700 miles per week

[AyBee]

My mum has a Fiat Panda at the moment but is about to start doing 700 miles per week and so is looking for something more comfortable/economical (the Panda can't do the trip she'll be doing in one tank which will become annoying). Budget is anything within reason (I'm guessing second hand will be better considering the mileage she'll be putting on it in 2 years but it needs to be reliable and probably be able to do circa 60-70mpg on a motorway run at circa 70/80? Is that doable?

Ideas on a postcard please

[andy-xr]

Mondeo TDCI, the Mk3, averages about 55 on motorways, 60 if you're very gentle and don't ever change speed or altitude.

The obvious ones to think about for the MPG are the smaller engined diesels, but that mileage will kill a lot of things within a year on resale, I'd just get a diesel family sized thing, run it into the ground and repeat every 18 months

[roachcoach]

Are small diesels still that high on MPG at 80ish?

[BoostMonkey]

Polo Bluemotion, 320D ED or Fiesta 1.4d econetic

All depends on the comfort level required, and how much is to be spent.

Doing that kind of millage I would want the most comfortable car I could afford.

[HughG]

My other half has a 1.4TDi Polo (04 reg) and cruising at 80 it only does 45-50mpg. Do 70 and it will do 60mpg all day long though.

[K87]

AX diesel, strip it out completely, lower it a shed load, make some fibreglass rear wheel covers, duct tape over the panel gaps. Should see 70-80mpg. That's my plan for the near future when my mileage goes up to that much.

[louiebaby]

Something comfortable, diesel and with cruise control to set at 70mph.

The difference in economy between 70 and 80, as mentioned, is startling, especially over that distance.

There are arguments that cruise control is less econimical, due to it trying to maintain your speed up a hill, whereas you're let it drop back if doing it yourself, but this is probably nothing compared to looking down and realising you're doing 80 to keep up with the flow of traffic.

Keep the car serviced, check the tyre pressures regularly, and it should be fine.

Wildcard - Laguna Coupe Diesel. I've seen them for £10k on Autotrader, and the aerodynamics can't hurt can they?

[frosted]

K87 said:

AX diesel, strip it out completely, lower it a shed load, make some fibreglass rear wheel covers, duct tape over the panel gaps. Should see 70-80mpg. That's my plan for the near future when my mileage goes up to that much.

Definitely this

My passat averages 45mpg at 80-90 mph, or you can wait for someone to recommend a monaro ( I'll say no names )