What Car Thread - Diesel Commuter

[Mini_Lund]

Hi all,

My girlfriend is off to Durham University (Stockton-on-Tees) this September and I'll be located on the Wirral. I'm looking to travel up at least once every two weeks (its a 160mile trip). I currently drive a classic mini, so a big no for the motorway commute.

In all honesty I'm not entirely sure how much I would like to spend. Obviously as little as possible, but I'd like quality and comfort (and something to fit in with the Oxford & Cambridge rejects )

Miles per gallon is a big factor, but most modern day diesels tend to hold around 50mpg on the motorways, anyway. My price range is anything from £0-£2000, again to reiterate, being a student myself, if I can get away with spending £1000 only that would be great.

If I had it my way I'd have a 320D Touring, but the range of cheap diesels is just so vast I could do with your help to narrow down a few contenders.

What do you suggest?

Cheers,
Tom

[kiethton]

anything with the simple, reliable (yet agricultural) pd130 VAG engine - choose body shape based on needs/condition

[Caulkhead]

Kids these days - soft as ste!

I used to drive 200 miles in a knackered Series III Land Rover for a sha...., erm, to see my girlfriend.

MTFU, go in the mini and spend what you've saved on funding another dirty girl local to the Wirral to fill in the fortnightly gaps.

[Matt UK]

An old diesel Passat would do. Or a Volvo S/V40.

[AndrewW-G]

Whatever you choose. if possible, make sure it can run on veg oil from "The Pensby Fish Bar" . . . . .also factor in servicing and insurance costs in the cost per mile equation.

Does this mean that the mini will be coming off the road soon, for it's cosmetic restoration?

[Mini_Lund]

Caulkhead said:

Kids these days - soft as ste!

I used to drive 200 miles in a knackered Series III Land Rover for a sha...., erm, to see my girlfriend.

MTFU, go in the mini and spend what you've saved on funding another dirty girl local to the Wirral to fill in the fortnightly gaps.

I'm not taking the Land Rover, once a year to Billing is enough!

AndrewW-G said:

Whatever you choose. if possible, make sure it can run on veg oil from "The Pensby Fish Bar" . . . . .also factor in servicing and insurance costs in the cost per mile equation.

Does this mean that the mini will be coming off the road soon, for it's cosmetic restoration?

Quite possibly, yes. I'll keep an eye out for a diesel Volvo and Andrew, can you ask Tom at Third Party Assist to do so as well?

[Triumph Man]

ttssat pd130 tdi, or for more old school reliability, the old 110 tdi (non PD) in my experience upwards of 50 mpg on both.

[calibrax]

£2k should get you a Rover 75 CDT... extremely comfortable for motorway driving, and has a BMW 2.0 diesel engine.

[AndrewW-G]

Mini_Lund said:

Quite possibly, yes. I'll keep an eye out for a diesel Volvo and Andrew, can you ask Tom at Third Party Assist to do so as well?

Sent "other" Tom a message asking him for first refusal on anything suitable

[andy-xr]

Here you go

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2895361.htm

[Chrisw666]

There is a regular train that runs from Liverpool and calls at Thornaby station which is about 5 minutes walk from the uni campus at stockton. Sod buying a new car.

[Evo]

Another vote for the Volvo S40, I'm not doing the disances so i've just paid £800 for a mint 100k 2000 S40 1.8 SE petrol, it does 40mpg it extremely comfortable and really well srewed together.

£2k should get you a nice diesel one too.

[greggy50]

Get a shed 306 d turbo can get for well under a grand wind the boost up a bit and you have near enough 50mpg group 5 insurance and will be pretty nippy and good to drive no point spending more save it for the mini

[Parrot of Doom]

andy-xr said:

Here you go

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2895361.htm

This man speaks sense. The 306 is really a nice little car.

[Matt UK]

OP, keep the mini.

Roadtrips to visit girlfriends in small, old, rattly, slow, noisy, drafty cars with crap / no stereo systems is part of being young!

[thinfourth2]

So you want to buy a old diesel aka a potential mechanical nightmare along with the extra insurance and depreciation to save fuel for 8000 miles a year?

[Hudson]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2944702.htm

spend the rest on booze and condoms. Doesn't matter where its parked or if anyone hits it in tesco (chesterfield) car park. Comfy, easy as sin to drive, and an abundance of parts available.


Just a thought!

[edo]

what other mileage do you do? 160 miles every 2 weeks doesn't justify a diesel in my humble opinion. (not even 4,000 miles).

They will cost more to buy and are potentially more expensive if they go wrong.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

This..


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I was going to suggest the same one as in my profile but couldnt find one for less than 2k on at.

But if you can bullet proof reliable and very comfy and will do 650-750 on a tank of fuel.

[Mini_Lund]

Chrisw666 said:

There is a regular train that runs from Liverpool and calls at Thornaby station which is about 5 minutes walk from the uni campus at stockton. Sod buying a new car.

Are you seriously I suggesting get the train with all the murderers and rapists?

Matt UK said:

OP, keep the mini.

Roadtrips to visit girlfriends in small, old, rattly, slow, noisy, drafty cars with crap / no stereo systems is part of being young!

I'll be keeping the mini. I'll take the opportunity to replace the front end if I source a diesel. The mini is geared for absolutely no top end, anything above 45mph is detrimental to my hearing!

edo said:

what other mileage do you do? 160 miles every 2 weeks doesn't justify a diesel in my humble opinion. (not even 4,000 miles).

They will cost more to buy and are potentially more expensive if they go wrong.

I have the mini on a limited mileage classic insurance policy. 160miles there, 160miles back, so circa 320miles round trip. I'm also assuming I'll be lugging clothes and shoes to and from Durham quite often

However, valid point and there's no real reason for me to spend over £1000 on an old diesel. The 306D has been in the back of my mind for a while now, however I'm not quite ready to buy just yet without considering all of the available options.