200 Miles round trip weekdays daily for next 2-3 years

[kapilnara]

My wife will be getting a job in another city and expected is that I would have to travel 200 miles per day for work. I am in no position to switch job and she will be taking care of children hence I would not like to stay halfway for both of us to suffer.

I calculated that if I use train then I have to start by 530 and reach back by 2030. It would roughly cost me 600GBP. If I use a car I can start by 7AM and reach by 730PM.

I would like to get suggestions for all the options I have within 600GBP and whether it will be wise to go for a new or old car? Should I travel by car everyday? what options should I consider for buying one.

I am really interested for Dacia Logan MCV (cheapest one petrol) would that be a wise choice?

[anthonysjb]

get a 320d with a few miles on

[kapilnara]

how much BMW will cost for parts, repair, maintenance and petrol for my situation?

[aspirated]

Polo Bluemotion? Seeing as you're going to be the only person in the car

[kapilnara]

aspirated said:

Polo Bluemotion? Seeing as you're going to be the only person in the car

Thanks Aspirated. 4400 Miles every month would a hatchback be good.

[Manicminer]

This is a tough one, to fit in your budget (same as the train at £600) with just fuel you're going to have to average at least 45mpg.

Not difficult you'd imagine but throw in getting on for 100,000 miles of driving over just two years or 150,000 miles over 3 years and your 600pm budget begins to look very tight indeed.

You'll have tyres, servicing, repairs to budget in on top of the fuel plus any purchase price.

We need to know more - what type of car, budget to purchase, number of seats, etc...

200 miles a day Mon to Fri paying for fuel out of your own pocket can soon make you very poor indeed Not to mention completely knackered.

[Monkeylegend]

I think I would get another wife.

[trickywoo]

Why is your wife getting a new job in another city?

Never mind what car this is the question that needs answering. You'll be burning through approximately £9k of gross income a year just in fuel.

Is it really worth it?

[jimmyVX]

Not exactly the response you are looking for but honestly, have you considered renting somewhere during the week and heading home at weekends. Not ideal granted but might save your sanity!

[Toaster Pilot]

Manicminer said:

200 miles a day Mon to Fri paying for fuel out of your own pocket can soon make you very poor indeed Not to mention completely knackered.

This. I'm coming to the end of 6 months doing 130 a day, most of which were done in a 1.9D Skoda Felicia - I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

(however, financially, I doubt there's a cheaper way to drive that distance, taking everything into account)

[folos]

Buy a sub £1000 snotter, run it until it breaks (hopefully over a year) - repeat?

[kapilnara]

Thanks all
More info I can give is that we are family of 4 with 2 twins. I would be travelling alone and mostly use bus on weekends for local travel.
We would be earning approx. 4K (combined) in which I have rent, council tax etc + this car I hope to save 2K per month for future.
As of now we are saving just 500 so to join this job is kind of critical. Please let me know if this will help in answering. I am expecting 1K per month including everything for car (insurance taxes petrol parts etc)

[crolandc]

I would be looking at a Volvo S60 or S80 1.6 derv, 2010/2011 with 35/50thou on the clock for £10-11thou. luxury and 50/70 MPG.

[Engineer1]

kapilnara said:

My wife will be getting a job in another city and expected is that I would have to travel 200 miles per day for work. I am in no position to switch job and she will be taking care of children hence I would not like to stay halfway for both of us to suffer.

I calculated that if I use train then I have to start by 530 and reach back by 2030. It would roughly cost me 600GBP. If I use a car I can start by 7AM and reach by 730PM.

I would like to get suggestions for all the options I have within 600GBP and whether it will be wise to go for a new or old car? Should I travel by car everyday? what options should I consider for buying one.

I am really interested for Dacia Logan MCV (cheapest one petrol) would that be a wise choice?

Don't do it at 100miles each way you are too exposed to the commute you will have journeys where you arrive hours late either heading to or from work, you will find that your life is get up breakfast drive to work, work, drive home sleep repeat all week then spend the weekend nackered. Also the hours driving the best you can do is listen to the radio or audio book on the train you can sleep work order internet shopping etc.

[Toaster Pilot]

folos said:

Buy a sub £1000 snotter, run it until it breaks (hopefully over a year) - repeat?

Pretty much what I did, although I bought a £350 one and spent the extra on tyres, brakes and a timing belt to mimimise it's chance of blowing up on the M4.

[Spare tyre]

i did moon miles in a 406, not fast or special but had comfy seats, very quiet, very cheap to run and very very very reliable

330 on the clock when i got shot of it with a new mot and its still going strong

What about a 407 coupe, the dervs do look interesting

I know its not the usual PH answer but it really regret getting shot of the 406!

[RizzoTheRat]

Depreciation is going to be your enemy doing that many miles, so I'd go for a cheap diesel. I spent 3.5 year doing 120 miles/day in a ZX turbo diesel, cost me about 8p/mile for fuel (at £1/litre ish so, about 11p now), while maintenance and depreciation cost me another 8p/mile.

[thatdude]

I've been doing 100 miles a day for the last 10 months or so in my civic 1.6 (2005)

Fuel works out £75 a week (sort of hover around 45-49 mpg). I've serviced the car more often than I could have (6000 miles instead of 8000, maybe even 10,000 miles). The driving itself has been ok, the problem is sitting in traffic. And during peak times, you will be sitting in traffic.

If you can, get something automatic, something well insulated. My wifes auto 120D is lovely to sit in and waft along in (but not as economical!), as its so quiet and user-friendly

[trickywoo]

This is a bit nosey and feel free not to answer.

How much will your wife's new job bring in a month after tax?

[anonymous-user]

Get a motorbike