16k miles/year cheapskate

[WhyNotEh]

Hello, my fellow PH brethren and sistren.

A change in circumstances means a daily 60 mile round commute, split 50% motorway/50% local roads. My current steed is a 2008 Nissan 350Z which isn't the best thing to run for this mileage in (often) stop-start traffic so I need to get rid. Running 2 cars isn't an option.
With an wedding date set for 2021, I need to temporarily hand in my PH card to save more cash. This means I'm looking for the cheapest transport possible for the next 18 months.

Criteria: No estates/dad-mobiles, below £3k, not fussed about age/mileage

I've been crunching some numbers and have come up with the following shortlist so far. Thoughts?

Mk1 Toyota Aygo (cheapest to run by far, but I think it's a bit too spartan)
Honda Civic 2.2 CTDI (love the 'different' dashboard, Japanese reliability?)
Honda Jazz 1.4 SE (afraid I might go grey from driving this!)
Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi mk7 (£20 tax, 60+ mpg, decent chassis, pre-DPF 90bhp version)
Volvo C30 D5 (how are these?)

Any other suggestions?

[InitialDave]

Get the Aygo and drive it like an Italian teenager on his way to a hot date.

[viciousj377o]

Anything with the pd130 vw engine. 60mpg on the regular. Anything upto and including heated leather, climate control and cruise...

No brainer for me, its what i've done anyway!

[Hashtaggggg]

Get the c30 D5

[Jamescrs]

Mk4 Gold TDI or an Octavia as an alternative

[Roboticarm]

The civic would be an excellent choice.
Decent size, well spec'd and great on the motorway. Good power and mpg.
I had the 1.8 petrol my colleague a 2.2d, he made the right choice.. I didn't

[Jag_NE]

Big and comfy would be nice, and they tend to be better value too in terms of metal for your money.

A diesel mondeo or Citroen c5 would be great and pretty decent on fuel. Insignias are great value if you lack badge issues. The later Renault Lagunas are good cars and like the insignia, due to image issues you can pick up newer and lower mileage vs something more fashionable.

[imck]

1st Gen Ceed or Pro-Ceed Diesel seem to be very reliable.
I had one for a 17K Commute for a several Years. Passed on to a Colleague at 130K. Still going well at 180+K
My 2008 had no DPF or DMF. I think DPF came in around 2011.

Won't goes as well as the Volvo/Honda but you have considered the Jazz.

[Lukas239]

+1 for the fiesta 1.6tdci. Mine still lives at 160k with £100 worth of unexpected maintenance over 70k of ownership. Have seen genuine 70mpg on a long stretch of 50mph average and no DPF to worry about.