Suggestion on a daily 50miles a day muncher

[Shenanigans]

Long story short, hoping to start a new job in the new year which mean no longer car sharing with the OH. So I'm looking for a daily for myself.

I will be commuting 50 miles a day which is mostly dual carriageways and B roads.

Looking for something under £2k.

I have already tried and failed at a bidding war for an pre facelift EP3 Type R until I phoned up the garage that done work on it to find its had a lot of faults fixed as it had a gremlin mess the ECU up. Sigh of relief when someone outbid me.

I can live with having a diesel or petrol. Also don't mind having an automatic or manual.

I've already owned a mk5 golf and was put off with the problems I had with it.

Anything else?

I'm currently watching a few listings on Ebay and Autotrader;
Mk3 Mx5,
Saab 9-3 2.2 TiD
Fiesta ST
Volvo S60 2.0 T

Just hoping to get something with low maintenance and not cause a big headache a couple of months after ownership!

Any advice on the Saab 2.2 and 1.8 engines would be awesome as there seems to be a fair amount for sale.

[Limpet]

Shenanigans said:

Volvo S60 2.0 T

This one. All versions have some of the most generously padded, comfy seats ever fitted to a production car, and a lovely lazy, smooth five pot under the bonnet. Stellar build quality as well. I've known a few with over 200k on them and everything still works, and there are no rattles or squeaks. Get an SE if you can, for the incredible Dolby Pro Logic stereo and leather. And drive around with a level of comfort and sense of general wellbeing that a lot of modern premium cars still don't get close to. It's not exciting in the slightest, but it's nice. Very nice.

Even the 2.0T won't do much more than 30 mpg, and they have the turning circle of a double-decker bus, but otherwise I love them. I like the way Volvo didn't try to do a "sporty" BMW or a "clinical" Audi. Instead they made a big, comfy Volvo, and it's brilliant.

Early 2.0Ts were prone to throttle body issues, but this was fixed from 2002 on.

[CubanPete]

Mondeo or Focus for that sort of money.

Plenty about, and a good drive.

[GreatGranny]

Definitely try to find an S60.

For £2k a decent sensible mileage D5 would be possible which will do 40+ mpg.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[RSTurboPaul]

Gen-6 Celica 2.0 ST.

[ZX10R NIN]

Mondeo ST220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Zetec S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...