Cheapest way to do 60k
Discussion
Good Afternoon all
After 4 easy years my employer will no longer be providing a free coach to take us from Munich up to work 75km away. So come the new year I need to find something to do 150km / 90 miles a day in. I may still keep the M3 for summer fun depending on how much I spend but I doubt I can afford two cars.
So, my basic requirement is to make it as cheap as possible over 3 years with everything taken into account.
Ideally I do not want to spend more than 3k, but could go to 5k if needed. My thinking is that the more I spend, the more I am going to lose come the time when it fails or I move countries/jobs.
Hard Requirements
Good MPG at 80-100mph (Cruising speed out here at the times I travel)
Up to 3k (gbp) or 5k if special or a nicer place to sit for 10hrs a week
Soft Requirements
I already have BMW (e36,46,39) and VAG (mk4 golf platform) winter wheels with tyres so any car that uses these would save me some cash
Generous rear legroom. If its comfy for my colleagues, we can lift share it will make the whole thing much cheaper
My searching's today have been varying wildly, from Saabs 95's for peanuts to A8's at top budget. I guess the ideal car does the best MPG at high speeds which are outside than the normal optimum. So from real world use mpg figures, does anyone have any suggestions?
ps. Diesel price out here is €1,55 a liter
After 4 easy years my employer will no longer be providing a free coach to take us from Munich up to work 75km away. So come the new year I need to find something to do 150km / 90 miles a day in. I may still keep the M3 for summer fun depending on how much I spend but I doubt I can afford two cars.
So, my basic requirement is to make it as cheap as possible over 3 years with everything taken into account.
Ideally I do not want to spend more than 3k, but could go to 5k if needed. My thinking is that the more I spend, the more I am going to lose come the time when it fails or I move countries/jobs.
Hard Requirements
Good MPG at 80-100mph (Cruising speed out here at the times I travel)
Up to 3k (gbp) or 5k if special or a nicer place to sit for 10hrs a week
Soft Requirements
I already have BMW (e36,46,39) and VAG (mk4 golf platform) winter wheels with tyres so any car that uses these would save me some cash
Generous rear legroom. If its comfy for my colleagues, we can lift share it will make the whole thing much cheaper
My searching's today have been varying wildly, from Saabs 95's for peanuts to A8's at top budget. I guess the ideal car does the best MPG at high speeds which are outside than the normal optimum. So from real world use mpg figures, does anyone have any suggestions?
ps. Diesel price out here is €1,55 a liter
TEKNOPUG said:
Depending upon how many employees were using the free bus previously, I'd have thought that hiring another coach/minibus/taxi between you, would be by far the cheapest, least hassle option.
We have looked into this but its expensive and complicated. The company actually wanted to continue the service with us paying but no bus companies want the contract. The main problem is that they dont utilise the coaches during the day so they sit in the car park from 7,30 when we arrive untill 17,00 /18,00 when we go home. Complete waste but i guess they think the drive back isnt worth it.Also, bus "stops" out here are leased to bus companies who inturn rent them to other companies who wish to use them.
We were getting quotes back in excess of €500 a month per person. I estimate i can drive for half that cost.
Crusoe said:
Probably a diesel passat 130tdi or similar engined Octavia - pre 2007/8 so they don't have DPF etc.
My Golf 130 TDi MK4 Estate is perfect for long commutes with max space and minimum cost - 60mpg and £130 Tax PA - I have put almost 100k on mine in a few years and has been perfect for it!Lord 
said:
said: We have looked into this but its expensive and complicated. The company actually wanted to continue the service with us paying but no bus companies want the contract. The main problem is that they dont utilise the coaches during the day so they sit in the car park from 7,30 when we arrive untill 17,00 /18,00 when we go home. Complete waste but i guess they think the drive back isnt worth it.
Also, bus "stops" out here are leased to bus companies who inturn rent them to other companies who wish to use them.
We were getting quotes back in excess of €500 a month per person. I estimate i can drive for half that cost.
It's only 75km though - surely a taxi between 4 of you will be cheaper and easier than buying and running another car?Also, bus "stops" out here are leased to bus companies who inturn rent them to other companies who wish to use them.
We were getting quotes back in excess of €500 a month per person. I estimate i can drive for half that cost.
TEKNOPUG said:
It's only 75km though - surely a taxi between 4 of you will be cheaper and easier than buying and running another car?
150km a day. Taxis here charge around 50€ to go to the airport thats about 1/3rd of the distance. Im sure we could get a good rate if it was a daily event though. Ill make some enquiries and find out.cheers
Lord said:
said:TEKNOPUG said:
Depending upon how many employees were using the free bus previously, I'd have thought that hiring another coach/minibus/taxi between you, would be by far the cheapest, least hassle option.
We have looked into this but its expensive and complicated. The company actually wanted to continue the service with us paying but no bus companies want the contract. The main problem is that they dont utilise the coaches during the day so they sit in the car park from 7,30 when we arrive untill 17,00 /18,00 when we go home. Complete waste but i guess they think the drive back isnt worth it.Also, bus "stops" out here are leased to bus companies who inturn rent them to other companies who wish to use them.
We were getting quotes back in excess of €500 a month per person. I estimate i can drive for half that cost.
Hugo a Gogo said:
what would be cheaper is a UK right-hooker
Mondeo is the cheapest mile muncher, doesn't help with your wheels and tyres though
What he said - a few years ago I had the same dilema and found a 6k mile 1.8Lx Mondeo for £5500.Mondeo is the cheapest mile muncher, doesn't help with your wheels and tyres though
In three years and 140kmiles it needed:
- services every 15k miles - I stretched the intervals from 12k,
- tyres every 40k,
- one rear wheel bearing,
- Fuel at arround 35mpg avg,
- the rear light fittings sealing with bath sealant due to water ingress,
No clutch, cambelt, brakes, oil usage or anything else - by far the cheapest car per mile I have ever owned.
The balance of the travel allowance bought the R1.
Quick man-maths would suggest that using the M3 would cost €15,250 in petrol over 3 years, based on working 5 days a week, 48 weeks of the year and a not unreasonable 29mpg at a constant 80-90mph on the m-way. A diesel giving 45mpg would cost €10,150 in fuel over the same period.
So the difference between the 2 is €5,100.
Can you buy, insure, tax and maintain a car for €5,100 over 3 years, that will be a better and more pleasant than your current M3?
Presuming that your M3 is currently in good health, I'd struggle to justify buying and running another car for financial reasons.
So the difference between the 2 is €5,100.
Can you buy, insure, tax and maintain a car for €5,100 over 3 years, that will be a better and more pleasant than your current M3?
Presuming that your M3 is currently in good health, I'd struggle to justify buying and running another car for financial reasons.
TEKNOPUG said:
Quick man-maths would suggest that using the M3 would cost €15,250 in petrol over 3 years, based on working 5 days a week, 48 weeks of the year and a not unreasonable 29mpg at a constant 80-90mph on the m-way. A diesel giving 45mpg would cost €10,150 in fuel over the same period.
So the difference between the 2 is €5,100.
Can you buy, insure, tax and maintain a car for €5,100 over 3 years, that will be a better and more pleasant than your current M3?
Presuming that your M3 is currently in good health, I'd struggle to justify buying and running another car for financial reasons.
Damn your evil man maths! Ill take that under advisment. My main reason for not using the M3 is depreciation and consumables. But then what sort of PHer would i be if i didnt use a nice car for those reason, i should be using it every day and enjoying it! It does about 30 at 80ish so it would certinly be a very pleasent way to get to work. So the difference between the 2 is €5,100.
Can you buy, insure, tax and maintain a car for €5,100 over 3 years, that will be a better and more pleasant than your current M3?
Presuming that your M3 is currently in good health, I'd struggle to justify buying and running another car for financial reasons.
The car was designed to swallow up vast distances on the autobahn. Stick it in 6th and cruise along. Then in the summer, when you have a nice evening, you can put the top down and take the scenic route back. It'll need tyre and oil changes more regularly due to the mileage but you shouldn't have any greater issues with general wear & tear and maintenance. It's not like you are driving stop-start in central London over broken roads everyday.
Depreciation might be an issue if you have a very low mileage example, but as yours has already done 90+k, I can't see that being an issue.
A small price to pay compared with being stuck in some drab, boring, stty old eurobox for a couple of hours every day.....
You know it makes sense
Depreciation might be an issue if you have a very low mileage example, but as yours has already done 90+k, I can't see that being an issue.
A small price to pay compared with being stuck in some drab, boring, s
tty old eurobox for a couple of hours every day.....You know it makes sense
I doubt your 1.9tdi's will do over 50mpg at 100mph constant. I know your lead foot driving style doesn't help :-)
I'd go for a 2.7d s type jag, ugly but there cheap yet a little nicer to sit in than the golf/skoda Octavia on a long run.
If you lift share with 3 peeps then your only doing a 3rd if the miles so keep the m3.
Or do as you where told 3 years ago buy a m5 and use the change from the m3 for the extra fuel.
See you in a week for Oktoberfest darling Herr page
I'd go for a 2.7d s type jag, ugly but there cheap yet a little nicer to sit in than the golf/skoda Octavia on a long run.
If you lift share with 3 peeps then your only doing a 3rd if the miles so keep the m3.
Or do as you where told 3 years ago buy a m5 and use the change from the m3 for the extra fuel.
See you in a week for Oktoberfest darling Herr page
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