Commuter's Dream

[paykanti]

I recently had to kiss goodbye to my 2003 1.1 Look 206 Petrol. I'm now on the lookout for something for no more than £2K ideally.

I do 500 miles a week (50 miles down the M1) for work so was thinking of switching over to a Diesel for the MPG. I can't say I had any major issues with the 206 (injectors and ignition coil aside, it did me good for 80K), even its slowness I adjusted to but I was wondering what you knowledgeable heads would recommend for my circumstance. Just taking a rough look at autotrader, I put together the following shortlist:

Corsa
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Clio (£500 premium on this due to the low mileage)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Skoda
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Focus
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Punto
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

VAG
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Pug
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Or should I just stick to petrol altogether?

Cheers for any help.

[JimmyConwayNW]

For a diesel 206 with the good HDI engine this looks attractive?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[paykanti]

After I saw the marked improvement in MPG listed on the autotrader listings for the 1.4l engine, I sort of thought I may as well stick to that if I go for a 206 again. I'm not too bothered by speed, I did some good speeds on the 1.1 in my time and became numb to the dire acceleration

[Synchromesh]

That's 25k pa before SD&P mileage (weekends, holidays etc) so diesel would make sense for you. In that price range Pug 306 D-turbos are quite appealing.

[davepoth]

In that price range a Rover 75 Diesel or MG ZT makes far too much sense to ignore. It's a very nice place to be for a motorway commute.

[carinaman]

Given the mileage and time endured on the M1 should passive safety also be a consideration?

[andy-xr]

I went through a Rover 25 Di, a 206 DTurbo HDi and a 307 HDi doing 110 miles a day on the A1/A57. The best one was actually the Rover, really nice car and comfortable enough to be in for that amount of time. I was going to uprate the injectors for a bit more poke, but it needed a clutch so I did that instead.

Only thing I did to it was fit winter tyres and put a decent head unit in that could take my iPhone as I like listening to audiobooks in the car

[paykanti]

I'm only 24 so I'm not sure I can get away with rocking up in a Rover 75, parking looks troublesome in those beasts too But the 25 is a good suggestion, I'd never considered a Rover.

[aspirated]

VAG 1.9 Tdi pd130?

[donaircooleone]

Get a Pug 306 HDi (Meridian spec) and put some newish injectors in it - probably the best all around cheap commuter (for the money).

[ahenners]

For that many miles a week I would not be looking at superminis. You'd be better off with something bigger and more refined, I'd be looking at MK3 Mondeos

[George7]

paykanti said:

I'm only 24 so I'm not sure I can get away with rocking up in a Rover 75, parking looks troublesome in those beasts too But the 25 is a good suggestion, I'd never considered a Rover.

The ZT has more young person friendly looks though they're not too bad to park. I'd much rather spend that much time commuting in something bigger than a supermini.

Edited by George7 on Wednesday 1st January 15:10

[davepoth]

paykanti said:

I'm only 24 so I'm not sure I can get away with rocking up in a Rover 75, parking looks troublesome in those beasts too But the 25 is a good suggestion, I'd never considered a Rover.

With the miles you are doing I'd definitely want a bigger car. The extra size really does make everything much more comfortable.

[247RPM]

paykanti said:

I'm only 24 so I'm not sure I can get away with rocking up in a Rover 75, parking looks troublesome in those beasts too But the 25 is a good suggestion, I'd never considered a Rover.

Rubbish, I drove one at 19!

[jonah35]

A bigger engine 1.9tdi could be better on the motorway. Id look for something with 6 gears so you can go into 6th to keep revs down

[eddy02]

I would suggest a Bora TDi (cos I have got one) but it has been really pis@@@g me off lately with all the little problems that keep happening.It is comfy,quiet on the motorway,dash lights up nicely at night,50 mpg.
Good job we have a Honda to fall back on.

[carinaman]

George7 said:

paykanti said:

I'm only 24 so I'm not sure I can get away with rocking up in a Rover 75, parking looks troublesome in those beasts too But the 25 is a good suggestion, I'd never considered a Rover.

The ZT has more young person friendly looks though they're not too bad to park. I'd much rather spend that much time commuting in something bigger than a supermini.

Something like that?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-MG-ZT-T-CDTI-135-GR...

[Baryonyx]

paykanti said:

...rocking up in a Rover 75, parking looks troublesome in those beasts too

Are you taking the piss? You do realise it comes with wing mirrors?

[KM666]

How about http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[Disco You]

aspirated said:

VAG 1.9 Tdi pd130?

This, inside a VW bora.