Recommendations please, Reliable, comfy, economical m-way

[delcbr]

looking for something to travel from glasgow to London a few times per year needs to be no.1 reliable. No.2 comfy for motorway use I think auto would be good but not essential.
No.3 economical now lore so than ever with fuel costs increasing and not expensive to buy a few grand.
No.4 not expensive for road tax.

Considered bmw but the 4cyl diesels suffer with timing chain and catastrophic engine failures. German cars in general not keen on how reliable they are but open to options.

Considered Lexus diesels is200d & is220d but read they are terrible on economy reliability and awful gear ratios sale with Toyota so much so they don’t do diesels anymore.
Got me interested in the is250 but it isn’t exactly economical.

I was looking at Japanese cars over German European but open to your suggestions.

Edited by delcbr on Saturday 26th February 20:46

[anonymous-user]

Don't buy the IS220d, it's not upto Toyota/Lexus usual standards. The IS250 is a much better car.

Ive sold my car for 6.5k last week, and just purchased a car for £650 today for short journeys to work. (Solely a 5 mile commute car each way). Toyota Aygo. I was thinking same as you but doesn't need to be comfortable for motorway.

If you are only going to drive it once in a while, and strictly long motorway journeys, and it needs to be reliable, cheap and comfy then a 1.6 diesel sounds about right. You can even get a Skoda superb (I believe) with that engine. Personally, i would be looking at something like an Skoda Octavia if budget allows, if not then a Toyota Avensis (2008 facelift onwards if you can).

[Tyre Tread]

delcbr said:

Considered Lexus diesels is200d & is220d but read they are terrible on economy reliability and awful gear ratios sale with Toyota so much so they don’t do diesels anymore.
Got me interested in the is250 but it isn’t exactly economical.

I was looking at Japanese cars over German European but open to your suggestions.

Edited by delcbr on Saturday 26th February 20:46

I have owned an IS250 auto for 5 years now and was doing over 25K a year prior to lockdown. I was getting genuine low 40s ob my morning commute of 30 miles each way per day.

Recent trip of 250 miles each way got me a genuine 43mpg brim to brim sat on Motorway at 75mph indicated on cruise and included a bit of being stuck in traffic.

If you can live with the fuel economy then it's a great mile muncher.

Take your time, find a good one (SE-L spec) and you won't be disappointed.

[Haltamer]

Hmm; Old accord with the 2.2 CTDi Engine?

If not, BMW 320d EfficientDynamics? - Given they're running detuned I'd expect the engine wouldn't be quite so fragile.

[delcbr]

Haltamer said:

Hmm; Old accord with the 2.2 CTDi Engine?

If not, BMW 320d EfficientDynamics? - Given they're running detuned I'd expect the engine wouldn't be quite so fragile.

I think the 4cyl bmw reliability was down to non bmw oil filters and oil being used.
But I like the idea of Honda 2.2 cdti either In a civic or accord.

[swisstoni]

The French used to do excellent diesels.

I’m not up to date with how they are lately, but don’t discount them.

[ZX10R NIN]

delcbr said:

looking for something to travel from glasgow to London a few times per year needs to be no.1 reliable. No.2 comfy for motorway use I think auto would be good but not essential.
No.3 economical now lore so than ever with fuel costs increasing and not expensive to buy a few grand.
No.4 not expensive for road tax.

Considered bmw but the 4cyl diesels suffer with timing chain and catastrophic engine failures. German cars in general not keen on how reliable they are but open to options.

Considered Lexus diesels is200d & is220d but read they are terrible on economy reliability and awful gear ratios sale with Toyota so much so they don’t do diesels anymore.
Got me interested in the is250 but it isn’t exactly economical.

I was looking at Japanese cars over German European but open to your suggestions.

Edited by delcbr on Saturday 26th February 20:46

This has a Mercedes 270/320cdi written all over it they're built for this type of journey as well as being auto you'll also have cruise control & in most cases heated seats.

The 220 is a good engine but in truth on a run the difference minimal 2-4mpg real world but the extra grunt will make that run more relaxing.

E270 Elegance

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202212...

C320cdi Elegance SE very low miles

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201051...

E320cdi Elegance

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202162...

CLK270cdi Avantgarde:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112070...

CLK320cdi Sport this would be my pick because they come with the orthopedic seats on similar runs my 320cdi (mine was mapped) would be in the low 50's.

[georgeyboy12345]

If you are driving in London and Glasgow, will you be heading into low emissions zones? If so, then it might be best to get something compliant, like one of these:

Toyota Avensis 1.8 VVT-i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112080...

Newer shape 1.8 VMatic
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...


Honda Accord 2.0 i-VTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112060...


Mercedes E200 Kompressor
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202192...


If you don't need to be LEZ compliant, then it'll be better to go for something diesel powered, like one of these

Peugeot 508 1.6 HDi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...


Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM 16V Lusso
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111189...


VW Passat 2.0 TDI Bluemotion SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202062...

[Canon_Fodder]

Left field pick for the OP...

I had one of these and used to drive from Essex to Carlisle once a month - was a pleasure.

Super comfy, great climate, practical hatchback

Ride not the best round town but rock solid at speed

55mpg at 80 and plenty of grunt

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...

[ZX10R NIN]

georgeyboy12345 said:

If you are driving in London and Glasgow, will you be heading into low emissions zones? If so, then it might be best to get something compliant, like one of these:

Toyota Avensis 1.8 VVT-i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112080...

Newer shape 1.8 VMatic
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...


Honda Accord 2.0 i-VTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112060...


Mercedes E200 Kompressor
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202192...


If you don't need to be LEZ compliant, then it'll be better to go for something diesel powered, like one of these

Peugeot 508 1.6 HDi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...


Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM 16V Lusso
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111189...


VW Passat 2.0 TDI Bluemotion SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202062...

Nice choices but for 3-4 times a year I'd rather go with the Merceddes above & pay the £12.50.

[delcbr]

Iam enjoying seeing the replies that I haven’t considered.

The Peugeot I never expected that.

The Mercedes’ how do you think they are for reliability wise I’ve been burned a few times with German cars expensive to repair for parts alone.

[757]

Wouldn't totally dismiss 4 cylinder BMW diesel engines, they are very good engines and immensely economical.

Ran X2 N47 diesel BMW's to high miles (2008 118d and 2012 320d) with a combined 320,000 miles..not one had timing chain issues, just usual diesel issues...EGR/DMF, even the DPFs are very reliable compared to the adblue VAG alternatives etc

SAAB 9-3 (later models 2010/11) are very cheap now, especially with the 1.9 TTid twin turbo, it's a very very good engine, and very very comfortable motorway cars.

[Summit_Detailing]

Not a very PH answer but if it's just a few times a year why not just hire an Octavia/Mondeo/Passat et al?.

[ZX10R NIN]

delcbr said:

Iam enjoying seeing the replies that I haven’t considered.

The Peugeot I never expected that.

The Mercedes’ how do you think they are for reliability wise I’ve been burned a few times with German cars expensive to repair for parts alone.

They're reliable with no chain issues etc my old CLK270 (55 plate) is now on 193k when I owned it I had two suspension refreshes a new alternator a radiator (bigger intercooler & hybrid turbo but these were mods rather than issues) & number 5 injector in 130k.

Since I sold it the current owner has had to replace the glow plugs & number 1 injector & preventative (£150) work on the front of the rear arches.

My 320cdi has needed nothing at all apart from an A/C pump & it's been the same since I sold it, plus numerous clients that have run them up to proper high mileages.

[delcbr]

Summit_Detailing said:

Not a very PH answer but if it's just a few times a year why not just hire an Octavia/Mondeo/Passat et al?.

I will be using it to get to London then doing a training course for a week before returning the car will just be sitting there for 1 week.