sporty' model, however I appreciate cars on my shotlist don't need to be amazing drives as I have the Evo for that purpose.
- Manual gears
- Capable of towing a 2 person caravan (as Dad will borrow the car for this!)
- Not horrifically expensive to maintain and service
So far the best thing I've come up with is a Vectra C pre-facelift with the 3.0 CDTi engine in SRi trim but I've had warnings against this from mates and a few people on PH so I figured I'd see what the collective brains of PH can come up with as an alternative.
I'm looking to buy before Xmas, so long as snow/ice doesn't ruin test drive plans.
Cheers,
flattotheboards said:
What about the 1.9 cdti 150 version? Will no doubt be better on fuel and cant be too far off in performance terms, nothing that a remap wouldnt sort anyway I wouldnt have thought.
I've looked at this and the remapped 1.9 cdti 150 ends up with more power and torque (peak figures) than the 3.0 does as standard. I didn't think that it would be as smooth as the 3.0 V6 though? (I'd also have to spend £400 on the remap which gives me £400 less to spend on the car.)mnkiboy said:
Take your pick:
320d
Good shout, 0-60 us 8.9 secs on these and the 2002/2003 modesl look nice too320d
mnkiboy said:
330d
Only 3 on auto trader, too old at 2000/1 though and mileage is kinda highmnkiboy said:
A4 PD170
Can't find the "PD170" but there are some A4's with reasonable age/milage and performance - I'll look into this more.mnkiboy said:
X-Type 2.2d
Loads of 2.0 around 70k miles but performance not so good at 9.5 to 60mph. No 2.2's available on budget though.mnkiboy said:
Mondeo 2.2d
Lots of these available, with decent age and mileage. Reasonable performance and economy too. Is it better than a Vectra? I thoght the Modeo and Vectra were pretty interchangeable?mnkiboy said:
Passat PD170
The 2.0 SE TDI is 9.8 to 60. Too slow. Can't find the "PD170"mnkiboy said:
S60 D5
Good idea. Can be had on budget with about 50k miles on 2003 plate. However 0-60 is 9.9secs = too slow.mnkiboy said:
Honda Accord 2.2d
I might take this seriously, I've been looking at Euro cars so far, but I like Jap cars too. 2004 70k miles £4.5k but 0-60 is 9.4 for the 2.2 CDTi Sport model. Only 140bhp and 251lbs/ft. Shame they don't do a faster one!mnkiboy said:
Personal fave: Octavia VRS. Fits the bill perfectly.
Good idea but the cheapest on autotrader is £6,490 with 122k miles on it. 
coley20 said:
Good idea. It's quick enough with good economy, however it's a bit over budget at £5.5k and there are none cheaper on there either. The MG ZT 2.0CDTi (135ps) seems to tick all the boxes, except for the 0-60 which is 10.3s... however a diesel tuning box (around £180) will give you 150bhp and a lot more torque, so it would certainly be under 9s. It's the same engine as in the BMW 320d. Should be able to pick up a 2005 model for around £4 - £4.5k. Oh, and engine has a timing chain, so no cambelt worries 
Edited by calibrax on Friday 26th November 14:24
nsi said:
Requirements
I humbly give you.- Similar size (so Vectra/Modeo size)
- 0-60 under 9 secs (I know this isn't the be all and end all of performance, just a reasonably common yard stick)
- Over 40mpg on motorway
- Cost £4k to £5k
- Under 80k miles (lower the better)
- 2003 or newer
- 'Sporty' model
- Manual gears
- Capable of towing a 2 person caravan (as Dad will borrow the car for this!)
- Not horrifically expensive to maintain and service
Seat Toledo pd 150 Sport.
Mine is a 2004, 04 bought for just under £5k last December with 51k, FSH etc.
Ticks all of the boxes listed above.
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