Best shed below £1000 for commuting (100 daily)

[DailyHack]

Running a 318d 2012 estate at the moment, utterly fabulous car, been in family since new - But the misses needs a new car her Mini 1.4 just isnt cutting the mustard for her long commute, and she cant afford a new car or what she wants yet.

So the idea was to give her (still be mine) my car to use as her daily, she can pay insurance etc...so it stays in the family, its too good a car to sell, this gives her time to save up for what she wants, sell the mini also.

Vanity aside I just need a car to go up and down the motorway 5 days a week, under £1000 would be ace, FSH, 1 owner etc, and needs to be diesel pre DPF probably.

Once Mrs DailyHack saves for new one, i get my BMW back

- Peugeot 406 diesel
- Ford Mondeo 2006/7
- Any Honda's?

I had an Avensis 2005 D4D, so wouldn't really want same car again.

What are the Peugeot 406 90bhp like, do have a soft spot for these funnily enough, and they are seriously dirt cheap!

Thanks guys, advice would be good, and kind of excited to run a shed, weird i know!

[em177]

I had similar criteria.

Bought an A2 TDi. Circa 70mpg, £30 rfl, a nice place to sit and aluminium so no rust issues.

[DailyHack]

em177 said:

I had similar criteria.

Bought an A2 TDi. Circa 70mpg, £30 rfl, a nice place to sit and aluminium so no rust issues.

Good shout! Never thought about them, how much are these now?

[ShyTallKnight]

A Volvo with the 163 bhp D5 lump

[DailyHack]

ShyTallKnight said:

A Volvo with the 163 bhp D5 lump

Quite pricey to run I suspect?

[ninjag]

For that money I'd probably be looking at:

Honda Civic
Honda Accord (with moon mileage)
Volvo
SAAB 9-3 or 9-5

[ShyTallKnight]

DailyHack said:

Quite pricey to run I suspect?

I think it depends on what your definition of pricey is. My very very leggy 2004 D5 has cost peanuts in terms of maint over the last year and 13k miles.

Another option is anything VAG with the PD130 lump in.

[Davie]

ShyTallKnight said:

A Volvo with the 163 bhp D5 lump

Agree with this.

I've got a V70 with the 163bhp and a manual box and it's well on it's way to 200k now, racking up 500 miles a week and it's been great. It'll do 50mpg without much fuss and to be fair, costs aren't that bad really. All mine has had in the past year is several filter changes, an alternator freewheel pulley, the intake clean (FOC) and that's pretty much it. I've tried to change it a few times but keep find myself back in it, it's just too good.

[GreatGranny]

I don't think you can be too specific at this price point.

Just get the best looked after suitable car you can find.


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...

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

[mikees]

Love the saab

[amstrange1]

em177 said:

I had similar criteria.

Bought an A2 TDi. Circa 70mpg, £30 rfl, a nice place to sit and aluminium so no rust issues.

Aren't they supposed to have a terrible ride quality?

[ZX10R NIN]

Alfa GT Blackline The drivetrain is very reliable but these do seem to wear front bushes

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

MG ZT these are great choice

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

Vectra Design

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

Citroen C5

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

Alfa 147 these are pretty much bulletproof drivetrain wise.

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

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

[Dave.]

Have you tried her Mini on your commute?

Could you use that short term and cut the cost of swapping in and out of two cars to just the one?

[GreatGranny]

mikees said:

Love the saab

Does look nice doesn't it?

However just looked at the MOT history and it's got a load of advisories from the last MOT and only 100 days left.

Looks like it's been run on a budget for most of it's life.

[Michaelbailey]

amstrange1 said:

Aren't they supposed to have a terrible ride quality?

My sister had one. Paid 1k funnily enough. Was really bottom end of the A2 ladder at the time but might be different now. Ride was alright, very frugal, reasonably nice place to sit. However the only thing that really sticks out in my mind is it has feasibly the worst gearbox ever fitted to a car in it. Stirring bricks in a bucket really isn't an exaggeration and it wasn't just hers theyre all like that. look past that and its alright though

[DailyHack]

Dave. said:

Have you tried her Mini on your commute?

Could you use that short term and cut the cost of swapping in and out of two cars to just the one?

Yes, I haven't thought about this, its little bit more juicy on the fuel mind 1.4 petrol needs working a little but will sit at 65 quite nicely, this maybe a viable option tbh...

[DailyHack]

mikees said:

Love the saab

Always hankered for a 93 sportwagen (they still look bloody lovely), when they were new, but heard so many issues around them, being GM inspired..I did drive one few years back, and they were stiff.

[DailyHack]

Davie said:

Agree with this.

I've got a V70 with the 163bhp and a manual box and it's well on it's way to 200k now, racking up 500 miles a week and it's been great. It'll do 50mpg without much fuss and to be fair, costs aren't that bad really. All mine has had in the past year is several filter changes, an alternator freewheel pulley, the intake clean (FOC) and that's pretty much it. I've tried to change it a few times but keep find myself back in it, it's just too good.

Yup, I do like these aswell, whats the tax like on these now D4's?

[Dave.]

DailyHack said:

Dave. said:

Have you tried her Mini on your commute?

Could you use that short term and cut the cost of swapping in and out of two cars to just the one?

Yes, I haven't thought about this, its little bit more juicy on the fuel mind 1.4 petrol needs working a little but will sit at 65 quite nicely, this maybe a viable option tbh...

Anything you buy at this price point will more than likely need something doing to it, and can easily turn a £1k into £2k.

You know the mini, if it's working and doesn't need much maintenance, stick with it for the sake of a few mpg for a few months.

[sbk1972]

I was in a similar situation. I do 160 miles a day. For £1400 I brought a 1999 Honda Civic Coupe. Auto. A/C. Electric windows / CL / Stereo / electric sunroof / Heated mirrors. Had only done 11K miles !!!!! Car was mint, still is.

Im now up to 47K in it. Nothing has broken, never broken down. Replaced tyres - £55 each. Serviced it / Cambelt etc / usual running costs.

I get 42mpg at 65mph.

Ive had it now for over 3 years, was originally a spare car / work car. Didnt use it for a year due to travelling to london on the train so became a station car. Now I travel up the M23 / M25 now to work Ive really am adding the miles to it and it just keeps going.

Lovely little thing. Will never sell it now, will run it into the ground.

SBK