Cheap dependable way to cover 14,000 miles a year?
Discussion
I've been pondering options to this riddle and wanted to see if anyone else had any insight I hadn't thought of. 
I typically cover 8000 - 10,000 miles a year socially in 4x4's and V8's.
However I also have to cover approx 14,000 miles a year commuting or for work. All paid for out of my own pocket.
As the 'social' miles are quite expensive ones at relatively low mpg. I need the 14,000 miles to be done as cheaply as possible. And just as importantly in a dependable fashion. Having a car have an unplanned downtime due to a breakdown causes a real inconvenience. Not only on monthly cashflow for the cost of the repair (and time/my time), but the fact that a poor mpg vehicle has to cover while the daily is out of action. Adding to the cost and cashflow issues.
What options can you think of?
-I've thought of running a beater. Cheap to buy and no monthly finance. But hassle of downtime is a big pain and adds unscheduled costs. Also old cars don't have the modern day luxury features and amenities, may not be the most fun or economical. And pushing them hard can make you feel like you are asking for the vehicle to breakdown.
-New car. Limited choice in terms of potential budget. Should be dependable, but incur monthly finance cost. Means monthly costs + fuel is a lot more expensive.
-EV's. Same as a new car, but with the addition of potentially 'free' or cheap fuel. Battery hire/lease costs seem to completely scupper this. Making them no more cost effective, as the battery hire easily equals or gets close the fuel cost of a fairly frugal petrol/diesel vehicle for this mileage.
Other considerations. I usually spend 2 1/2 hours a day commuting. While the car doesn't need to be exciting, something truly boring and soul destroying would make the journey far more hard work than needed. Guess fun or relaxed would suit but not essential for consideration.
If I could afford to run something wild for the daily commute, I most certainly would. But that would currently require me to either do half the commuting mileage or earn a lot more money.
And at 14,000 miles a year I really can't afford for the daily to be out of action for weeks at a time waiting for parts/repair or parts that cost loads of money.
In short, I think I've been covering the miles quite cheaply over the past few years. But the dependability is wearing a little thin, as in, I've used my AA card more times than I'd like and spent too much time at weekends doing repairs and the like.
If I wasn't a petrol head with other cars, this likely wouldn't be an issue. But my free time is precious and I'd rather spend it tinkering on my weekend vehicles over keeping the daily on the road.
I typically cover 8000 - 10,000 miles a year socially in 4x4's and V8's.
However I also have to cover approx 14,000 miles a year commuting or for work. All paid for out of my own pocket.
As the 'social' miles are quite expensive ones at relatively low mpg. I need the 14,000 miles to be done as cheaply as possible. And just as importantly in a dependable fashion. Having a car have an unplanned downtime due to a breakdown causes a real inconvenience. Not only on monthly cashflow for the cost of the repair (and time/my time), but the fact that a poor mpg vehicle has to cover while the daily is out of action. Adding to the cost and cashflow issues.
What options can you think of?
-I've thought of running a beater. Cheap to buy and no monthly finance. But hassle of downtime is a big pain and adds unscheduled costs. Also old cars don't have the modern day luxury features and amenities, may not be the most fun or economical. And pushing them hard can make you feel like you are asking for the vehicle to breakdown.
-New car. Limited choice in terms of potential budget. Should be dependable, but incur monthly finance cost. Means monthly costs + fuel is a lot more expensive.
-EV's. Same as a new car, but with the addition of potentially 'free' or cheap fuel. Battery hire/lease costs seem to completely scupper this. Making them no more cost effective, as the battery hire easily equals or gets close the fuel cost of a fairly frugal petrol/diesel vehicle for this mileage.
Other considerations. I usually spend 2 1/2 hours a day commuting. While the car doesn't need to be exciting, something truly boring and soul destroying would make the journey far more hard work than needed. Guess fun or relaxed would suit but not essential for consideration.
If I could afford to run something wild for the daily commute, I most certainly would. But that would currently require me to either do half the commuting mileage or earn a lot more money.
And at 14,000 miles a year I really can't afford for the daily to be out of action for weeks at a time waiting for parts/repair or parts that cost loads of money.
In short, I think I've been covering the miles quite cheaply over the past few years. But the dependability is wearing a little thin, as in, I've used my AA card more times than I'd like and spent too much time at weekends doing repairs and the like.
If I wasn't a petrol head with other cars, this likely wouldn't be an issue. But my free time is precious and I'd rather spend it tinkering on my weekend vehicles over keeping the daily on the road.
Depends what your definition of cheap is, but I'd guess a PCH Hybrid/EV is the best bang for buck.
Personally I cover a 15kpa commute in a 330e M-Sport, not cheap at all but under £500pcm all in so imo extremely good value. It's also my only car. Hyundai Ioniq's were looking a bargain lately, calculated I could do my commute for £300pcm all in, but crikey it's boring.
Lease is £360 amortised, £70 on petrol, £40 insurance then the rest towards tyres / a single service.
Personally I cover a 15kpa commute in a 330e M-Sport, not cheap at all but under £500pcm all in so imo extremely good value. It's also my only car. Hyundai Ioniq's were looking a bargain lately, calculated I could do my commute for £300pcm all in, but crikey it's boring.
Lease is £360 amortised, £70 on petrol, £40 insurance then the rest towards tyres / a single service.
Chris1712 said:
Depends what your definition of cheap is, but I'd guess a PCH Hybrid/EV is the best bang for buck.
Personally I cover a 15kpa commute in a 330e M-Sport, not cheap at all but under £500pcm all in so imo extremely good value. It's also my only car. Hyundai Ioniq's were looking a bargain lately, calculated I could do my commute for £300pcm all in, but crikey it's boring.
Yeah that's a little too rich for my tastes/cashflow sadly.Personally I cover a 15kpa commute in a 330e M-Sport, not cheap at all but under £500pcm all in so imo extremely good value. It's also my only car. Hyundai Ioniq's were looking a bargain lately, calculated I could do my commute for £300pcm all in, but crikey it's boring.
And once you add fuel + other running costs to any of those, that's quite a chunk of money a month. And this wouldn't be my only car. I enjoy lots of motoring pursuits, but sadly they just don't suit what a daily driver can offer.
I have the same issue - I ended up buying a 2013 Octavia VRS diesel estate. I average 54 mpg with some fun....BUT I do 24k and something about it is bothering me.
Its a nice car, it is fun and it drives well - but its essentially going to suck up servicing and depreciation costs. I know this is odd but its also too good!
I am now swinging round to thinking about chopping down and separating commuting and fun properly.
I am more in the beater range - Honday Jazz or Nissan note with frugal ish non complex engines. However I am worried that 57 miles per day including A road may be frustrating and ended up sad and depressed. £2k buys a decent jazz which probably beats a years depreciation in something new.
Its a nice car, it is fun and it drives well - but its essentially going to suck up servicing and depreciation costs. I know this is odd but its also too good!
I am now swinging round to thinking about chopping down and separating commuting and fun properly.
I am more in the beater range - Honday Jazz or Nissan note with frugal ish non complex engines. However I am worried that 57 miles per day including A road may be frustrating and ended up sad and depressed. £2k buys a decent jazz which probably beats a years depreciation in something new.
300bhp/ton said:
Yeah that's a little too rich for my tastes/cashflow sadly.
And once you add fuel + other running costs to any of those, that's quite a chunk of money a month. And this wouldn't be my only car. I enjoy lots of motoring pursuits, but sadly they just don't suit what a daily driver can offer.
That's ~500pcm including everything, fuel servicing insurance tyres etc.. For a brand new 250bhp 3 series with decent spec, jobs a goodun imo. Don't forget to include depreciation in your calculations And once you add fuel + other running costs to any of those, that's quite a chunk of money a month. And this wouldn't be my only car. I enjoy lots of motoring pursuits, but sadly they just don't suit what a daily driver can offer.
.Cheap and dependable you say...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Never going to set the world on fire but you could run it for 3 years as the daily beater for about tuppence.
Arguably a nicer place to sit for a few hours per day, but a bit older and more leggy
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Stretch your 'cheap' budget from £5k(ish) to £8k(ish)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
You'll need to set some more narrow parameters if you don't want to see endless what ifs...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Never going to set the world on fire but you could run it for 3 years as the daily beater for about tuppence.
Arguably a nicer place to sit for a few hours per day, but a bit older and more leggy
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Stretch your 'cheap' budget from £5k(ish) to £8k(ish)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
You'll need to set some more narrow parameters if you don't want to see endless what ifs...
This?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
2.0D, 35k miles, 'unique' white/tan combo (marmite spec), DSG, plenty of toys...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
2.0D, 35k miles, 'unique' white/tan combo (marmite spec), DSG, plenty of toys...
Edited by OneTwo on Thursday 27th April 16:22
Willy Nilly said:
It will almost certainly be cheaper to put extra miles on one car than get an additional one. Alternately, take a leaf out of your own book and get a 1991 Ford Crown Victoria. 
What one car, what additional one? Did you read the op? Doing 14,000 miles a year in a 1970's diesel Land Rover is
a) very noisy
b) highly unrefined
c) not the most economical form of transport
Doing 14,000 miles a year in any of the V8 powered vehicles I own, would cost considerably more than putting those miles onto another car.
e.g. 14,000 miles at 17mpg (p38a for example) would cost over £370 in fuel alone!!
I'm already doing 14,000 miles a year extra and have been for a number of years. Just looking for alternate ways to do it in a cheaper and/or more dependable way.
i.e. As boring as a Renault Zoe or Nissan Leaf are. If you didn't have to pay the battery hire, just the electricity. They would cost no more to run (as in the finance payment) vs what I currently spend on fuel only now. But in return I'd get a new dependable vehicle.
Not saying this is an option I'd go for. But is one I'd thought of. Just wondering what other options exist.
king opening posts???exelero said:
According to you garage Mr OP you have a 2.0d Jaguar X type. Is that not good enough? I'm going to suggest a Volvo S60 or something japanese if you want more reliability, like Toyota Corolla T sport or an Avensis. Maybe a Mondeo or Focus?
The X-Type is very nice, but has some limitations. It hasn't be unreliable exactly, but is annoying when something needs money, time and attention to sort.It also lacks some of the more 'modern' amenities. Such as integrated bluetooth. An aftermarket head unit could address this, but requires cables, facia and other bits. Again all time and money.
But this is the crux of what I'm trying to weigh up.
Keep running older cars, generally cheap to buy. But run the risk of issues vs running something new, which in theory is unlikely to need much doing to it for a good number of years.
Electric cars sort of cloud the decision, on face value they appeal a lot. But somehow don't seem to actually deliver.
Citroen C5 1.6hdi VTR+
Purchase for less than 4k for a five year old one. Mileage will be north of 100k, but they are good engines. Very comfortable, decent enough sound system, okay only a 5sp box but easily over 50mpg and cheap to tax.
I bought one as a taxi at 127k, it's a couple of years older now and has nearly 250k on it. Routine servicing only plus a turbo (cost £600 to fix, but was expected because of the use) and a couple of ball joints, which I would argue are routine service items.
Go for the estate and you can carry epic amounts of stuff, but either saloon or estate are not bad looking cars and easily capable of £14k a year. And that's not even a complete service interval.
Purchase for less than 4k for a five year old one. Mileage will be north of 100k, but they are good engines. Very comfortable, decent enough sound system, okay only a 5sp box but easily over 50mpg and cheap to tax.
I bought one as a taxi at 127k, it's a couple of years older now and has nearly 250k on it. Routine servicing only plus a turbo (cost £600 to fix, but was expected because of the use) and a couple of ball joints, which I would argue are routine service items.
Go for the estate and you can carry epic amounts of stuff, but either saloon or estate are not bad looking cars and easily capable of £14k a year. And that's not even a complete service interval.
I have one of these -
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
I cannot recommend it enough! The diesel engine is a merc 3 cylinder diesel, chain cam engine. Mine is just about to round the 100k mark, and hasn't had a single issue.
The 3 door version is the better looking, and marginally faster of the two (sub 10 seconds 0-60.....just!). Its also a frugal little beast. Mine returns over 50mpg all day long.
The interior is a bit basic, but functional. The rear seats are a bench, and can fold flat to give you enough space to fit in a washing machine, should you chose to do so.
The multimedia system, I cannot help you with. However I use a garmin handsfree thing to connect to my phone via bluetooth which converts it to an FM signal that the radio picks up. Works fine for me, but might not for you?
This is the Honest John review of the colt. Thought it might be of use.
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mitsubishi/c...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
I cannot recommend it enough! The diesel engine is a merc 3 cylinder diesel, chain cam engine. Mine is just about to round the 100k mark, and hasn't had a single issue.
The 3 door version is the better looking, and marginally faster of the two (sub 10 seconds 0-60.....just!). Its also a frugal little beast. Mine returns over 50mpg all day long.
The interior is a bit basic, but functional. The rear seats are a bench, and can fold flat to give you enough space to fit in a washing machine, should you chose to do so.
The multimedia system, I cannot help you with. However I use a garmin handsfree thing to connect to my phone via bluetooth which converts it to an FM signal that the radio picks up. Works fine for me, but might not for you?
This is the Honest John review of the colt. Thought it might be of use.
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mitsubishi/c...
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