Daily commuter for 400mi a week - Banger motoring

[Henry_b]

Bit of background.

I do 400mi a week currently and i've been using my P38 as the sole transport for this journey.



At this rate i'm getting through £130 of fuel a week, which is not brilliant,

+ the P38 needs some cosmetics working out and maybe some mechanical fettling..

While i undertake this i need a run around..

I have the opportunity of buying a "purple" mK6 fiesta.

are these any good at motorway commuting?

she's a 1.4 IIRC..

Cheers PH'rs.

[Lozw86]

It won’t be as comfortable but will use half the fuel

[waynedear]

Driven a mates 1.4 mk6, it’s not my Alfa’s or Volvo but there is something about it that I really like.

[duckwhistle]

Find yourself a cheap Suzuki Alto , bulletproof reliability, zero tax ,cheap insurance and 60 mpg. Lots of low mileage ,one old lady owner examples about.

[slk 32]

If you're looking for a cheap car for commuting I'd look at a 2008/9 polo blumotion.

I do 350 miles a week and it costs me £30 (probably even less now fuels gone done).

Being a turbodiesel and with the long gearing it'll do 70mph at 2k rpm and is great at that 70-95 sweet spot.

[duckwhistle]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
There you are found one for you, will only need the washers topped up ,check the tyres and £20 in the tank for the next 2 weeks.

[Henry_b]

Cheers gents, the alto looks appealing!

[SimonTheSailor]

Henry_b said:

Cheers gents, the alto looks appealing!

Never thought I would hear/read that !!

[MrGTI6]

When I was doing 500 miles a week, I bought an N-reg 306 turbo diesel for £50 as a stopgap. I ended up keeping it for just shy of three years and it was perfect for the job. Utterly dependable, very supportive seats, smooth ride, and capable of 700 miles on a tank. Handled like a dream too. When I was no longer doing so many miles, I sold it for ten times what I'd paid for it and replaced it with a 306 GTI-6 (which I still have).

[Henry_b]

SimonTheSailor said:

Never thought I would hear/read that !!

First time for everything LOL

[Jimmy Recard]

MrGTI6 said:

When I was doing 500 miles a week, I bought an N-reg 306 turbo diesel for £50 as a stopgap. I ended up keeping it for just shy of three years and it was perfect for the job. Utterly dependable, very supportive seats, smooth ride, and capable of 700 miles on a tank. Handled like a dream too. When I was no longer doing so many miles, I sold it for ten times what I'd paid for it and replaced it with a 306 GTI-6 (which I still have).

I like this suggestion. I always had a thing for those

[MrGTI6]

Jimmy Recard said:

MrGTI6 said:

When I was doing 500 miles a week, I bought an N-reg 306 turbo diesel for £50 as a stopgap. I ended up keeping it for just shy of three years and it was perfect for the job. Utterly dependable, very supportive seats, smooth ride, and capable of 700 miles on a tank. Handled like a dream too. When I was no longer doing so many miles, I sold it for ten times what I'd paid for it and replaced it with a 306 GTI-6 (which I still have).

I like this suggestion. I always had a thing for those

Sadly they're much more difficult to get hold of than they were five years ago, but if the OP can live with the idea of driving around in an old French hatchback that sounds like a tractor, then I really couldn't recommend one enough.

Running an old Pug/Citroen with the XUD engine is also an innovative way of avoiding any potential tax hikes on diesel fuel.
Unlike modern diesels, they are perfectly happily running on veg oil without any modifications.

Mine averaged 57mpg on veg oil bought for 35-pence-per-litre. In other words, 700 miles for £21!

Edited by MrGTI6 on Sunday 22 March 22:47

[rallycross]

duckwhistle said:

Find yourself a cheap Suzuki Alto , bulletproof reliability, zero tax ,cheap insurance and 60 mpg. Lots of low mileage ,one old lady owner examples about.

For someone wanting to do 400 miles a week that is a stupid suggestion (unless
You are selling one).

You need something comfy relaxing and good on fuel - find a Volvo D5 ( saloon S60 estate V70 limo S80) cheap to buy and will give 45-50 mpg on long runs, buy Pre 2006 to avoid DPF issues. Cheap comfy fast relaxing barge that’s reliable.

[CountZero23]

rallycross said:

For someone wanting to do 400 miles a week that is a stupid suggestion (unless
You are selling one).

You need something comfy relaxing and good on fuel - find a Volvo D5 ( saloon S60 estate V70 limo S80) cheap to buy and will give 45-50 mpg on long runs, buy Pre 2006 to avoid DPF issues. Cheap comfy fast relaxing barge that’s reliable.

+1

2005 S60 D is what I bought for this job. Ended up paying 1k after a bit of haggling. 50mpg overall average, incredibly comfortable with plenty of toys.

As rallycross says, get an earlier one 2005 or less to avoid the DPF issues.

[ZX10R NIN]

Look for a Vectra they'll eat up the miles & you'll see mid 45-50's on a run.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Comfort would be a big part of my make up when choosing a car.

In all honesty I'd buy something like this it'll eat up the miles give good mileage & will run for ever in a day.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...