Car ownership evolution

[CooperS]

Hi guys,

Tomorrow I'm going to accept a job down south to bring me closer to my fiancée. I'll go from a 30 mile round commute to 70.

I'm 28 and over the past 10 years I've gone from a 30bhp mini that was falling apart to now a 343bhp M car that if anything for me is too quick (200bhp fwd or rwd is where I was having most fun).

Anyway doubling mileage makes no economical sense so the Z4MC is going.

My budget which ever way I go is 270 per month tops. With running costs not matching the M ( hoping to half these which isn't hard with servicing and tax been for the commuted PHer)

So if you had this in your budget which of my options would you choose.

Please be aware I've lost plenty enough money in deprication to see the value of leasing a car.

Now I'm not bothered what I get but it needs to be able to do motorways so 0- 60 (-11 seconds) and needs good mpg I thought my Elise was a really comfy car and the 4 or 5 trips from Scotland to Portsmouth It fitted me like a glove (just needed ear plugs.....)

Anyway my options so far has been.

• Lease a SLK 250d for 260 pm for 24 months
• get a golf 2.0 tdi / something similar like a 320d (18 months old) and get a loan to cover what I can't put down (say on a 14k car it'd be 10k)
• get a 4k banger Volvo/ Passat et al( but I worry about reliability)
• get a C1 on lease for £80pm once these are up to speed I can't see it bring horendous (note I haven't had a car with less than 180bhp for 6 years)

So which one would you do? I've been going up the power tree but with married life round the corner a house in the next 2 years I can't spend what I have been on my passion and for a little while putting it on hold.

Look forward to reading what you think.

[v8will]

Passat with the PD 130 engine bought outright or if you must lease go for the cheapest.

My priority would be the other things in life, fun cars or a little more power can wait.

[CooperS]

v8will said:

Passat with the PD 130 engine bought outright or if you must lease go for the cheapest.

My priority would be the other things in life, fun cars or a little more power can wait.

That's how I'm viewing it now. Hence the change from hobby cars to euro boxes.

[GreatGranny]

What are the mileage limits for the lease cars?

Pretty sure more than 10k per year and the cost increases quite a bit.

I did 2 years doing a 400 mile commute per week in a £1200 car (1999 E36 318is) and it never let me down.
Had climate, decent seats and would do 37mpg on mixed use.
Downside was the short gearing, terrible in snow and ice and headlamps weren't up to much, not good on Lincolnshires unlit A roads.

Why not go midway on the lease car?

[Jasandjules]

Passat 170 Sport TDi. Be good to cruise up and down the motorway with and be ok for a few hundred thousand miles... Also I think sub 9 0-60.

[the stigs dad]

Honda civic or accord type s maybe? I prefer not to lease myself.

[CooperS]

10k to 15k leases exist, but those headline figures usually aren't for those milages usually 5k. I'm reality I've found it only puts the lease up by 10 - 20 quid.