Would I hate owning a tiny eco-box?
Discussion
About 5 years ago I bought my 3.0 V6 X-Type as I wanted something fairly fast with leather seats and lots of toys. I have loved owning this car and it was a step above all the low-spec diesel company cars that went before it. As my only car, it was a great all-rounder!
However, last year I got my TVR which satisfies my performance cravings so I want to save fuel when commuting so that I can use more at weekends! So, the V6 has to go.
For my £3k - £4k budget I believe my 2 main options would be a leggy Diesel rep-mobile (Vectra, Golf, Avensis, etc), or a newer low mileage tiny eco-box (C1, C2, Picanto, etc).
I am familiar with the kind of diesels I would be looking at, but I have never experienced these low-powered petrol cars.
Are they an absolute pain to drive around? Does every motorway slip road turn into a life gambler as you get the engine screaming to try and approach 70 mph? Any PH experiences of these cars?
However, last year I got my TVR which satisfies my performance cravings so I want to save fuel when commuting so that I can use more at weekends! So, the V6 has to go.
For my £3k - £4k budget I believe my 2 main options would be a leggy Diesel rep-mobile (Vectra, Golf, Avensis, etc), or a newer low mileage tiny eco-box (C1, C2, Picanto, etc).
I am familiar with the kind of diesels I would be looking at, but I have never experienced these low-powered petrol cars.
Are they an absolute pain to drive around? Does every motorway slip road turn into a life gambler as you get the engine screaming to try and approach 70 mph? Any PH experiences of these cars?
Skoda Fabia/Octavia VRS?? give very good Mpg and will be faster than the C1's etc...? Octavia should give good level of commuting comfort too?
If not Seat Leon FR TDi's?
Oh just re read your original post, its not a what car thread
No experience of these 1 litre offerings but I imagine they'd be ok, I use to do a fair few miles in an ibiza 1.2 and that seemed fine up to 70Mph even at speeds above that on a private road
If not Seat Leon FR TDi's?
Oh just re read your original post, its not a what car thread
No experience of these 1 litre offerings but I imagine they'd be ok, I use to do a fair few miles in an ibiza 1.2 and that seemed fine up to 70Mph even at speeds above that on a private road
Here's one under 4K. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2767819.htm
I know this is way above budget, but bet this Panda would suprise some. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2846677.htm
I know this is way above budget, but bet this Panda would suprise some. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2846677.htm
I can only speak for the C1/107/Aygo cars.
My housemate has a 2006 Peugeot 107 that he's owned from new. It's done 42000 miles so far with no issues to speak of, is cheap to run, very economical and, if you're open minded about these things, a lot of fun to drive.
I currently own a 1993 Jaguar Sovereign, so I know where you're coming from (possibly more so, my knowledge of the X-Type's abilities is limited) with regards to approaching motorways from a slip road but I've never found it to be an issue. Obviously you have to drive it harder, that goes without saying, but I don't find it a particular chore on the occasions that I do that.
Basically, I really rate them and would certainly consider one were I looking for an ecobox in that budget. For the record my friend averages roughly 60mpg on a countryside B-road daily commute.
My housemate has a 2006 Peugeot 107 that he's owned from new. It's done 42000 miles so far with no issues to speak of, is cheap to run, very economical and, if you're open minded about these things, a lot of fun to drive.
I currently own a 1993 Jaguar Sovereign, so I know where you're coming from (possibly more so, my knowledge of the X-Type's abilities is limited) with regards to approaching motorways from a slip road but I've never found it to be an issue. Obviously you have to drive it harder, that goes without saying, but I don't find it a particular chore on the occasions that I do that.
Basically, I really rate them and would certainly consider one were I looking for an ecobox in that budget. For the record my friend averages roughly 60mpg on a countryside B-road daily commute.
Fiat Panda 100 HP will never reach the mpg of a small diesel. The 1.4 is a racy little number and the temptation to scythe your way through slower traffic would be too much. If you really want to commute on a budget you could consider a petrol Smart FourTwo. Not too noisy, frugal even when driven flat out and comfortable too. I drove mine to the South of France in a day and it was perfectly civilised and reliable
Whatever you get though I think you just need to adjust your mindset before twisting the key. If you're expecting modest performance, good mpg and a routine journey to and from work you won't be disappointed. If you're still in fun mode and waiting for a charismatic exhaust note, indecent acceleration etc when you get in your beater you'll come down with a bump
Whatever you get though I think you just need to adjust your mindset before twisting the key. If you're expecting modest performance, good mpg and a routine journey to and from work you won't be disappointed. If you're still in fun mode and waiting for a charismatic exhaust note, indecent acceleration etc when you get in your beater you'll come down with a bump
James Dean said:
Are used Fiat Panda 100 hps down to that price yet?
Early ones are. Mine gets used exclusively for local runs in a hilly area, never gets into 6th gear. I get 39-40mpg long term average. As soon as it gets on an open road at 50-60mph I get well into the 40s.Fun fun little cars. (I notice Jason at Str8Six has one too as his personal transport).
Gaz. said:
I had a 1.3 Hyundai getz for four years, it had enough poke that you didn't have to thrash the arse off it and running costs low enough to make it worthwhile. Most 1.0 cars will piss 70 on any normal slip road, what was a real shortcoming was when Doris was creeping along a sliproad at 30 mph and you feel you just do not have the grunt to go for a gap in lane 1 of a busy motorway traveling at 55mph, overtaking Doris as you go, but to be fair I still don't like doing that in a Golf GTI either.
This is similar to what I was about to post but about the KA, while V max is somewhere around 95-100 acceleration up to 70 is a doddle and more than a match for traffic in normal situations. Added to which it is sufficiently geared to make sitting at or around 70 fairly easy too. Its that extra bit of punch that bigger petrol of a TDI would have that is lacking, but in a small car petrol would be preferable because there is less soundproofing to stop the diesely rattle annoying you.
Provided you have something for the weekend I don't see a problem in it. I'm sad so actually enjoy saving money driving around in something cheap/cheerful/that doesn't cost much to run. My current daily has 92bhp (when new) and to be honest that is about the lowest power I could cope with on a day to day basis without driving myself up the wall.
IMHO, driving a sub-1000kg hatch is quite a refreshing experience when coming from something much heavier and more powerful. The other half has a 1.4 Clio that's significantly more frugal than the Subaru and is remarkably nimble, despite not having any sporty pretensions at all.
I'd want something silly for the weekend though...
I'd want something silly for the weekend though...
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