fun/reliable/not hateful/decent suggestions
Discussion
Morning all
Once again my laptop is messing up; and im in need of some advice on potential cars needed by a weeks time
I was originally looking for a cheap sub £1K runaround to just drive into the ground, but this involved me selling my current car - forester 2.0 turbo.
I have advertised it for about a week, got a couple of calls about it, tried to arrange viewings, but im working pretty much flat out so actually getting both parties together has proved impossible up to now. its only going to get more difficult as work is now a longer commute away so even less time can be spent at home. which is why im looking at part ex'ing now, just for the convenience, ill get less ££ for the car, but at the moment im likely to not be able to sell it due to not being around when people are!
what im looking for,
im expecting to take about a £2-3K finance/loan out to add to the part exchange value so budget it between £3500-5500 (6k MAX)
GOT to be uber reliable - i do around 500 miles a week minimum and need total hassle free commute
Cheap to run - 45mpg minimum, ideally 50+
cheap to fix - been there done that with HUGE service bills.
refined, comfy & abit of luxury if possible - im spending about 3-5 hours a day in the car between appointments or commutes,
not a slouch and decent handling, when the mood takes me - getting on abit on the welsh a roads is a perk of my job
finally - something abit different or special - completely silly i know - but i want to be able to look at my car and think 'thats a nice car' not just 'its a means to an end'
the only car i can think of that is close is;
Skoda Fabia Vrs 1.9 tdi - ticks the boxes, although spending some time on britskoda does seem to suggest there are a few issues with them, not related to the engine ofc, the engines bullet proof, hence the original appeal.
or the VAG alternatives - polo GT tdi
cheers
John
Once again my laptop is messing up; and im in need of some advice on potential cars needed by a weeks time
I was originally looking for a cheap sub £1K runaround to just drive into the ground, but this involved me selling my current car - forester 2.0 turbo.
I have advertised it for about a week, got a couple of calls about it, tried to arrange viewings, but im working pretty much flat out so actually getting both parties together has proved impossible up to now. its only going to get more difficult as work is now a longer commute away so even less time can be spent at home. which is why im looking at part ex'ing now, just for the convenience, ill get less ££ for the car, but at the moment im likely to not be able to sell it due to not being around when people are!
what im looking for,
im expecting to take about a £2-3K finance/loan out to add to the part exchange value so budget it between £3500-5500 (6k MAX)
GOT to be uber reliable - i do around 500 miles a week minimum and need total hassle free commute
Cheap to run - 45mpg minimum, ideally 50+
cheap to fix - been there done that with HUGE service bills.
refined, comfy & abit of luxury if possible - im spending about 3-5 hours a day in the car between appointments or commutes,
not a slouch and decent handling, when the mood takes me - getting on abit on the welsh a roads is a perk of my job
finally - something abit different or special - completely silly i know - but i want to be able to look at my car and think 'thats a nice car' not just 'its a means to an end'
the only car i can think of that is close is;
Skoda Fabia Vrs 1.9 tdi - ticks the boxes, although spending some time on britskoda does seem to suggest there are a few issues with them, not related to the engine ofc, the engines bullet proof, hence the original appeal.
or the VAG alternatives - polo GT tdi
cheers
John
why not swap it for a normally aspirated fozzie?
I know it hasnt got the grunt of the turbo, but it is still beautifully balanced, for the welsh mountain roads.
Failing that I would go barge, and look at old mercs (W201 or W124), - they might not fare so well on the back roads, but super comfy and you can marvel at the depth and quality of the engineering - I particularly enjoy the single wiper mechanism every time it rains in my old 190 (which cost me £300 to buy and happy covers 300 miles a week commuting at just north of 30mpg)
I know it hasnt got the grunt of the turbo, but it is still beautifully balanced, for the welsh mountain roads.
Failing that I would go barge, and look at old mercs (W201 or W124), - they might not fare so well on the back roads, but super comfy and you can marvel at the depth and quality of the engineering - I particularly enjoy the single wiper mechanism every time it rains in my old 190 (which cost me £300 to buy and happy covers 300 miles a week commuting at just north of 30mpg)
an N/A boxer is really tough work, when using a 2.0 n/a impreza as a service courtesy car, i was getting significantly worse mpg out of it!
plus servicing costs of subaru's are pretty steep, i have done my time with them i think, maybe an impreza at some stage in the future, because then ill be colin mcrea, in my mind.
Barge merc - not a bad call, for that money a really solid w124 or similar is doable, will research running costs now!
Civic 2.2 type s - never crossed my mind - will look at now
Another oddity that came up - that was then crossed off was the alfa 159 1.9 diesel, but reliability in the rest of the car is dubious im cases :S
plus servicing costs of subaru's are pretty steep, i have done my time with them i think, maybe an impreza at some stage in the future, because then ill be colin mcrea, in my mind.
Barge merc - not a bad call, for that money a really solid w124 or similar is doable, will research running costs now!
Civic 2.2 type s - never crossed my mind - will look at now
Another oddity that came up - that was then crossed off was the alfa 159 1.9 diesel, but reliability in the rest of the car is dubious im cases :S
take the point about the L series diesel rover chap! the only snag with this is that i have to privately advertise my forester - which has proved really difficult recently trying to arrange viewing as i'm working flat out! today is my only day off so far - and everyone who has contacted me about it wouldnt make sunday or had found another car by friday. annoying.
but there are plenty of cheaper cars out there, puma's, L series diesels, avensis' corollas, simple stuff that does almost enough mpg,
but there are plenty of cheaper cars out there, puma's, L series diesels, avensis' corollas, simple stuff that does almost enough mpg,
johntempaccount said:
sadly too lower mpg 
and all fairly high milers in e39 chassis
(im using parkers figures, which, which they are probably out and not accurate, im measuring all cars from that, so all are measured by that standard)
And they are NOT cheap to fix, and they are NOT a reliable, hassle free mode of transport.and all fairly high milers in e39 chassis
(im using parkers figures, which, which they are probably out and not accurate, im measuring all cars from that, so all are measured by that standard)
Even months after scrapping mine my bank account still bears the scars...
ive crunches the figures using a friends spreadsheet
at the moment - im getting 25-28 mpg out the forester (price of petrol @ 1.39) - its costing me 6600ish
if i take a diesel doing 45mpg average (price at £1.55 to expect some increase) doing 500 miles a week. its costing me 4100ish.
i get some milage contribution from my employer - 25p PER MILE. i can claim £6500 for 26000 miles. so in terms of fuel, the forester is costing me money, a diesel in worst case scenario is actually saving me money in terms of running costs. about £220 pcm. if including the insurance increase & tax lowering. It saves me £210 pcm.
this is then offset by finance repayments; (below)
as an example - im using a skoda vrs fabia for £4585, the companies HP finance agreement wants 18 payments of £158, with a £2000 deposit (combined from my forester and top up the rest out of savings)
SO - ill be in something with 1/2 the milage, a fraction of the running costs and keeping about £40 per month, not alot, but its should cover food bill or a part of my energy bill when im in my own place.
I COULD - i could look to avoid finance as suggested before, but i then start to find issues with part ex/selling, and some of the cars arent as well suited to my needs.
your thoughts please?
at the moment - im getting 25-28 mpg out the forester (price of petrol @ 1.39) - its costing me 6600ish
if i take a diesel doing 45mpg average (price at £1.55 to expect some increase) doing 500 miles a week. its costing me 4100ish.
i get some milage contribution from my employer - 25p PER MILE. i can claim £6500 for 26000 miles. so in terms of fuel, the forester is costing me money, a diesel in worst case scenario is actually saving me money in terms of running costs. about £220 pcm. if including the insurance increase & tax lowering. It saves me £210 pcm.
this is then offset by finance repayments; (below)
as an example - im using a skoda vrs fabia for £4585, the companies HP finance agreement wants 18 payments of £158, with a £2000 deposit (combined from my forester and top up the rest out of savings)
SO - ill be in something with 1/2 the milage, a fraction of the running costs and keeping about £40 per month, not alot, but its should cover food bill or a part of my energy bill when im in my own place.
I COULD - i could look to avoid finance as suggested before, but i then start to find issues with part ex/selling, and some of the cars arent as well suited to my needs.
your thoughts please?
clarkey540i said:
Would converting the Forester to LPG be feasible? If you like the car and it's only the running costs that you don't like, this could be the perfect solution.
i did look at this, but the forester has done 130,000 miles, and im just starting to think im expected to be crunching alot of miles, and whilst it has never put a foot wrong, im just trying to be pro active not reactive in sourcing a better, younger and more economical car. johntempaccount said:
clarkey540i said:
Would converting the Forester to LPG be feasible? If you like the car and it's only the running costs that you don't like, this could be the perfect solution.
i did look at this, but the forester has done 130,000 miles, and im just starting to think im expected to be crunching alot of miles, and whilst it has never put a foot wrong, im just trying to be pro active not reactive in sourcing a better, younger and more economical car. If the car were to break, you could remove the LPG kit and fit it to something else, so that particular investment is relatively safe.
Does the mileage rate you're getting change with the engine size?
If so the 2.2 Honda is a good shout. Unless you have "big hips" like me and find the driver's seat digs in your pelvis.
Also you can claim tax back on that mileage rate
(20pX10000) (£400 or £800 depending on if you're a powerfully built higher tax bracket earner or not)
My recommendation at 6k would be a Mk2 Seat Leon 2.0 TDI 140 (the 170 suffers from DPF issues, the 140 doesn't have a DPF)
If you can get a reference sport then its a nice place to be, and got relatively good mid range punch.
I'd keep the Forester myself though. Or ask for a company car.
25k pa business miles is easily enough to at least ask the question.
If so the 2.2 Honda is a good shout. Unless you have "big hips" like me and find the driver's seat digs in your pelvis.
Also you can claim tax back on that mileage rate
(20pX10000) (£400 or £800 depending on if you're a powerfully built higher tax bracket earner or not)
My recommendation at 6k would be a Mk2 Seat Leon 2.0 TDI 140 (the 170 suffers from DPF issues, the 140 doesn't have a DPF)
If you can get a reference sport then its a nice place to be, and got relatively good mid range punch.
I'd keep the Forester myself though. Or ask for a company car.
25k pa business miles is easily enough to at least ask the question.
Edited by talksthetalk on Sunday 24th February 20:05
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