Commuter car for my OH...
Discussion
My OH is looking for a new job and I have told her to broaden her search. She couldn't commute in our current car as it would cost a fortune and I would need to find a car for my shorter commute.
In my opinion, it makes sense for her to have a commuter car if she is to travel up to 80 miles a day. I don't really want to raid our savings for a cheap commuter car and I want her to be in something easy to maintain and cheap to run (i.e. fuel, tax, insurance....) so I am looking at bottom spec lease deals on super-minis and 'eco-friendly' cars.
Anyone know of any dirt cheap lease deals going? Criteria:
Small
50+ mpg
Low tax (if any)
Low insurance group (slow as hell)
Optional service plan/breakdown recovery
I know I'll get told to buy a dirt cheap car as a lease for this use is a false economy but I don't want to raid any savings and we have a little spare each month we can use to run it/fund it.
In my opinion, it makes sense for her to have a commuter car if she is to travel up to 80 miles a day. I don't really want to raid our savings for a cheap commuter car and I want her to be in something easy to maintain and cheap to run (i.e. fuel, tax, insurance....) so I am looking at bottom spec lease deals on super-minis and 'eco-friendly' cars.
Anyone know of any dirt cheap lease deals going? Criteria:
Small
50+ mpg
Low tax (if any)
Low insurance group (slow as hell)
Optional service plan/breakdown recovery
I know I'll get told to buy a dirt cheap car as a lease for this use is a false economy but I don't want to raid any savings and we have a little spare each month we can use to run it/fund it.
Depends on the commute, if it's motorway theh maybe don't go too small as little eco hatches can be a bit of a drag on the motorway. Less of an issue if it's cross country though, make sure she has a decent test drive before signing up to anything though as it'll be your fault if she doesn't like it!
You can get the eco diesel versions of the Fabia or Fiesta for <£150/month.
You can get the eco diesel versions of the Fabia or Fiesta for <£150/month.
Howard- said:
Sounds absolutely hateful for 80 miles a day.
Should have explained better, sorry.It is about 30 miles each way on 60mph A-roads, normally in a queue of cars doing 40mph. It is pretty much one road all the way and as long as she had a few creature comforts (iPod connectivity and MAYBE A/C) then I think she would be fine.
I also think the fact it would be an almost brand new car would appeal grately to her as she hasn't had one before.
I would get something at least the size of a Fiesta. The C1/Aygo/107 is absolutely awful, I've driven a couple and there's literally no redeeming feature aside from perhaps the running cost. Awful interior, uncomfortable, noisy, rattly, crap crap engines. But why would you want to put up with that, when you can just buy something a bit better? I suppose if it's got to be really cheap and tiny, the Fiat 500 / Ka is a lot, LOT better than the C1 etc, but if you're buying a Ka make sure you don't just get a poverty spec one. It's one of I'm sure very few new cars you can buy without electric windows and central locking 
My OH has an A1 TDi for exactly the same type and distance commute. Does 60mpg, easy to drive and nice interior to spend time.
It's a company car, but due to zero tax and low expected depreciation it is very cheap, so I would expect it to be cheap on lease deals as well.
Also consider a polo 1.4tdi if you want older, very good commuting car.
It's a company car, but due to zero tax and low expected depreciation it is very cheap, so I would expect it to be cheap on lease deals as well.
Also consider a polo 1.4tdi if you want older, very good commuting car.
I'd stick my OH in a couple of grands worth of Civic for that journey, had she not already bought heself a Civic for exactly that purpose. Never goes wrong, just needs a new handbrake caliper every other MOT.
I think it's a sad indictment of the success of feminism that women still have to get a man to sort out their transport problems. And also that they don't kill themselves so that their natural longevity is equalised. Equal or special, pick one.
I think it's a sad indictment of the success of feminism that women still have to get a man to sort out their transport problems. And also that they don't kill themselves so that their natural longevity is equalised. Equal or special, pick one.
Howard- said:
I would get something at least the size of a Fiesta. The C1/Aygo/107 is absolutely awful, I've driven a couple and there's literally no redeeming feature aside from perhaps the running cost. Awful interior, uncomfortable, noisy, rattly, crap crap engines. But why would you want to put up with that, when you can just buy something a bit better? I suppose if it's got to be really cheap and tiny, the Fiat 500 / Ka is a lot, LOT better than the C1 etc, but if you're buying a Ka make sure you don't just get a poverty spec one. It's one of I'm sure very few new cars you can buy without electric windows and central locking
What you're saying is purely subjective.At the 70mph my C1 has less engine noise than a 2000 316. The 3 cylinder Toyota engine is far more characterful and keen to provide power than similarly powered 4 cylinder equivalents and I'll happily drive from Cumbria to London in back in one without suffering any back or arse pain (but then I've always done high miles and am careful to adjust my seating position to a decent posture).
They're also lighter than an Elise and do exactly what they say on the tin.
Everyone's welcome to a subjective opinion, but one so far out of kilter with reality deserves some alternative comment.
Howard- said:
The C1/Aygo/107 is absolutely awful, I've driven a couple and there's literally no redeeming feature aside from perhaps the running cost. Awful interior, uncomfortable, noisy, rattly, crap crap engines.
General consensus of anyone else who's owned one, or driven one is the exact opposite. Therefore, I conclude you've never driven one, or even been in one, and are talking out of the thing you sit on all day.
10 Pence Short said:
What you're saying is purely subjective.
At the 70mph my C1 has less engine noise than a 2000 316. The 3 cylinder Toyota engine is far more characterful and keen to provide power than similarly powered 4 cylinder equivalents and I'll happily drive from Cumbria to London in back in one without suffering any back or arse pain (but then I've always done high miles and am careful to adjust my seating position to a decent posture).
They're also lighter than an Elise and do exactly what they say on the tin.
Everyone's welcome to a subjective opinion, but one so far out of kilter with reality deserves some alternative comment.
OK, lack of engine noise, great. What about wind and road noise? What about the fact it's so small you're constantly being buffeted about by wind and lorries and it feels skittish at high speeds? What about the fact you've got zero power for acceleration? At the 70mph my C1 has less engine noise than a 2000 316. The 3 cylinder Toyota engine is far more characterful and keen to provide power than similarly powered 4 cylinder equivalents and I'll happily drive from Cumbria to London in back in one without suffering any back or arse pain (but then I've always done high miles and am careful to adjust my seating position to a decent posture).
They're also lighter than an Elise and do exactly what they say on the tin.
Everyone's welcome to a subjective opinion, but one so far out of kilter with reality deserves some alternative comment.
Lighter than the elise? That's useful.
... Wait, what's it useful for, again?
What do they say they do on the tin? A cheap and cheerful town car? That's what they're designed for, that's what they're supposed to be used for. They're not long distance GT cars.
Just because you may be happy to punish yourself by driving 300 miles in a car totally unsuited for the task doesn't mean everyone else would. A Focus (or similar) would do the job in such an immeasurably superior fashion.
I might be inclined to forgive it if it was fun to drive. It wasn't. No grip, no handling, plenty of body roll, shocking gearbox, the 1L engine is woeful.
FoundOnRoadside said:
General consensus of anyone else who's owned one, or driven one is the exact opposite. Therefore, I conclude you've never driven one, or even been in one, and are talking out of the thing you sit on all day.
I've not owned one, no. So what? I've driven one and had enough experience of one because I have a friend who owns one. She hates it, and wants something better.They're great if you're 17 and have just passed your driving test. And I'm sure if you ask a 17 year old who has one what he or she thinks of it, and they'd say it's great.
I really don't think anyone can argue that they're not designed for long distance driving? Sure, 80 miles a day isn't THAT far, and yes occasionally it's doable in a supermini, but it'll soon start to grate.
Edited by Howard- on Friday 11th May 11:24
Howard- said:
OK, lack of engine noise, great. What about wind and road noise?
Perfectly acceptable up to and beyond motorway legal speeds for the type of car. Howard- said:
What about the fact it's so small you're constantly being buffeted about by wind and lorries and it feels skittish at high speeds? What about the fact you've got zero power for acceleration?
I've never felt unsafe in cross winds, mind you, I only live in rural Cumbria so I don't tend to experience high winds or exposed hillsides at all. Howard- said:
Lighter than the elise? That's useful.
... Wait, what's it useful for, again?
Emissions, fuel economy. Allowing it to have softer suspension than heavy superminis for better ride quality without negative impacts on handling.... Wait, what's it useful for, again?
Howard_ said:
What do they say they do on the tin? A cheap and cheerful town car? That's what they're designed for, that's what they're supposed to be used for. They're not long distance GT cars.
Unless you're a real home bird, I'd suggest 30 miles each way is not 'GT car' type use. It's more short distance commuting. For which something like a C1/107/Aygo is perfectly adept.Howard- said:
Just because you may be happy to punish yourself by driving 300 miles in a car totally unsuited for the task doesn't mean everyone else would. A Focus (or similar) would do the job in such an immeasurably superior fashion.
If I was doing it often, I'd agree with you. But that doesn't preclude smaller cars from doing those journeys without being unbearable- quite the opposite.Howard- said:
I might be inclined to forgive it if it was fun to drive. It wasn't. No grip, no handling, plenty of body roll, shocking gearbox, the 1L engine is woeful.
That's your subjective opinion, that I don't share. I've driven and owned far better cars in every single department, but I wouldn't describe the C1 etc. as poor in any of the departments you list compared to their opposition.Well each to their own I guess. I do truly believe there are much better small city cars available though. The Ka for example, feels much more composed. I was actually fairly impressed with the road manners of the one I experienced, even if it was absolute poverty spec. The Hyundai i10 is also better, although not by as much of a margin as the Ka.
Although I'd disagree that a 30-40 mile commute each way is short. Mine is 17 miles each way, involves 70/30 motorway/town and still takes me 35-45 minutes depending on traffic. I'd hate to do it in a city car, too
Although I'd disagree that a 30-40 mile commute each way is short. Mine is 17 miles each way, involves 70/30 motorway/town and still takes me 35-45 minutes depending on traffic. I'd hate to do it in a city car, too
Captain Muppet said:
I'd stick my OH in a couple of grands worth of Civic for that journey, had she not already bought heself a Civic for exactly that purpose. Never goes wrong, just needs a new handbrake caliper every other MOT.
I think it's a sad indictment of the success of feminism that women still have to get a man to sort out their transport problems. And also that they don't kill themselves so that their natural longevity is equalised. Equal or special, pick one.
She could sort it herself, I've just offered to help her as it will come out of our joint earnings and I may occasionally use it...I think it's a sad indictment of the success of feminism that women still have to get a man to sort out their transport problems. And also that they don't kill themselves so that their natural longevity is equalised. Equal or special, pick one.
Thanks for the opinions guys, I know a supermini may not suit everyone, but the car is purely an A-B car and just needs to be cheap to run with as little time broken down as possible (not guarenteed I know)...
Think we may pop round the corner to our local VW garage in the morning, have a look at the Up! and the Polo. Also, Mazda 2 and Fiesta seem like good choices but she hates this shape Fiesta (silly woman)...
Howard- said:
I really don't think anyone can argue that they're not designed for long distance driving? Sure, 80 miles a day isn't THAT far, and yes occasionally it's doable in a supermini, but it'll soon start to grate.
You only have a right to complain after doing 65k a year in a 1.9D Mk1 Clio, as I used to. 35 miles to work, drove all day, then another 35 miles home. 80 miles in slow traffic is NOTHING. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff