18k miles/yr, reliable and cheap...
Discussion
I'm doing 18k miles a year commuting, plus another 5 or 6k private mileage. It's costing quite a lot at 28mpg in the Saab, not to mention a big heavy car wasted on a 30mile s/c commute.
The obvious choice is to change to diesel. But what?
Requirements: 40mpg mixed, 50mpg on a motorway run at 70 mph.
Manual, mainly because of the mpg requirements.
Would prefer something relatively practical - a hatchback at the very least. I kayak and cycle so would be carrying boats on the roof and paddles/bikes in the boot. Leather would be preferable due to muddy gear/bike/boat stuff.
Not French. Repeat, nothing French. No issues over image.
Now the 2 key parts.
Reliability - with routine servicing etc obviously
and
Sub £3k.
Not easy. Am I better off looking at a Focus, something like that? How reliable IS older VAG stuff?
LPG the current 9-5? It's on 120k already. Does that matter?
I'm so confused. I just know that it sucks to put £100 in my tank just to get to work for a week.
Thanks for reading a s
t thread.
The obvious choice is to change to diesel. But what?
Requirements: 40mpg mixed, 50mpg on a motorway run at 70 mph.
Manual, mainly because of the mpg requirements.
Would prefer something relatively practical - a hatchback at the very least. I kayak and cycle so would be carrying boats on the roof and paddles/bikes in the boot. Leather would be preferable due to muddy gear/bike/boat stuff.
Not French. Repeat, nothing French. No issues over image.
Now the 2 key parts.
Reliability - with routine servicing etc obviously
and
Sub £3k.
Not easy. Am I better off looking at a Focus, something like that? How reliable IS older VAG stuff?
LPG the current 9-5? It's on 120k already. Does that matter?
I'm so confused. I just know that it sucks to put £100 in my tank just to get to work for a week.
Thanks for reading a s
t thread.Sounds like a case for a V70 D5 to me. Epic seats, great stereo, 45-50mpg on a run, plenty of room for boats, bikes, etc.
http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Thanks! Now that would be ideal, something I'd swap the Saab for in a heartbeat - none near me though. Not without SILLY miles! Don't they do a part-time AWD version too?
That might be what I keep my eyes out for. Are they as reliable as Saab, anecdotally? I've not been let down by my Aero once.
That might be what I keep my eyes out for. Are they as reliable as Saab, anecdotally? I've not been let down by my Aero once.
Skoda Fabia? The 1.4 engine is nowhere near as powerful as the Volvo but as a daily hack you'll get great economy and should be good for plenty of miles.
http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
LPG the Saab. As long as there are stations near home/ work or half way along the commute then you'll hardly ever use petrol and will keep the costs way down
I've just spent £1300 having a premium brand system installed, complete with the valve saving flashlube system. It'll cut my accord from 18ppm to about 13ppm.
Diesel fuel costs, petrol enjoyment.
I've just spent £1300 having a premium brand system installed, complete with the valve saving flashlube system. It'll cut my accord from 18ppm to about 13ppm.
Diesel fuel costs, petrol enjoyment.
Octavia would be a better bet than the Fabia if you're wanting storage space, the boot on them is huge. I average 47mpg from my vRS and averaged over 60mpg on a 150 mile motorway run yesterday.
I ran my ZX to 198k miles before anything expensive went wrong, most reliable car I ever owned if that's what's putting you off French cars.
Mondeo diesel is nice drive and masses of space.
I ran my ZX to 198k miles before anything expensive went wrong, most reliable car I ever owned if that's what's putting you off French cars.
Mondeo diesel is nice drive and masses of space.
How about something like this. Suspect there are worse places to sit.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...
eltax91 said:
LPG the Saab. As long as there are stations near home/ work or half way along the commute then you'll hardly ever use petrol and will keep the costs way down
I've just spent £1300 having a premium brand system installed, complete with the valve saving flashlube system. It'll cut my accord from 18ppm to about 13ppm.
Diesel fuel costs, petrol enjoyment.
OP - this is good advice.I've just spent £1300 having a premium brand system installed, complete with the valve saving flashlube system. It'll cut my accord from 18ppm to about 13ppm.
Diesel fuel costs, petrol enjoyment.
Our gassed 9-5 Aero is on 124K and all's fine. Mpg on these, as you will already know is highly dependent on the type of miles you do, but on decent mixed journeys we get high 20s/low 30s on gas (ours is an auto, which depresses mpg somewhat), so well into the 40s mpg on an equivalent basis.
Note the Saab doesn't need a Flashlube system, unlike the Accord.
Octavia is a good shout, I quite like those. Especially an estate - anonymous and very practical.
300, I know any car can/could be a pup but (for example) my experience of Frenchies is that they fall apart. I can't be wondering if it's not going to start in the morning, like maybe an old Espace, or if a Mondeo is prone to DMF's then I would call that unreliable. It's very much a case of "how long is a piece of string", I know. If I could have my old X-reg Polo breadvan back, I'd use that - simple, solid, ultra reliable.
I had a ZX, floor was rotten, keys snapped, electrics were awful, handbrake came off in my hand, etc. Dad had a Renault 19, very similar. Friend bought a Citroen Saxo from new, drove it home and found the suspension shoulder bolts (top of the strut) were only finger tight, another friend had a Xsara Picasso, it's awful, my bosses old 307 gave him problems from Day 1. Sorry, def no French cars.
LPGing the Saab seems a sensible idea though. I know the gearbox is good, new brakes, good seats, toys, speed, etc. If I could get it to 40+mpg equivalence, I'd be more than happy!
Thanks for the input all, happy to hear more
300, I know any car can/could be a pup but (for example) my experience of Frenchies is that they fall apart. I can't be wondering if it's not going to start in the morning, like maybe an old Espace, or if a Mondeo is prone to DMF's then I would call that unreliable. It's very much a case of "how long is a piece of string", I know. If I could have my old X-reg Polo breadvan back, I'd use that - simple, solid, ultra reliable.
I had a ZX, floor was rotten, keys snapped, electrics were awful, handbrake came off in my hand, etc. Dad had a Renault 19, very similar. Friend bought a Citroen Saxo from new, drove it home and found the suspension shoulder bolts (top of the strut) were only finger tight, another friend had a Xsara Picasso, it's awful, my bosses old 307 gave him problems from Day 1. Sorry, def no French cars.
LPGing the Saab seems a sensible idea though. I know the gearbox is good, new brakes, good seats, toys, speed, etc. If I could get it to 40+mpg equivalence, I'd be more than happy!
Thanks for the input all, happy to hear more
Go japanese.
My avensis has been great but it feels a bit dated, the 2.0 petrol engine is fine, but only 33 mpg average. I'd like a few more toys too and possibly auto, and also want cheaper running costs. However, i don't want a diesel.
My pick would be an Accord estate 2.4, or Lexus SportCross 3.0, both running LPG
My avensis has been great but it feels a bit dated, the 2.0 petrol engine is fine, but only 33 mpg average. I'd like a few more toys too and possibly auto, and also want cheaper running costs. However, i don't want a diesel.
My pick would be an Accord estate 2.4, or Lexus SportCross 3.0, both running LPG
Bonefish - did you get the system installed yourself? Who did you use? I'm now searching for recommended LPG installers, but the reports vary wildly. I've had a browse on lpgforum.co.uk, but that smacks of a lot of self-promotion...
Alternatively, anyone know any reputable installers in the SE?
Alternatively, anyone know any reputable installers in the SE?
No, it came with the car.
I agree re that Forum - it's hard to get objective information.
The original install was done by an outfit in Herts but were I putting one in another vehicle I'd speak to Kenny who owns Oxford Autogas http://www.oxfordautogas.com/ He services mine and is a decent guy.
Mine's a Prins system but Kenny generally prefers BRC IIRC, for their greater adjustability
I agree re that Forum - it's hard to get objective information.
The original install was done by an outfit in Herts but were I putting one in another vehicle I'd speak to Kenny who owns Oxford Autogas http://www.oxfordautogas.com/ He services mine and is a decent guy.
Mine's a Prins system but Kenny generally prefers BRC IIRC, for their greater adjustability
If your not going to LPG the Saab then a Mondeo TDCI 130 / 155 seem like a good punt. The victim of massive depreciation subsequent means you get a lot of car for little money. Seem to be screwed together well, reliable, good MPG, cheap servicing and parts, plenty big enough for all your gear and the possibility for you to have some cash left over from your 3k. Get a reasonably spec'd one and they are a nice place to sit and personally still think they dont look too bad.
I havent owned one but know a few people who sucessfully have including the old man who's current 130 estate that is sat on 110k after having completed the last 40k with nothing other than a power steering pump (changed on the drive) and normal servicing. It lives with him in France now and see's 40 something mpg all the time despite spending a large percentage of its time sat at triple mph figures.
I havent owned one but know a few people who sucessfully have including the old man who's current 130 estate that is sat on 110k after having completed the last 40k with nothing other than a power steering pump (changed on the drive) and normal servicing. It lives with him in France now and see's 40 something mpg all the time despite spending a large percentage of its time sat at triple mph figures.
Zoobeef said:
Something with the 1.9 130bhp PD engine.
Audi, VW or Skoda
A friend of mine bought a young MKIII Golf TDI with huge mileage on it. It had been a couriers car which explained the high mileage. He bought it expecting it to go on and on. The engine was fine but the rest of the car fell to bit around it. What I'm getting at is that a diesel engine won't make the whole car more durable. Audi, VW or Skoda
Were I the OP I'd keep the car I had and run it into the ground
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