Best Economical Mid Sized Car
Discussion
Not very exciting I know but I retire next year and will be in the market for an economical, reliable, new, mid sized car. I can normally get approx 30% off most new cars due to my circustances so haven't settled on a particular make or model. I plan to spend no more than £15/16K afer the above discounts.
Main reason I'm asking is I'm after real life fuel economy figures rather than manufactures printed b
ks (learnt that lesson the hard way with the Evoque). I'll probably do a max of eight thousand miles a year and keep the car for about ten years. Most of the milage will be locally (within ten miles) with the occasional longish trip (hence the mid sized rather than Super Mini) a couple of times a year.
I know with the limited milage a petrol car makes sense but the draw of possibly 80mpg from a Diesel or even more from a Hybrid (due to the cars use) is strong.
Any help now appreciated, as I'll be ordering the car for a February delivery.
Main reason I'm asking is I'm after real life fuel economy figures rather than manufactures printed b
ks (learnt that lesson the hard way with the Evoque). I'll probably do a max of eight thousand miles a year and keep the car for about ten years. Most of the milage will be locally (within ten miles) with the occasional longish trip (hence the mid sized rather than Super Mini) a couple of times a year.I know with the limited milage a petrol car makes sense but the draw of possibly 80mpg from a Diesel or even more from a Hybrid (due to the cars use) is strong.
Any help now appreciated, as I'll be ordering the car for a February delivery.
Janesy B said:
If you're really bothered about saving money, don't buy a new car?
This.If you must have a new car, buy a small, turbo'd petrol (or an i3 as above). A diesel engine takes longer to warm up thanks to their heavy, all-steel construction. While the engine is cold it's using more fuel trying to warm up.
The idea of an new car was to not have to worry about consumables or issues with the car. It is more than likely, to have a 3 year warranty, or maybe more and I'll know it's complete driving history.
I've read an article in a Top Gear mag on the i3 but not sure it will be in production by Feb next year? Also tried to research the Ampera but there's not much real life info on it.
I've read an article in a Top Gear mag on the i3 but not sure it will be in production by Feb next year? Also tried to research the Ampera but there's not much real life info on it.
OP, not what you are wanting to hear...
If I were retiring, had £15/16K to spend, keeping the car for about ten years and doing 8k a year... I'd be looking at a nice used Jaguar JX8 n/a V8 petrol to waft around in for the half the price and keep the remainder for fuel and maitance. If the mpg offends you that much, plump for a V6 3.0 and enjoy 35 on a run.
There is no way of Gods earth I'd drop that sort of money into a diesel for that sort of usage in the vague hope I was going to achieve 80mpg on a long trip. Even if it would do 80mpg on your annual jaunt, it's not exactly a big factor in the grand scheme of things.
If you do stick to your OP though, then I guess some sort of Passat Bluemotion and hope the internals don't give you any problems when out of warranty.
Oops, just noticed in your profile you have a 2010 XJ - oh well, at least I was not totally off track!
If I were retiring, had £15/16K to spend, keeping the car for about ten years and doing 8k a year... I'd be looking at a nice used Jaguar JX8 n/a V8 petrol to waft around in for the half the price and keep the remainder for fuel and maitance. If the mpg offends you that much, plump for a V6 3.0 and enjoy 35 on a run.
There is no way of Gods earth I'd drop that sort of money into a diesel for that sort of usage in the vague hope I was going to achieve 80mpg on a long trip. Even if it would do 80mpg on your annual jaunt, it's not exactly a big factor in the grand scheme of things.
If you do stick to your OP though, then I guess some sort of Passat Bluemotion and hope the internals don't give you any problems when out of warranty.
Oops, just noticed in your profile you have a 2010 XJ - oh well, at least I was not totally off track!
Edited by Matt UK on Monday 30th September 17:42
tony wright said:
I've read an article in a Top Gear mag on the i3 but not sure it will be in production by Feb next year? Also tried to research the Ampera but there's not much real life info on it.
If you rarely go more than 10 miles from home (so round trips of under 20 miles?) the Ampera will do the majority of your driving on mains electricity only so "fuel economy" becomes something of a moot point. Due to the relitively low mileage and 10 year keep something vauxhall for the lifetime/100k warranty? - Astra 1.7 (as long as DPF's are covered)
Other than that a Kia with the 7 year warranty?
This then really minimises costs barring fuel as you have no big bills. (My old Astra sport hatch averaged 57 mpg when it was broken in - after 70k miles although mostly off peak motorway @75pmh)...it did however implode around 90k miles and 4 years old...
Other than that a Kia with the 7 year warranty?
This then really minimises costs barring fuel as you have no big bills. (My old Astra sport hatch averaged 57 mpg when it was broken in - after 70k miles although mostly off peak motorway @75pmh)...it did however implode around 90k miles and 4 years old...
Sorry Matt, haven't updated that since 2010
I'll get on to it. Still have a Jag but a lot sportier...
It's the weekly running costs that bother me as my pension will be 50% of my present annual wage. The out lay for purchase has already been put aside.
I've seen the Ampera in the flesh but can't find many real life experiences of the car. Also not sure I could get it for my budget, even with discounts.
I'll get on to it. Still have a Jag but a lot sportier...It's the weekly running costs that bother me as my pension will be 50% of my present annual wage. The out lay for purchase has already been put aside.
I've seen the Ampera in the flesh but can't find many real life experiences of the car. Also not sure I could get it for my budget, even with discounts.
Sorry Matt, haven't updated that since 2010 I'll get on to it. Still have a Jag but a lot sportier...
It's the weekly running costs that bother me as my pension will be 50% of my present annual wage. The out lay for purchase has already been put aside.
I've seen the Ampera in the flesh but can't find many real life experiences of the car. Also not sure I could get it for my budget, even with discounts.
I'll get on to it. Still have a Jag but a lot sportier...It's the weekly running costs that bother me as my pension will be 50% of my present annual wage. The out lay for purchase has already been put aside.
I've seen the Ampera in the flesh but can't find many real life experiences of the car. Also not sure I could get it for my budget, even with discounts.
If you want low costs and plan on doing mostly short journeys then you want neither a new car nor a diesel. Get a mid-sized Japanese hatchback which is 4 years old or so and it will satisfy your requirements much better than any new diesel car.
The difference between 40mpg on petrol and 70mpg on diesel over 8k miles is about £500p/a, whereas the depreciation on a £15k new car will be several thousand a year. Then you have to factor in the potential reliability issues of a modern diesel engine for short trips.
The difference between 40mpg on petrol and 70mpg on diesel over 8k miles is about £500p/a, whereas the depreciation on a £15k new car will be several thousand a year. Then you have to factor in the potential reliability issues of a modern diesel engine for short trips.
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