Commuter car - posssible change
Discussion
I have accepted a new job offer which will mean 300 miles a week, this is on top of visiting my daughter most weekends at another 300 miles a go. Currently I am doing around 23,000 miles a year but can see that going to 30-35k a year quite easily.
I currently drive a Skoda Octavia vRS (diesel), which *I* average at around 45mpg (respectable motorway speeds...). Whilst I am very happy with this car, i just wanted to check to see if anyone else can suggest possible alternatives that might be better suited for high mileage?
Fuel is going to be my biggest expenditure after the mortgage so figured its better to double check alternatives and see if there might be a car better suited to me. I do like a car with pace, but I am not exactly a back lane hooner, so it doesn't need to be super agile. I also like a car that stands out from the crowd, and doesn't blend in with the multitude of Grey rep cars.
£10,000 budget, possible to flex it slightly if something does come up though.
Cheers guys
I currently drive a Skoda Octavia vRS (diesel), which *I* average at around 45mpg (respectable motorway speeds...). Whilst I am very happy with this car, i just wanted to check to see if anyone else can suggest possible alternatives that might be better suited for high mileage?
Fuel is going to be my biggest expenditure after the mortgage so figured its better to double check alternatives and see if there might be a car better suited to me. I do like a car with pace, but I am not exactly a back lane hooner, so it doesn't need to be super agile. I also like a car that stands out from the crowd, and doesn't blend in with the multitude of Grey rep cars.
£10,000 budget, possible to flex it slightly if something does come up though.
Cheers guys
Andehh said:
I have accepted a new job offer which will mean 300 miles a week, this is on top of visiting my daughter most weekends at another 300 miles a go. Currently I am doing around 23,000 miles a year but can see that going to 30-35k a year quite easily.
I currently drive a Skoda Octavia vRS (diesel), which *I* average at around 45mpg (respectable motorway speeds...). Whilst I am very happy with this car, i just wanted to check to see if anyone else can suggest possible alternatives that might be better suited for high mileage?
Fuel is going to be my biggest expenditure after the mortgage so figured its better to double check alternatives and see if there might be a car better suited to me. I do like a car with pace, but I am not exactly a back lane hooner, so it doesn't need to be super agile. I also like a car that stands out from the crowd, and doesn't blend in with the multitude of Grey rep cars.
£10,000 budget, possible to flex it slightly if something does come up though.
Cheers guys
Maybe a silly question, but is your work and daughter in the same direction from your house? If so, maybe moving would make more sense overall?I currently drive a Skoda Octavia vRS (diesel), which *I* average at around 45mpg (respectable motorway speeds...). Whilst I am very happy with this car, i just wanted to check to see if anyone else can suggest possible alternatives that might be better suited for high mileage?
Fuel is going to be my biggest expenditure after the mortgage so figured its better to double check alternatives and see if there might be a car better suited to me. I do like a car with pace, but I am not exactly a back lane hooner, so it doesn't need to be super agile. I also like a car that stands out from the crowd, and doesn't blend in with the multitude of Grey rep cars.
£10,000 budget, possible to flex it slightly if something does come up though.
Cheers guys
As for cars, well no, I don't suspect anything will truly be hugely better than you have already. Certainly lots that would be as good, or slightly better in other area's maybe. But I don't think is going to be radically different.
The only real alternative approach I can think of, would be to look at some frugal petrol cars and convert them to LPG, so maybe something like a 3 Series 330, on LPG the pence per mile ratio is likely to be equal to a diesel car doing around 55mpg.
Yeah, thought this might be the case. Going through the finances I just wanted to ask the question to check I wasn't missing anything! Leaving 10mins earlier for work & 20mins earlier for my daughter to force the mpg will be the way forwards I think.
Jobs one way, daughters the other way! I also have a new girlfriend, mortgage and life down here so would be hard pushed to move in either direction.
Jobs one way, daughters the other way! I also have a new girlfriend, mortgage and life down here so would be hard pushed to move in either direction.
As ever, the cost to change, and considering depreciation, will outweight any gains you might make on mpg. If you are already averaging 45, you're not going to get massive gains by getting a car capable of 50 - a 10% increase will only save you around £600-700 (rough calculation)a year. As suggested already, a change in driving style will make a bigger difference, and you won't lose any money changing car.
Andehh said:
Yeah, thought this might be the case. Going through the finances I just wanted to ask the question to check I wasn't missing anything! Leaving 10mins earlier for work & 20mins earlier for my daughter to force the mpg will be the way forwards I think.
Jobs one way, daughters the other way! I also have a new girlfriend, mortgage and life down here so would be hard pushed to move in either direction.
I don't think you'll notice that much time difference tbh.Jobs one way, daughters the other way! I also have a new girlfriend, mortgage and life down here so would be hard pushed to move in either direction.
Over a near 90 mile journey I find running at 60mph only costs about 6 mins compared to running at 70mph, yet I usually get around 10mpg more.
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