Suggestions for a commuter.

[HugoFastmann]

Hi guys,

Wondering if you could provide some suggestions on a good second car, a daily commuter. I'm moving house to a location about 40-odd minutes from work, so the cycle to work I do at the moment to save fuel costs won't be possible. I currently own a BMW 325ti, but running costs on a cross-country run will get too expensive, plus it's lowered with stiff poly bushes so it's not incredibly forgiving, so the plan is to put it in the garage during the week and get a commuter for the daily duties. My current criteria are:

• £5,000 max budget
• 50,000 miles max mileage
• As low tax as possible (yes, this probably means I'll be buying a diesel)
• As good fuel mileage as possible (see point above)
• As low insurance cost as possible

I have a couple of options in mind, but want to see people's thoughts to see if I'm neglecting better options.

[HugoFastmann]

I should probably add that the drive is a cross-country dash (across the New Forest) with a mixture of roads, but none really exceeding 40 mph for very long. Lots of stop/start routes - not from traffic but just lots of intersections - and fairly flat terrain.

[Marc p]

I'd probably be looking at an E60 520/525/530d if I were you.

[HugoFastmann]

Marc p said:

I'd probably be looking at an E60 520/525/530d if I were you.

Not sure I can find any in my price/mileage range. They're all £8k plus at sub-50k miles...

[CYMR0]

Not too slow, not too crap, not too old.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[Marc p]

HugoFastmann said:

Marc p said:

I'd probably be looking at an E60 520/525/530d if I were you.

Not sure I can find any in my price/mileage range. They're all £8k plus at sub-50k miles...

Then an E39 maybe? They are pretty bulletproof.

I would add though that I'd be looking at higher mileage examples, a low mileage diesel and you're asking for trouble in my opinion.

[JamesRR]

Volvo S40 or S60 perhaps? Very comfortable and wafty for cars of their size, and Volvo's are easy on insurance in my experience. A few diesel options available, depending if you're after power or just straight up economy and cheap running

[HugoFastmann]

CYMR0 said:

Not too slow, not too crap, not too old.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Engine bay needs a clean! I guess a cheap Golf alternative, not a bad option.

[HugoFastmann]

Marc p said:

Then an E39 maybe? They are pretty bulletproof.

I would add though that I'd be looking at higher mileage examples, a low mileage diesel and you're asking for trouble in my opinion.

What's wrong with a lower-mileage diesel?

Also the older E39's are pretty high on tax. I'm already spending over £300 tax on my E46...

[DuraAce]

I wouldn't be looking at near 20 year BMW's if I wanted low mileage and low tax.

Something from Honda /Hyundai/Kia/Skoda etc will do the job. Pick any 1.6 tdi version and away you go

[Marc p]

HugoFastmann said:

Marc p said:

Then an E39 maybe? They are pretty bulletproof.

I would add though that I'd be looking at higher mileage examples, a low mileage diesel and you're asking for trouble in my opinion.

What's wrong with a lower-mileage diesel?

Also the older E39's are pretty high on tax. I'm already spending over £300 tax on my E46...

Diesels don't take well to short trips and that can result in blocked DPFs, knacked EGRs, prematurely worn piston rings and turbos, etc.

Take for example my old E60 525d, I sold that with 150k on the clock and it drove perfect, no knocks, no creaks, engine pulled strong and never wanted for anything. I'd take a diesel that has had 100k of motorway mileage over a 25k mile city car any day of the week, they are generally much less worn inside as they have gotten in and out of less often, they aren't spending their time in stop start traffic, not constantly being run cold, turbos aren't being stressed when sat at a steady 70, I could go on.

[HugoFastmann]

Surprised no suggestions for a 1.6 TDI Golf or Focus yet. Those aren't on my shortlist, by the way...

Any other good suggestions?

[Marc p]

HugoFastmann said:

Surprised no suggestions for a 1.6 TDI Golf or Focus yet. Those aren't on my shortlist, by the way...

Any other good suggestions?

I don't find them comfy and think Golfs are generally a bit overpriced on the used market.

What about a Volvo C30 D3/D5?

[HugoFastmann]

Marc p said:

I don't find them comfy and think Golfs are generally a bit overpriced on the used market.

What about a Volvo C30 D3/D5?

I think they're quite high up in the insurance groups. My insurance is quite expensive - despite driving for 15 years, my insurance in New Zealand doesn't transfer to the UK, so I'm only on 3 years no claims. Hence, I'm after something cheap to insure as well as cheap to run.

[JamesRR]

Me again - on the topic of the C30, that's what I have, in 1.6D flavour. I'm 19, and can insure it quite reasonably. Obviously the D3 or the D5 would be more though. But for daily driver use, the 1.6D is perfectly capable.
You'd nearly think I liked Volvo's or something.

Another option might be a 1.6 TDI Octavia?

[HugoFastmann]

JamesRR said:

Me again - on the topic of the C30, that's what I have, in 1.6D flavour. I'm 19, and can insure it quite reasonably. Obviously the D3 or the D5 would be more though. But for daily driver use, the 1.6D is perfectly capable.
You'd nearly think I liked Volvo's or something.

Another option might be a 1.6 TDI Octavia?

How much is your insurance, if you don't mind me asking?

I haven't seen many Octavia's popping up in my searches when using the criteria in my OP.

[5harp3y]

I wouldn't be looking at a diesel for cross country sub 40mph

small petrol would be better suited and would get similar MPG if driven sensibly

less likely to have costly repairs too and will be cheaper to buy / more for your money

What style of car do you need? 4 seats family car or little runabout?

for 5k you can get low mileage little hatches like fiat 500s, VW up, Mazda 2 etc

cost nothing to run and less than £100 to tax with 40mpg

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say a Mercedes of some form would fit the bill perfectly, they make sense & the cars are very robust. When it comes to commuting an Auto box works well & depending on the engine some don't have a DPF.

C320 Sport

2004 C270 Avantgarde SE 49k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Or the same drivetrain but in CLK form:

2005CLK270 Avantgarde 57k (facelift model) I had one of these & couldn't fault it, I felt it was a better engine than the 220 it responded well to a map pushing the economy up as well as having a bit more go.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

220 diesel options:

2007 CLK 220 Sport 63k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2007 CLK220 Avantgarde Sport 41k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

If you don't mind a hatchback then a C Coupe might tick the boxes.

2007 C220 C Coupe SE (with pretty much every option ticked)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2008 CLC 220 Sport 65k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2006 C220 Avantgarde SE 66k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Yes I'm bias but the above will commute will with ease the drivetrain is the same so it's a case of pick the body style that suits your needs best, now while they may not be the lowest on road tax they're not high maintenance, they're comfortable & good on fuel.

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

[smn159]

You sure that cycling isn't an option, even if just a couple of days a week?

Flat route of, I'm guessing, 20 miles through the New Forest sounds ideal for a bike. Would also mean that MPG won't be so much of an issue.

[Willy Nilly]

Petrol and Japanese.