what shed or shed+ for 20 mile commute?
Discussion
Ok, as it says on the thread header: help me chose a commuting car.
Currently I’m running around in my son’s s
tbox little 09 Clio which was treated by him like in experiment in bio-warfare on the inside and had been used as dodgem as part of its day to day life. Despite all this I’d keep it until it broke if it was an auto, as it isn’t it’s got to go. This leads me onto my conundrum – what car to undertake the commuting duties? I had been toying with the idea of a 2 year pch @ £150(ish) per month but most of the cheaper end of the market seems to be lodged at 48 months and that is not going to happen!
In all honesty the #1 criteria is: it must be an auto. The reason for this is 2-fold: 1, I like autos. 2, there is no opportunity to have an ‘interesting commute’ on the way to work. 3, I’ve already got a fun/weekend car for those time I do want to have a (metaphorical) letting down of hair.
Nothing massively old so 01 upwards
No more than 70,000 miles (though condition is king)
Other than that all the others are things I’d prefer: not black; air-con; heated seats; heated screen would be lovely but, really, who cares?
I’m tempted by cars as diverse as:
MG-ZT 120 – I suspect massively underpowered for this (lovely) barge, but for 20 miles per day is it going to be an issue?
Smart For2 – the promise of 80mpg (Mdc) and easy parking. As long as it’s got the paddle-shift I’m fine with the gearbox (used to have a 452)
Crossfire – edging on for being too good for this duty but pricewise it’s hard to ignore the pre-2006 versions (not paying £500 rfl!!)
Toyota iQ
Skoda Roomster – the only redeeming feature I can see is it could double-up for dump-runs etc
Pug 308cc – make the most of what little sun we get
SLK230k – as above, though maintenance could be an issue. Besides which it is quite possibly too good
Pug 607 – comfortable old barge, obviously a downside is French electrics
Ford B-max – could double as a carrier for the MiL (can’t really walk so sliding doors are good!)
Budget would be £3k - £4k with a preference for nearer £2k (the less I spend on this the more there is for holidays, improvements to the fun car)
Currently I’m running around in my son’s s
tbox little 09 Clio which was treated by him like in experiment in bio-warfare on the inside and had been used as dodgem as part of its day to day life. Despite all this I’d keep it until it broke if it was an auto, as it isn’t it’s got to go. This leads me onto my conundrum – what car to undertake the commuting duties? I had been toying with the idea of a 2 year pch @ £150(ish) per month but most of the cheaper end of the market seems to be lodged at 48 months and that is not going to happen!In all honesty the #1 criteria is: it must be an auto. The reason for this is 2-fold: 1, I like autos. 2, there is no opportunity to have an ‘interesting commute’ on the way to work. 3, I’ve already got a fun/weekend car for those time I do want to have a (metaphorical) letting down of hair.
Nothing massively old so 01 upwards
No more than 70,000 miles (though condition is king)
Other than that all the others are things I’d prefer: not black; air-con; heated seats; heated screen would be lovely but, really, who cares?
I’m tempted by cars as diverse as:
MG-ZT 120 – I suspect massively underpowered for this (lovely) barge, but for 20 miles per day is it going to be an issue?
Smart For2 – the promise of 80mpg (Mdc) and easy parking. As long as it’s got the paddle-shift I’m fine with the gearbox (used to have a 452)
Crossfire – edging on for being too good for this duty but pricewise it’s hard to ignore the pre-2006 versions (not paying £500 rfl!!)
Toyota iQ
Skoda Roomster – the only redeeming feature I can see is it could double-up for dump-runs etc
Pug 308cc – make the most of what little sun we get
SLK230k – as above, though maintenance could be an issue. Besides which it is quite possibly too good
Pug 607 – comfortable old barge, obviously a downside is French electrics
Ford B-max – could double as a carrier for the MiL (can’t really walk so sliding doors are good!)
Budget would be £3k - £4k with a preference for nearer £2k (the less I spend on this the more there is for holidays, improvements to the fun car)
rallycross said:
" No more than 70,000 miles (though condition is king) "
Strange approach to buying a cheap old car, condition and history especially recent history wins over mileage every time.
I'd suggest an auto Volvo with the D5 engine, S60, V70 etc.
I'd not thought about the D5 family TBH - the only concern I'd have is dos my lack of miles (c.5k p/a) make a larger diesel engine pointless?Strange approach to buying a cheap old car, condition and history especially recent history wins over mileage every time.
I'd suggest an auto Volvo with the D5 engine, S60, V70 etc.
My first & bias pick would be a CLK 240/320 this will get you a 209 model so rust won't be an issue they're a great place to while away the miles that's why I've had so many of them, put a new Headunit in & you'll have all the connectivity you need along side a very reliable set of wheels.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
2.5 Mondeo Ghia X
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Cadillac CTS Sport Luxury this ticks a lot of boxes especially with only 35k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Or the C230 Coupe with the 1.8 supercharged engine:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
IS200
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...
2.5 Mondeo Ghia X
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Cadillac CTS Sport Luxury this ticks a lot of boxes especially with only 35k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Or the C230 Coupe with the 1.8 supercharged engine:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
IS200
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I owned a MG ZT 120 probably around 12 years ago and as you imagine it is pretty slow but very comfortable, the seats are pretty good and I drove it from West Yorkshire to Cornwall and back a couple of times without issue.
Mine was ultimately written off when someone ran into the back of it and cracked the rear bumper, mine was also starting with the dreaded coolant loss at the time so I was happy for it to go. For pure comfort alone I'd probably go for the Rover 75 version as I imagine the smaller wheels and bigger tyres make it nicer for wafting around.
All that said I'd never buy another.
Mine was ultimately written off when someone ran into the back of it and cracked the rear bumper, mine was also starting with the dreaded coolant loss at the time so I was happy for it to go. For pure comfort alone I'd probably go for the Rover 75 version as I imagine the smaller wheels and bigger tyres make it nicer for wafting around.
All that said I'd never buy another.
EddieJT said:
A budget of £3K -4K for a shed? Wow; how the other half live.
My commuting sheds are bought for no more than 3 digits.
hence shed "+". One of my biggest problems is that I'm not even gifted enough to be all thumbs when it comes to mechanics and so I'd rather spend a little extra than be let down. Ideally I'd spend considerably less - however cheap(ish), reliable and auto seems to be a case of perm any 2 from 3 so I may have to compromiseMy commuting sheds are bought for no more than 3 digits.
something like this https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales...
irocfan said:
wow - those are some nice picks! Was quite taken with the Mondeo, then saw the Mercs and Lexus' (Lexuses? Lexi?) and they're tempting too... though obviously the bork factor could b quite high. 
The bork factor on the Mercedes will be a lot lower than you think the really expensive job on the CLK's is the spark plug change (because the 320 has 12 spark plugs) apart from that there really isn't much that'll be a bork issue.The Lexus is the same as the CLK's ie not much bork potential the water pump being the only potential real issue also parts for both are very reasonable price wise.
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