£3500 to buy a diesel........well?

[leemarkadams]

Yes it is a what car but any decent suggestions on a diesel commuter (mainly motorways) for 120 miles a day for about £3500? I onow it is mot a great deal and could go to £4000 if required.

I have been thinking of a golf gt tdi, audi a3, seat leon, bmw 1 series, alfa romeo gt......

I want something that will do as close to 50 mpg as possible and be 'ok' to drive!

Thanks and sorry in advance!!

Lee

[andy-xr]

Think there's plenty in that budget, I was doing 100 miles a day in an old Rover and then a 206. Lessons I learned, buy a bigger car if you can, they have bigger seats which are more comfy which means you dont arrive at work unfolding yourself. Something Golf or maybe Passat sized works. I actually really liked the seats in the Mk3 Mondeo, found them comfy and not achy after an hour or so sat down. Volvo seats arent bad either, if you can find something you like in budget

[HannsG]

MK1 Fabia VRS.

Stonking residuals, cheap, 50+MPG, Five doors, nippy...

I have had one for three years....one of the best cars I have owned..

[NiceCupOfTea]

Good luck finding a diesel 1 series for £4k!

I would be looking at e39s - you won't get 50mpg but it will be a nice place to spend your time.

Alternatively, pick up a Rover 200/25/ZR with the SDi 2.0 diesel engine - they go on for ever and are pretty pokey (if agricultural) and economical to boot. If it breaks, throw it away!

[y2blade]

Any of the Volvo D5s would get my shout tbh.

[redtwin]

Passat
A6
Vectra
Saab 93

Either of those should be comfortable enough which should be a priority even at the cost of a couple mpgs.

[DuraAce]

Skoda octavia.

[Pablo16v]

Saab 9-5's have the comfiest seats ever, great for high mileage commutes. My previous 9-5 was a 3.0 V6 diesel which is best avoided for a couple of well documented reasons but there should be plenty of four pots falling into your budget.

[Bill Carr]

Skoda Superb. I've seen a few in your budget. You seem to get more for your money vs an Octavia or Passat, but similar mpg. Official combined is 49 for the 130bhp model.

[RizzoTheRat]

I average 46mpg from my 170bhp Octavia so the 130 should easily do 50+. Fabia should be pushing 60mpg but won't be quite as comfortable for long distances. You'll get a newer or lower mileage Skoda for your money compared to a VW, not sure how the Seat Leon compares though.

Might be worth looking at Mondeo's too, there's thousands out there so they're dirt cheap and are a comfy motorway cruiser

[littleredrooster]

E46 330d.
Sublime motor, you should be able to get a 53 plate or an 04 for your budget.

[leemarkadams]

littleredrooster said:

E46 330d.
Sublime motor, you should be able to get a 53 plate or an 04 for your budget.

Had one of those before i bought the jag xf (which i have just sold!) may fancy something different?

[Jimbo.]

Peugeot 406 diesel with change? You're spared the Deutsch Diesel tax (thus get more for your money), will get this "ride comfort" thing (an alien concept to Ze Germans), still get a good looking/handling/proven car, AND have a fistful of money left over.

[Whiskeydog]

Golf GT TDI 2004/05.

[confused_buyer]

Volvo S60 D5 SE manual. Comfortable, better equipped than any other suggestion, 50mpg on the motorway. £4k should buy you a nice one.

[rb5er]

confused_buyer said:

Volvo S60 D5 SE manual. Comfortable, better equipped than any other suggestion, 50mpg on the motorway. £4k should buy you a nice one.

^ This

[rallycross]

Big Volvo 5 cylinder diesel
Avoid horrible 4 cylinder rattly diesels in your price range go for an odd ball choice like Volvo Saab etc

[leemarkadams]

Whiskeydog said:

Golf GT TDI 2004/05.

That is what i (well the wife) gas decreed i should go for....

[Matt UK]

I was in a simlar position last year and considered the Golf - but the B5 Passat is more comfy for motorway work and the 1.9tdi 130 is strong, frugal and punchy enough.

Highline models also come with heated seats and leather.

I may actually be selling my estate version next month for under your budget as well

[talksthetalk]

Passat is super comfy, did Bournemouth - Livingston on a monday and the reverse on a Friday for about 8 weeks in a row. Only thing that stopped me doing it in 1 go was my bladder.
Get one with cruise if your commute allows you to use it.