Cheap motor for commuting

[CX53]

I’m starting a new job in January and won’t be able to have a company car until my probation is up (6months), so I need something to tide me over.

I drive around 70 miles a day for work, 5-6 days per week. Would like to be able to get back from work if it snows whilst I’m there.. I know, I know, but we’re not all driving gods - so RWD would be fine if there’s enough left in the budget for some winter tyres too (doubtful).. mostly dual carriageways with some country roads, no proper motorway bashing so a real barge isn’t necessary, as long as NVH isn’t too bad. It’s a tool for a job really and won’t be my pride and joy.

Budget £1000 max
45+ MPG
Preferably auto
Reliable even at this price, I know, moon on a stick...

If it’s decent I may well keep hold of it and run it for a while to save spending out on the work car scheme for a bit so although I only need it for 6 months I’d rather keep it longer if it’s nice to live with.

I haven’t had many ideas so far really, mainly because I can’t think of many diesels I’d like to own at that price point. Petrols could get the MPG I need but would either be painfully slow or wouldn’t hit the MPG when I’m late for work and pressing on a bit, which can happen every day of the week

Current ideas are the usual cheap runaround suspects, nothing expensive to fix or clad with tyres.. A non rusty 1.8/2.0 TDCi Focus/Mondeo which has had a clutch already, if I can find one, Renault Clio 1.5 DCI although don’t think they did auto, Astra 1.7 diesel.

Does anyone have any decent ideas for me other than the boring list I’ve got already?

Thanks

[Pistonheader101]

The amount of time you spend commuting it’s worth pushing your budget up to around £2K

Plenty better options around that price point

[CX53]

Pistonheader101 said:

The amount of time you spend commuting it’s worth pushing your budget up to around £2K

Plenty better options around that price point

I’m looking to buy a house in June-July so I really need as much money as I can to go towards all that stuff. I know it’s not a huge budget, but do you really get much better by going up to 2k?

[HustleRussell]

Sub-£1k and reliable is sthouse, especially considering Auto. £2k will get you something much more suitable- an old Saab or Volvo or something. Maybe something Jap.

[CX53]

HustleRussell said:

Sub-£1k and reliable is sthouse, especially considering Auto. £2k will get you something much more suitable- an old Saab or Volvo or something. Maybe something Jap.

Hmm, I hear you.

But as a serial Saab owner, 1k, 2k or 8k, I wouldn’t own another modern Saab.... I’ve had 4 and they’ve all been hideously unreliable, I did love them though!

I could possibly go up to 2k but I’d like to try and avoid it. Where are all these miracle £500 immaculate sheds people seem to find in readers cars

I might just go for a petrol so I can go for something like an accord auto.. I’d rather stomach the fuel costs than have to fork out for big repairs.

Edited by CX53 on Thursday 29th November 16:30

[OFORBES]

My advice would be something Jap, but I echo what others have said, £2k opens up a much larger selection and you can get some real bargains if you have the time to sift through and see a lot of cars.

Accord
Civic
5 Series
Volvo V70

[designforlife]

Mitsubishi lancer equippe 1.6 auto

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

(not that one necessarily, the ad is awful, but there are plenty about for circa £1k)

Edited by designforlife on Thursday 29th November 16:40

[Dedders]

I purchased a 2001 Volvo V70 D5 almost 2 years ago now for £700 and it’s been utterly reliable it’s now gone through 2 mots with no issues and is on 175k miles. It’s really comfortable to spend time in and easy to drive and easily returns over 40mpg and it can often be nearer 50. It was only meant to keep it for a short period but it’s been so reliable and I’ve grown quite attached to it so it’s now staying as long as it lasts.
I’d say it’s the ideal budget commuter vehicle.

[anonymous-user]

I purchased a 2007 Renault Megane 1.5 DCi with 62k on the clock last year for £1200. I know I have probably been very lucky but in 17k miles I have fitted a set of tyres, set of wipers and changed the oil and filters.

55 to 60 MPG, £30 road tax cheapest running costs of any car I have ever owned. 205/55/16 tyres are £50 each.

I went for the 86BHP which is only 5 speed, in retrospect I would go for the 106BHP 6 speed but I needed a car that weekend and it was incredibly clean. Happiest sitting at 70MPH, gets a bit noisy above 80MPH although I have done 400 miles in a day a couple of times and it was fine.

[Horsey McHorseface]

Golf MK5 1.9 TDi DSG for about 50% over budget* (*according to Parkers price guide)

Corolla 2.0 D4D 114bhp, manual, but on budget.

[Mr Tidy]

Could you get a Seat Leon DSG diesel in budget - they're usually a bit cheaper than equivalent Golfs.

[ZX10R NIN]

I think you'll have to set your budget to around 2k to find a good auto diesel that's going to do 40+mpg.

[Aiminghigh123]

I’m a Saab 9-3 owner mine has been pretty reliable. Paid £500 for it a year ago as a stop gap had 120k on it now 140k so 20k in a year. Passed MOT with no problems in Jan. I have done 2 services, plugs, had a coil pack go, 1 wheel bearing, exhaust, thermostat, tyres and brakes. All in has cost me under £1k in service costs and most of that is labor. If you are handy parts are cheap. Only broke down once left it for a month and wouldn’t start got a jump and it’s been fine ever since.

I do lots of motorway driving early morning late at night very comfortable even with cruise set to just under a lepton

[Aiminghigh123]

Or there is that 528i shed of the week £1500.
I’m tempted.

[TheVole]

Rover 45/75 2.0 diesel automatic?

Should be easy to find for this price and the engines go on forever. It should be nice and comfortable, too.

Edit - in fact, here you go.

[redandwhite]

70 miles a day, 5-6 times a week, i dont envy you.

For your budget (1k) its going to be a bit of a lottery! Public transport not an option?

[bangerhoarder]

Focus 1.6 auto. 45+ MPG is not going to happen in budget (even with diesel, for your use), but in good fettle these will get 35-40MPG.

[MrBig]

Personally, I would go for something petrol and japanese. The more undesirable the better.

Accord
Avensis
Civic
Auris

Focus and Mondeo worth a look too, but more popularity = less car for your money.

At that price point I wouldn't go diesel, petrol and naturally aspirated has the lowest likelihood for big bills.At least with an auto you wont have DMF worries and its less likely to have had the tits caned off it.

[CX53]

Thanks for your replies all.

Situation has changed a bit; mortgage application going through much earlier than planned and should be confirmed well before I need a car. This means I’ll be able to get credit on something a bit nicer, as new jobs car scheme comes with too small a mileage limit I now know.

New thread coming up.