20k per year commuter - Has to be Euro 6 - Page 1 - Car Buying

talksr

Original Poster

31 posts

142 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 12th March 2019

Hi there,
My trusty 2009 plate Ford Focus TDCi is almost at the end of it's life.

Over the past three years, I have done an average of 20,270 miles per year which works out at around 422 per week.

I was thinking of getting something a little nicer this time, and had been thinking of maybe a Mercedes A Class (apparently needs a service ever 10k) or a BMW. We have a small car park at work, so large saloons will not really fit in the spaces.

To me, a diesel still seems to be a viable option based on my mileage.
I am driving in and out of London using M11, A406, A13 so almost all of my drive give five miles or so is motorway type driving which will be good for the car.

My only concern is the new London ULEZ is coming very soon. I need to buy a Euro 6 emissions diesel. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I could go for? I would love to get another older diesel like mine as they are so reliable and economic but due to the new ULEZ tax, it won't be possible.

I would welcome your recommendations.

anonymous-user

83 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 12th March 2019

320d?

ZX10R NIN

30,528 posts

154 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 12th March 2019

talksr

Original Poster

31 posts

142 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 14th March 2019

Thank you both. I will have a read through in the evening.

Never had thought about a 320d. Do you think it would be cheap enough to maintain?
My current Ford Focus has been the best car ever. Just 1 x battery, brakes and pads oh and servicing until 145k, just unbelievable.

ZX10R NIN

30,528 posts

154 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 14th March 2019

The BMW will cost a little bit more just because it's BMW but it's a good option but they're not small which was why I only suggested Focus sized cars. Out of those the Q30 will be the most Premium feeling hatch because they come loaded with kit, but if you don't mind a 3 series sized car then take a look at the Q50 Sport, they come loaded with pretty much everything adaptive cruise heated everything etc & also benefit from having the same drivetrain as a C220 so it's a win win.

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...

ninjag

1,878 posts

148 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 14th March 2019

You can get a well specced and almost new Q50 from a main dealer and have plenty of change left over. A nice alternative to the Bavarian hordes.

Some people have mentioned that Infiniti are leaving Europe as if it's a problem, it's not. People are still buying SAABs today!

ZX10R NIN

30,528 posts

154 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 14th March 2019

The other side of that is because it's a Mercedes drivetrain once they do leave any Mercedes Specialist will be able to service it.

htid

229 posts

213 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 14th March 2019

Skoda Superb, preferably L&K model

TG105

50 posts

126 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 14th March 2019

Anything with a six-pot!

joropug

3,044 posts

218 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 14th March 2019

Another vote for a 320d

I got 65mpg on the motorway in mine, nothing went wrong in 2 years (63 plate).

Service schedule is 2 years or 19k but most people do it annually . I think servicing it based on mileage would be fine given your mileage is motorway.

If I bought again I'd have got a leather interior (for resale more than anything) and an auto. The manual is fine on motorway type driving but found it quite clunky around town.

30 quid to tax for 184bhp . Don't get a 318d or efficient dynamics 320d

Evanivitch

26,301 posts

151 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 14th March 2019

Late model Vauxhall Ampera with a charger at home and at work. Bargain miles.

Chainsaw Rebuild

2,136 posts

131 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 14th March 2019

The poster aboves electric idea is good, especially if you can get free power at work (even 13 amp) is good. Much cheaper to run!

Also if you can reduce your miles by working from home one day a week you are already reducing running costs by 20%.

talksr

Original Poster

31 posts

142 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 15th March 2019

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and help with this, I really do appreciate it.

Not sure I could get a power lead at work, so electric might be ruled out for now.
The 320d is not a bad option, and several have suggested it...big vehicle though. I have quite a small car park at work, not sure I would get out of the door once parked! What about a 118d? They seem to make those to meet Euro6 or 6b and a little checking online shows that some of the diesel ones have 18-20k service intervals which would work well with my annual mileage.

It is a similarly priced (to the 320d) car but smaller for parking.

Still going through all of your other suggestions. Thanks so much.

Evanivitch

26,301 posts

151 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 15th March 2019

talksr said:

Not sure I could get a power lead at work, so electric might be ruled out for now.
.

It's worth asking if you own the car park and have reasonable access to power (lighting, cameras). You only need something as basic as a weatherproof 3 pin socket suitable for a 10A continuous draw.

My office of 300 in the Welsh valleys now has a small fleet of employee EVs and PHEVs charging for free.

Shiv_P

3,036 posts

134 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 15th March 2019

talksr said:

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and help with this, I really do appreciate it.

Not sure I could get a power lead at work, so electric might be ruled out for now.
The 320d is not a bad option, and several have suggested it...big vehicle though. I have quite a small car park at work, not sure I would get out of the door once parked! What about a 118d? They seem to make those to meet Euro6 or 6b and a little checking online shows that some of the diesel ones have 18-20k service intervals which would work well with my annual mileage.

It is a similarly priced (to the 320d) car but smaller for parking.

Still going through all of your other suggestions. Thanks so much.

If considering 320d F30 look at B9 A4. It's simply a better motorway cruiser with less road noise and more comfortable ride as well as a better interior

1 series I wouldn't touch at all for purely motorway, the sport and M sport have intolerable ride (for me) and the road noise is ridiculous. A golf is better for this and cheaper too

Sc0tchland

448 posts

110 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 17th March 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

These options are fantastic, I don't know how you come up with them

talksr

Original Poster

31 posts

142 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 26th March 2019

Very grateful for you all taking the time to offer suggestions to me. Thanks very much.

ZX10R NIN

30,528 posts

154 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 26th March 2019

So have decided what to buy or are working on getting some test drives in?

talksr

Original Poster

31 posts

142 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 1st April 2019

Sorry for my sluggish reply, I did try and post last week, but the site seemed to be down.

Of the list, I have made several enquiries to garages selling BMW 3 series 320d's. Out of all of the options, I think I prefer that model.
I noticed that some of the 1 series BMWs have a similar engine so I was tempted, I know they are not designed for motorway driving, but I figured, if they had similar engines, as long as the fuel tank wasn't too small, I could get a reliable runner.

I am only looking at diesel auto models which helps shrink down potential options.

I found a nice 3 series up in Scotland - long way from me. It already had 50k on the clock so was cheaper, but was an x-drive so not idea.
Still keeping my eyes peeled.

My other option would be either the Astra or I could get another Focus. I know these would be cheaper to run in terms of servicing but it is hard to gauge as I have never owned a BMW so it is quite tricky to compare costs.

Really grateful for everyone's input.

ZX10R NIN

30,528 posts

154 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 1st April 2019

Whilst I've been sourcing ULEZ compliant cars for clients I've come across these now they're ULEZ compliant won't cost you the earth to buy & are very comfortable (I brought one back from Aberdeen down to Kent) as well as being better than the equivalent diesel on fuel:

508 Allure Hybrid

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

DS5

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...

I've picked up three DS5's & one 508 as an average over the journeys of collection they averaged 69mpg on the Motorway/A road driving with a worst of 64mpg (rush hour journey back from Manchester) 73mpg (the run back from Aberdeen & I'm a person that likes to make progress, I see 58mpg out of my Mondeo so these are definitely better on fuel on a run let alone when you get to town driving which is where the Hybrid system comes into their own with clients reporting numbers in there 50's.

Spec & running cost wise they're very well specced you really won't want for anything running costs wise these are as sensible as the Astra & Focus.