City car for commuting 25,000 miles a year. Am I mad?
Discussion
Looking for a bit of advice on the feasibility of using a city car (VW Up, Hyundai i10 etc) for commuting 100 miles a day.
Career change, so unlikely to find a similar role until I’ve got a bit more experience but we’re talking a couple of years most likely. Not feasible to take the train. Longer commute, multiple changes and the office is a 25 minute walk from the station.
Currently potter around in an MR2 but need a grown up car to fit a child seat in anyway and have a budget of £5-6k. Obviously I want to keep running costs down low as possible but wondering if anyone had actually put some serious mileage on these type of cars and if they can take it. No point in trying to save cash if the things fall apart.
Career change, so unlikely to find a similar role until I’ve got a bit more experience but we’re talking a couple of years most likely. Not feasible to take the train. Longer commute, multiple changes and the office is a 25 minute walk from the station.
Currently potter around in an MR2 but need a grown up car to fit a child seat in anyway and have a budget of £5-6k. Obviously I want to keep running costs down low as possible but wondering if anyone had actually put some serious mileage on these type of cars and if they can take it. No point in trying to save cash if the things fall apart.
Up until last year, I was putting 25k a year on an N-reg 306 TD for almost three years. Most people on here would tell you that's a stupid idea, but it was extremely comfortable, faultlessly reliable, and it managed over 700 miles on a tank! Also it cost me nothing in depreciation. Regret selling it, but a cheap GTI-6 came up locally and I couldn't resist!
So whilst a big Merc or similar would be nice, putting lots of miles on a small car really isn't as bad as everyone makes out!
So whilst a big Merc or similar would be nice, putting lots of miles on a small car really isn't as bad as everyone makes out!
I’m doing 300 miles on Friday night in my swift sport, cruise, satnav, DAB enough umphh to leave in 6 gear when on the move it’s more than up for the job.
Bit thirsty on fuel compared to a turbo derv but much less to go wrong in my eyes.
I’d say you’ll be fine in a smaller car / engine vehicle.
Bit thirsty on fuel compared to a turbo derv but much less to go wrong in my eyes.
I’d say you’ll be fine in a smaller car / engine vehicle.
Honestly
VW Passat Estate Bluemotion Tech (1.6TDI) eco thing will do 80odd mpg front seats are super comfy and it looks perfectly fine.
Doing it in say an E320CDI avagarde would be bliss.
However do it in a year old Kia Picante would be fine too - however I’d wager at the end of the two years that Kia will have lost a lot more value than the fuel savings it would provide.
Or why not run the MR2 for as long as you can cost to change zero and with an extra 50k Miles on it would you really lose that much more?
VW Passat Estate Bluemotion Tech (1.6TDI) eco thing will do 80odd mpg front seats are super comfy and it looks perfectly fine.
Doing it in say an E320CDI avagarde would be bliss.
However do it in a year old Kia Picante would be fine too - however I’d wager at the end of the two years that Kia will have lost a lot more value than the fuel savings it would provide.
Or why not run the MR2 for as long as you can cost to change zero and with an extra 50k Miles on it would you really lose that much more?
kieranblenk said:
Might be worth looking at a diesel supermini, such as a Fiesta 1.6 TDCI or a Polo for example rather than a i10 or similar.
What about a Polo 1.4 TDI ecoteck/Bluemotion - like the one Hamster used in that high miles challenge didn’t he average 85mpg- newer versions are even more economical. Or search down a LHd Lula 1.2TDI that has the world record Average mpg doing an entire road trip round the world doing something like 123mpg average. It’s claimed is 93-96mpg combined.
I do 120 miles per day 4 days a week and wouldn't consider a city car.
I use a V60 at the moment. Great seats, 50 mpg, cruise and DAB and I'm happy.
Also had an S40 1.6dRIVE which did 60 mpg and all the kit but when it got near to 100k it got expensive.
DPF and DMF in 1 year. Ouch!
Astra/Focus size would be ok and will do 55+ mpg on a run easily.
i30
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Astra
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Focus Zetec
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Skoda Rapid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Fabia
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mazda 3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I use a V60 at the moment. Great seats, 50 mpg, cruise and DAB and I'm happy.
Also had an S40 1.6dRIVE which did 60 mpg and all the kit but when it got near to 100k it got expensive.
DPF and DMF in 1 year. Ouch!
Astra/Focus size would be ok and will do 55+ mpg on a run easily.
i30
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Astra
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Focus Zetec
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Skoda Rapid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Fabia
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mazda 3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I guess that you are looking at minimising fuel costs?
Fortunately for your back, a bigger consideration might be depreciation. It could be cheaper over 2 years to get a bigger, better, more comfortable but older car that is near the bottom of its depreciation curve. At least that is how I would be trying to make the sums work!
Fortunately for your back, a bigger consideration might be depreciation. It could be cheaper over 2 years to get a bigger, better, more comfortable but older car that is near the bottom of its depreciation curve. At least that is how I would be trying to make the sums work!
I have done 4 200 mile trips in the Abarth so far. Perfectly comfortable and averaged 47mpg each time so nothing to complain about.
Have a look at the Hyundai i20. I don't know if they are in your budget yet but I had one as a rental a while back and it was astonishingly good on fuel, was comfortable and got up to speed well. I think it was the 1.2
Have a look at the Hyundai i20. I don't know if they are in your budget yet but I had one as a rental a while back and it was astonishingly good on fuel, was comfortable and got up to speed well. I think it was the 1.2
Tbh diesel motor for you would give you the most savings, I know fuel is only a small part of car ownership, but a 1.0 Kia picanto for example is going to be spinning 3500 rpm or so on the motorway at least I would of thought.
My missus 1.2 2008 spins around 3500 think it is at 70, that's a 2014 car, but it is quite economical around town as well - she gets about 40 mpg, where my golf r gives me about 28 doing the same route. Not sure if your budget would stretch to one with a turbo - they do a 110 bhp version I think, might have a 6th gear as well but I would look at 208 rathe rthan the 2008 as sounds you don't need the space of the 2008 (even though very similar the boot is bigger on 2008 and bit mroe room in the car.
A supermini would be fine, certainly a modern day one, something like a 208, corsa, fiesta, kia rio? etc. I did find my astra diesel (2.0 cdti, 19 inch alloys, sri spec) more comfortable on motorway than my missus 1.4 fiesta titanium - the bigger cars do ride a bit better, sometimes have more adjustment in the seats as well to get comfortable.
How often is the kiddie seat used in the car - and is that in the back or front - also will the car have 2 people in the front then one in the back - depending how often
My missus 1.2 2008 spins around 3500 think it is at 70, that's a 2014 car, but it is quite economical around town as well - she gets about 40 mpg, where my golf r gives me about 28 doing the same route. Not sure if your budget would stretch to one with a turbo - they do a 110 bhp version I think, might have a 6th gear as well but I would look at 208 rathe rthan the 2008 as sounds you don't need the space of the 2008 (even though very similar the boot is bigger on 2008 and bit mroe room in the car.
A supermini would be fine, certainly a modern day one, something like a 208, corsa, fiesta, kia rio? etc. I did find my astra diesel (2.0 cdti, 19 inch alloys, sri spec) more comfortable on motorway than my missus 1.4 fiesta titanium - the bigger cars do ride a bit better, sometimes have more adjustment in the seats as well to get comfortable.
How often is the kiddie seat used in the car - and is that in the back or front - also will the car have 2 people in the front then one in the back - depending how often
I was doing 28,000 miles a year in a Mk6 Fiesta TDCI 1.4
I didn't actually give mileage a consideration at the time. It was only after 9 months I started to realise how many miles I was covering. The car was fine and comfortable enough. It was all A34 driving. Didn't much like the hills, but it was okay.
Sure, it would have been more comfortable in something bigger but the car cost me £3,200. I put 60,000 miles on it and sold for £2,000. It was 100% reliable.
Not sure there's many cars that would only depreciate £1,200 in 2 years with 60,000 miles added.
Either way, I'd go for something older with good service history to minimise further depreciation.
I didn't actually give mileage a consideration at the time. It was only after 9 months I started to realise how many miles I was covering. The car was fine and comfortable enough. It was all A34 driving. Didn't much like the hills, but it was okay.
Sure, it would have been more comfortable in something bigger but the car cost me £3,200. I put 60,000 miles on it and sold for £2,000. It was 100% reliable.
Not sure there's many cars that would only depreciate £1,200 in 2 years with 60,000 miles added.
Either way, I'd go for something older with good service history to minimise further depreciation.
)Bebop Beru said:
Looking for a bit of advice on the feasibility of using a city car (VW Up, Hyundai i10 etc) for commuting 100 miles a day.
Career change, so unlikely to find a similar role until I’ve got a bit more experience but we’re talking a couple of years most likely. Not feasible to take the train. Longer commute, multiple changes and the office is a 25 minute walk from the station.
Currently potter around in an MR2 but need a grown up car to fit a child seat in anyway and have a budget of £5-6k. Obviously I want to keep running costs down low as possible but wondering if anyone had actually put some serious mileage on these type of cars and if they can take it. No point in trying to save cash if the things fall apart.
A city car can do 25k a year but you're misguided slightly on the running costs, city cars are short geared so sustained motorway use will mean your fuel economy will be worse than you think.Career change, so unlikely to find a similar role until I’ve got a bit more experience but we’re talking a couple of years most likely. Not feasible to take the train. Longer commute, multiple changes and the office is a 25 minute walk from the station.
Currently potter around in an MR2 but need a grown up car to fit a child seat in anyway and have a budget of £5-6k. Obviously I want to keep running costs down low as possible but wondering if anyone had actually put some serious mileage on these type of cars and if they can take it. No point in trying to save cash if the things fall apart.
I recommend looking for a 2.0d I say this because they tend to have the longest gearing which not only gives you good fuel numbers but a more relaxing drive & trust me if you're spending a serious time in a car comfort & being relaxed when you get out are as important as fuel numbers.
A bit of advice first when looking at Ford/Mazda/Peugeot/Citroen & Volvo diesels do not consider the 1.6d versions as they're a terrible engine.
With that in mind you can find some very good cars with sensible running costs that are a comfortable place to spend 25k in.
Astra Elite
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Astra SRI (these are very good choice & cover most bases)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mazda3 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Alfa Giulietta Veloce 170/140
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Megane Privilege Nav (hard to find but well worth a look)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Volvo C30
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Honda Civic EX
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Kia Cee'd 4/3 Good cars & you'll still have some of the Manufacturer's Warranty left but the engines a bit weak in terms of output.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
All the above are great reliable cars that will cover your 25k with ease so take some test drives to see what you like best.
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