YAWCT - Commuter replacement

[chockymonster]

Sorry for yet another what car thread, I've been racking my brains and I'm really struggling to come up with something I actually want to drive.
I've been looking at options from Alfa 159s, Civics, Leons.
The only thing that almost had my purchasing was a 159 2.4 Q4 but the dealer couldn't fix a fault with the car so I walked away

I'm looking to replace my Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 (150) CDTi SRI, my commute is about 30 miles each way, mainly M3, M25, M40

Requirements
4 Door minimum
Sub 60k Mileage
Budget is max 8k
Economical 40+ on a run
Nice place to sit

Any suggestions (apart from MX5s)

[kiethton]

BMW 123d
Alpina D3
Golf Gti
Octavia VRS (FSI or TDi)
Volvo D5 (mapped)

[Mr Sparkle]

What is 'YAWCT'?
Edit: Oh never mind just got it.

[chockymonster]

kiethton said:

BMW 123d
Alpina D3
Golf Gti
Octavia VRS (FSI or TDi)
Volvo D5 (mapped)

I get the Volvo and possibly the Octavia, but are any of the others really going to be in budget?

[aspirated]

[kiethton]

chockymonster said:

I get the Volvo and possibly the Octavia, but are any of the others really going to be in budget?

Yep, all barring the Alpina D3 which isn't quite there yet.

123d on autotrader from £7k
Golf GTI from £5.5k
Octavia from £5k
Volvo S40 - from £4k

It all depends on the age and mileage which weren't clarified in the OP.

There are also plenty of 120d's within budget

[Kungfugerbil]

kiethton said:

123d on autotrader from £7k

It all depends on the age and mileage which weren't clarified in the OP

OP states sub 60k miles. Cheapest 123d sub 60k miles on trader is 9.7K

[chockymonster]

kiethton said:

Yep, all barring the Alpina D3 which isn't quite there yet.

123d on autotrader from £7k
Golf GTI from £5.5k
Octavia from £5k
Volvo S40 - from £4k

It all depends on the age and mileage which weren't clarified in the OP.

There are also plenty of 120d's within budget

Age not a problem really, but I did say sub 60k and economical.
Can a Golf GTi really do 40 on a run in real world driving?

The biggest problem I'm finding is ticking the boxes, I've put up with the Vectra for the last 3 years and whilst it does the job I hate how uncomfortable it is but put up with it for the economy as the little angel on my shoulder keeps reminding me I have something fun in the garage.

I'm stuck between an A6 Avant 2.7 tdi (2005) and an Alfa 159 2.4 Sportswagon (2008) Heart is saying Alfa, Head Audi.

Neither will realistically do the economy unless I drive Miss Daisy but I'm normally a fairly economical driver. Trip on the Vectra was reset when I got it 35000 miles ago and it's reporting 54.3 average (assuming that's really 45-48)

[kiethton]

chockymonster said:

kiethton said:

Yep, all barring the Alpina D3 which isn't quite there yet.

123d on autotrader from £7k
Golf GTI from £5.5k
Octavia from £5k
Volvo S40 - from £4k

It all depends on the age and mileage which weren't clarified in the OP.

There are also plenty of 120d's within budget

Age not a problem really, but I did say sub 60k and economical.
Can a Golf GTi really do 40 on a run in real world driving?

The biggest problem I'm finding is ticking the boxes, I've put up with the Vectra for the last 3 years and whilst it does the job I hate how uncomfortable it is but put up with it for the economy as the little angel on my shoulder keeps reminding me I have something fun in the garage.

I'm stuck between an A6 Avant 2.7 tdi (2005) and an Alfa 159 2.4 Sportswagon (2008) Heart is saying Alfa, Head Audi.

Neither will realistically do the economy unless I drive Miss Daisy but I'm normally a fairly economical driver. Trip on the Vectra was reset when I got it 35000 miles ago and it's reporting 54.3 average (assuming that's really 45-48)

Sorry, I did miss the 60k mile point - the 123d's found were c.90k+

I reckon a golf GTi would (same engine as petrol VRS), after all, I averaged 38mpg from a civic type r (on a 3.7k mile roadtrip) which are meant to be far jucier

[Kungfugerbil]

chockymonster said:

I'm stuck between an A6 Avant 2.7 tdi (2005) and an Alfa 159 2.4 Sportswagon (2008) Heart is saying Alfa, Head Audi.

I'm actually looking around for something very similar to your requirements at the moment, I suspect we've been looking at the same cars.. Does it have to be a wagon? If you're looking at the A6 then there are a few 3.0ds in the price range - better engine than the 2.7ds

Can't really add much as I suspect you've seen the options. If you want something to beat the Vectra then a post '57 reg 120d is a great balance of pace and economy with some tidy handling.

[chockymonster]

Thought I'd close this one off instead of forgetting about it.
I'm just about to pop out to pick up my new car.
It's an 57 123d M Sport 5 door, it's sort of a wagon and erm sensible and economical (if I squint at the mpg readout)
It wasn't quite in budget but I made the maths work

[kiethton]

Wicked, they are nice cars....enjoy