Commuter under 1k? What do I chose?
Discussion
Morning All,
Posted a topic a week or so ago about getting a new car. I've decided I want to sell my f30 330d m Sport + and replace it with a Jag XFR (5.0 Supercharged V8).
Now I won't want to use the Jag as my commuter. I currently do about 400/500 miles a week commuting across the country to work Monday - Friday. So I'm going to need to buy something to use as my weekly commuter for less than 1k ideally. Something I can run into the ground. Quite like the idea of an estate but not overly fussed.
What would you lot choose?
Posted a topic a week or so ago about getting a new car. I've decided I want to sell my f30 330d m Sport + and replace it with a Jag XFR (5.0 Supercharged V8).
Now I won't want to use the Jag as my commuter. I currently do about 400/500 miles a week commuting across the country to work Monday - Friday. So I'm going to need to buy something to use as my weekly commuter for less than 1k ideally. Something I can run into the ground. Quite like the idea of an estate but not overly fussed.
What would you lot choose?
Saab 9-3 1.9 tid.
Cheap as chips and the y19dth engine has readily available parts as it is also found in loads of Vauxhalls. Same with the running gear as it was effectively a vectra platform. They do high miles, thousands used as taxis.
And you dont have to drive around in an actual Vauxhall
Edit to add link
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Cheap as chips and the y19dth engine has readily available parts as it is also found in loads of Vauxhalls. Same with the running gear as it was effectively a vectra platform. They do high miles, thousands used as taxis.
And you dont have to drive around in an actual Vauxhall
Edit to add link
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Edited by Pyrolysis on Friday 24th January 09:51
BopoWarls said:
ElectricSoup said:
If that's a petrol S80 it will be very, very thirsty. But superbly comfortable.
Yeah its the petrol one. Looks awesome am tempted. Also an X reg s40 1.6 which is also tempting and its done less than 60k miles!Goes without saying but for an old banger check MOT history carefully. Any sign of "corrosion", give it a swerve.
Edited by ElectricSoup on Friday 24th January 10:02
To the OP, my former neighbour had a S40 with a 2.0 diesel..maybe a D3? He paid less than £1.8k for it and put on another 50k miles...think it had over 140k when he sold it but still went well after daily abuse.
I have to say, whilst based on a focus it felt much more 'solid' than my focus if that makes sense and went pretty well. However with high milers I'd be wary of electrical gremlins and potentially rust in early S40's. Never driven or owned one but v tempted to try find a late last of the line S40 to replace my focus.
I have to say, whilst based on a focus it felt much more 'solid' than my focus if that makes sense and went pretty well. However with high milers I'd be wary of electrical gremlins and potentially rust in early S40's. Never driven or owned one but v tempted to try find a late last of the line S40 to replace my focus.
Whilst you can get something for £1k, if you're doing 100 miles per day I think avoiding a Yaris etc would be sensible.
My prescription (for almost all car-buying requests) is to get a Mercedes E-Class estate as they work well, cope with high miles, and get you there feeling relaxed. But you'll be lucky to find one worth having for £1k; realistically, you'll need to spend £1500 upwards and be lucky to score something worth buying. Normally you'd be looking £2k upwards for something in fully working order.
A Focus/Mondeo would probably be my next option, though again, finding one that still has 20k-a-year life in it for under £1k might be a bit tricky. They are out there but I've seen so many with minimal/skipped servicing it's just not funny.
I'd spend a bit more and make sure you get something with a decent MOT history, tyres/pads/discs that will last a good while, no electrical/bodywork issues etc, otherwise you may well end up spending £500+ the moment you get it just to bring it to an acceptable standard, and a good deal more if the aircon doesn't work or the engine light is on.
Looking at Autotrader, something like this Peugeot might be just a haggle away from your price. Boring but reasonable.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
My prescription (for almost all car-buying requests) is to get a Mercedes E-Class estate as they work well, cope with high miles, and get you there feeling relaxed. But you'll be lucky to find one worth having for £1k; realistically, you'll need to spend £1500 upwards and be lucky to score something worth buying. Normally you'd be looking £2k upwards for something in fully working order.
A Focus/Mondeo would probably be my next option, though again, finding one that still has 20k-a-year life in it for under £1k might be a bit tricky. They are out there but I've seen so many with minimal/skipped servicing it's just not funny.
I'd spend a bit more and make sure you get something with a decent MOT history, tyres/pads/discs that will last a good while, no electrical/bodywork issues etc, otherwise you may well end up spending £500+ the moment you get it just to bring it to an acceptable standard, and a good deal more if the aircon doesn't work or the engine light is on.
Looking at Autotrader, something like this Peugeot might be just a haggle away from your price. Boring but reasonable.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I'd have said something like a Vectra 120
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
But the Volvo is a great choice.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
But the Volvo is a great choice.
funkyrobot said:
I would echo Ford Focus.
Although an old Yaris comes up trumps on here. May be a bit small though.
You'd have to be made of pretty stern stuff to cope with a 100 mile daily commute in mk1 Yaris for an extended period!Although an old Yaris comes up trumps on here. May be a bit small though.
I would have gone with an Avensis for bearable frugality, but the Volvo will be muuuuch nicer for that kind of mileage.
Good morning All. I basically do 250 miles Monday morning and 250 miles Friday afternoon.
Was undecided yesterday as to whether I should drive the volvo to Norwich this week. My thinking head said wait until the car has had a good looking over by a mechanic and once all the filters / fluids have been changed. However, I decided to drive it this morning thinking it would be easier for me to get the service work done here in Norwich during the week.Upgraded my green flag cover last night just in case. The only bit of service history it had was the belt and water pump changes (aux belt too / tensioner) and some work on the brakes ( hard to make out the writing but it looks like hand brake work and disc pad replacements).
The drive was wonderful. Super comfortable. Like sitting in an armchair. Mechanically the car seem absolutely fine. Drives smoothly, gear changes are all good. Clutch is great and I'm assuming original. Ordered a Bluetooth FM transmitter so I can resume my audibooks / podcats. Don't own any cassettes or CD's so unfortunately it was phone and headphones this trip. Added bonus is the car seems to have been specced with a winter pack which includes heated seats!!
Now it's time to sell my F30 330D and I need to scratch the V8 / V10 itch. Hopefully add a E92 M3 or E60 M5 to my 'collection' in the next coming weeks.
Was undecided yesterday as to whether I should drive the volvo to Norwich this week. My thinking head said wait until the car has had a good looking over by a mechanic and once all the filters / fluids have been changed. However, I decided to drive it this morning thinking it would be easier for me to get the service work done here in Norwich during the week.Upgraded my green flag cover last night just in case. The only bit of service history it had was the belt and water pump changes (aux belt too / tensioner) and some work on the brakes ( hard to make out the writing but it looks like hand brake work and disc pad replacements).
The drive was wonderful. Super comfortable. Like sitting in an armchair. Mechanically the car seem absolutely fine. Drives smoothly, gear changes are all good. Clutch is great and I'm assuming original. Ordered a Bluetooth FM transmitter so I can resume my audibooks / podcats. Don't own any cassettes or CD's so unfortunately it was phone and headphones this trip. Added bonus is the car seems to have been specced with a winter pack which includes heated seats!!
Now it's time to sell my F30 330D and I need to scratch the V8 / V10 itch. Hopefully add a E92 M3 or E60 M5 to my 'collection' in the next coming weeks.
BopoWarls said:
...it was phone and headphones this trip...
While I agree with the decision to "just get on with it" and drive the car, surely it would have been wise to leave the earphones out for the first trip, to listen for any untoward noises?I sold a Daimler V8 250 years ago and advised the buyer (who was heading straight back to Belgium!) to drive it gently and get used to the noises it made before going quickly or listening to the radio. He rang from the Dartford Crossing to complain that it had overheated. AA man said it had developed a slight leak from a hose (easily fixed - just needed the jubilee clip tightening) but, because he wasn't familiar with the car and had the radio on loud he didn't hear its death throes starting until it, well..., stopped. Ended up blowing a head gasket somewhere in northern France, apparently.
I'm now a firm believer that early journeys in an unfamiliar car should be a case of getting used to its "normal" noises so you can spot when something isn't right.
Glad your journey worked out well, though
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