Uber-efficient cheap used cars? advice needed...
Discussion
Morning team!
Long story short: I'm about to start a contract that involves a lot of driving about being paid mileage (52p/m)
Naturally I don't want to start throwing miles on my Clio 182 or Super van, so am thinking of buying a cheap "mileage b
h" for the duration (6 months)
So Here are the criteria:
- Up to £2500 (but the lower the better).
- VERY good MPG.
- Not a complete skip.
- Cheap to insure and tax.
- Cheap to maintain and not silly expensive tyres.
- Must be a viable winter car (i.e. preferably have AC and heated screen/seats/mirrors but these are just a nicety).
- Something that I wont feel completely destroyed after doing 200 miles and 8 locations in a day (around Derbyshire, so st roads)
- Something I don't need to wear a bag on my head whilst driving.
- Will consider a cat D/C (or whatever they're called now) to get a better spec at a lower price.
- Will hold it's value reasonably well for the next 6 months and 15000 miles extra on it.
Thoughts/ideas/possibilities:
- VW UP - viable but may struggle at the price range
- Skoda CitiGo / SEAT Mii - had one on holiday, ok car, basically a re-badged UP.
- SMART - Had one, hated it, NOPE.
- Twingo (pref 133) - as big as a clio and less power, expensive tyres on 17's, maybe not.
- Fiat 500 - bit girly? I like the Abarth but they are "out of scope"
- Fiat panda - head-bag territory
Open to ideas, what else is out there, any experiences??
Thanks again team!
Long story short: I'm about to start a contract that involves a lot of driving about being paid mileage (52p/m)
Naturally I don't want to start throwing miles on my Clio 182 or Super van, so am thinking of buying a cheap "mileage b
h" for the duration (6 months)So Here are the criteria:
- Up to £2500 (but the lower the better).
- VERY good MPG.
- Not a complete skip.
- Cheap to insure and tax.
- Cheap to maintain and not silly expensive tyres.
- Must be a viable winter car (i.e. preferably have AC and heated screen/seats/mirrors but these are just a nicety).
- Something that I wont feel completely destroyed after doing 200 miles and 8 locations in a day (around Derbyshire, so s
t roads)- Something I don't need to wear a bag on my head whilst driving.
- Will consider a cat D/C (or whatever they're called now) to get a better spec at a lower price.
- Will hold it's value reasonably well for the next 6 months and 15000 miles extra on it.
Thoughts/ideas/possibilities:
- VW UP - viable but may struggle at the price range
- Skoda CitiGo / SEAT Mii - had one on holiday, ok car, basically a re-badged UP.
- SMART - Had one, hated it, NOPE.
- Twingo (pref 133) - as big as a clio and less power, expensive tyres on 17's, maybe not.
- Fiat 500 - bit girly? I like the Abarth but they are "out of scope"
- Fiat panda - head-bag territory
Open to ideas, what else is out there, any experiences??
Thanks again team!
Personally, I'd be looking at the other end of the spectrum, a 10-year old Passat or similar. Of course, there is a risk of buying an older car, however I think you are more likely to find something that meets your criteria, especially the creature comforts, in older cars, rather than newer.
CzechItOut said:
Personally, I'd be looking at the other end of the spectrum, a 10-year old Passat or similar. Of course, there is a risk of buying an older car, however I think you are more likely to find something that meets your criteria, especially the creature comforts, in older cars, rather than newer.
While this is where i would usually look, they wont really tick the cheap to insure/tax/fuel boxes.parabolica said:
Agree with the above; if running costs are the priority then something with the 2.0 TDI from VAG - basically the best of whatever comes into your budget. There will be a st ton of Golfs and Passats (maybe even the Passat CC) out there for ~£2k
What sort of MPG do these return? t ton of Golfs and Passats (maybe even the Passat CC) out there for ~£2kI'm also in the 'larger' car camp. Small cars are poorer value as more people want them. Go with a focus/golf size at the least.
I bet in real world usage a 2-litre tdi will be no less economical than a tiny engined supermini.
Dull suggestion = Toyota Avensis or Honda Accord diesels, so boring no-one wants them, therefore used bargains.
I bet in real world usage a 2-litre tdi will be no less economical than a tiny engined supermini.
Dull suggestion = Toyota Avensis or Honda Accord diesels, so boring no-one wants them, therefore used bargains.
Few years ago now I had a killer commute and was doing a lot of private mileage approx 700 miles a week my car of choice back then was a volvo v40 estate, extremely reliable and with excellent heated seats, I would definitely be in the bigger car camp on this one, with the seats and ride in a small car you'll be suffering after 200 miles a day
I have an old Twingo GT, remapped to 125bhp. I have a 56 mile around trip commute a day (say 2/3 motorway, 1/3 city). It does around 45mpg going to work and back, best I ever got was 54mpg on a 400 mile around trip (London to Sheffield and back).
But, when I lived in the city I only use to get 28 to 32 mpg from it. But that was all London rush hour traffic.
Had it nearly seven years now, nothing major has gone wrong. You could probably get on for £1500 now. I'm planing to keep mine until it dies (low value now, but its still a good little car), but I sort of get the feeling it will rattle on for years yet.
But personally, I would be looking at clio mk2 DCI's, maybe a saxo or a 106 diesel (if you can find one with without a rusty boot) if I was looking to save money.
But, when I lived in the city I only use to get 28 to 32 mpg from it. But that was all London rush hour traffic.
Had it nearly seven years now, nothing major has gone wrong. You could probably get on for £1500 now. I'm planing to keep mine until it dies (low value now, but its still a good little car), but I sort of get the feeling it will rattle on for years yet.
But personally, I would be looking at clio mk2 DCI's, maybe a saxo or a 106 diesel (if you can find one with without a rusty boot) if I was looking to save money.
Edited by Noesph on Saturday 19th October 12:39
I've got a 2008 polo bluemotion. Currently at 167k... I've done 16k in it since Feb with a 70 mile a day round trip commute...zero roadtax, 80mpg and will top out at 118 and being a turbo diesel has a lot of low down punch. It's longer geared in 3rd, 4th and 5th and will sit at 2k rpm at 70 mph
14 inch wheels means big side walls for a comfortable ride and michelin cross climates £60 each.
In a lot of ways it's the perfect car, so much so that I haven't driven my slk55 for 6 months.
It's essentially worth bugger all so zero depreciation and I'll just be spending £500 to refresh the suspension as I plan on keeping it a few for more years
14 inch wheels means big side walls for a comfortable ride and michelin cross climates £60 each.
In a lot of ways it's the perfect car, so much so that I haven't driven my slk55 for 6 months.
It's essentially worth bugger all so zero depreciation and I'll just be spending £500 to refresh the suspension as I plan on keeping it a few for more years
Edited by slk 32 on Saturday 19th October 13:04
Gen 1 Honda Insight.
Super reliable
A genuine 100+ mpg (if you can be bothered to drive like a saint)
Won't depreciate.
Cheap or free tax.
Looks pretty cool.
I'd say I'd sell mine for £2500 but I probably wouldn't if it actually had the money in my hand.
Super reliable
A genuine 100+ mpg (if you can be bothered to drive like a saint)
Won't depreciate.
Cheap or free tax.
Looks pretty cool.
I'd say I'd sell mine for £2500 but I probably wouldn't if it actually had the money in my hand.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Saturday 19th October 14:13
Old Toyota Prius.
At this end of the spectrum, you need to worry about the bork factor. You want something that can take abuse all day long, will be super reliable, won't depreciate much and won't land you with a big bill. In short, you want a minicab. The Prius fits that brief.
It has more than the usual share of gadgets. Fuel economy is excellent (and it's petrol, so the fuel itself is cheaper). Very cheap to maintain and will never bork. Tax is either zero or bugger all depending on year. It's not the last word in refinement but minicab drivers use them all day (and all night) so they can't be that bad.
I've personally done 4,000 miles in 8 days in a Prius. I sold one of my Prius to an Uber driver, a year later it had an extra 100,000 miles!
And when you're done with it you can probably sell it for near what you paid - the minicab trade always wants them, regardless of condition.
They are fine winter cars. Heated seats and mirrors will depend on model, though.
That would be my choice.
For 2500 you might even find an old Lexus, although that will cost more in fuel and will likely be a cat D or similar.
At this end of the spectrum, you need to worry about the bork factor. You want something that can take abuse all day long, will be super reliable, won't depreciate much and won't land you with a big bill. In short, you want a minicab. The Prius fits that brief.
It has more than the usual share of gadgets. Fuel economy is excellent (and it's petrol, so the fuel itself is cheaper). Very cheap to maintain and will never bork. Tax is either zero or bugger all depending on year. It's not the last word in refinement but minicab drivers use them all day (and all night) so they can't be that bad.
I've personally done 4,000 miles in 8 days in a Prius. I sold one of my Prius to an Uber driver, a year later it had an extra 100,000 miles!
And when you're done with it you can probably sell it for near what you paid - the minicab trade always wants them, regardless of condition.
They are fine winter cars. Heated seats and mirrors will depend on model, though.
That would be my choice.
For 2500 you might even find an old Lexus, although that will cost more in fuel and will likely be a cat D or similar.
parabolica said:
Agree with the above; if running costs are the priority then something with the 2.0 TDI from VAG - basically the best of whatever comes into your budget. There will be a st ton of Golfs and Passats (maybe even the Passat CC) out there for ~£2k
Yes, or the 1.9 PumpDuse Diesels then there are all the Seat Ibiza/Leon and Skoda Octavia/Fabia VRs options too.t ton of Golfs and Passats (maybe even the Passat CC) out there for ~£2kFiesta Titanium
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