Is there a frugal car that a man can drive without hiding?
Discussion
I'd lease something new and economical. Your paying £120 a week on petrol, so that's £480 per month. Easily enough to cover contract hire on a fuel efficient new car and petrol.
sebhaque said:
106 diesel? Should be pennies these days, an afternoon and some t-cut should see it looking more refreshed.
The idea of doing 130 miles a day in a 106 diesel sounds like hell! robsa said:
Ok, forgot to mention - the fact I am driving a £1500 car and am looking for something cheaper is because I currently do not have the wherewithall to buy something newer and more expensive. To be honest, if I could buy a brand new/nearly new VW Golf blue motion I would rather buy something more interesting and run it.
This really is a case of A->B as cheaply as humanly possible in a car.... I realise the choices open to me are limited to vile vehicles generally like Ford Ka's and nasty little Toyotas. This is why I was wondering whether there is anything passable?
Hows about a motorbike? Road tax cheaper, many are quite frugal but still fun?This really is a case of A->B as cheaply as humanly possible in a car.... I realise the choices open to me are limited to vile vehicles generally like Ford Ka's and nasty little Toyotas. This is why I was wondering whether there is anything passable?
I will say either an MG ZR or an MG ZS diesel, bullet proof L Series engine, reasonable mpg and with a few tweaks quite nippy, bit boy racer but I still have a ZS that was a last minute ebay purchase when my Fiat Coupe went pop as it's a cracking little car, £130 a year tax and it's handling came as a real surprise to me.
robsa said:
Yes, the insight is pretty cool - but try finding one! Very few around these days.
I guess I might as well stick with a comfy, good looking, good handling Alfa with all the toys and use my little Suzuki GS when the weather is good (80 mpg+) and the Alfa when it's wet/freezing.
Unless I can find a non-turbo Fiesta diesel nearby.... or a Citroen ZX Diesel. Or, if Im really lucky, a BX...
I had a Citroen ZX diesel earlier this year! And nearly bought a BX to replace it.I guess I might as well stick with a comfy, good looking, good handling Alfa with all the toys and use my little Suzuki GS when the weather is good (80 mpg+) and the Alfa when it's wet/freezing.
Unless I can find a non-turbo Fiesta diesel nearby.... or a Citroen ZX Diesel. Or, if Im really lucky, a BX...
You should be able to get a non-turbo example of either for £500, or turbo ones for a bit more. Assuming a gentle motorway run you should see 50mpg+ (same engine as the 306). If you get one with a Bosch pump you can run them on veg oil for about £1/L.
robsa said:
Ok, forgot to mention - the fact I am driving a £1500 car and am looking for something cheaper is because I currently do not have the wherewithall to buy something newer and more expensive. To be honest, if I could buy a brand new/nearly new VW Golf blue motion I would rather buy something more interesting and run it.
This really is a case of A->B as cheaply as humanly possible in a car.... I realise the choices open to me are limited to vile vehicles generally like Ford Ka's and nasty little Toyotas. This is why I was wondering whether there is anything passable?
Ah yes, an indication of budget always helps. This really is a case of A->B as cheaply as humanly possible in a car.... I realise the choices open to me are limited to vile vehicles generally like Ford Ka's and nasty little Toyotas. This is why I was wondering whether there is anything passable?
I'd run with a Golf TDI or Focus TDI then.
Dont worry so much about the miles on it - moreso how it drives. I just sold a 2000 Golf TDI with 162K miles on it yesterday. Had been well maintained so drove like a car with half the miles.
http://pistonheads.com/sales/3371227.htm seems like a cheap option.
My mrs has a 107 1.0 Petrol. Last month it was due a 'big' service, MOT, tax and insurance, all in all £380 for 12 months motoring. It returns around 60 MPG and while not looking great or being the best drivers car, I cannot justify getting rid of it as it is so cheap to run. She has had it from new (2005) and besides tyres and an annual service has required no other work, this year was no exception with no advisories on the MOT. For cheap motoring, if you can get over the look, its hard to beat.
serious suggestion - what about moving/getting a bolt hole nearer the school (or moving jobs - there must be schools nearer than 70 miles away??) you must be spending 3 hours a day driving - if you take in the total cost of ownership (with doing 25,000 miles/year) you're probably spending an easy £6-7k on just commuting.. that's around 10k of your pre-tax income!
Gibby78 said:
I will say either an MG ZR or an MG ZS diesel, bullet proof L Series engine, reasonable mpg and with a few tweaks quite nippy, bit boy racer but I still have a ZS that was a last minute ebay purchase when my Fiat Coupe went pop as it's a cracking little car, £130 a year tax and it's handling came as a real surprise to me.
+1Although I was away to suggest the even cheaper Rover 25 or Rover 45 options. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to insure, and more comfortable ride for the longer journeys.
Jayho said:
Gibby78 said:
I will say either an MG ZR or an MG ZS diesel, bullet proof L Series engine, reasonable mpg and with a few tweaks quite nippy, bit boy racer but I still have a ZS that was a last minute ebay purchase when my Fiat Coupe went pop as it's a cracking little car, £130 a year tax and it's handling came as a real surprise to me.
+1Although I was away to suggest the even cheaper Rover 25 or Rover 45 options. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to insure, and more comfortable ride for the longer journeys.
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