£6k(ish) + long commute - what to do!? - Page 1 - Car Buying

Friday 2nd October 2020

Hi All,

After reading hundreds of topics on here, I'm still at a loss on what to do. I am moving onto pastures new, which means I no longer have my company car.

New job is a 120 mile daily round trip (A road), but hopefully will reduce within a year to 60 miles transfer dependant and I have £6kish cash to play with. Commute times are outside of rush hours so should be plain sailing, and averages 14 times a month. The Mrs currently has a 2015 Qashqai which is used for her and my daughter and all the things that come with a toddler, it is also big enough for camping etc (roof box). This is currently on HP finance with a 3 years remaining.

I like to think I'm a capable bloke and normally take care of most little repairs where time allows - oil/brakes/filters etc so don't mind an older car and I've got an itch I wish to scratch for something that's a bit of fun, but unfortunately I still need a sensible head.

So, the options I'm toying up at the moment are:

A) Mrs keeps the Qashqai, I buy a sub 5k car such as a Saab 9-3 ttid. Not a bad amount of umph and will be a comfy barge + can swallow mountain bikes etc.

B) Mrs keeps the Qashqai, I buy a Golf GTD or Scirocco (had one before and loved it). Bit of fun but still sensible, can use the Qashqai + roof box for any bigger things.

C) I take the Qashqai (Decent MPG if driven gentle, £0 tax, heated leather/cruise/dab), we buy the Mrs a Mini Countryman S for £6k-ish. That way I can have a bit of fun in the mini when off work, I mentioned a proper cooper S but she still wants a bit of a bigger car so I think this is a reasonable compromise.

I'm leaning towards option C at the moment. It's also worth noting my wife although working from home at the moment, does a massive round trip commute of 2.6 miles (4 miles if dropping the mess maker off at child care). So a petrol will definitely be better suited for her.

There is also the option to just run 1 car for now while the Mrs is still WFH and save up a bit more, however I don't really want to spend any more than my initial budget.

Open to any suggestions or left field options.

Thanks.

Note - ideally would like to keep tax under £200ish per year. Will already have a fair share of maintenance/tyres to replace each year.

Slashmb

412 posts

286 months

Friday 2nd October 2020

For £6k you would be looking at an early Countryman Cooper S. These are now 10 years old and probably circa 100k miles. I’m now on my 4th MINI and I’m a big fan of them but I don’t think I’d take on a 10 year old one. They do seem a bit fragile as they get older but happy to be proved otherwise if anyone wants to convince me.

1,009 posts

86 months

Friday 2nd October 2020

B. but get the octavia vrs diesel, will get newer than the golf or scirocco and just as fun.

atlin

Original Poster

43 posts

106 months

Friday 2nd October 2020

Smurfsarepeopletoo said:

B. but get the octavia vrs diesel, will get newer than the golf or scirocco and just as fun.

I’ve been obsessed with these actually, forgot to put these as an option. I looked at getting one when we bought the Qashqai but as it was our only car the mrs wasn’t a fan.

1,009 posts

86 months

Friday 2nd October 2020

atlin said:

I’ve been obsessed with these actually, forgot to put these as an option. I looked at getting one when we bought the Qashqai but as it was our only car the mrs wasn’t a fan.

Could even get the estate, and then dont have to use the Mrs car, can spend a bit of money on mods then lol

Im currently running one with a map, on nearly 150k.

ZX10R NIN

30,500 posts

154 months

Friday 2nd October 2020

I'd go option A you can a decent set of wheels;

DS5 Dstyle

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007271...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009203...

508 Allure

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009234...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009033...

atlin

Original Poster

43 posts

106 months

Friday 2nd October 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd go option A you can a decent set of wheels;

DS5 Dstyle

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007271...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009203...

508 Allure

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009234...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009033...

Never looked at the DS5’s, always had a thing for Citroen’s as my grandad is a Citroen nut.

Not too fussed on the 508 but would seem to be a safe option.

atlin

Original Poster

43 posts

106 months

Friday 2nd October 2020

Smurfsarepeopletoo said:

Could even get the estate, and then dont have to use the Mrs car, can spend a bit of money on mods then lol

Im currently running one with a map, on nearly 150k.

Very true, how do you find it? Ideally I’d like to keep it for a good few years so with my budget I’d probably end up touching 200k miles. I’ve been doing my fuel figures based on 45mpg aswell, am I dreaming or is that achievable?

1,009 posts

86 months

Friday 2nd October 2020

atlin said:

Very true, how do you find it? Ideally I’d like to keep it for a good few years so with my budget I’d probably end up touching 200k miles. I’ve been doing my fuel figures based on 45mpg aswell, am I dreaming or is that achievable?

Ive had mine for nearly 3 years, changed Cambelt, waterpump and then just consumeables, I went to scotland and back recently for a week, averaged 50mpg, on a steady run I can get at least 700 miles to a tank.

1,009 posts

86 months