What motorway muncher?

[(steven)]

I do 20k pa and my normal journey involves me driving 120 miles home up the M1 after a long week at work through friday night traffic. I need something which majors on comfort.

I'm currently using a skoda octavia which is pretty good on fuel and so far, pretty reliable but it's a bit of a hair shirt when it comes to refinement.

Yes this is very unPH but i need

-refinement
-40+ fuel economy
-decent reliability

It's only me and my girlfriend so space really isn't too much of an issue but a decent boot would be good.

I'm working to two budgets at the moment, £5k and if i have any money left over from buying a house, £10k.

What should i get?

[hornetrider]

E39 530d?



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Edited by hornetrider on Sunday 6th November 16:33

[calibrax]

Around £4k will get you a good Rover 75 CDTi. Ticks all the boxes, and fab value for money. And if you'd rather have something a little better handling, go for the MG ZT CDTi.

[sebhaque]

You should be able to get a 2003ish Audi A4 diesel for about £4-5000, pretty comfy places to be and I've not heard too many horror stories about the A4. Here's an example of one: linky

Alternatively, a Volvo S60 would fit the bill, although slightly less frugal than the A4: another linky

Another suggestion: Jag X-type? link

[Baryonyx]

If I were going back to motorway miles I'd look for an S60. I had a 2.0L T which wasn't frugal by any means, but I suspect the D5 model would be nearly as comfortable and much cheaper to run. That car was just supremely comfortable.

[HenryRoyce]

The Ford Mondeo is one of the best and most reliable mile munchers there is, with the advantage of being good fun for a weekend B-road blast as well. Avoid the clunky old 1.8 TDCI engine. Alternatively, if you can stretch to a current model Skoda Superb, then you will find it to be one of the most relaxing mile munchers there is.

[falkster]

S60 D5, 163bhp yet still deliver great fuel economy. Ace inside and bullet proof.

[Oilchange]

What Calibrax said^^

Epic comfort (market leading ride), BMW running gear, quiet and frugal. They handle well and have loads of bootspace. Plus loads of people mistakenly think they're crap so are amazing value for money.
Although if , like me, you are 6' or above you won't have much left leg room unless you put the electric seats fully down.

... keep an eye on the clutch/flywheel and associated hydraulics

Edited by Oilchange on Sunday 6th November 16:54

[Codswallop]

sebhaque said:

You should be able to get a 2003ish Audi A4 diesel for about £4-5000, pretty comfy places to be and I've not heard too many horror stories about the A4.

I suspect the OP is wanting a different car to the one he already has

I would second Calibrax's suggestion of a Rover 75. A friend had a remapped 75 diesel auto and it was a very comfy ride. Same engine as the BMW 320d of that era, but with a far more cosseting ride and interior. Stonking value for money too.

[SuperHangOn]

I like the good old Ford Mondeo. Easy to put a money aside for a new DMF/clutch if worse comes to worse.

[Kiltox]

A late Laguna II diesel? (2005-2007) - providing it's been serviced properly and you continue to do so you should not see the return of the problems that plagued the earlier models...

[(steven)]

Oilchange said:

What Calibrax said^^

Epic comfort (market leading ride), BMW running gear, quiet and frugal. They handle well and have loads of bootspace. Plus loads of people mistakenly think they're crap so are amazing value for money.
Although if , like me, you are 6' or above you won't have much left leg room unless you put the electric seats fully down.

... keep an eye on the clutch/flywheel and associated hydraulics

Edited by Oilchange on Sunday 6th November 16:54

Unfortunately I'm 6ft 2 so i need a car with a large driving postion plus i have size 11 feet which rules out small footwells.

I spent ages looking at sports cars until i found one i fitted in comfortably. I guess the same is true for ”normal“ cars.

With the skoda superb, Are they really any good? My octavia has hardly any sound deadening and there is a lot of wind noise, it just wears you down.

[Kiltox]

[quote=(steven)]


With the skoda superb, Are they really any good? My octavia has hardly any sound deadening and there is a lot of wind noise, it just wears you down.

[/quote]

They get rave reviews - I'd certainly try one.

[padgett]

Jaguar S Type Diesel?

[(steven)]

Kiltox said:

A late Laguna II diesel? (2005-2007) - providing it's been serviced properly and you continue to do so you should not see the return of the problems that plagued the earlier models...

I would love to belive that renault have sorted these cars but after the mk1, no way. They have burnt their bridges on that one.

[Kiltox]

[quote=(steven)]

I would love to belive that renault have sorted these cars but after the mk1, no way. They have burnt their bridges on that one.
[/quote]

Fair enough - the earlier MK2s (2001-2005) were truely awful right enough.

I had a 2007 2.0 petrol for a bit and apart from weak rear bushes (replaced before I bought it) and the fact it was a bit on the thirsty side it was a fantastic place to be, properly munched the miles and they are cheap to buy.

[Fleckers]

padgett said:

Jaguar S Type Diesel?

this if in budget

cant fault it, quickish, fully loaded very easy to drive long distance including in traffic

[HenryRoyce]

Kiltox said:

They get rave reviews - I'd certainly try one.

I have just got a new Superb. It is....err....superb! Soooo much quieter and more refined than the Golf Mk V TDI it replaced. Well worth a look.

[Dangerous Dan]

Mercedes Benz E350 CDI.

[Fox-]

hornetrider said:

E39 530d?



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Edited by hornetrider on Sunday 6th November 16:33

He wants decent reliability. Great as an E39 is, a £5k diesel one probably isn't the best fit for a 'Which reliable car to do 20k a year in' brief.