Small cars and motorway journeys?
Discussion
Will be starting a degree the year and will be 200 miles away from home. This will mean doing 2-2500miles per year (coming home for hoidays etc) on the motorway. Im unsure if a small hatchback with a larger engine would be suitable (say 1.6+).
Looking for something cheap to buy/insure/run but still fun to drive, hence there are a few warm hatches on the list (c2 vts+corsa 1.8+ibiza fr+206 gti etc). Coming from an mx5 and therefor hating long journeys im unsure what i'l be happy in being 6ft tall and a fairly large build. any opinions?
Looking for something cheap to buy/insure/run but still fun to drive, hence there are a few warm hatches on the list (c2 vts+corsa 1.8+ibiza fr+206 gti etc). Coming from an mx5 and therefor hating long journeys im unsure what i'l be happy in being 6ft tall and a fairly large build. any opinions?
Edited by Ruffy94 on Monday 6th April 19:07
I had a c2 vts, it was ok but awful on the mororway. 5k revs at 70mph gets incredibly irritating. I spent well over the purchase price (£4k) in 2 years on repairing various bits. It was quite nippy and handled ok but I wouldn't recommend one.
The 1.2 clio I had after was 'better' on the mororway. I have a 118d now which is great.
The 1.2 clio I had after was 'better' on the mororway. I have a 118d now which is great.
Swift sport wasn't on the list due to budget, way out of reach. Somebody suggested an ignis sport but I don't find them interesting enough to justify constantly having to explain to people why I bought one.
Just a difficult one for me, I had an old corsa 1.2 as a first car but only had it 6 months and it didn't get near a motorway. Plus its unlikely that any test drives will give me the chance to test them on there either.
Just a difficult one for me, I had an old corsa 1.2 as a first car but only had it 6 months and it didn't get near a motorway. Plus its unlikely that any test drives will give me the chance to test them on there either.
Ruffy94 said:
Swift sport wasn't on the list due to budget, way out of reach. Somebody suggested an ignis sport but I don't find them interesting enough to justify constantly having to explain to people why I bought one.
Just a difficult one for me, I had an old corsa 1.2 as a first car but only had it 6 months and it didn't get near a motorway. Plus its unlikely that any test drives will give me the chance to test them on there either.
C2 vts is many things but certainly not a motorway cruiser! What's your budget?Just a difficult one for me, I had an old corsa 1.2 as a first car but only had it 6 months and it didn't get near a motorway. Plus its unlikely that any test drives will give me the chance to test them on there either.
Jamie VTS said:
C2 vts is many things but certainly not a motorway cruiser! What's your budget?
Budget is up to £2500, although id really prefer £2000. I have considered some big motorway cruisers but tbh its hard to justify running a 6cyl saloon when your parents offer to help you with some living expenses (im not sure id be happy to watch any of my future children throwing away their student loan on running a v6). Coming from an mx5 im just struggling to go for something dull, I grabbed my dad's mondeo when i went to the uni interview and its was the most dreary boring thing ive ever driven.
Ruffy94 said:
Budget is up to £2500, although id really prefer £2000. I have considered some big motorway cruisers but tbh its hard to justify running a 6cyl saloon when your parents offer to help you with some living expenses (im not sure id be happy to watch any of my future children throwing away their student loan on running a v6).
Coming from an mx5 im just struggling to go for something dull, I grabbed my dad's mondeo when i went to the uni interview and its was the most dreary boring thing ive ever driven.
As someone else said you will only be doing this journey 3 or 4 times a year. I think your biggest concern should be finding something reliable as funds may be tight during your studies! (I'm just finishing my degree)Coming from an mx5 im just struggling to go for something dull, I grabbed my dad's mondeo when i went to the uni interview and its was the most dreary boring thing ive ever driven.
john2443 said:
FFS, grow some and stop talking like a girl! When I was a student people were doing bigger mileages than that in 20 year old classic Minis, Minor 1000s and 105E Anglias.
Anything built in the last 20 years will be 3 times as quiet and reliable.
You weren't unfortunate enough to own my corsa, I didn't get rid of it after 6 months because I fancied an upgrade, what a pile of.....Anything built in the last 20 years will be 3 times as quiet and reliable.
I hope the reference earlier to a caterham being suitable was a joke. Although I don't know, i think its just different for different people. Some people find it more of an issue than others. I think if its your dream car and you have to put it with it it's fine. Where as id struggle to put up with a £1500 supermini if it wasn't suitable and I didnt have to own it
Mini Cooper or maybe even an S? I had a cooper a while back and it went well on the motorway.
Despite being small in the back there is loads of adjustment and room in the front seats - get the sports Seats if you can. The boot is tiny, but fold the seats down and there will be plenty of room to get your bong etc to and from uni.
Fun to drive too.
Even a One is probably ok if insurance is a worry.
Despite being small in the back there is loads of adjustment and room in the front seats - get the sports Seats if you can. The boot is tiny, but fold the seats down and there will be plenty of room to get your bong etc to and from uni.
Fun to drive too.
Even a One is probably ok if insurance is a worry.
Ruffy94 said:
john2443 said:
FFS, grow some and stop talking like a girl! When I was a student people were doing bigger mileages than that in 20 year old classic Minis, Minor 1000s and 105E Anglias.
Anything built in the last 20 years will be 3 times as quiet and reliable.
You weren't unfortunate enough to own my corsa, I didn't get rid of it after 6 months because I fancied an upgrade, what a pile of.....Anything built in the last 20 years will be 3 times as quiet and reliable.
I hope the reference earlier to a caterham being suitable was a joke. Although I don't know, i think its just different for different people. Some people find it more of an issue than others. I think if its your dream car and you have to put it with it it's fine. Where as id struggle to put up with a £1500 supermini if it wasn't suitable and I didnt have to own it
The rest of the year you'll have something you enjoy driving.
A 200 mile journey in the motorway will take you, what, 3 and a bit hours.
Your going to select the car that you want based on a 3 hour journey you have to do once a month at the very most?
davepoth said:
Wuss. People do that kind of distance in Peugeot 107s. 
Any vaguely modern car you buy will be absolutely fine for that sort of journey, just so long as the stereo works and you don't have a loud exhaust.
If the OP is just starting a degree it implies he's not that old and has no idea just how good modern cars are. I've done 3000 miles in a week on my CBR600 and that would be no bother in my Jazz. Any vaguely modern car you buy will be absolutely fine for that sort of journey, just so long as the stereo works and you don't have a loud exhaust.
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