Commute looking at Volvo S60 / Skoda Superb / Merc E-Class

[meerlaan]

So I am looking to purchase a new car for a new job and am getting a bit lost reseaching! I have to say I dont know much about cars, I am 30 and this will be my first car. My commute will be approx 600miles a week.

From me research and another post I looking for the following spec:

Automatic
Diesel
Saloon (long wheel base)
2.0 Engine

My priorities are:

Low road noise (so I can listen to music without a headache)
Comfy seats (I am 6’4”)
Powerful engine (fun to drive would be great)
High MPG (something averaging around 50 would be great)

I orginally was going to go for a BMW 320D but have been put of by problems with the N47 engines (I wonder if there is a newer model or version withouth this trouble that someone would recommend?)

Currently favorite seems to be a Volvo S60, I am going to test drive one of these, my only issue is reviews say not very fun to drive and I find the interior very boring.

I have now been looking at Skoda Superb and Mercedes E Class any adive on these cars and particular models which would be good would be very much apreciated.

I find it quite hard to compare MPG of different cars, am I right to assume these would be fairly similar and its probably better to get a car that drives well and I enjoy.

Budget is 4-7k.

Thanks

[Deerfoot]

600 miles per week?

I'd be concentrating on comfort (Volvo seats) over the last word in handling to be honest..

[meerlaan]

Yeah fair point ! Another thing I forgot to mention is I really want to be able to do at least 600 miles to a tank, really dont want to fill up twice a week

[Deerfoot]

I used to commute 500 miles a week, I could manage that on one tank in a Polo GT TDI, in hindsight I should've bought something a bit bigger for more comfort..

I'd be looking at a Volvo of some sort..

[silver1011]

I do 810 miles a week in a 2011 Skoda Superb CR140 2.0 diesel. 140,000 miles of comfy hassle-free cruising.

There aren't many cars with more rear legroom, the cabin is huge.

You're going to get a lower mileage and newer car for your money with a Skoda over Mercedes or Volvo.

Go for an Elegance and you'll get all the bells and whistles.

I have the twindoor (choose to open the boot in either saloon or hatchback).

Not the prettiest car but I didn't buy it for its looks. Plenty fast enough too.

Try to find one that hasn't had the VW emissions rework done, this is causing issues with premature EGR, injector and DPF failures.

[meerlaan]

@silver1011 Thanks for your comment, thats good to know! Out of interest how many miles you get on a full tank? I am a little worried people say the skoda has uncomfy seats, will have to have a go in one.

[silver1011]

My commute is a mix of 60mph rural roads and 80mph dual-carriageway (A19).

I'm lucky in that I don't have any stop-start driving at all.

It doesn't seem to matter how hard or easy I drive, the car has consistently averaged 49-50mpg since I bought it in 2013. If you are really careful (i.e. sit with the trucks on the mototrway, I'm pretty sure you'd get much closer to 60mpg).

Mine is a manual.

The only difference in MPG seems to occur in winter when the petrol stations move over to their winter diesel. My winter tyres don't seem to make any difference either.

Seat comfort is very much dependant on the individual. I'm in the car 3 hours a day and mine is very comfy (SE spec with half leather alcantara seats, no electric adjustment). To be 100% sure you're best ensuring you have a long test drive before buying.

Here she is when I bought her. £12,000 @ 18 months old / 14,000 miles. A lot of car for the money back then. £7K will get you a nice one.



With a long commute like yours it doesn't matter which car you choose, during the winter months after a busy couple of weekends it'll regularly look like this :-)

Edited by silver1011 on Saturday 3rd March 16:50

[Shiv_P]

Mondeo Titanium X. Cruise, bluetooth, heated/cooled seats + all the other usual stuff. Come with a 2.0D or a more powerful 2.2D. 2010 was the facelift which makes the dash layout a bit nicer

Superb is another good shout - will get more for your money at this budget

[Jag_NE]

this is a very un-PH choice but i would take look at a vauxhall insignia. assuming you put a bit non commute mileage on it too, the annual mileage is going to be comfortably over 30k which will result in high wear and tear + maintenance on an already well used car. the residuals on insignias are shocking so you will be able to get a cheap car which is still reasonably new and low mileage. as its your first car, it will feel more than adequate as a comfy and economical cruiser.

there are 4-5 year old diesel autos with sub 30k miles on autotrader.

Edited by Jag_NE on Saturday 3rd March 17:03

[drgoatboy]

I had a superb for a bit and it was superb in every way....apart from the seats that killed my back. Not sure why i just couldnt get them comfy although Im a smidge taller than you. I've not had much luck with seats in any of the VAG brands and a vw, seat and skoda all giving me backache. The family car is an octavia which i find the seats acceptable but not great either. They all seem to have very short bases on the seat so not great leg support if you are tall. Not sure if thats the crux of the problem or not.
Next commuting car i will be looking japanese, or swedish...

[tickedon]

Deerfoot said:

600 miles per week?

I'd be concentrating on comfort (Volvo seats) over the last word in handling to be honest..

Agreed. Used to run a S60 D3, often did 2k mikes in a week. Seats were brilliant. Big tank and 600 miles doable if you drive sensibly.

But S60 isn’t a large saloon - rear legroom ok but not great, and boot quite small.

[ZX10R NIN]

Let's be honest none of these cars will be fun but some will be better steers than others, so lets start off with the best FWD steer which is the Mondeo in Titanium X form is where I'd be looking:

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

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

The VFM option is the Insignia in Elite trim.

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

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

But to be honest my money would be going on a E Class with either the 270/280/320 form.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[keo]

Those Merc’s look very good value. I don’t really know anything about them. But one of those would of suited my needs much better when I was doing 100 miles a day rather than the A3 I got

[Mr MXT]

Jag_NE said:

this is a very un-PH choice but i would take look at a vauxhall insignia. assuming you put a bit non commute mileage on it too, the annual mileage is going to be comfortably over 30k which will result in high wear and tear + maintenance on an already well used car. the residuals on insignias are shocking so you will be able to get a cheap car which is still reasonably new and low mileage. as its your first car, it will feel more than adequate as a comfy and economical cruiser.

there are 4-5 year old diesel autos with sub 30k miles on autotrader.

Edited by Jag_NE on Saturday 3rd March 17:03

That’s interesting - I had an insignia for a couple of weeks about a month ago. I was actually quite impressed and wondered why they got such stick - but the one thing I did fault it on was comfort. I just couldn’t find a position that didn’t hurt my back after a while.

On the Skoda suggestion - our Octavia Estate L&K is the quietest and comfiest car we’ve had for a long time!

[paps]

My experience of the E90 320d ED.
No issues with engine, battery needed replacement but fair enough as it was five yrs old by that point.
Mixed driving returned 50mpg.
Motorway driving (65mph) would get you high 60s mpg.
I once got just over 800 miles from a 62litre tank. Usually closer to 700+ miles.
Reasonably comfortable, obviously it depends on the person. Good adjustment in the seat for height etc, more so than my old A3.
Where the car excelled was on having your cake and eating it! With a DTUK tuning box I was getting around 205bhp, 325lbs ft torque. Easily cruise at license loosing speeds. Easy over takes, and all with great handling, good interior quality and £20 year road tax!
Only got rid because I've got another kid on the way. Otherwise its a do it all kind of car. Stick some Michelin cross climate tyres on it and you can use it all year round rain, shine or snow.
Pulled out of this space without any dramas at all.

[Evanivitch]

Mr MXT said:

On the Skoda suggestion - our Octavia Estate L&K is the quietest and comfiest car we’ve had for a long time!

Another for Octavia L&K.

Superbs are Superb, but you're just dragging round rear leg room and metal that you probably don't need unless you're a taxi driver or parent to 2 NBA prospects.

Octavia boot is a pretty good size too.

[jgy6000]

I’m doing 500 miles a week in a 2007 S60 D5 manual.
Nearly all motorway and will get approx 45pmg and 650 miles to a tank.
No complaints, I did have to fork out for a new clutch and flywheel recently though.

[Up_North]

If you go for an E Class I'm fairly sure the 2005 facelift also brought many mechanical improvements and is generally much better than the earlier models. The facelift model has a restyled front end and the chrome strip on the boot runs the full width, not just above the number plate.

[meerlaan]

hmmmm, thanks for all the comments !

The Merc is a very interesting suggestion, they seem very good value. I have found an E280, that I think I will go and take a look at.

I really like to 320d and the ED seems like a gread model but just cant find any good ones in my price range.

Will keep you posted.

[paps]

meerlaan said:

hmmmm, thanks for all the comments !

The Merc is a very interesting suggestion, they seem very good value. I have found an E280, that I think I will go and take a look at.

I really like to 320d and the ED seems like a gread model but just cant find any good ones in my price range.

Will keep you posted.

Shame; I sold mine this weekend to my brother in law. In your price range too.
Worth seeking out for its breath of ability.