Most economical mileage muncher for £3k
Most economical mileage muncher for £3k
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obob

Original Poster:

4,193 posts

224 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
I have been offered a job with a 40mile commute each way, all motorway so fairly easy quick and the money makes it worthwhile.

I have been walking to work for the last 18months so sold my workhorse so need another.

Any ideas on what can be had for £3k, most fuel efficient, reliable and low road tax/insurance...

I don't even know where to start looking tbh!

can you get the Bluemotion Polo at this price? Prius?

Toaster Pilot

14,867 posts

188 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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Spend £300 instead on a Skoda Felicia 1.9D like I did - does 130 miles a day commuting with very little mishap. Had to spend a little bit on consumables but any car needs tyres/brakes.

Slow as a week in the jail but 55-60mpg and unburstable. Easy to fix and parts cost very little.

dave7692

683 posts

159 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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A Focus diesel? Not sure what age you'd get for 3k but they generally tick all your other requirements.

obob

Original Poster:

4,193 posts

224 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
Toaster Pilot said:
Spend £300 instead on a Skoda Felicia 1.9D like I did - does 130 miles a day commuting with very little mishap. Had to spend a little bit on consumables but any car needs tyres/brakes.

Slow as a week in the jail but 55-60mpg and unburstable. Easy to fix and parts cost very little.
Felicia! How am I going to find one of them!

baldy1926

2,153 posts

230 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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How about a mgZt diesel should do low 50's it has a bmw engine and is reliable and for you will get a good one for just over 2k

Toaster Pilot

14,867 posts

188 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
obob said:
Felicia! How am I going to find one of them!
Gumtree/ebay - still plenty about.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
What about something like a Passat? Will get you north of 50mpg and be relatively comfortable for a long journey of that nature.

obob

Original Poster:

4,193 posts

224 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
What about something like a Passat? Will get you north of 50mpg and be relatively comfortable for a long journey of that nature.
Thats what I used to have, an old 1.9TDi, was always very reliable but they'll be a lot older now with turbos on the way out etc. I would have thought and the newer diesels have loads of problems with DMFs and DPFs and whatnot.

dapearson

4,456 posts

254 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
If you really don't care about performance, then something with the VAG SDI engine. We had an Ibiza SDI and it ran and ran, plus did 50mpg+ regardless of treatment.

Slow though...

Buzz84

1,738 posts

179 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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Alfa Romeo 156 1.9JTD 150bhp, great car and pretty economical, used to have one myself. for £3K you could get a facelift one which imo looks lovely
Now I have a 159 1.9JTD sportwagon and do a commute of 35 miles each way mostly motorway mileage and get an average of 45mpg

Toaster Pilot

14,867 posts

188 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
dapearson said:
If you really don't care about performance, then something with the VAG SDI engine. We had an Ibiza SDI and it ran and ran, plus did 50mpg+ regardless of treatment.

Slow though...
yes (see my post above)

obob

Original Poster:

4,193 posts

224 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
Toaster Pilot said:
dapearson said:
If you really don't care about performance, then something with the VAG SDI engine. We had an Ibiza SDI and it ran and ran, plus did 50mpg+ regardless of treatment.

Slow though...
yes (see my post above)
Hmmm I don't, so will look at the SDI. Maybe not the felicia though as I could do with a few more creature comforts if I'm going to be in there for a couple of hours 3 or 4 days a week

Toaster Pilot

14,867 posts

188 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
MK1 Octavia came with the same engine and can also be had for banger money... Not sure if you'll find anything that's not a base model ex-minicab mind hehe

obob

Original Poster:

4,193 posts

224 months

Monday 16th December 2013
quotequote all
Toaster Pilot said:
MK1 Octavia came with the same engine and can also be had for banger money... Not sure if you'll find anything that's not a base model ex-minicab mind hehe
Probably not! having a look now...

RizzoTheRat

28,985 posts

222 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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A mate of mine's got an SDI Octavia, not quick but cheap to run comfortable. Presumably an SDI engine Fabia would be lighter and use less fuel though, the Octavia is quite a large car.

SSBB

698 posts

186 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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I have heard that the Peugeot 306 diesel is cheap to run. No personal experience though.

LiamM45

1,035 posts

210 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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A pre PD diesel VW Passat or Audi A4. The 110bhp variant is a little better for motorway use.

Genuinely a brilliant, simple, bombproof mile muncher. My old one did Teesside to South Wales a few times in comfort, sat at 70-80mph getting 60mpg. Nothing went wrong with it and I wish I hadn't sold it. Being an Avant it was also very practical, the boot was huge!

I paid £820 for mine with huge service history, and nearly a years tax and test. It was the cheapest years motoring I've ever had!

Matt UK

18,084 posts

230 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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hornetrider said:
What about something like a Passat? Will get you north of 50mpg and be relatively comfortable for a long journey of that nature.
Yup, I agree.

Get a b5.5 shape with the 1.9tdi 130 engine. 2004/5 highline run out models come with plenty of kit.

I liked mine and it cost buttons to run. You'll probably get a good one for nearer £2k as well.

philmots

4,666 posts

290 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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Buzz84 said:
Alfa Romeo 156 1.9JTD 150bhp, great car and pretty economical, used to have one myself. for £3K you could get a facelift one which imo looks lovely
Now I have a 159 1.9JTD sportwagon and do a commute of 35 miles each way mostly motorway mileage and get an average of 45mpg
That is a dreadful engine though..

1.9 tdi octavia for me.

LayZ

1,835 posts

272 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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+1 for 130 PD Passat

You need a decent enough place to sit if you're commuting 80 miles a day. Felicia - if you have a job surely no one needs do inflict that much pain on yourself?