£4k Medium Size Car for 25k Miles PA
Discussion
Looking for opinions, i get paid business mileage. Would like something not too slow/reliable has too be a fair size for my work gear. Been considering smallish petrol models aswell as diesels because of the possible costs on modern diesels. Also older cars with a budget for repairs. Will be swapping the car in 2.5 years and it will probably be worthless then!
kambites said:
I'd probably go for some like a Mondeo. It's a decent car and the depreciation means you'd get a relatively new one for £4k.
If you're using them for that sort of mileage, I think modern diesels are generally as reliable as their petrol counterparts.
This. Recent Mondeos are huge, and good as motorway cars.If you're using them for that sort of mileage, I think modern diesels are generally as reliable as their petrol counterparts.
Diesels around my budget tend to be in the mileage area where they are going to need clutch/flywheel/turbos/dpf's replacing and start becoming quite expensive to run thats why i thought a petrol equivilant might be worth a look.
Thinking;
BMW E90/E60 3/520d , 320i
Honda Civic/Accord 2.2 cdti
Saab 9-3 or 9-5 1.9tid
mk3 Ford Mondeo ST TDCI 2.2 or mk4 2.0 tdci
Audi/VW/Skoda 2.0tdi maybe 1.9tdi but most have moon miles and ancient.
I have owned French Cars,ie Peugeot's which have been ok mechanically although so many electrical gremlins i'd rather avoid!
Thinking;
BMW E90/E60 3/520d , 320i
Honda Civic/Accord 2.2 cdti
Saab 9-3 or 9-5 1.9tid
mk3 Ford Mondeo ST TDCI 2.2 or mk4 2.0 tdci
Audi/VW/Skoda 2.0tdi maybe 1.9tdi but most have moon miles and ancient.
I have owned French Cars,ie Peugeot's which have been ok mechanically although so many electrical gremlins i'd rather avoid!
Guy at work has Golf Mk 4 diesel estate 1.9. 250K miles and still going. Had some wok done but only usual stuff nothing major (track rod ends this year for teh first time and bushes renewed). Another colleague's husband has Seat Leon FR diesel, same engine also over 250k on the clock, original clutch (just). Only real issue was turbo getting a bit funny, cleaned it with oven cleaner (refer google) and has got another 20k miles out of it and counting.
Basically any of the VAG group cars with the older 1.9 diesel engines seem pretty good (Skoda, VW Seat Audi). I would go for one with alright milage, if possible clocked up as motorway driving and with service history.
Trouble is at 25k miles a year for 2.5 years you will add circa 70,000 miles to any car. So even a 50,000 mile car in your price range will be well over 100,000 miles at the end and luck will always come into play in respect of reliability.
Avoid electric handbrake Passats as these jamb on and are expensive to repair
Basically any of the VAG group cars with the older 1.9 diesel engines seem pretty good (Skoda, VW Seat Audi). I would go for one with alright milage, if possible clocked up as motorway driving and with service history.
Trouble is at 25k miles a year for 2.5 years you will add circa 70,000 miles to any car. So even a 50,000 mile car in your price range will be well over 100,000 miles at the end and luck will always come into play in respect of reliability.
Avoid electric handbrake Passats as these jamb on and are expensive to repair
A 5 cylinder diesel Volvo V70 would be a nice thing to cover 25k miles in and £4k will get you decent car.
With a budget of £4k for a medium sized diesel I would avoid all the obvious diesel choices as they are so popular that prices are well over inflated - so that rules out Golf, 3 series, 5 series, Audi A3/A4. (As an example of the high prices I recently sold a Golf 1.9 tdi 110, 2004 100k miles for £4k)
A Mondeo makes sense but a 5 or 6 cylinder diesel will give you a much nicer time over 25k miles.
With a budget of £4k for a medium sized diesel I would avoid all the obvious diesel choices as they are so popular that prices are well over inflated - so that rules out Golf, 3 series, 5 series, Audi A3/A4. (As an example of the high prices I recently sold a Golf 1.9 tdi 110, 2004 100k miles for £4k)
A Mondeo makes sense but a 5 or 6 cylinder diesel will give you a much nicer time over 25k miles.
Another vote for the S60. They are very, very cheap for what they are, definitely a cut above the mondeo class cars, and are absolutely perfect for doing miles in comfort.
Don't get me wrong, the Passat, Mondeo, Accord are all very good cars but as a mile muncher the S60 is better than any of them. I speak from experience
They're no fun to drive whatsoever mind you.
Don't get me wrong, the Passat, Mondeo, Accord are all very good cars but as a mile muncher the S60 is better than any of them. I speak from experience
They're no fun to drive whatsoever mind you.Cheers for the replies.
Reason i'm avoiding the volvo's is that i had a 2010 v70 2.0tdi 5 cyl one and i was not keen at all , it was crap at mpg aswell even the peugeot i had drove so much better, i should have got a d5 at the time but then the mpg would have been even worse. The car has to do 40mpg+ minimum .
Think i'm going for the mondeo st tdci or newer model mondeo as suggested.
Reason i'm avoiding the volvo's is that i had a 2010 v70 2.0tdi 5 cyl one and i was not keen at all , it was crap at mpg aswell even the peugeot i had drove so much better, i should have got a d5 at the time but then the mpg would have been even worse. The car has to do 40mpg+ minimum .
Think i'm going for the mondeo st tdci or newer model mondeo as suggested.
Scousefella said:
Take a gamble on this beauty if you fancy a little Italian flair. 
prior to my volvo i had a 156 2.4jtd...the volvo vas more economical and more reliableI'd also recommend a Volvo S60.
After my PD130 Passat started costing a lot of money I decided to take the advice from people on here and don't regret it one bit. It cost peanuts, has a wonderfully smooth yet charismatic engine (especially considering its a diesel), is economical and is superb at eating motorway miles with its supremely comfortable seats and excellent sound system.
It has also proved reliable in the year I've had it and seems well made. Going back to the engine, I really did not realise how agricultural and unrefined the VAG PD engines are until I tried the D5, it certainly opened my eyes!
After my PD130 Passat started costing a lot of money I decided to take the advice from people on here and don't regret it one bit. It cost peanuts, has a wonderfully smooth yet charismatic engine (especially considering its a diesel), is economical and is superb at eating motorway miles with its supremely comfortable seats and excellent sound system.
It has also proved reliable in the year I've had it and seems well made. Going back to the engine, I really did not realise how agricultural and unrefined the VAG PD engines are until I tried the D5, it certainly opened my eyes!
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