Sorry... What shed... for a short commute?

[RP1]

Hi All,

Currently I have a Saab 9-5 Aero wagon and the wife has a V40 T4. Time has come to keep one (or sell both and get something else) as a sensible (ish) family car and get a shed for the commute that will be as economical as possible.

My commute is 4 miles each way all stop start traffic so i'm half way there before the engine really warms up resulting in pretty poor MPG (Aero averages about 18-20mpg, V40 gets 22mpg). Need to save some money now and we can downsize one of the cars and not really miss it tbh.

I can't really stand the thought of driving a micra every day or some 0.9 litre perodua pileocrap so those sort of suggestions are out. It will be my main car and will need to be reasonably able to cope with being used as a second family car on occasion so would be preferable to have 5 doors and a boot the dogs can get in. It will have to do the odd motorway trip and longer run but esentially it will be a commuting tool.

Obviously it needs to be as reliable/cheap to fix as possible and it wouldn't hurt if it was a decent drive and in the lower tax bracket. I would like to see and average of at least 30mpg (my mums 1996 corolla 1.6 can do 35mpg on this run, but drives like a boat)

Would a diesel or small petrol be best for this? My feeling was probably petrol but i stand to be corrected.

Budget is really about £750 max (the cheaper the better) but could stretch a little for something good though.

So far i've thought of:

Suzuki Ignis 1.3, quite like the look of them, don't know why!
VW Polo 1.4 16v
Fabia 1.4 16v
Peugeot 306 TD

Over to you... Thanks in advance.

[kambites]

I'd probably get a push-bike or failing that a moped.

[thinfourth2]

4 miles

Buy a bike and drive the car on days it is crappy weather

[RP1]

No shower at work and I don't fancy arriving all sweaty in a suit carrying laptop, papers and all the other paraphinalia. Otherwise i'd go on my bike. That and when was the last time we had nice weather?

Must be a car, no mopeds etc, we tried going down to 1 car and it was a nightmare so we do need 2 cars.

Edited by RP1 on Thursday 3rd January 10:47

[kambites]

Buy something with a tiny normally aspirated petrol engine then, and I'd buy on condition rather than make/model at that price.

[Apache]

Keep it simple, petrol and small capacity, age not so big a deal as general condition and history. I successfully used a Renault 19 Phase 1, 1400cc for 4 years, I paid £50 for it and ebayed it for £299. Manual steering, carb etc

[Sods Law]

I know you have said no mopeds but reading the above, I would go that way.... And not buy a shed buy something more appealing to you....


I'm considering a Moped for round Oxford when like you I don't fancy turn up in high viz and sweaty...... And the traffic is always pants....

[Slow]

Just go on auto trader and put max £1000 petrol and within 30 miles or so and just pick anything that isnt falling apart?

[rallycross]

Puma will give decent mpg and fun to drive, plenty available under £1k, 1.6 drives very much like the 1.7 but cheaper. Buy one thats had its cambelt done (many have not) and watch out for rust;

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...