Cheap runabout 20k per year for £1.5k

[Tom182]

Yes another 'what car' thread... sorry!

I'm planning to use my current car as a weekend/track day car next year and so I'm on the lookout for a cheap (sub £1.5k) runabout to cover approx. 20k per year.

So far I've been looking at Clio DCI's, MK1 Ford Focus 1.6's and most of the VAG 1.9TDI variants. The latter seems to fall just outside of my budget, or maybe I'm not looking hard enough...!

A Clio DCI is probably my number one choice, mainly because I'd save around £100-£150 per month in fuel, road tax is £30.00 and insurance is £400 per year (currently paying over £1k p/a), but I'm a bit worried about reliability and there also seems a shortage of good examples within budget.

Should there be any other considerations?

Any suggestions and experiences much appreciated.

[fathomfive]

£1500 of Lexus IS200.

That's what I paid for mine and covered 28k miles in 13 months at 32mpg, with a couple of services and a couple of ball joints as costs.

They're well kitted, reliable and sound pretty good too.

[BritishRacinGrin]

20k per year? You want comfort. Peugeot 406, Ford Mondeo.

[Welshbeef]

Bobby Shaftoe said:

I would heartily recommend a Mk3 Mondeo Estate 2.5v6, no one wants 'em so you can pick them up for a song and they're bulletproof, they don't have any DMF's, DPF's or expensive diesel injectors to go wrong. I took one from 80k to 190,000 miles with precisely one oil & filter change and a set of tyres.

Have to ask why did you only change the oil and filter once in 90k miles?
Do you treat all of your cars like this?

[eltax91]

You sure all the vag TDi are out of budget? There must be a number of leon or Octavia with the PD lump in for that cash?

[Axionknight]

Bobby Shaftoe said:

I would heartily recommend a Mk3 Mondeo Estate 2.5v6, no one wants 'em so you can pick them up for a song and they're bulletproof, they don't have any DMF's, DPF's or expensive diesel injectors to go wrong. I took one from 80k to 190,000 miles with precisely one oil & filter change and a set of tyres.

What does that do to the gallon?

[R6VED]

Welshbeef said:

Have to ask why did you only change the oil and filter once in 90k miles?
Do you treat all of your cars like this?

I make that 110,000 rather than 90,000.

[JulianHJ]

Bobby Shaftoe said:

I would heartily recommend a Mk3 Mondeo Estate 2.5v6, no one wants 'em so you can pick them up for a song and they're bulletproof, they don't have any DMF's, DPF's or expensive diesel injectors to go wrong. I took one from 80k to 190,000 miles with precisely one oil & filter change and a set of tyres.

What brand/model tyres were you using? That sounds like amazing longevity.

[Patch1875]

Saab 9-3.

[andy-xr]

I've done this before in a Rover 25 diesel, a Peugeot HDi of some description (206/307)

The good thing with the above is that they're the 8v diesels, so less likely to go wrong, and will take big miles easily. They're all a little short geared for long runs with the exception of the 307, so if you're doing a commute of 50'ish miles I'd probably go with a 406 for less than a grand and spend some time sprucing it up

The electrics will probably fail somewhere, they'll probably need sandpaper on the ABS rings, but the engines will keep going for a long time.

[Welshbeef]

R6VED said:

Welshbeef said:

Have to ask why did you only change the oil and filter once in 90k miles?
Do you treat all of your cars like this?

I make that 110,000 rather than 90,000.

Very true - it seems odd a PH would do that to a car given its what £30-50 in materials and 15 mins work which would extend component life notably

[steveo3002]

Welshbeef said:

Bobby Shaftoe said:

I would heartily recommend a Mk3 Mondeo Estate 2.5v6, no one wants 'em so you can pick them up for a song and they're bulletproof, they don't have any DMF's, DPF's or expensive diesel injectors to go wrong. I took one from 80k to 190,000 miles with precisely one oil & filter change and a set of tyres.

Have to ask why did you only change the oil and filter once in 90k miles?
Do you treat all of your cars like this?

funny how folk are proud as punch to do such things

[BoRED S2upid]

eltax91 said:

You sure all the vag TDi are out of budget? There must be a number of leon or Octavia with the PD lump in for that cash?

Definitely agree with this. There are so many models out there that use the 1.9tdi lump I've got it in an Ibiza. Taxis use them in octavias, Audi a4's to huge mileages they go on forever.

[trackdemon]

Rover 75 diesel. Well in budget, supremely comfortable, BMW engine, pretty reliable (I've piled 70k miles onto mine in 3years), and if you get a Conn SE, loaded with kit too.

[Bradley1500]

Bought an A6 Avant PD130 6 months ago for the same reasons, I've done just over 11k miles in that time.

Surplus to requirements now, and am only wanting £1,500 for it. There's quite a few 1.9TDI VAGs about around this price if you have a good look and aren't too fussy on spec.

[Toaster Pilot]

I did a 130 mile/day commute for 6 months in a 1.9 non turbo diesel Skoda Felicia. I wouldn't recommend it much however the car was unburstable besides brakes/tyres/etc (and is still going with a family member at well over 190k miles)

So I'd be looking for a 1.9 SDI Octavia or similar if you can deal with the slow - much more refined place to sit than the old Felicia.

[GreatGranny]

What about a S40/V40.

Yes they are strong money but great seats and they are reliable.

Or a Civic.
Petrol 1.4 will not be quick but I would trust it over a leggy diesel and it will do 45mpg on a run.

[italian job]

Volvo S60 D5

[McSam]

italian job said:

Volvo S60 D5

That would get my vote, if you can find a decent one for the money.

A Mondeo with a decade-old petrol V6 doing 25mpg is my answer of the day, though

[190bhp]

As mentioned earlier Rover 25/45, MG ZR/ZS, Rover 200/400 TD's
Very reliable L series diesel engine, can run them for peanuts.
I did 20,000 miles a year for 2-1/2 years in my ZR, It only needed a clutch, as it started to slip.