Does this exist?

[rizel23]

I'm after changing two older cars to one.

I drive a 2001 MG ZT 190 LPG that has been great with 40MPG town driving easy. Lovely V6 sound.

The Mrs drives a Ford Focus 1.6 2001 that again has never given us any issues, but is a tad boring.

I have a company car for work so only use at weekends, Mrs to drive in the week.

Were paying £500 a year just in road tax so makes sense to sell both and get something newer.

Budget upto 7Kish total (after selling cars)

Little miles done in the week, but do go away at weekends.

I was looking at the Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCI Zetec S 10/11 plate as its only £30 quid a year tax and decedent MPG

What else should we be considering?

Thanks

[RammyMP]

Seat Ibiza? I had one for a hire car on holiday for a fortnight, great little motor!

[redtwin]

Wife has an '11 plate Fiesta 1.4 TDCI Titanium. Nice little car lots of kit (auto headlight, auto wipers, bluetooth etc), but her average MPG on the computer is only mid 40s. She does at least 25 miles a day, 20 of which are on a motorway.

The longest I have driven it is for 2.5 hours, and don't think I would fancy going for much longer. It wasn't out rightly uncomfortable, just not very relaxing to drive.

I would want something bigger and more comfortable like the Focus if long journeys were expected

[Liquid Tuna]

The yearly tax isn't everything. People obsess about it. Would you be happy doing what you've said you're thinking of doing?

[rizel23]

thanks, any know issues with them or best engine choice? Will look into. I liked te look of the Fabia VRS 1.4TSI but slightly over budget and horror oil stories put me off.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Keep the MG, sell the Ford, save some money. It sounds like you just fancy a change, but the options mentioned would soon bore you. Unless you're not really fussed about enjoying a nice drive and just need a second A>B car, in which case crack on.

[rizel23]

The mrs won't drive the MG, too big, otherwise I wouldn't be changing it, despite the stick some people give MG brand, it's an excellent car, especially with LPG running costs.

But We simply don't need 2 cars anymore, with two lots of upkeep.

Hence the title, is there such thing a car that can do A-B in the week, but be able excite at the weekends without costing a fortune to run? I don't think it does.

[maffski]

rizel23 said:

Hence the title, is there such thing a car that can do A-B in the week, but be able excite at the weekends without costing a fortune to run? I don't think it does.

It's not a suggestion you hear very often on PH but, MX-5?

[aka_kerrly]

rizel23 said:

I was looking at the Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCI Zetec S 10/11 plate as its only £30 quid a year tax and decedent MPG

What else should we be considering?

Thanks

Depreciation, over a grand a year on a nearly new Fiesta so is £30 tax a great saving?

Or spend half your budget on a far more prestige/sporty car and have some money for fuel/maintenance?

£3500 330CI? or Honda CTR, Mini Cooper S, even Z4s are straying into budget and be newer than your existing cars.

Your mrs could get around 30mpg during the week and you could thrash the **** out of them at weekends plus you won't lose as much in depreciation.

[Ozzie Osmond]

rizel23 said:

I'm after changing two older cars to one. We're paying £500 a year just in road tax so makes sense to sell both and get something newer.

I was looking at the Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCI Zetec S 10/11 plate as its only £30 quid a year tax and decedent MPG

Two comments,

1. It's virtually impossible to save money by buying a new car, irrespective of tax disc and mpg,

2. Unless you go really small/economical - in which case it sounds as though you're on the right track.

[rix]

Any one of many hot hatches? 182/197, Focus/Fiesta ST, Astra/Corsa VXR, mk5 golf GTi...

[iloveboost]

Fiesta isn't bad I heard. Earlier model Zetec S 1.6 TDCI is basically the same car though and much cheaper so you can save cash there that you would have to put into buying a newer car. Save your money and buy the older equivalent model, I would. I like the Focus Mk1 it drives well but the 1.6 is a bit underpowered, and short on character compared to a sporty V6 saloon.
Also how the hell are you claiming 40mpg out of a 2.5 V6 around town?! I'm not saying I don't believe you, but I don't believe you! I mean even changing gear at 1500rpm or something like that and not using the brakes but coasting all the time I don't see how that's possible. I used to own a BMW you'd be lucky to get over 30mpg from the 2.5 straight six driving v.e.r.y. s.l.o.w.l.y!

[Who me ?]

rizel23 said:

thanks, any know issues with them or best engine choice? Will look into. I liked te look of the Fabia VRS 1.4TSI but slightly over budget and horror oil stories put me off.

Depends on usage, but the 1.4TDi ( if the new version is anything like the MK1) might be a better bet. I've got a MK1 1.4TDI-and I get 50 'sh under most conditions. Not a bad motorway mover . I did Coventry to Fort William in six hours in an emergency once ,and once a month for the following year comfortably at 7 hours +,and it just gobbled up the motorway miles and loved the tight north roads. Only problem is the 4 yr/60k cambelt change. No horror oil stories ,and VW 505 01 is getting easier to find.
Not sure if the MK2 comes in derv sport mode, but it might be cheaper to rechip the 70 BHP lump to 100( that's just 30 short of the MK1 vRS), but if the front disks/callipers are as per MK1, then I'd change them too . The 3 pot TDI is lighter than the VRS,so handling is better. My mrs can stand a lot of me throwing car around and she will shout "behave" before furby complains. One thing though , I note your location ,and the Exhall dealer is not exactly the cheapest ,service wise, though Wolverton is only 50 miles from me and near the Galleon Pub at MK12 5NL is a small inde factory trained VAG place, I'd recommend. Another thing about the Exhall dealer - no cheap /sensible fixes. I had a flexible fuel pipe fail .His price was £160 + 2 hours labour. My fix was a 50p bit of flexible fuel pipe and two jubilee clips. I discovered later that dealer price was for replacement of all fuel piping from filter to & from engine, not just for the short length of pipe that had failed.

[Vaud]

Audi A2
MX5
Mazda 3
etc

[BFG TERRANO]

why do you need a diesel? short runs in the week will kill it. If its any use we have just been in the same situation.
Had 3 cars, now 2. Company car will always be. Sold my Terrano and the wifes 206 and bought an Audi A4 1.8t Quattro. Great car and lovely to drive a petrol again, forgot how smooth they are compare to diesels.

[rizel23]

iloveboost said:

Fiesta isn't bad I heard. Earlier model Zetec S 1.6 TDCI is basically the same car though and much cheaper so you can save cash there that you would have to put into buying a newer car. Save your money and buy the older equivalent model, I would. I like the Focus Mk1 it drives well but the 1.6 is a bit underpowered, and short on character compared to a sporty V6 saloon.
Also how the hell are you claiming 40mpg out of a 2.5 V6 around town?! I'm not saying I don't believe you, but I don't believe you! I mean even changing gear at 1500rpm or something like that and not using the brakes but coasting all the time I don't see how that's possible. I used to own a BMW you'd be lucky to get over 30mpg from the 2.5 straight six driving v.e.r.y. s.l.o.w.l.y!

Thanks all.

Yes I made an error there, it's only 39mpg equivalent, but remember its LPG at 70 PPL and does 290 ish miles to 65 litres.

Just been looking again, Swift Sport looked like a good buy, basic interior, but sure a touch screen GPS unit would liven it up.

[tali1]

I had a 75 2.5 auto did only 14 mpg town -even after mission engine overhaul ,new lambda,thermo housing
Official is only 18mpg anyway.
Have seen a 2.5 with lpg and obc showing 20mpg and a 1.8 auto lpg showing 23mpg

[rizel23]

tali1 said:

I had a 75 2.5 auto did only 14 mpg town -even after mission engine overhaul ,new lambda,thermo housing
Official is only 18mpg anyway.
Have seen a 2.5 with lpg and obc showing 20mpg and a 1.8 auto lpg showing 23mpg

I did say equivalent, the auto's Leo like to drink fuel.

My 190 cost me about 16p per mile on LPG, it's a prins system, so one if the best out there.