Commuting...at what point do you change cars??

[Jamesemt]

I changed jobs 3 months ago for a nicer working life, downside of which is an 80 miles per day commute which is mostly motorway.
I currently drive an Ibiza tdi Cupra which gives me 50mpg and is spot on in every respect apart from the one thing it has never had to do - motorway work. It's noisy and unrefined on the commute. I've owned the car for 7 years and it's coming up to 100k miles. I'm sure the clutch/DMF is on its last legs (car was remapped at 10 days old), timing belt is due this year, front brake discs were an advisory on MOT and the car is going into limp home mode once a month due to the turbo getting sooted up. Also needs two new front tyres.
At what point do you throw the towel in and replace it? It looks a mess due to various lacquer issues and slightly different colour front wings replaced due to rust, so it's worth bugger all. I've pampered it mechanically and over serviced it to try and make it last, but should I just consider getting shot and replacing it? Not really in a financial position to, but fixing all the inevitable problems will get me a long way into car payments...
What would you do?

[ShaunTheSheep]

Fixing all those issues won't even get you past the deposit on a new Seat Mii.

For financial reasons, I'd fix that up.

Sounds like you're bored of it though, lifes to short to suffer a car you don't like any more.

80 miles a day? A nice Phaeton TDI should do the job :-)

[VeeFource]

I'd be tempted to change it simply because of the noise. There's not a lot of point in having a small, nimble car for motorway work unless you're really into cost saving. You'd be amazed how much quiter a beemer is on the motorway which makes it much more relaxing. But then if you are on a cost mission, you could always look for some quieter tyres

[Northernchimp]

Sell it whilst it's still saleable. There's still a decent market for that sort of thing.

We traded in a 93k 10 plate Ibiza because about 10 things were about to let go on it, all of which would have savaged the value or cost more to fix than we'd have got back for the trouble.

[agent006]

ShaunTheSheep said:

80 miles a day? A nice Phaeton TDI should do the job :-)

Quite. Trade it in against that or a used 730d.

[Cemesis]

You've had a good run in it. Start looking for something larger and more suitable to a motorway commute. You can get some excellent options to suit any budget if you look hard.

[Spare tyre]

I hate motorway noise

Chuck a load of old duvets in the boot / back seats

Will make a big difference

[Jamesemt]

Thanks for all the replies. Still don't know what to do for the best!
What is the best 50mpg motorway car out there for £7k? My wife has a new Fiesta on lease (limited mileage) which is lovely - how much quieter can it get for my budget?

[Mr SFJ]

Jamesemt said:

Thanks for all the replies. Still don't know what to do for the best!
What is the best 50mpg motorway car out there for £7k? My wife has a new Fiesta on lease (limited mileage) which is lovely - how much quieter can it get for my budget?

Merc C220 CDI?
Toyota Avensis Diesel
330D?

All of which can be found for under 7k, but the 330d probably has the better engine, and should return 50mpg

Edited by Mr SFJ on Tuesday 1st July 08:39

[mattfuey]

Jamesemt said:

Thanks for all the replies. Still don't know what to do for the best!
What is the best 50mpg motorway car out there for £7k? My wife has a new Fiesta on lease (limited mileage) which is lovely - how much quieter can it get for my budget?

I run an Audi A3 2.0TDI, the 170 version, with DSG. My commute works out to about 95-100 miles per day, and I'm averaging 48-49mpg over that. Increases to 54ish when I'm doing a longer run (say 150+ miles in one hit).

Would recommend.

[oldaudi]

Id be tempted to fix all that up. Youll end up putting more money into a different car and doing that many miles it will only be a short time before you need to do that in your newer car.

However, you sound unhappy/bored with the car. I would get something larger, more refined and something that doesnt scream at you, comfy seats, a good audio installation.

Id obviously recommend something 6 to 7 years old and German, but Im sure there are plenty of other options.

[andy-xr]

Mondeo TDDi (99-02) for a grand, or a Focus. The Mondeo has a better ratio for commuting though, but I dont think you'll get the 6 speed one without having the TDCi engine, which can have some problems

To be honest though, you'd then have a technically better car at home which does the same thing and still needs fixing. Unless big boredom has set in I'd run what you got and fix it up

[JonRB]

It's a question I have been asking myself too. I'm doing a 100 mile/day commute and my Swift Sport is really not a motorway car. At 70mph it's screaming along at 4000rpm in top gear. Not ideal.

I've kind of got used to it though and have decided to stick with what I've got. Not least because I really like my little Swift and don't want to get rid of it, and I don't want to run 3 cars.

[andyalan10]

Left field alert:-

If commuting refinement is high on the wish list Citroen C5s can be found for 6-7k ranging from 3 year old main dealer cars to V6 automatic full leather double gazed mini C6s.

No personal experience but some very interesting readers cars stories posted on here.

Andy

[blueacid]

While the engine in your car might be bombproof it sounds as if the rest is beginning to fall apart around it.

If you are considering another vehicle as well as ze German options also consider a Volvo S60 D5 or a Saab 9-3. Both are squishy, quiet motorway munchers - you can get a good one for not much at all!

I got a 2004 S60 D5 SE Auto for under £3k with below average mileage on it. The seats are squishy, the stereo amazing and it returns 45-48mpg on a run, despite being a slushbox automatic - not exactly the last word in transmission efficiency.

I've not owned a 9-3, but from comments on here it seems the seats are similarly held in high regard, although on the base spec models the stereo is worse than a cheap clock radio, and it's nigh on impossible to swap out for another - so get a higher trim level with the better radio!

[Jamesemt]

Too many bloody options!!

To add to the equation, I have a 205 gti6 in the garage when I fancy a bit of fun. So a silent slush box is probably ideal.