Sub £2k - Daily, reliable, 8k miles, pref large
Discussion
So in the need for a new daily car
Old car has gone and I've borrowed a run around for a couple of months, but have to give it back after Christmas
I commute 30 mile round trip daily
Average about 8-9,000 miles a year
Needs to be Large(ish) for tip runs, golf clubs and dog and the occasional trip to Scotland/Cornwall/France etc.
I thought perhaps Ovlov V40/50 but do i really need a diesel? Do i go for a the 1.6 petrol? 1.8? 2.0 Diesel?
Low mile commute I don't want DPF/EGR faults etc.
Any thoughts?
Are the newer shape petrol/diesel Civic/Accord worth a shout?
Basically if you had £2k in your hands and needed a reliable commuter what would you go and buy?!
Any ideas appreciated
Old car has gone and I've borrowed a run around for a couple of months, but have to give it back after Christmas
I commute 30 mile round trip daily
Average about 8-9,000 miles a year
Needs to be Large(ish) for tip runs, golf clubs and dog and the occasional trip to Scotland/Cornwall/France etc.
I thought perhaps Ovlov V40/50 but do i really need a diesel? Do i go for a the 1.6 petrol? 1.8? 2.0 Diesel?
Low mile commute I don't want DPF/EGR faults etc.
Any thoughts?
Are the newer shape petrol/diesel Civic/Accord worth a shout?
Basically if you had £2k in your hands and needed a reliable commuter what would you go and buy?!
Any ideas appreciated

similar position last year and bought a Volvo S60/V70 D5 auto and needed something comfy and economical for regular use.
2005 model so early D5 and no DPF, seems to average around 40-48 mpg depending what sort of driving I'm doing.
12 months and 9,000 miles and its not needed anything, gave it a good service when I picked it up, now on 165,000 miles and going strong great cheap comfy motoring (you will get an S60 for £1k or a V70 for £2k).
2005 model so early D5 and no DPF, seems to average around 40-48 mpg depending what sort of driving I'm doing.
12 months and 9,000 miles and its not needed anything, gave it a good service when I picked it up, now on 165,000 miles and going strong great cheap comfy motoring (you will get an S60 for £1k or a V70 for £2k).
haddock82 said:
is that the 2.4 diesel engine?
I do quite like these, not driven one but looks like it ticks a lot of boxes
Yes D5 is 2.4 diesel 5 cylinder model. Nice and smooth compared to a horrible 4 cylinder diesel, decent amount of power, seats are amazingly comfortable and good stereo as standard.I do quite like these, not driven one but looks like it ticks a lot of boxes
Thanks for the replies so far
How Big?:
Well an estate would be preferable really so V40/V50 as they are smaller estates
The Saab 9-3 is a good shout as i believe they are a bit smaller too, what are they like for reliability?
Mondeo.... A very capable car but its a Mondeo... Just dont think i can bring myself to buy one...!
How Big?:
Well an estate would be preferable really so V40/V50 as they are smaller estates
The Saab 9-3 is a good shout as i believe they are a bit smaller too, what are they like for reliability?
Mondeo.... A very capable car but its a Mondeo... Just dont think i can bring myself to buy one...!
haddock82 said:
The Saab 9-3 is a good shout as i believe they are a bit smaller too, what are they like for reliability?
Sadly I can't comment, but I've often wondered, ditto the 9-5. Obviously they are a GM built Saab, but still not a Mondeo.If you like that, I've also fancied the Alfa 159 Estates, but again can't comment on reliability other than buying advice to get service history.
haddock82 said:
Mondeo.... A very capable car but its a Mondeo... Just dont think i can bring myself to buy one...!
Very hard isn't it, my partner has a Fiesta as do both of my housemates, so I am outnumbered 3:1 when they are all on the drive. I can't fault what they represent, but I can't see myself driving one either.She says she sees no reason to have anything else for the rest of her life, but also that the E46 is nicer to drive and to be in.
Don't get a sunroof or powered seat model if your tall, I only just fit mine a 6ft2.
Daniel
Mondeo I hate to say. They're not the most exciting thing to look at but they do drive well and in estate formats they are desirable sellers that never hang around.
My preference is a MkIV as the diesel engines IME are sturdier than the Mk3s. But the MkIVs are now coming into the £2k mark, just. But a Mk3 will do the job well and leave you with change. Just make sure you run genuine Ford fuel filters and keep it serviced well
.
Put it this way. I have access to a MkIV Mondeo 2.5T. Everytime I get out I wonder why I'd buy something else, despite me having my E46 M3. But this is why I've bought a sheddy W124 250D; hopefully I won't regret that! I'd buy a Mundaneo 2.5T or 2.0TDCI but I'm looking at sub £1k motoring for now which really limits options.
About the Saab 9-3, my sister has an '07 1.8t 'Vert. What do I like?
-It looks good, better with the roof down
-Seats are comfy and the inside generally is a nice place to be.
-Motorway cruising is good.
-Hers is very reliable.
What don't I like?
-On the driveway it's the car I drive when there is nothing else for me to drive ; it really isn't that exciting to drive with so so handling and lifeless steering
-The gear ratios are laughable in 5 speed form. You fit another gearbox in between the ratios! It's very easy to stall this in 2nd in town if you have come from a normal ratio 5 speed or 6 speed gearbox. 5th is taller than the Mondeo 2.5T and my M3's 6th.
-Spares can be a pain to source but there are dealers out there. Johnsons Hyundai in Coventry can source some bits with Neo Brothers online helping out too.
It's the lowest mileage car in our family as well.
E46s may win you streed cred but I prefer the mkIV Mondy 2.5T to an E46 328i of my mate's. Gearbox is nicer for one and I know which has been cheaper to own out of the two and which one has more miles; it's not the E46.
My preference is a MkIV as the diesel engines IME are sturdier than the Mk3s. But the MkIVs are now coming into the £2k mark, just. But a Mk3 will do the job well and leave you with change. Just make sure you run genuine Ford fuel filters and keep it serviced well
.Put it this way. I have access to a MkIV Mondeo 2.5T. Everytime I get out I wonder why I'd buy something else, despite me having my E46 M3. But this is why I've bought a sheddy W124 250D; hopefully I won't regret that! I'd buy a Mundaneo 2.5T or 2.0TDCI but I'm looking at sub £1k motoring for now which really limits options.
About the Saab 9-3, my sister has an '07 1.8t 'Vert. What do I like?
-It looks good, better with the roof down
-Seats are comfy and the inside generally is a nice place to be.
-Motorway cruising is good.
-Hers is very reliable.
What don't I like?
-On the driveway it's the car I drive when there is nothing else for me to drive ; it really isn't that exciting to drive with so so handling and lifeless steering
-The gear ratios are laughable in 5 speed form. You fit another gearbox in between the ratios! It's very easy to stall this in 2nd in town if you have come from a normal ratio 5 speed or 6 speed gearbox. 5th is taller than the Mondeo 2.5T and my M3's 6th.
-Spares can be a pain to source but there are dealers out there. Johnsons Hyundai in Coventry can source some bits with Neo Brothers online helping out too.
It's the lowest mileage car in our family as well.
E46s may win you streed cred but I prefer the mkIV Mondy 2.5T to an E46 328i of my mate's. Gearbox is nicer for one and I know which has been cheaper to own out of the two and which one has more miles; it's not the E46.
Edited by SebringMan on Thursday 2nd November 18:52
B5.5 VW Passat. 1.8T 20v (Same engine as mk4 Golf GTi, Audi TT etc)
Loads of room, usual VAG stuff, great little engine, not too bad on fuel and cheap and plentiful on parts.
2k should get you a decent one. I ran one as a cheap run around for 3 years when i lived in cyprus. Bought with 103k on the clock and sold 3 years later with 121k on the clock (small island) and never needed anything other than normal servicing.
Loads of room, usual VAG stuff, great little engine, not too bad on fuel and cheap and plentiful on parts.
2k should get you a decent one. I ran one as a cheap run around for 3 years when i lived in cyprus. Bought with 103k on the clock and sold 3 years later with 121k on the clock (small island) and never needed anything other than normal servicing.
ZX10R NIN said:
Mondeo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
A great selection of sensible motors for 2 grand. You'd be pushed for better value in a 2 grand motor with sensible running costs. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Sure, the estates carry more, but the hatches are hardly cramped.
To be fair the newer shape Mondeo i think looks like quite a nice car,
Need to drive one to see how they feel
The previous version also had a 2.2 diesel, is this any good?
Couple of local ones to me:
Ghia X - Old Shape - 2.0TDCi - 81k
Titanium 2.2TDCi - Old Shape - 89k
New Shape - 2.0TDCi Edge - 93k
Need to drive one to see how they feel
The previous version also had a 2.2 diesel, is this any good?
Couple of local ones to me:
Ghia X - Old Shape - 2.0TDCi - 81k
Titanium 2.2TDCi - Old Shape - 89k
New Shape - 2.0TDCi Edge - 93k
haddock82 said:
To be fair the newer shape Mondeo i think looks like quite a nice car,
Need to drive one to see how they feel
The previous version also had a 2.2 diesel, is this any good?
Couple of local ones to me:
Ghia X - Old Shape - 2.0TDCi - 81k
Titanium 2.2TDCi - Old Shape - 89k
New Shape - 2.0TDCi Edge - 93k
The 2.2 is a very good engine it's a Peugeot lump & is reliable, but why would you want a diesel when you're only doing 8k per year.
Need to drive one to see how they feel
The previous version also had a 2.2 diesel, is this any good?
Couple of local ones to me:
Ghia X - Old Shape - 2.0TDCi - 81k
Titanium 2.2TDCi - Old Shape - 89k
New Shape - 2.0TDCi Edge - 93k
The 2.2 is a very good engine it's a Peugeot lump & is reliable, but why would you want a diesel when you're only doing 8k per year.
I think it was just those diesels came up in my autotrader search first!
How about these:
Saab: What are these petrol engines like?
Low mileage 9-3 1.8 Petrol - Cheap!
Honda: Seems good value?
Accord Estate-2.2-Diesel
Civic: I've always quite liked the styling of these. Is the 1.8 a good un? I'm guessing its Honda so should be good?
Civic - Petrol -1.8text
Mundanoe: Newer shape petrol:
Mondeo-2.0-Petrol
How about these:
Saab: What are these petrol engines like?
Low mileage 9-3 1.8 Petrol - Cheap!
Honda: Seems good value?
Accord Estate-2.2-Diesel
Civic: I've always quite liked the styling of these. Is the 1.8 a good un? I'm guessing its Honda so should be good?
Civic - Petrol -1.8text
Mundanoe: Newer shape petrol:
Mondeo-2.0-Petrol
Just to update this old thread!
Picked up a 2004 MK3 Mondeo today
1.8 Petrol - Base Spec (LX) - 90k - Full Service History and 2 owners. Been garaged most of it's life too in very good condition bodywork wise and loads of history
All for the princely sum of £650
Probably could have found one cheaper or higher spec, but it was a PX just come in at a fairly local garage and had good history
Drives ok and looks like... well a MK3 mondeo! Dull, boring but will do the job nicely
Picked up a 2004 MK3 Mondeo today
1.8 Petrol - Base Spec (LX) - 90k - Full Service History and 2 owners. Been garaged most of it's life too in very good condition bodywork wise and loads of history
All for the princely sum of £650
Probably could have found one cheaper or higher spec, but it was a PX just come in at a fairly local garage and had good history
Drives ok and looks like... well a MK3 mondeo! Dull, boring but will do the job nicely
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