3k commuter

[stepmeek]

Looking for another car to keep the miles of my JDM legacy. The car will be used for a 300 mile round trip every couple of weeks so has to be reasonably comfortable at motorway speeds. But would still like something fun to drive. Cheapish to run and easy to maintain, my legacy has turned into a bit of a money pit so need to avoid that.

Thoughts so far, Suzuki swift sports, twingo rs, mk4 golf GTi, MK1 Leon cupra, 325ti.

Any experiences of the above? The Suzuki swift looks really good value but having never driven one I don't know if they will be a bit tiring on the motorway.

[sjc]

300 miles ? Get something that wafts. It’ll do your head in if you go for something small and buzzy.

[Roboticarm]

I think you can cut that list down based in using them on the motorway, the twingo and the swift are geared low and will be revving hard at 70 and above.
My corolla t sport is at 4k rpm above 80 (leptons of course) it can rev to 8.2k so it's not stressing the engine but in long runs it's annoying

[Roboticarm]

From that list is go bmw then vw

[RazerSauber]

For that type of journey, get something that's comfortable and quiet. As above, you don't want to spend 5 hours in a buzz box.

E82/E87's are down in this price range and I always found mine comfortable and quiet on longer journeys. I had a 120d that sat at 2000rpm at 70 and was remarkably quiet inside. If you go down this route then pick the earlier M47TU2D20 engine as opposed to the N47 nightmare.

[ZX10R NIN]

Wafting would be my main concern with this in mind I'd go for the CLK in either diesel or petrol form:

280 Sport

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

320 Avantgarde

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

Or the 220 Sport not as swift or as smooth as the above but will do a 300 mile round trip with ease:

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

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

C230 Coupe Sport Edition

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

2.0T Megane Coupe

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

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

3.2 Audi TT

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

If you want a small warm hatch take a look at the Alfa Mito Veloce 140/155:

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

Corsa VXR

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

Civic Type R GT

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

2.5T Mondeo Titanium X

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