Cheapest ways to do 20k miles a year

[xeon]

I need a car to do 340 miles a week (170 miles each way once per week). With a few extra trips, i'm looking at about 20,000 miles per year. What would be the best way to minimise the cost? My initial thoughts were something like a Bora with a PD130, but are electric cars cheap enough to lease now, bringing the monthly down below the cost of diesel at 50 mpg?

Its not all about getting the cost down to the lowest level, if I can spend a little bit more to get comfort, reliability, ease etc. then that's something I'll look into, but cost is the main factor and I'm interested in what options are out there.

ETA: I'm happy for the sale of the car to be included in calculations, so any car that appreciates while having an additional 20k miles per year is going to be top of the list.

[silver1011]

Knowing your budget is pretty important here...

[xeon]

silver1011 said:

Knowing your budget is pretty important here...

I'm looking for the cheapest way of doing this, so the overall cost (including depreciation) is the most important. Initial purchase price isn't really too much of a consideration.

[DailyHack]

SAAB 9-3? Nicely specced, great comfort, superb on the motorway and the diesels really fly (TTiD 180)

That's what I chose for when I was doing 20k a year until Covid..had very strict budget of £3k, bagged a 2011 plate with 99,000 on it, much nicer and newer than a Bora...and I like Bora's

Choose wisely and the 2010/11 1.9 TTid last edition Turbo Edition saloons creep under £30 VED ...to make it even cheaper to run.

Edited by DailyHack on Wednesday 23 December 20:24

[anonymous-user]

I did this for years, and there is no one right answer.

If you run a cheap snotter, you have the maintenance bills and the risk you’ve bought a money pit. If you run something newer, you’re funding the depreciation.

What’s your appetite for risk, and do you have a trusted mechanic or the ability to take care of problems yourself? How important is comfort to you?

For what it’s worth, I’m currently driving a 53 plate Mercedes E class 320 CDI. It’s a wonderfully relaxing way to eat up long journeys and I wish I’d had one when I was doing 20k+ miles a year. I’d go older car every time, but then I have a great mechanic I trust who is very cheap!

[Jag_NE]

20k miles a year at 60mpg and £6 a gallon is two grand on fuel. An EV would take a big chunk out of that but if it’s all about cost I’d stick with an old ICE car.

I’d be looking at a medium sized diesel, something like an Astra or Focus with bullet proof history and sensible miles. Screwed together ok and on the cheap side to fix. If it’s all about cost.

[xeon]

Saab is a good shout - I've always liked the 9-3. A cursory google seems to suggest it would be more expensive to run (higher mpg) than the Bora benchmark.

Similarly the E320. I do like these, and they seem like a comfortable place to be. Even lower mpg than the 9-3 though.

I can afford to carry some risk. I have some flexibility if things go wrong.

[xeon]

Jag_NE said:

20k miles a year at 60mpg and £6 a gallon is two grand on fuel. An EV would take a big chunk out of that but if it’s all about cost I’d stick with an old ICE car.

I’d be looking at a medium sized diesel, something like an Astra or Focus with bullet proof history and sensible miles. Screwed together ok and on the cheap side to fix. If it’s all about cost.

Hadn't thought about an Astra, but I'll look into these.

[ZX10R NIN]

Something like these two low purchase price as well as sensible miles that'll last 4 years+ & be reliable too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011116...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011015...

If you want ULEZ compliant cars that have sensible miles Good Value/Spec/Reliability/Comfort & a Decent amount of grunt then these are where I'd be looking:

DS5

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011196...

Insignia Q50 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010245...

Insignia Elite Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010205...

508 Allure

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010175...

S60 D4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010275...

V40 D4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012207...

Personally I'd go for a ULEZ car & that way you'll not be affected by future legislation.

[irish boy]

At the lower end of budget....

Avensis d4d. Totally reliable, no dpf etc. Surprisingly punchy. 55mpg. Zero depreciation. I've taken mine from 60k to 115k so far with no expense bar a clutch.

People say they've no personality but the personality is how good they are at what they were designed to do.

We also run a mk5 golf sdi in the family. Also bomb proof with no dpf, turbo, duel mass flywheel etc etc. Same mpg as the avensis but not as quick with just 70 bhp. Similar to my old 190d it has certain endearing qualities, its feels quicker than the figures suggest especially if I step out of a day in a van. It will sit at motorway plus speed all day.

[Paynewright]

I think anything with a pre DPF 1.9 TDi VW/Audi engine - they are good for starship mileage. I’d go for an Octavia. SWMBO had one and it was brilliant.

[MiseryStreak]

Dacia Sandero.

Adding 20,000 miles to it over a year won’t affect the resale value much as it’s only a few grand for a three or four year old car anyway.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/cars/dacia/sandero

What a desperately dull way to drive 20,000 miles though. I think I’d rather cycle.

Actually, there’s your answer. Might have to start out the night before for 170 miles though.

[anonymous-user]

One thing I’d say is don’t focus too much on MPG, once you get up over 35/40 MPG the returns start to diminish rapidly.

The difference between 40 and 50 MPG isn’t even £500 a year at current diesel prices and 20k miles a year. Spending more to get a more economical car doesn’t always work out.

[Walter Sobchak]

A Volvo S60/S80/V70 D5, really comfortable seats for 20k a year, and great on diesel too.

[AmitG]

It is worth considering a Prius. Good on fuel (remember petrol is cheaper than diesel), very cheap to buy, comfortable, reasonable resale value at the bottom end (they are always in demand), and most importantly the bork factor is very low even at high mileage. They are basically indestructible. In London the vast majority of minicabs are Prius or Auris, for a reason.

IMHO, in this scenario it's less about fuel economy and more about bork factor and resale value...