Cheap car high mpg

[MADNESS]

I'm currently running around in a v8 BMW which delivers about mid twenties MPG, it's looking like I'm going to be doing a fair few more motorway miles next year so really should get something more fuel efficient.

So, £3-5k budget, I've been looking at old hybrid Honda's, any other suggestions please?

[Dave Hedgehog]

Hybrids are of little benefit on mways, oil burners generally give the best mpg on distance cruising

[Pica-Pica]

If the car is running well, and no expected major expenses, keep it. The job may change again!
As they say, the cheapest car to have, is the one you already own.

[sparkythecat]

For about £1800, you could convert your V8 to LPG.
Do the maths and see if it will work out for you.

[mmm-five]

I'm using a 2004 e46 330D Touring, which I got for £2500.

It's a bit leggy, but with your budget you should be able to get a lower mileage one, or one of the e9x models in 320/330d guise.

Mine does about 40mpg, but that's a 5-speed auto - the manuals and newer autos tend to get a fair bit more MPG.

This is run alongside my Z4MC - which gets 28mpg, but has a smaller tank, so entails more stops - which is now a 2nd car after 150,000 enjoyable miles with it (things started to break more frequently and parts were getting harder to source locally).

Edited by mmm-five on Sunday 8th December 10:43

[nobrakes]

Mondeo.

I wouldn’t get too small a car for motorway cruising. You want to be comfortable and safe too.

Don’t get too fixed on mpg either as servicing and insurance count too - plus in that range you can get a high mileage newer model that’s perfectly adequate and disposable after.

[jackh707]

E90x 320d

50+mpg in the motorway, decent to drive + comfortable.

600miles + between fuel stops without hitting reserve.

[milkround]

Polo 1.4tdi blutmotion.

My partner got a low mileage 64 plate one for about 3 grand. Does 7p plug mpg and is actually pretty nice to drive.

[donkmeister]

In this price bracket I'd say diesel six-cylinder Mercedes E-class between 2005 and 2008 vintage and around 70-80k miles. E280 or E320, same engine with different maps.

I don't know if air suspension was standard on these or optional, but either way they are very comfy, they eat up the miles. Six-cylinder refinement, 7-speed auto, 40-45mpg on a motorway cruise but with an 80 litre fuel tank for genuine 700-800 mile range. Radar cruise control was available even back then on the E-class, Distronic I think it was called.

[Horsey McHorseface]

Civic 2.2 i-DTEC (9th gen 2012-17) 55 mpg avg, 60+ motorway.

[J4CKO]

My son and his mates had to move up to Scotland from Manchester due to being made redundant, all got a new job at the same place.

One lad has a Golf GTI Mk7 he doesn't want to put loads of miles on, so he bought a basic diesel Fabia Estate for 2 grand or so, it looks very tidy and they use it for the 500 mile round trip and it does 70 mpg if they keep the speed down.

[gman88667733]

milkround said:

Polo 1.4tdi blutmotion.

My partner got a low mileage 64 plate one for about 3 grand. Does 7p plug mpg and is actually pretty nice to drive.

£3k for a low mileage 64 plate polo? Really? Cheapest I can see is £5k + for anything considered low mileage.
However, that’d be a bargain if it was the going price

[nobrakes]

gman88667733 said:

milkround said:

Polo 1.4tdi blutmotion.

My partner got a low mileage 64 plate one for about 3 grand. Does 7p plug mpg and is actually pretty nice to drive.

£3k for a low mileage 64 plate polo? Really? Cheapest I can see is £5k + for anything considered low mileage.
However, that’d be a bargain if it was the going price

I’m sure the polo is a brilliant car, but I think I’d rather take a hit on a few mpg and take the keys for a Mondeo or eclass than do many motorway miles in a polo.

[Welshbeef]

Audi A2 1.4 Tdi or ideally the 1.2TDI buy for under £3k then 94mpg.

[DailyHack]

jackh707 said:

E90x 320d

50+mpg in the motorway, decent to drive + comfortable.

600miles + between fuel stops without hitting reserve.

+1 this the reps fave for a reason, very cheap to run if all is well mechanically, these are very cheap now almost shed money.

I have hit 890miles on one tank on mine (E91 Touring 2012), £30 tax if 318d guise very nice to drive on small "cheap" wheels/tyres and soak up the miles effortlessly, I do circa 500 miles a week in mine, love it and not a creak or a moan in 125k miles.

You can tell I like mine

[MADNESS]

I like the sound of a BMW 318D, thanks for all the information guys, most helpful