Without sounding like a broken record- Commuter car advice

[DLH_]

Hi All,

I’ve used the forum for a long time but I have only just set up my account; thank you for accepting me and hello!

As the title says, the age old question. I am soon to start my PhD and will be commuting around 110 miles daily. I have just sold my previous car, an E400D estate, and I am looking for a new one. The budget would ideally be around 5,000 but would stretch to around 10k for the right car. It almost has to be an estate but I would be willing to consider other things. Largely motorway driving so fuel efficiency is important. So far, at the lower end of the spectrum, a Toyota Avensis seems a very good option, especially the top spec with alcantara seats. Octavia’s and Superb’s are also taking my eye. Towards the top of my budget, the VAG 184bhp diesels are very tempting- in some of the Passat’s and VRS’s. Similarly, the 5 pot Volvo’s are too.

Due to the mileage, around 35k a year, all of these would be high leggy examples as I feel there’s no point buying one with 50k miles to sell it with 160k on. That feels as though I’m buying at an expensive point and selling at lowest value, though I could be wrong. Realistically, whatever I have will be driven into the ground and go for scrap or a taxi after. Does anyone have any advice on any of the afore mentioned; especially in terms of reliability. Don’t get me started on reliability of the E400.

Thank you,
Josh.

Edited by DLH_ on Friday 30th June 18:57

[ingenieur]

The BMW 3-series is hard to beat. E90 325i LCI is a cracking car. Got to watch out for failing dual-mass-flywheels. They are economical for a car with 220hp and the refinement and performance of petrol. A good happy medium. Faster than the majority of average cars, handle well, plenty of choice on the second-hand market. Economical to run.

[Krikkit]

ingenieur said:

The BMW 3-series is hard to beat. E90 325i LCI is a cracking car. Got to watch out for failing dual-mass-flywheels. They are economical for a car with 220hp and the refinement and performance of petrol. A good happy medium. Faster than the majority of average cars, handle well, plenty of choice on the second-hand market. Economical to run.

At best you'll get what, 35mpg from one? That's 25% more fuel than a 4-pot diesel.

[ZX10R NIN]

DLH_ said:

Hi All,

I’ve used the forum for a long time but I have only just set up my account; thank you for accepting me and hello!

As the title says, the age old question. I am soon to start my PhD and will be commuting around 110 miles daily. I have just sold my previous car, an E400D estate, and I am looking for a new one. The budget would ideally be around 5,000 but would stretch to around 10k for the right car. It almost has to be an estate but I would be willing to consider other things. Largely motorway driving so fuel efficiency is important. So far, at the lower end of the spectrum, a Toyota Avensis seems a very good option, especially the top spec with alcantara seats. Octavia’s and Superb’s are also taking my eye. Towards the top of my budget, the VAG 184bhp diesels are very tempting- in some of the Passat’s and VRS’s. Similarly, the 5 pot Volvo’s are too.

Due to the mileage, around 35k a year, all of these would be high leggy examples as I feel there’s no point buying one with 50k miles to sell it with 160k on. That feels as though I’m buying at an expensive point and selling at lowest value, though I could be wrong. Realistically, whatever I have will be driven into the ground and go for scrap or a taxi after. Does anyone have any advice on any of the afore mentioned; especially in terms of reliability. Don’t get me started on reliability of the E400.

Thank you,
Josh.

Edited by DLH_ on Friday 30th June 18:57

I'd say the following are where I'd be looking.

Mondeo Titanium X 163, these are the pick but they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306098...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306198...

508 Allure a great mile muncher they use the same drivetrain as the Mondeo all in all a good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301283...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306098...


At this price point it's hard to look past the Insignia you'll be looking at a 2014 onwards facelift model (so no pick up pipe issues) & they'll still have sensible miles on.

BiTurbo SRI VX Line 190:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306198...

140:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305067...

SRI Nav 160:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306289...

140:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306018...

[ingenieur]

Krikkit said:

ingenieur said:

The BMW 3-series is hard to beat. E90 325i LCI is a cracking car. Got to watch out for failing dual-mass-flywheels. They are economical for a car with 220hp and the refinement and performance of petrol. A good happy medium. Faster than the majority of average cars, handle well, plenty of choice on the second-hand market. Economical to run.

At best you'll get what, 35mpg from one? That's 25% more fuel than a 4-pot diesel.

At this precise moment in time diesel is on-par with petrol / cost per litre. But if you go back a few months for 25% difference you may as well have had the petrol. I don't know if the current unusual price parity will continue. I have heard diesel is more expensive to produce and diesel has not been cheaper than petrol for about 35 years. So whether the prices of the last couple of months are long term is hard to say. I would risk it. 25% more not to have a diesel is worth it.

Worth pointing out also that the 3-series is available with a van engine if you want one.

[bangerturner]

ingenieur said:

At this precise moment in time diesel is on-par with petrol / cost per litre. But if you go back a few months for 25% difference you may as well have had the petrol. I don't know if the current unusual price parity will continue. I have heard diesel is more expensive to produce and diesel has not been cheaper than petrol for about 35 years. So whether the prices of the last couple of months are long term is hard to say. I would risk it. 25% more not to have a diesel is worth it.

Worth pointing out also that the 3-series is available with a van engine if you want one.

Also if it's anything like the 335i that I had, it'll have literally the worst ride of any car I've ever driven (and I've owned some real sheds in my time)
I'll stop here before I start talking about reliability

[DLH_]

Thank you all for your replies! I will look at the links shortly. In terms of the BMW’s, they scare me far too much. Does anyone have any experience with any of the other afore mentioned in terms of reliability?

[ZX10R NIN]

DLH_ said:

Thank you all for your replies! I will look at the links shortly. In terms of the BMW’s, they scare me far too much. Does anyone have any experience with any of the other afore mentioned in terms of reliability?

Just realised the link to the BiTurbo SRI was wrong:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306218...

[mrpbailey]

ZX10R NIN said:

At this price point it's hard to look past the Insignia you'll be looking at a 2014 onwards facelift model (so no pick up pipe issues) & they'll still have sensible miles on.

BiTurbo SRI VX Line 190:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306198...

140:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305067...

SRI Nav 160:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306289...

140:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306018...

The 2014 2.0 insignia diesels still have the oil pickup seal issue. This was only resolved on the later engines with adblue (2016 on). The 2014 facelift generally have the better oil pump, whereas cars before this often need the oil pump replacing along with the seal.
I bought a 64 plate CDTI insignia a year ago as a run around and had the oil seal changed as a precaution, worth it for piece of mind at £200!
Been great so far, no reliability issues, mpg is 60+ on a motorway run and high 40’s round town. Not exciting to drive but very comfortable

[James_33]

ingenieur said:

Krikkit said:

ingenieur said:

The BMW 3-series is hard to beat. E90 325i LCI is a cracking car. Got to watch out for failing dual-mass-flywheels. They are economical for a car with 220hp and the refinement and performance of petrol. A good happy medium. Faster than the majority of average cars, handle well, plenty of choice on the second-hand market. Economical to run.

At best you'll get what, 35mpg from one? That's 25% more fuel than a 4-pot diesel.

At this precise moment in time diesel is on-par with petrol / cost per litre. But if you go back a few months for 25% difference you may as well have had the petrol. I don't know if the current unusual price parity will continue. I have heard diesel is more expensive to produce and diesel has not been cheaper than petrol for about 35 years. So whether the prices of the last couple of months are long term is hard to say. I would risk it. 25% more not to have a diesel is worth it.

Worth pointing out also that the 3-series is available with a van engine if you want one.

The usual diesel bashing reply.

[Belle427]

Octavia Vrs would be ideal really.

[A500leroy]

Would a Renault Scenic work, higher up driving position.

[DLH_]

Hi all. In the end, I purchased a V70 P3 D5, the twin turbo iteration. I’m slowly working my way through servicing it but love it. For the job I need it’s perfect whilst being somewhat interesting, though as a 22 year old I have been subject to copious amounts of abuse from friends .

[ZX10R NIN]

Glad you got soered op