4k budget- 40mpg, fun and reliable? - Page 1 - Car Buying

drssg121

Original Poster

51 posts

119 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

Hi all
I need some advice. I always have had a commuting car for work and I have had some real unloved ones (magnolia paint ones)
In no particular order

1. Ford Focus 2006 1.6lx (no-notable, or rememberable features)
2. Audi A2 2001 1.4 tdi (was actually pretty decent but ride became intolerable over time)
3. Diahatsu Siriion 1.0 2008 (mmmmm...roomy?)
3. Mazda 2 1.6 diesel 2008 (actually handled pretty well but dpf)
4. Toyota IQ 1.0 2010 (actually liked it but it was just too slow)
5. Citroen C4 HDI 1.6 2010 (actually nice and wallowy but just been driven into and written off while parked as of the weekend)

Anyway, I also have always had another car
1. BMW Z4 coupe 3.0 si 2006 (loved it, still miss it- great noise and great all rounder)
2. Porsche 944 1984 square dash (It was a third car and kind of ran out of space
3. Jaguar XKR 5.0 2009- currently owned and have done for 4 years. Faultless and fantastic and not ready to sell it.

So as the Citroen is gone I now need a commuting car for work

I am very open minded as you can see from above but now I want to add some excitement to my activities of daily living but still keep some sensibility

1. Budget 4k ideally (5 if it was really really really good). Would be ecstatic at 3k
2. 40mpg on a run, ideally 50mpg
3. Reliable- I work as a doctor I want a low risk of nonsense and missing on calls

I have considered
1. Lexus IS220 2.2 TD- put off by the real world MPG and lack of fun
2. Abarth 500 2009-2010- considering this but seems high end of budget
3. I test drove a Passat today not sure what I was thinking

Help would be much appreciated

BW
Simran

Danxr46

142 posts

101 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

Bmw 330d e90/92 etc 42+ on a run
Golf gtd mk5 50ish on a run but bit more boring.
Golf gti mk5 stretch at 40mpg on a run but more fun
Octavia vrs 40+ mpg but bit boring and slight lack power

drssg121

Original Poster

51 posts

119 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

The Crack Fox said:

Abarth 500 - have you tried one? They’re great. Nippy, economical, reliable and small enough for each city driving and parking. That would be my choice.

This is what I was thinking ... really top of my budget though ....
I drove one when they first came out when I bought my z4... I remember it being really alive ... wonder how it feels all these years later

stanglish

307 posts

134 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

Not sure I'd want a 10 year old Abarth 500 with nigh on 100k on the clock, which is the level you'll have to go to in order to get one under 5k unless I'm missing something.

Some cars carry mileage and some don't at the end of the day. A 500 I'd put at the opposite end to a Passat for example (not saying the latter is a good option either, but to illustrate the point)

In the same situation I went for a mk8 Civic 1.8. Wouldn't want to do tons of miles in it as it's a touch loud at motorway speeds, but I'm enjoying it on the whole. Scratching the N/A itch, enough power to not be totally restrictive (140bhp), a touch over 40mpg in mixed conditions, carries the miles well it seems, super practical and no huge service items (chain driven etc). Looks are divisive of course and the lack of torque is not always fun i.e. nice to rev, inflexible in the city.

Golf's would be a safe bet but seem to be either moon mileage, boring diesel engines (the 1.6) or underpowered/problematic petrols. They hold their value too much to make me enthusiastic over buying one.

A Swift would be an option and many love them. If you don't need huge practicality, speed or refinement over many miles would they not be a good alternative to a 500?

2gins

2,856 posts

183 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

At that mpg you're looking at diesels and as you're a doctor what about something Saab-shaped?

9-3 handles ok but plasticky
9-5 excellent but doesn't encourage pressing on (althougj they can, in a bargetastic kind of way)

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

219 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

Jag 5.9 supercharged V8 lovely.

How about a clip 197/200?

drssg121

Original Poster

51 posts

119 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

stanglish said:

Not sure I'd want a 10 year old Abarth 500 with nigh on 100k on the clock, which is the level you'll have to go to in order to get one under 5k unless I'm missing something.

Some cars carry mileage and some don't at the end of the day. A 500 I'd put at the opposite end to a Passat for example (not saying the latter is a good option either, but to illustrate the point)

In the same situation I went for a mk8 Civic 1.8. Wouldn't want to do tons of miles in it as it's a touch loud at motorway speeds, but I'm enjoying it on the whole. Scratching the N/A itch, enough power to not be totally restrictive (140bhp), a touch over 40mpg in mixed conditions, carries the miles well it seems, super practical and no huge service items (chain driven etc). Looks are divisive of course and the lack of torque is not always fun i.e. nice to rev, inflexible in the city.

Golf's would be a safe bet but seem to be either moon mileage, boring diesel engines (the 1.6) or underpowered/problematic petrols. They hold their value too much to make me enthusiastic over buying one.

A Swift would be an option and many love them. If you don't need huge practicality, speed or refinement over many miles would they not be a good alternative to a 500?

This is a fair point although I have seen a 55k Miles 2009 abarth just over budget at 5300

The swift is a bit too humdrum I think although the civic is an idea, previously I looked at the 2.2 cdti but there aren’t many around ?

drssg121

Original Poster

51 posts

119 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

2gins said:

At that mpg you're looking at diesels and as you're a doctor what about something Saab-shaped?

9-3 handles ok but plasticky
9-5 excellent but doesn't encourage pressing on (althougj they can, in a bargetastic kind of way)

Hmmm the only one I liked is the 9-5 before they went bust but it’s out of budget I guess ?

Also, doctors and Saab’s sad but true but for Swedish I did think of a c30 Volvo ....

drssg121

Original Poster

51 posts

119 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

Welshbeef said:

Jag 5.9 supercharged V8 lovely.

How about a clip 197/200?

Hmmm French again ? How are they reliability wise for a commute ?

2gins

2,856 posts

183 months

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Sunday 10th March 2019

drssg121 said:

Hmmm the only one I liked is the 9-5 before they went bust but it’s out of budget I guess ?

Also, doctors and Saab’s sad but true but for Swedish I did think of a c30 Volvo ....

Take a look. They range from £500 to £10k depending on age mileage model etc. Plenty of parts support, I recently bought a 95 HOT for what will be sub £1500 once I've flogged a few spares. 140k but solid car with loads of the usual stuff done. It's very nice.

ZX10R NIN

29,892 posts

146 months

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Monday 11th March 2019

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Monday 11th March 08:58

nadger

1,413 posts

161 months

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Monday 11th March 2019

Mitsubishi colt ralliart. Tremendous old school fun, with the 40mpg you’re after plus a 0-60 time of around 8 seconds.

Shiv_P

3,001 posts

126 months

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Monday 11th March 2019

drssg121 said:

Welshbeef said:

Jag 5.9 supercharged V8 lovely.

How about a clip 197/200?

Hmmm French again ? How are they reliability wise for a commute ?

No chance a 197 or 200 will hit 40 on a run easily. The gearing is short and thus runs at high rpm at motorway speeds

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

219 months

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Monday 11th March 2019

Shiv_P said:

No chance a 197 or 200 will hit 40 on a run easily. The gearing is short and thus runs at high rpm at motorway speeds

Is it 40mpg for diesel or 40mpg for petrol? I ask as where I live there is easily a 10p difference in the price of the fuel so if it’s a 40mpg for the diesel then possibly 36mpg would be he like for like of a petrol Or if you want petrol to be 40mpg then diesel needs to average 44mpg

drssg121

Original Poster

51 posts

119 months

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Monday 11th March 2019

I used to get 55 from the Citroen diesel measured manually so I would like 41-42 from petrol or 45+ from diesel

I borrowed my sisters e90 320d Coupé today and it’s actually not too bad feels tighter than the Passat even though it’s done 162k Miles .... perhaps an e90 is an option with a bit more power

stanglish

307 posts

134 months

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Monday 11th March 2019

drssg121 said:

This is a fair point although I have seen a 55k Miles 2009 abarth just over budget at 5300

The swift is a bit too humdrum I think although the civic is an idea, previously I looked at the 2.2 cdti but there aren’t many around ?

For the Abarth would seem like a good price. I guess check check the usual with it.

Civics of that era have universally positive reviews for the 2.2 but I don't do the miles personally to bother with the usual Diesel downsides. Clutches are 'chocolate' on that engine and by that I understand they do 80k, so if you go down that route bear it in mind.

One thing which does seem a bit odd is you would favour the diesel Civic over the petrol but then at the same time you're considering an Abarth. Maybe you need to decide what you want in terms of power level and delivery and let that guide you.

drssg121

Original Poster

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119 months

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Monday 11th March 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Monday 11th March 08:58

Some good options there any experience of the gulietta?

drssg121

Original Poster

51 posts

119 months

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Monday 11th March 2019

stanglish said:

For the Abarth would seem like a good price. I guess check check the usual with it.

Civics of that era have universally positive reviews for the 2.2 but I don't do the miles personally to bother with the usual Diesel downsides. Clutches are 'chocolate' on that engine and by that I understand they do 80k, so if you go down that route bear it in mind.

One thing which does seem a bit odd is you would favour the diesel Civic over the petrol but then at the same time you're considering an Abarth. Maybe you need to decide what you want in terms of power level and delivery and let that guide you.

I guess having had a focus 1.6 naturally aspirated petrol it was rather coarse and I didn’t find it pleasurable and am wary that the 1.8 petrol civic would be the same ?
I just wasn’t sure a non type r civic would be that fun ? Hence I thought the power delivery etc might not make a massive difference

stanglish

307 posts

134 months

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Monday 11th March 2019

You might be right. I can see the attraction of a torquey diesel depending on your needs. Both have very similar performance but the way you extract it is totally different and the diesel will be more relaxing of course if you're purely thinking of it as a commuter.

Reflecting on it the Abarth is a modern turbo so not exactly like you'll have to wring its neck. Worth seeing one and see if you like the driving position (I didn't).

ZX10R NIN

29,892 posts

146 months

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Tuesday 12th March 2019

drssg121 said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Monday 11th March 08:58

Some good options there any experience of the gulietta?

I've supplied a lot of Giulietta's in both petrol & diesel forms both are proving rugged & reliable the diesel has a fair amount of shove the petrol 170 is swift too & is the sweeter of the two, but the diesel counter with being easier to get around with due to the extra torque.

For your budget Veloce trim is about the highest, the engine is the same unit found in the Abarth except the Arbath is the detuned version.