Downgrading car, £4k budget
Discussion
I currently drive MK7 Fiesta ST but it's on finance and I am regretting it although the car is fun, I am planning on doing a few more miles a year than I though, originally would do 5k PA and this is doubling so I want to get something not on finance so the extra £165 a month can be spent elsewhere, my budget is between £3k - £4k but would ideally like to be mid range of that budget so on to my list of must haves for now;
Capable of close to 40mpg on a run.
Manual
Reasonably comfortable
Reliable (Japanese I guess?)
Petrol as during the week I mostly do short journeys but I do a few long trips weekends.
Decent looking, I am young so don't want an old Saab or Volvo.
If the car has some extras like Bluetooth it would be great, I was thinking of a Mazda 3/6 but I don't want a rust bucket.
Also kind of interested in an Insignia... been in one before and they were alright, MPG would be an issue maybe.
Capable of close to 40mpg on a run.
Manual
Reasonably comfortable
Reliable (Japanese I guess?)
Petrol as during the week I mostly do short journeys but I do a few long trips weekends.
Decent looking, I am young so don't want an old Saab or Volvo.
If the car has some extras like Bluetooth it would be great, I was thinking of a Mazda 3/6 but I don't want a rust bucket.
Also kind of interested in an Insignia... been in one before and they were alright, MPG would be an issue maybe.
My Fiesta ST averages around 19mpg in town which is where most my driving is although I do some motorway driving and it can get 40mpg+
Doesn't help that Ford took off my Mountune remap and put it back to standard during a recall so it's now slower and thirstier.
Anyway, I was tempted by a Diesel Golf.. 1.9TDI PD but for my budget and driving I think a petrol would be more suitable, what are you your thoughts on an Insignia? can get one with less than 60k miles on, thirsty around town but good for motorway/mixed driving?
Doesn't help that Ford took off my Mountune remap and put it back to standard during a recall so it's now slower and thirstier.
Anyway, I was tempted by a Diesel Golf.. 1.9TDI PD but for my budget and driving I think a petrol would be more suitable, what are you your thoughts on an Insignia? can get one with less than 60k miles on, thirsty around town but good for motorway/mixed driving?
Well that depends on what sort of driving experience you want really...there are so many cars that fit into the bracket of your original post, it's going to take some narrowing down.
The insignia (or similar) is fine if you are commuting loads and doing 20k a year on britains motorways...but it is going to be pretty uninspiring to drive after coming from a B road toy like the fiesta ST.
The insignia (or similar) is fine if you are commuting loads and doing 20k a year on britains motorways...but it is going to be pretty uninspiring to drive after coming from a B road toy like the fiesta ST.
designforlife said:
Well that depends on what sort of driving experience you want really...there are so many cars that fit into the bracket of your original post, it's going to take some narrowing down.
The insignia (or similar) is fine if you are commuting loads and doing 20k a year on britains motorways...but it is going to be pretty uninspiring to drive after coming from a B road toy like the fiesta ST.
Yeah I plan on travelling a lot more around the country, I bought the Fiesta due to only really driving to work and then this as a toy on weekends but now I am driving a lot more and can't justify getting less than 300 miles per tank while also paying £165 finance, £88 insurance whilst on my wage so I have decided to sell it and pay off the loan, the Fiesta was fun (and scary) but it's time to buy something that will be a bit cheaper overall.The insignia (or similar) is fine if you are commuting loads and doing 20k a year on britains motorways...but it is going to be pretty uninspiring to drive after coming from a B road toy like the fiesta ST.
As for narrowing it down well I don't expect to buy anything that's fun to drive, just want a few toys like Bluetooth and cruise if possible with some reliability although Vauxhall isn't know for its reliability I did own a 2007 Astra which I bought for cheap and it served me well.
Taeb said:
My Fiesta ST averages around 19mpg in town which is where most my driving is although I do some motorway driving and it can get 40mpg+
Doesn't help that Ford took off my Mountune remap and put it back to standard during a recall so it's now slower and thirstier.
Anyway, I was tempted by a Diesel Golf.. 1.9TDI PD but for my budget and driving I think a petrol would be more suitable, what are you your thoughts on an Insignia? can get one with less than 60k miles on, thirsty around town but good for motorway/mixed driving?
A PD 130 MK4 Golf is still a hoot to drive even seventeen years after it was launched, £1k to £1.5k will buy one in the best condition, then budget for a good service and cambelt change if the car needs it. They will do 60mpg when very gently driven and it is difficult to get below 30mpg even when super hooning it. Doesn't help that Ford took off my Mountune remap and put it back to standard during a recall so it's now slower and thirstier.
Anyway, I was tempted by a Diesel Golf.. 1.9TDI PD but for my budget and driving I think a petrol would be more suitable, what are you your thoughts on an Insignia? can get one with less than 60k miles on, thirsty around town but good for motorway/mixed driving?
Although they do have a cat and an egr, both can be dealt with and a cheap remap will see 170bhp+ for even more fun. It doesn't have a DPF so the short journey thing isn't an issue with them.
The handling won't be anything like the Fiesta but isn't as bad as the folklore makes you believe. The handling can be be sharpened up quite cheaply though but that would be missing the point if you are trying to save cash. Chances are if you keep it unmloested, you will probably be able to sell it on for similar as and when the time comes.
designforlife said:
Not really tbh, it saw vtec on every run out.
If you redline it everywhere you can get down to the low 20s, sure...but for typical weekend runs out the fuel consumption was always decent.
On a 4K mile trip I did in my old EP3 (truly mixed: towns, open roads, motorway @80-90 and autobahn runs) it averaged 38mpg, fully loaded with luggage most of the timeIf you redline it everywhere you can get down to the low 20s, sure...but for typical weekend runs out the fuel consumption was always decent.
colin_p said:
A PD 130 MK4 Golf is still a hoot to drive even seventeen years after it was launched, £1k to £1.5k will buy one in the best condition, then budget for a good service and cambelt change if the car needs it. They will do 60mpg when very gently driven and it is difficult to get below 30mpg even when super hooning it.
Although they do have a cat and an egr, both can be dealt with and a cheap remap will see 170bhp+ for even more fun. It doesn't have a DPF so the short journey thing isn't an issue with them.
The handling won't be anything like the Fiesta but isn't as bad as the folklore makes you believe. The handling can be be sharpened up quite cheaply though but that would be missing the point if you are trying to save cash. Chances are if you keep it unmloested, you will probably be able to sell it on for similar as and when the time comes.
Colin, your write up got me looking at these as a third car. What about the mk5’s with the 1.9 PD? Sane kinda price but more modern looks and crash structure etcAlthough they do have a cat and an egr, both can be dealt with and a cheap remap will see 170bhp+ for even more fun. It doesn't have a DPF so the short journey thing isn't an issue with them.
The handling won't be anything like the Fiesta but isn't as bad as the folklore makes you believe. The handling can be be sharpened up quite cheaply though but that would be missing the point if you are trying to save cash. Chances are if you keep it unmloested, you will probably be able to sell it on for similar as and when the time comes.
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