New car for 120 mile drive twice a week

[colinrob]

Put this on some time ago but I will be driving Bedford to Portsmouth on a Friday and returning on a Monday plus driving on Isle of Wight so will be doing approx 300 miles a week bought a Honda Civic but just don’t feel comfortable in it, always had BMW and Audi’s thinking about Lexus IS220d any other recommendations £2000 max budget must be economical and must have cruise control and must be comfortable, I do have a weekend toy so the most important thing is economy and comfort
Thanks in advance

[ZX10R NIN]

Insignia

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

C220

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

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

CLC220 SE

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

407 SE

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

Laguna

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

[InitialDave]

I'd probably get an older VAG 1.9TDI of some flavour. Maybe a Mk1 (8L) Audi A3 with the leather recaros, they're not bad on comfort and will give 60ish mpg on a long run like that.

[loskie]

no you want an S60

[RSTurboPaul]

When you say not comfortable, is it just the seat? If so, you could swap for a better one.

[ninjag]

2009 Honda Accord 2.2 iDTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2010 SAAB 9-3 1.9TTiD Turbo Edition
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Titanium X (comes with adaptive cruise control)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[colinrob]

RSTurboPaul said:

When you say not comfortable, is it just the seat? If so, you could swap for a better one.

Just can’t get comfortable in the car normally find it easy drive a sprinter 150 miles a day and have no problems ( it does have cruise though) the civic just doesn’t feel right

[GreatGranny]

S60

Cruise, auto and epic seats.
Should get 40mpg+ from the auto
Late 40's if manual

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

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

S40
Not as an accomplished cruiser as the S60 but still good for 120 mile round trips and will crack 50 mpg.
I did 600 miles per week in mine for 2 years

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

[wiliferus]

Both those S60s are the 163 manual. Easy 50-55mpg all day long. My old one did high 50’s on a run, and a ownership average of 52mpg.
Great great car.
If I was the OP I’d be in an S60 without hesitation.

[ZX10R NIN]

For me the S60's are good but for me the C270 is the one to go for.

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

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

C320

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

Low Mileage CLK270

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

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

[anonymous-user]

Another vote for a Volvo. I have a 2004 V70 D5 (Euro 3 163 bhp 5 speed manual) on 220k miles. Fantastic seats, cruise and a great stereo. Averaging a calculated 47 mpg with mostly motorway driving at 75 ish.

Euro 4s are a bit worse on fuel and have a DPF which can be problematic.

For the autos, Volvo in their infinite wisdom decided not to include gearbox fluid changes in the service schedule, but they are needed so make sure it’s been done (60k intervals I think but not 100%), flared or clunky gear changes are a sign that it’s on the way out so I’d walk away if you experience that on a test drive.

As far as manuals go, DMFs are expensive so one that’s had a recent clutch/DMF change will be a good bet. My car cost £1100 with that recently done (as well as cambelt and various other things so I think I’ve got a good deal).

The on board computer module thing in the dash can go, if you’re bothered about that. Being a heavy car they’re quite heavy on tyres, brakes and suspension components but that’s the price you pay for a big comfy waft-mobile. I think there’s a few other common problems but those are the main ones.

The above applies to S60s and S80s of the same era too. V70s tend to be a bit more expensive because the estate is so bloody useful.

As you can tell from the essay I appear to have written, I’m a fan!



EDIT: you mention the IS220d in your OP. I must admit I haven’t driven one but I have yet to hear a good thing said about them. Stupidly tall gear ratios mean you can’t even put it into top gear until 90mph or so, and they aren’t even economical. Just food for thought...

Edited by Jbeale96 on Tuesday 11th June 18:08

[colinrob]

Thanks for the advice it’s looking like a Volvo or a Merc, I know the mercs are also comfortable had a C320 petrol and a C32amg that was seriously bad on fuel but epic fun

[GreatGranny]

ZX10R NIN said:

For me the S60's are good but for me the C270 is the one to go for.

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

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

They have different dashboards.

Is one a facelift or just different spec?

Combined MPG says 37 which seems a bit low.
Do they do more in the real world?

A lot of car for the money as is the S60.

[ZX10R NIN]

GreatGranny said:

They have different dashboards.

Is one a facelift or just different spec?

Combined MPG says 37 which seems a bit low.
Do they do more in the real world?

A lot of car for the money as is the S60.

I used to have a CLK270 & that averaged 42mpg over 10k of mixed driving but mine was mapped & had a K&N replacement filter (before the big mods went on) the S60 are a little worse on fuel (by around 2mpg) but it's such a small amount it's not an issue but the Mercedes has the better/more reliable auto box.

Which you go for will be down to personal preference.

[colinrob]

Was looking at Honda Accord diesel any thoughts anyone?

[colinrob]

Phone up about a few volvos always sold, so I went rather left field ended up with a jag s type diesel, fsh 104,000 miles wish me luck 🤞🤪🤪

[ninjag]

colinrob said:

Was looking at Honda Accord diesel any thoughts anyone?

The one I linked to earlier is the latest 8th gen and its a good car for that money. I fear you will have a great deal more problems with the Jaguar you've chosen but fingers crossed.