Most economical car for under 3k?
Discussion
I'm doing a lot of miles at the moment and my daily whip, a V10 S6, is getting a hammering - as is my wallet. I was considering a trade-in against a 335d or a 535d but I love it too much to get rid.
So, i'm looking for something additional that will regularly return 60MPG combined (60-75% motorway).
Small CC diesels seem to be the way to go but i'm a bit fed up of diesels tbh, especially modern DPF ones - performance/economy can disappear for stupid reasons that take forever to sort out.
However, needs must.
Anyway, i'd like a certain amount of refinement/toys and have so far narrowed things down to:
1.4 TDI A2 (90bhp)
1.3 JTDm Mito (95bhp)
If you have personal experience of these or anything else that's really good on fuel, please share it.
TIA.
So, i'm looking for something additional that will regularly return 60MPG combined (60-75% motorway).
Small CC diesels seem to be the way to go but i'm a bit fed up of diesels tbh, especially modern DPF ones - performance/economy can disappear for stupid reasons that take forever to sort out.
However, needs must.
Anyway, i'd like a certain amount of refinement/toys and have so far narrowed things down to:
1.4 TDI A2 (90bhp)
1.3 JTDm Mito (95bhp)
If you have personal experience of these or anything else that's really good on fuel, please share it.
TIA.
Audi A2 1.4 TDi, or the similar age Polo 6N2 with the same engine. Absurdly cheap, very, very nearly 60mpg everywhere. I've shedded both of them for 6 years. Just keep on top of cambelts, brakes and tyres. My A2 now has a full stainless exhaust system, because the replacement Audi one is silly money.
Apart from that, just drive it.
Apart from that, just drive it.
Chewykneeslider said:
Audi A2 1.4 TDi, or the similar age Polo 6N2 with the same engine. Absurdly cheap, very, very nearly 60mpg everywhere. I've shedded both of them for 6 years. Just keep on top of cambelts, brakes and tyres. My A2 now has a full stainless exhaust system, because the replacement Audi one is silly money.
Apart from that, just drive it.
How do you find the ride? I'm going to look at this tomorrow... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253913798606Apart from that, just drive it.
Edited by nedge2k on Saturday 27th October 23:21
horsemeatscandal said:
Fabia VRS? Surely can be had for £3k these days, good car that’s cheap to run by all accounts. Not sure if DPF or not.
I dunno man, grew up when Skoda was a dirty word. I know they're decent now but...I can't, I hear Skoda and think of them in the same terms as Lada. I did have a Ibiza 130PD once upon a time, which was essentially the same but it wouldn't give anything like 60 everywhere, more like 40-45.V8RX7 said:
Run a 30+mpg petrol car on LPG - plenty are already converted.
f
king excellent point - totally forgot about LPG!...bah, wife has just reminded me that as this is an additional motor to the fleet, it needs to be cheap on tax/insurance, no LPG 330i for me.
Edited by nedge2k on Saturday 27th October 23:36
nedge2k said:
horsemeatscandal said:
Fabia VRS? Surely can be had for £3k these days, good car that’s cheap to run by all accounts. Not sure if DPF or not.
I dunno man, grew up when Skoda was a dirty word. I know they're decent now but...I can't, I hear Skoda and think of them in the same terms as Lada. I did have a Ibiza 130PD once upon a time, which was essentially the same but it wouldn't give anything like 60 everywhere, more like 40-45.As others have said, either Polo TDI or a Mégane / Clio DCI. I had a 55 plate Mégane 1.5 DCI 106 bhp years ago that, in the words of one of my friends "defied the laws of physics" as it was both surprisingly quick and absurdly economical. It's record was 786 miles on £50 of diesel.
rallycross said:
The humdrum Golf Mk6 1.9 TDI - thats the later shape but with the older model engine the bomb-proof 1.9 pd, no it wont do 60 mpg, but will give years of service at 50+ mpg at very little cost to run and a nice place to sit being a golf.
MPG is the main factor, it's only gotta last 6mths or so.I have a 6n2 polo 1.4TDI
Get 60-70 mpg. Runs on 50% veg quite happily (5 litres for £4 in asda recently).
You can access the expansion fuel tank by pressing the fuel nozzle against a lever in the filler... Getting another £15 in the tank. 700 miles to a tank easily, even when thrashing.
Noticeably slower with a full tank of fuel
Paid £450 for the car.
Get 60-70 mpg. Runs on 50% veg quite happily (5 litres for £4 in asda recently).
You can access the expansion fuel tank by pressing the fuel nozzle against a lever in the filler... Getting another £15 in the tank. 700 miles to a tank easily, even when thrashing.
Noticeably slower with a full tank of fuel
Paid £450 for the car.
MethylatedSpirit said:
I have a 6n2 polo 1.4TDI
Get 60-70 mpg. Runs on 50% veg quite happily (5 litres for £4 in asda recently).
You can access the expansion fuel tank by pressing the fuel nozzle against a lever in the filler... Getting another £15 in the tank. 700 miles to a tank easily, even when thrashing.
Noticeably slower with a full tank of fuel
Paid £450 for the car.
Interesting! Thought the 1.4's were PD and PD didn't like veg oil?Get 60-70 mpg. Runs on 50% veg quite happily (5 litres for £4 in asda recently).
You can access the expansion fuel tank by pressing the fuel nozzle against a lever in the filler... Getting another £15 in the tank. 700 miles to a tank easily, even when thrashing.
Noticeably slower with a full tank of fuel
Paid £450 for the car.
That one looks nicer than mine, but in the same colour. Mine is now on 132k miles. The ride is rubbish with worn suspension, and they pretty much all will be worn by now, however I changed the rear shocks in about 25 mins a side for a very reasonable amount from Euro Car Parts or GSF can't remember which, when they had a 60% off sale. Considerable improvement at the rear. Currently the front n/s shock has a small weep, so will be getting changed when I can get the parts and enthusiasm together.
Not sure if the one you are looking at has rear discs or not, mine has drums, and I thought that they all did? Drums solve the 'rear discs corroded' MOT type issues. Changing rear drums is very easy, but the brake shoes are tricky to pull all the springs into place, and are absurdly complicated for what they are.
Problems I have had are:-
Fuel filter replacement, located under the rear n/s seat, and a bit of a pig to get at.
Exhaust and cat rotted away. Local fast fit place quoted something like £700 to fix, but a local exhaust shop made a stainless system for £500.
Undertray fasteners failing and the tray flapping so £15 from Ebay for a kit sorted that.
Headlight switch and fuel flap switch failing. Both are specific to the A2, and not generic Audi even though they look like it so £30 from breakers.
Heat shields rattle underneath, pull it off and throw it away.
The air filter, for reasons best known to Audi (and on the Polo) are hidden behind the o/s fog light low down behind the bumper, so searching for it when changing it is good fun.
Good bits are 55-60mpg, Stereo and autochanger are pretty good. Nice driving position, feels like a quality, well made thing. Take out the rear seats in 2 mins and it turns into a van. No body corrosion to worry about!
Bad bits, are the soft touch interior switches are easily scuffed, so ladies with long fingernails scratch the finish, mine has an appetite for front tyres, but that might be my enthusiastic driving, and a torquey motor in a light car. The exhaust replacement price. I have a yuk bright blue interior, which is now grubby looking, but its my tip run car so no worries there. Comedy handling, but that will be better with new shocks at the front. Watch out for the wiper mechanism scratching the screen when it gets a bit worn. The fuel tank is stupidly small at only about 30l.
Isn't the 90hp version the one with a dual mass flywheel? That could cost you when its clutch replacement time.
Not sure if the one you are looking at has rear discs or not, mine has drums, and I thought that they all did? Drums solve the 'rear discs corroded' MOT type issues. Changing rear drums is very easy, but the brake shoes are tricky to pull all the springs into place, and are absurdly complicated for what they are.
Problems I have had are:-
Fuel filter replacement, located under the rear n/s seat, and a bit of a pig to get at.
Exhaust and cat rotted away. Local fast fit place quoted something like £700 to fix, but a local exhaust shop made a stainless system for £500.
Undertray fasteners failing and the tray flapping so £15 from Ebay for a kit sorted that.
Headlight switch and fuel flap switch failing. Both are specific to the A2, and not generic Audi even though they look like it so £30 from breakers.
Heat shields rattle underneath, pull it off and throw it away.
The air filter, for reasons best known to Audi (and on the Polo) are hidden behind the o/s fog light low down behind the bumper, so searching for it when changing it is good fun.
Good bits are 55-60mpg, Stereo and autochanger are pretty good. Nice driving position, feels like a quality, well made thing. Take out the rear seats in 2 mins and it turns into a van. No body corrosion to worry about!
Bad bits, are the soft touch interior switches are easily scuffed, so ladies with long fingernails scratch the finish, mine has an appetite for front tyres, but that might be my enthusiastic driving, and a torquey motor in a light car. The exhaust replacement price. I have a yuk bright blue interior, which is now grubby looking, but its my tip run car so no worries there. Comedy handling, but that will be better with new shocks at the front. Watch out for the wiper mechanism scratching the screen when it gets a bit worn. The fuel tank is stupidly small at only about 30l.
Isn't the 90hp version the one with a dual mass flywheel? That could cost you when its clutch replacement time.
nedge2k said:
MethylatedSpirit said:
I have a 6n2 polo 1.4TDI
Get 60-70 mpg. Runs on 50% veg quite happily (5 litres for £4 in asda recently).
You can access the expansion fuel tank by pressing the fuel nozzle against a lever in the filler... Getting another £15 in the tank. 700 miles to a tank easily, even when thrashing.
Noticeably slower with a full tank of fuel
Paid £450 for the car.
Interesting! Thought the 1.4's were PD and PD didn't like veg oil?Get 60-70 mpg. Runs on 50% veg quite happily (5 litres for £4 in asda recently).
You can access the expansion fuel tank by pressing the fuel nozzle against a lever in the filler... Getting another £15 in the tank. 700 miles to a tank easily, even when thrashing.
Noticeably slower with a full tank of fuel
Paid £450 for the car.
Handbook even says it is acceptable to run on bio
If you want a good reliable car to run around in then my three suggestions seem to fit the bill well they're normally overlooked but due to simple design they just keep running plus they have six speed boxes which makes motorway journeys more pleasent.
1.9d Grande Punto Sporting
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
1.9d Alfa 147
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
They're good value & the 8V's can run on chip fat.
Next would be the 1.5/1.9dci Megane they're more modern so the road tax is cheaper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
1.9d Grande Punto Sporting
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
1.9d Alfa 147
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
They're good value & the 8V's can run on chip fat.
Next would be the 1.5/1.9dci Megane they're more modern so the road tax is cheaper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 28th October 11:44
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