Time to sell the V6 and buy a diesel?
Discussion
Trevor McDonald said:
Thanks for input. I think the comments about it being too small for long journeys are right. Gotta shoot, work at 10.
Not necessarily, bear in mind that I routinely do 200 miles in a single sitting, and did this in a Polo for 2 years, so my views reflect this. My priority currently is soft and floaty as I'm on motorways for the vast majority of the time.35 miles at a time may be ok. I'd suggest you try one for a few days and find out. Some cars are better than others anyway, although I was surprised at how hard and harsh the ride was in the Astra I hired the other week. A compromise I guess of making a 'normal' car handle reasonably well (although the French stuff of a few years back handled ok without being fatiguing).
R12HCO said:
passat 2.0 tdi! easy do 50 mpg and so quiet and comfortable! for 8k you could get a good one!
I'm on my 2nd 2.0TDI and get 44mpg according to the computer - so probably around 40-42 in reality.Mind you, the Focus 1.6TDCI I had for a couple of months showed under 40mpg on the dash most of the time I owned it - the best tank I ever saw was 42.
i have virtually the same commute as you - 36 miles each way. 34 of those 36 miles are motorway. i've run an A3 1.9 Tdi (130) from new, since April 2003 and it now has 124 000 miles on it. it's overall average is 55.8 mpg (600-650 miles per 50-51 litres). road tax £120/ yr and fully comp insurance £400 (38yr old male, full NCB).
now it's been absolutely relaible and is quite a nice place to be. the only thing it isn't is an exciting drive, although it is still quite nippy and handles quite well (GMBH sports suspension).
i have thought of getting something more exciting to drive - but really, how much more 'fun' would i have doing 70 mph on the motorway?? probably nil - so i've resisted every time.
now it's been absolutely relaible and is quite a nice place to be. the only thing it isn't is an exciting drive, although it is still quite nippy and handles quite well (GMBH sports suspension).
i have thought of getting something more exciting to drive - but really, how much more 'fun' would i have doing 70 mph on the motorway?? probably nil - so i've resisted every time.
The general consensus on here always seems to be old barge with LPG etc or an older large diesel with a few miles on it. Nice in theory...
What about in between? Something like a MK5 Golf TDI will be possible with a couple of years behind it for the price of a new Fezzer.
If it's purely a cost saving exercise then a nearly new small diesel that has taken a bit of a depreciation hit will be the way forward or go leftfield with an Audi A2 TDI
What about in between? Something like a MK5 Golf TDI will be possible with a couple of years behind it for the price of a new Fezzer.
If it's purely a cost saving exercise then a nearly new small diesel that has taken a bit of a depreciation hit will be the way forward or go leftfield with an Audi A2 TDI
Claypole said:
Polo 1.9 TDI Sport -
Ignore the small car haters, the bigger the car the more weight you are carrying for nothing... it's a commute not a cross Europe waft.
Not a bad call - the 1.9TDI is a much more 'relaxing' experience than a modern small-capacity diesel. Much better spread of torque.Ignore the small car haters, the bigger the car the more weight you are carrying for nothing... it's a commute not a cross Europe waft.
Depending on which Polo generation you're looking at, they feel like a much more substantial car than most other small cars.
Claypole said:
Polo 1.9 TDI Sport -
Ignore the small car haters, the bigger the car the more weight you are carrying for nothing... it's a commute not a cross Europe waft.
Correct!Ignore the small car haters, the bigger the car the more weight you are carrying for nothing... it's a commute not a cross Europe waft.
Gordon Murray was right about his virtuous circle:
small engine > small drivetrain > lightweight components > light wheels
Follow that and it'll give you something small, agile and possibly fun from the right manufacturer. If you don't mind the looks, a 1 series diesel will still give you the great RWD handling, not cost the earth to run and maintain (>50mpg) and still be a blast on country roads. I had a 1'er for a few years and still maintain it's the best all rounder i've owned (and that's comparing a 997 911, and my current M3 CSL).
Give the 1 series a try. It's better than people will have you believe. Bombproof, quick, modern in all senses, and crucially, meets (to a greater or lesser extent) Gordon's theory.
Tampon said:
70k mile diesel vectra, £2k, 45-50mpg, 4-5 years old, loads of toys if you get the right one, ALOT cheaper than a astra with similar age miles for some reason ?
Loads about and very reliable ( currently driving a petrol version and getting 45mpg + out of it driving like miss daisy,
Surprise me and prove either of those 2 statementsLoads about and very reliable ( currently driving a petrol version and getting 45mpg + out of it driving like miss daisy,
tomwoodis said:
1) My experience of Fiestas is, much like one person has pointed out, a more expensive proposition that it at first appears. Primarily this is because the fiesta is built to a smaller budget than some of the other Ford Models and the components do have a habit of failing a fair bit. Could just be that I've been unlucky but I doubt it
I would say you're probably right - I know someone who did 100 miles a day in a 1.4 TDCI for a year and although the comfort and ride were fine, it suffered plenty of minor (yet expensive to fix) mechanical maladies. Not the most popular around here, but how about a Peugeot 207? The 1.6 GT does 43mpg (apparently) and is quite nice to drive, not an ultimate oppo-dabber, but OK. Petrol is cheaper than diesel, and you can still get low mileage cars in budget:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2818850.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2818850.htm
Trevor McDonald said:
My workplace has just moved, and now I have a 70 mile return commute which is costing me £80 a week or £3220 a year, plus any other driving. This annoys me, because its really just dead money.
110k miles X-type 3.0 petrol worth £2.5k, it does 27mpg, VED £245 and costs £900 to insure.
Rather than buy an old banger, I'd like a newish economical car that holds most of its value, so how about:
Fiesta Econetic, £8k, it would save me £2000 a year in fuel, £245 a year in road tax and £300 insurance.
I know the outlay is a lot, but I dont think it'll depreciate too badly?
As said, dont really want to buy an old 130k Mondeo diesel for £1500, just asking for trouble and I want something new.
I got rid of a 2004 Focus ST170 and replaced it with a 2006 Fiesta TDCI, worst mistake I ever made. I saved a lot of money in fuel as I was doing 20k miles a year but I rarely enjoyed the miles unless they were on B roads and I was working hard. 110k miles X-type 3.0 petrol worth £2.5k, it does 27mpg, VED £245 and costs £900 to insure.
Rather than buy an old banger, I'd like a newish economical car that holds most of its value, so how about:
Fiesta Econetic, £8k, it would save me £2000 a year in fuel, £245 a year in road tax and £300 insurance.
I know the outlay is a lot, but I dont think it'll depreciate too badly?
As said, dont really want to buy an old 130k Mondeo diesel for £1500, just asking for trouble and I want something new.
The smaller car was less comfortable, less practical, had 90% of the fun dialed out because of the engine and depreciated like a stone.
You think the newish fiesta will be worth a bit in three years time? You will be putting around 20k a year on an already used car, so when you come to move it on in three years it will have done 70k +. The reason you don't want a budget mondeo is that you are scared of big bills, which is why a 70,000 mile fiesta will be a sod to shift.
If you want a small diesel buy a cheap one like a Lupo TDI, older shape fiesta, ibiza, fabia, A2, etc etc and run it into the ground then repeat. If the Jag stands you at nothing you are £5.5-6k up on buying the fiesta, spend £1500 on an LPG kit and you will have a comfortable wafty Xtype with a better range and an average economy closer to 40mpg equivalent.
DannyVTS said:
Surprise me and prove either of those 2 statements
How? the price of the diesels ? just look on a car site, they are about, spent age look at which to get decided on the cheaper buy 1.8 as there were more about with less miles for less money.As for my MPG, again how ? it is 38mpg combined standard, I serviced it before driving down to france, replaced spark plugs, air filter and had to change dodgy thermostat, had to keep track of fuel used/milage to see if that was causing the low mpg ( was doing 30mpg, 330 miles when light come on, when I got it ).
Boot full of 400 bottles of beer driven from Uxbridge to Vaux near limoges ( 60mph from london to dover ), 138kph ( sat nav ) in france stuck in paris traffic for a hour and a half. Refilled on the way down averaged 39mpg. Back in the car for the last 200km, drove around country roads for 10 days unloaded, filled up on a shopping trip averaged 38 ( well just under at 37.89 ) when light came on again.
Drove back to paris at 130kph ( sat nav ) clear roads straight in, next day drove to dunkirk at 120kph, filled up to top, averaged 39mpg, drive from dover to uxbridge, weekend drove to swanage and back, then wednesday night to southampton and back 60mph all the way averaged 46mpg.
Proof, ummmm, because I said so ? that and what would the point in lieing be ?I am a 30 year old man, own one chocoate lab, who is going back to university to study a masters in history, I am not really a keyboard warrior, just thought I would offer the OP a bit of advise as I considered something similar recently.
I have a present readout on the meter of 468 miles and I have am about 40-50 miles off the light coming on ( seem to be around 11gallons every time ) so should be getting about 45-46mpg this time. I could take a pic of it with a newspaper and can of custard but I doubt that would prove anything to you.
Have to say they are great on the motorway, and after reading a article on the difference 80-70-60 mph can make on mpg I have to say I seem to be getting 20% better on the fuel by driving inside lane, slap cruise on and kick back, no traffic, odd truck to over take, quiet and take about 10minutes longer every hour of journey that I would do at 70-75mph, seem fair compromise considering I will get a "free" tank full every 5 th fill up, for doing nothing but slowing down slightly.
Does that help "prove" a improvable statement ? hope so, if not, sorry I am out of ideas.......
Claypole said:
All the "fun" posters are missing the point of the car change?
It's something to do 18,000 miles a year in, fun is for the weekend/days off in a different car.
Set off earlier and drive slower, spend the savings on weekend petrol.
Whre does the OP say he wants two cars then?It's something to do 18,000 miles a year in, fun is for the weekend/days off in a different car.
Set off earlier and drive slower, spend the savings on weekend petrol.
Claypole said:
Polo 1.9 TDI Sport -
Ignore the small car haters, the bigger the car the more weight you are carrying for nothing... it's a commute not a cross Europe waft.
Been there, done that, it's exactly the car I had before the current one, and one in which I did 45,000 miles in two years or so. In fairness the Polo does feel like a scaled down Passat, but the ride on the Sport suspension is a bit harsh which gets tiring on a long trip. The non-Sport versions are better, but the downside is the seats are less supportive. I'd perhaps look at a Bluemotion, their interstellar gearing means they feel like they're taking a while to accellerate, but they're perfectly adequate in reality.Ignore the small car haters, the bigger the car the more weight you are carrying for nothing... it's a commute not a cross Europe waft.
The 1.9 Tdi Sport won't average 78 MPG in normal use. Mine did a touch over 52 mpg (still more than acceptable) on mostly motorway journeys.
Of the small cars, the Polo is, as has been mentioned by others, fairly substantially built and probably better than most for what you want, but then it's pretty heavy for its size.
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