Well after four years my first “What Car” thread

[T16OLE]

Here is my situation, I currently have a 2001 BMW 330ci Sport Auto, I absolutely love and although its on 160k it is extremely reliable and in mind condition, it has previously had a lot of money spent on it.

Anyway, I currently live in Leeds City Centre and walk to work…and am now moving in with my girlfriend. Meaning a 60 mile round trip commute.

Insurance isn’t too much of an issue and at 24 my BMW costs £700 fully comp.

I have worked out this would cost me about £240 in fuel alone per month and am thinking of a diesel, so what car would suit.

I don’t want a Mondeo, Laguna, Focus, Avensis or any of the sort.

I have whittled it down to a few possibilities; £3k will be the budget depending on how much my 330 is worth.



Volvo S60 2.4 D5
I could cope with the image, but am told the DMF costs about £1k and the geartronic only dies 37mpg


Skoda Fabia VRS
I also like these, but they are only small and probably not that comfortable or perhaps even that safe for lots of motorway driving.



Golf GTPDTDI 130
These cost a fair bit even now after being 10 years old and I suppose same issues as the Skoda, although very frugal I am told


Mercedes C270cdi
Don’t really know too much about these apart from they rust, how to the C220`s compare the this C270 and other than that are they any good, also what are the coupe`s like?

Leon FR
Again an Mk3 golf in drag, a Cupra version may be bottom end of those available and could be a bit of a dog, nice looking though.

[300bhp/ton]

T16OLE said:

Here is my situation, I currently have a 2001 BMW 330ci Sport Auto, I absolutely love and although its on 160k it is extremely reliable and in mind condition, it has previously had a lot of money spent on it.

Anyway, I currently live in Leeds City Centre and walk to work…and am now moving in with my girlfriend. Meaning a 60 mile round trip commute.

Insurance isn’t too much of an issue and at 24 my BMW costs £700 fully comp.

I have worked out this would cost me about £240 in fuel alone per month and am thinking of a diesel, so what car would suit.

I don’t want a Mondeo, Laguna, Focus, Avensis or any of the sort.

I have whittled it down to a few possibilities; £3k will be the budget depending on how much my 330 is worth.

Umm, 60 miles a day isn't really a huge amount tbh. On the basis that you have 25 days holiday a year, plus bank holidays and you work a 5 day week. That means approx 229 commuting days a year. Or in your case 13,740 commuting miles.

So how about opting for an LPG conversion on your current 330ci and reduce fuel costs by 40-45% and have a similar pence per mile ratio as a high mpg diesel or better.

Ok you car has a few miles on it. But if you believe it's a good'un. Then I see no reason why you couldn't get years more use from it.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Tuesday 19th June 15:35

[T16OLE]

Fair enough, another thing. I have had Diesel`s in the past, albeit both have been great and caused me no bother, but I have been petrified about turbo, injector and fuel pump failure; especially on my old 530d.

That said man maths have served me well for the past 18 months owning my 330. Its been a little peach, cost me only tyres and an oil change and for the past year hasn't really cost anything in petrol, because well, its hasn't really been used much. However, man maths only get me so far and spending an extra £100 pm on fuel will hurt, but so would a turbo failure on a diesel I suppose, which would negate any saving made there and then whilst instantly cripple, me where as at least the 330 would cripple me month by month.

[C.A.R.]

I had a similar budget and requirements as you not 2 months ago and ended up with a MK1 Ford Focus diesel. Don't laugh.

I drove the others and found them all to be dull. My commute is often lots of traffic with maybe 1 or 2 opportunities to put your foot down, so my previous Celica 190 was absolutely wasted on me. For that reason outright power wasn't a priority - handling was.

The Golf I tested (80,000 miles, 02 plate GT TDi 130PD ) was not only a few hundred pound more than the car I finally settled on, it was incredibly dull!

My requirements differed somewhat, as I also have my first child on the way. My Focus was the best I could afford and is top-spec, whilst it doesn't have all the toys of the Golf that generally means that there's less to go wrong...

[T16OLE]

C.A.R. said:

I had a similar budget and requirements as you not 2 months ago and ended up with a MK1 Ford Focus diesel. Don't laugh.

I drove the others and found them all to be dull. My commute is often lots of traffic with maybe 1 or 2 opportunities to put your foot down, so my previous Celica 190 was absolutely wasted on me. For that reason outright power wasn't a priority - handling was.

The Golf I tested (80,000 miles, 02 plate GT TDi 130PD ) was not only a few hundred pound more than the car I finally settled on, it was incredibly dull!

My requirements differed somewhat, as I also have my first child on the way. My Focus was the best I could afford and is top-spec, whilst it doesn't have all the toys of the Golf that generally means that there's less to go wrong...

Fair enough, I am just not that keen on a Focus I know its a better steer but just not for me

[VR46]

Get an s3, much better to drive than a focus, the economy isnt too bad for 60 miles a day. Or get the gf to move in with u.

[Codswallop]

T16OLE said:

H
Skoda Fabia VRS
I also like these, but they are only small and probably not that comfortable or perhaps even that safe for lots of motorway driving.

Blimmin 'eck, I cannot believe how risk averse people are becoming!? A four star NCAP, modern design, and you worry that it may not be safe for motorway driving...

Anyway, back on topic, I think a 1.9 VAG of some sort would be a good bet if you want diesel as they tend to be reliable (apart from the 150bhp models reportedly), and parts are cheap and plentiful. You might want to check out a VW Bora or Seat Toledo rather than a Golf/ Leon as the saloons tend to be cheaper in the UK.

Interesting alternative, how about a last gen Toyota Celica 1.8 vvti? 140bhp, and 38mpg combined, with fewer potential reliability issues than a high mileage diesel.

[T16OLE]

Fair point, any more votes for keeping the 330ci

I suppose see how it goes and see how much it does actually cost me!

[rumple]

T16OLE said:

Fair point, any more votes for keeping the 330ci

I suppose see how it goes and see how much it does actually cost me!

Im facing a 150 pound a week pay cut and will have to commute in september, im in the same dilema, im thinking mondeo st, its the best drive and practical, im also thinking of a way of keeping my 330ci as well, im not going to lpg mine though, i just cant be arsed with the initial cost although the sequential kits out there mean you can lpg it with no performance lose, also 160k is not a big millage for that engine

[rumple]

The Crack Fox said:

I wouldn't risk buggering up a leggy petrol engine with an LPG kit.

OP, do some man-maths, think about how much more diesel costs, how tedious driving a tractor will be after your silky smooth six, and the cost to change cars factoring in your time, insurance faff etc etc... at 60 miles round trip I'd be keeping the BMW myself.

Telling the OP to do man maths says to me.....get an m3

[300bhp/ton]

VR46 said:

Get an s3, much better to drive than a focus, the economy isnt too bad for 60 miles a day. Or get the gf to move in with u.

Really...

[300bhp/ton]

T16OLE said:

Fair point, any more votes for keeping the 330ci

I suppose see how it goes and see how much it does actually cost me!

I wouldn't say I'm voting to keep the 330, not on petrol. What sort of mpg do you get from it? Would a manual maybe be more frugal? It really comes down to what you are wanting from a vehicle and how much you are willing to pay to get it/run it.

[T16OLE]

300bhp/ton said:

I wouldn't say I'm voting to keep the 330, not on petrol. What sort of mpg do you get from it? Would a manual maybe be more frugal? It really comes down to what you are wanting from a vehicle and how much you are willing to pay to get it/run it.

Probably wouldn't get more than 25mpg due to traffic

[Fittster]

T16OLE said:

Skoda Fabia VRS
I also like these, but they are only small and probably not that comfortable or perhaps even that safe for lots of motorway driving.

why wouldn't it be safe?

[300bhp/ton]

T16OLE said:

Probably wouldn't get more than 25mpg due to traffic

I don't know how many social miles you'll do a year. But using the 13,740 commuting miles here's some costs you might find helpful.

Petrol

mpg	Year	Month
25	£3,397.93	£283.16
30	£2,831.61	£235.97
35	£2,427.10	£202.26
40	£2,123.71	£176.98
45	£1,887.74	£157.31
50	£1,698.97	£141.58

Diesel

mpg	Year	Month
30	£3,039.82	£253.32
35	£2,605.56	£217.13
40	£2,279.86	£189.99
45	£2,026.55	£168.88
50	£1,823.89	£151.99
55	£1,658.08	£138.17

LPG

mpg	Year	Month
25	£1,898.85	£158.24
30	£1,582.37	£131.86
35	£1,356.32	£113.03
40	£1,186.78	£98.90
45	£1,054.91	£87.91

[.:ian:.]

T16OLE said:

Volvo S60 2.4 D5
I could cope with the image, but am told the DMF costs about £1k and the geartronic only dies 37mpg

The 2004 and earlier dont have a DPF, mines a geartronic and is showing 41mpg average and thats short journeys in 30/40 limits. You can easily get 50+ on a run.

[T16OLE]

.:ian:. said:

The 2004 and earlier dont have a DPF, mines a geartronic and is showing 41mpg average and thats short journeys in 30/40 limits. You can easily get 50+ on a run.

I was referring to the DMF (Dual mass flywheel)its about £1k when it goes and am told they do tend to go.

[Ved]

Keep the BMW.

[ajb85]

Alfa 156 2.4JTD 20 Valve. Plenty of performance and 50mpg.

[T16OLE]

ajb85 said:

Alfa 156 2.4JTD 20 Valve. Plenty of performance and 50mpg.

I didnt really think of that, that said Ive had about 5 alfa`s including the 156 2.4jtd and after my last one promised myself I would never own another Alfa Romeo, I think 40mpg was optimistic let alone 50mpg