£3,000 25,000mpa

[KnackeredSwede]

Evening

I’m in need of a new motor. I’m trying to clear some unwanted debt and save for a new kitchen and bathroom so it’s got to be around the £3,000 mark.

Other criteria:

• 25k miles per annum so good on fuel
• Comfortable enough, perhaps automatic but want as reliable as possible so happy for manual
• Reliable
• Not too ‘dad-like’ I.e. Toyota Avensis, Mondeo, Insignia... although I will consider the Mondeo and insignia as good value for money options even if they’re not strictly my cup of tea, and I’d prefer FWD or AWD if possible due to long winter commutes but could live with RWD
• As new as possible with as few miles as possible on the odometer

My thoughts have been Honda Civic 2.2 diesel, Vauxhall Astra/GTC 2.0 CDTi, Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi, Renault Megane 1.5 dCi, VW Golf or Audi A3 1.9/2.0 TDi

Does anyone have any experience of the cars mentioned above, or have any suitable suggestions for alternatives I should look in to?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

TIA

[NewUsername]

I'd start praying if you want a car to do 25k miles a year reliably at minimum cost

[KnackeredSwede]

As reliably and cheaply as possible. If it lasts a year or two then fantastic. Having to fix a few bits isn’t the end of the world... it’ll still be cheaper than paying £300pm to lease something.

[anonymous-user]

KnackeredSwede said:

As reliably and cheaply as possible. If it lasts a year or two then fantastic. Having to fix a few bits isn’t the end of the world... it’ll still be cheaper than paying £300pm to lease something.

Agreed, I have a shed at the moment and occasionally dip into the leasing forum and get excited about "only £149 a month" (let's gloss over the 6 month deposit). I even ordered a Leon until I got sick of the constant moving of the delivery date and the feeling they were doing me a favour letting me lease one. I also remembered I hate paying for servicing, being only allowed to do 10k a year and worrying about any damage.

I currently have a 2007 Megane 1.5DCi that I bought 2 years ago with 61k on the clock for £1200 when I needed a car literally the same day. Since then I have bought a set of tyres and serviced it with the cheapest oil and filters from eBay. 60MPG all day long and £30 road tax.

It has been totally reliable in 24k miles and I would happily drive that car anywhere. The mistake I made was getting the 86BHP version as it is only 5 speed, the 106BHP version is 6 speed. Is it fun, No, is it comfortable no is it cheap oh yes.

I kind of expected it to die by now so I keep looking on eBay at shed replacements but it just keeps plodding on passing every MOT with zero advisories.

I looked at replacing it with a 2010 Golf TDi but the engine felt agricultural in comparison to the Megane.

[SWoll]

I'd be looking at something like this for £2.5k. MOT history looks good and mileage looks genuine.

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

Nice to drive and comfy to spend time in, 50MPG on a run, decent kit and cheap on parts/maintenance. Should do another 50k miles without costing you more than the £500 it comes in under budget?

You'd never be a candidate for leasing anyway with that kind of annual mileage. 10-15k is about the maximum without costs sky rocketing.

[RSTurboPaul]

I was looking back at the missus' car's history the other day - 55k over the past 3 years, 100k over the last 8, all at 30-38mpg. Odometer mileage now over 230k and we did 1800 miles in a week in a trip to Scotland the other year.

It's had dampers, a radiator, a steering rack arm, an exhaust, standard servicing/MOT and tyres, and that's pretty much it - total cost for the non-service items (i.e. excluding tyres, MOTs and oil/filters) runs to about £500-600, I reckon.

Car is mid-90s Japanese and cost £400.


TL;DR - buy 90s Japanese and it should run forever.

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Thursday 8th August 22:39

[TTommy]

Wild card option


Have you considered a BMW E46 330CD or 320CD?

I used to own a 330CD and it was brilliant. Manual, mind you. Did 45-50MPG on runs and I did 30k in it over 18 months, from 120k to 150,000. Bloke I sold it too has it on 188K now, seriously cost effective as it didn't go wrong bar a waterpump and I sold it for what I payed for it....

[nobrakes]

A very clean looking black e320 cdi 07 plate 120k miles

1 owner. Nice no nonsense add with the correct paperwork. Looks right.

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

Private sale for £3450.

If you are doing 25k / year, you can find something more economical, but you will get decent mpg out if this and it will soak up the miles in comfort in all weathers, which is worth something.

[longblackcoat]

I have an E220CDI that refuses to die. It’s now closing in on 220k, has averaged just under 40mpg over the 11000 miles since the last reset, and has zero rust.

Servicing is cheap, and other than new injectors about 40k ago and some new front springs, it’s been routine maintenance all the way.

Cost me £3k privately five years ago when it was at 120k, so worth almost nothing now.

Leather, climate, cruise, auto, estate - what more could you ask for?

[nobrakes]

longblackcoat said:

I have an E220CDI that refuses to die. It’s now closing in on 220k, has averaged just under 40mpg over the 11000 miles since the last reset, and has zero rust.

Servicing is cheap, and other than new injectors about 40k ago and some new front springs, it’s been routine maintenance all the way.

Cost me £3k privately five years ago when it was at 120k, so worth almost nothing now.

Leather, climate, cruise, auto, estate - what more could you ask for?

^ this, plus the estate will come in handy when you are doing up the kitchen!

[grudas]

I'd throw in lexus in the mix.

is250 for e.g.

won't be amazing on fuel but motorway you'll 36-40mpg and will be reliable.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want a comfortable reliable 25k commuter then it's hard to look past the 270/220 Mercedes in CLK form they're a comfortable swift transport:

I ran mine for years up to just under 170k & it cost me a new alternator & two injectors on top of the normal maintenance work.

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

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

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

They're practical too with the rear folding seats it's also worth looking at the sport models as the have Orthopedic seats which are a nice bonus when you're doing big miles:

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

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

Avantgarde Sport

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

Avantgarde

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

[KnackeredSwede]

Thanks for the replies everyone

The Mondeo is undeniably excellent value and to be honest it’s hard to look past them.

Having said that, those CLK’s look fantastic for the money, and are a bit less ‘dad’ than the Mondeo and the E Class etc.

I originally wasn’t keen on RWD but those Mercs are definitely well worth a look, good amount of power and auto which I like.

[Art0ir]

TTommy said:

Wild card option


Have you considered a BMW E46 330CD or 320CD?

I used to own a 330CD and it was brilliant. Manual, mind you. Did 45-50MPG on runs and I did 30k in it over 18 months, from 120k to 150,000. Bloke I sold it too has it on 188K now, seriously cost effective as it didn't go wrong bar a waterpump and I sold it for what I payed for it....

Most expensive MOT bill I ever had was for an E46 320D. Second most expensive was an E46 330CI.

They really go through parts like nothing else and they are still extortionate unless you go aftermarket.

Suspension - all of it. Wishbones, track rod ends, springs, shocks, bushings.
Handbrake backing plates disintegrate. New hub bearing time at £100 per side to get off and replace.
Rust. Tailgate, arches, doors.
Radiators are consumables

Lovely things to drive but at this age not worth it for big miles IMO (two I owned were 8 and 6 years ago respectively).

[Ankh87]

I've just bought a SAAB 93 TTID Aero. I do about 20k a year and needed something comfy and reliable. SAAB ticked all the boxes and as long as I look after it then it'll be sound.

[KnackeredSwede]

Thanks for the response guys!

I’m just drawing up a shortlist of cars to go and view tomorrow on my day off. Wish me luck and if there’s anything else I could add to the list do let me know