Cheap, Frugal reliable car for long distance commute

[bmwhaz]

Hello All,

I need some advice. I may need a 2nd run around for long distance commuting as I’m in the process of accepting a job offer.

I have a 2018 Honda but don’t want to add any more miles (I’ll be doing 26000 miles a year as opposed to current 12000) nor do I want to sell it.

I’m currently exploring a few options:

A) Buy a Honda jazz (Mark 1)
B) Old Mercedes Diesel (C220)
C) Auris 1.4 D4D

I am willing to spend up to 1.5k and it has to be an automatic.

Alternatives are welcome

[Jamaica]

jazz or note

[TurboBlue]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Peugeot 607 hdi auto

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're going to be doing 15-20k a year in a car the first thing I'd want to be is comfortable followed by having something reliable with a smooth drivetrain as well as something I can put an after market unit in so DAB/Nav/Bluetooth streaming etc are all available.

Don't go to cheap because you also want this to be a reliable set of wheels.

with this in mind these are my picks:

CLK270 you'll see low (it's a better engine than the 220 & does nigh on the same fuel numbers) to mid 40's or high to low 50's after a map with a K&N direct replacement filter.

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

C270 auto box timing chain all add up to a lower maintenance cost.

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

MG ZT

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

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

More mainstream options:

Mondeo Titanium with a long Warranty (check it to see if it's worth the paper it's written on)

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

8V 147 Collezione

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

Laguna Coupe

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

Giulietta Lusso

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

Auris SR180

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

T180

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

607

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

[Shifter1]

bmwhaz said:

Hello All,

I need some advice. I may need a 2nd run around for long distance commuting as I’m in the process of accepting a job offer.

I have a 2018 Honda but don’t want to add any more miles (I’ll be doing 26000 miles a year as opposed to current 12000) nor do I want to sell it.

I’m currently exploring a few options:

A) Buy a Honda jazz (Mark 1)
B) Old Mercedes Diesel (C220)
C) Auris 1.4 D4D

I am willing to spend up to 1.5k and it has to be an automatic.

Alternatives are welcome

Now I don't want to sound rude. But cars were made to drive. If people are now concerned about putting miles on Hondas, what's left? If it's a NSX or even S2000 I could at least understand. But Hondas are massed produced affordable cars, made exactly to put miles on. Or what is one to daily drive then? Just old cars?

But to each his own. From that list I would go for the Toyota.

Edited by Shifter1 on Thursday 7th May 09:08

[swampy442]

Skoda Octaiva or any of the non PD VW engines. I've used them as commuters for years, bomb proof reliabillity, regularly touch 60mpg on a long trip.

I currently use a Mazda 6 2.2 diesel whilst not being as good on fuel, is a much nicer place to be

[james_gt3rs]

Shifter1 said:

Now I don't want to sound rude. But cars were made to drive. If people are now concerned about putting miles on Hondas, what's left? If it's a NSX or even S2000 I could at least understand. But Hondas are massed produced affordable cars, made exactly to put miles on. Or what is one to daily drive then? Just old cars?

But to each his own. From that list I would go for the Toyota.

Edited by Shifter1 on Thursday 7th May 09:08

The mileage will make it depreciate faster, so probably more cost effective to drive an older car. But yes, would make owning the Honda a bit pointless tbh

[ZX10R NIN]

james_gt3rs said:

Shifter1 said:

Now I don't want to sound rude. But cars were made to drive. If people are now concerned about putting miles on Hondas, what's left? If it's a NSX or even S2000 I could at least understand. But Hondas are massed produced affordable cars, made exactly to put miles on. Or what is one to daily drive then? Just old cars?

But to each his own. From that list I would go for the Toyota.

Edited by Shifter1 on Thursday 7th May 09:08

The mileage will make it depreciate faster, so probably more cost effective to drive an older car. But yes, would make owning the Honda a bit pointless tbh

Maybe he has a lease with stiff mileage penalties & he wants to VT it with the change of job.

[MrGTI6]

bmwhaz said:

A) Buy a Honda jazz (Mark 1)
B) Old Mercedes Diesel (C220)
C) Auris 1.4 D4D

I am willing to spend up to 1.5k and it has to be an automatic.

The Auris 1.4 diesel is a great car as a manual. However, the closest thing that model gets to an automatic gearbox is the 'MMT' automated manual. Trust me, you really don't want to be doing 25,000 miles per year in a car with that gearbox!

If you're doing mainly motorway miles, you'll be better off with a diesel. Even though a Jazz would likely be very reliable, a big diesel Merc with twice the power would probably get similar MPG.

[anonymous-user]

MrGTI6 said:

The Auris 1.4 diesel is a great car as a manual. However, the closest thing that model gets to an automatic gearbox is the 'MMT' automated manual. Trust me, you really don't want to be doing 25,000 miles per year in a car with that gearbox!

If you're doing mainly motorway miles, you'll be better off with a diesel. Even though a Jazz would likely be very reliable, a big diesel Merc with twice the power would probably get similar MPG.

Agreed, W211 E classes seem to be pretty cheap, I would probably be looking at getting one of those. Infact I would probably up my budget slightly and buy this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-E320-CDI-...

[Shifter1]

james_gt3rs said:

The mileage will make it depreciate faster, so probably more cost effective to drive an older car. But yes, would make owning the Honda a bit pointless tbh

Yes it would. At least for me.

[Shifter1]

ZX10R NIN said:

Maybe he has a lease with stiff mileage penalties & he wants to VT it with the change of job.

Well, could be. Although I can't read that into how he wrote. But even so, I would think the point of buying a brand new Honda is because you need a reliable daily driver, with warranty and headache free motoring. Taking a lease with so limited mileage kind of defeats the point there. If not to put miles on, for what then? A weekend car? If you are going to use another car for the heavy lifting, spare the Honda for what? I don't see it. But as I said to each his own.

[rlg43p]

Volvo S60 Diesel D5

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

Supremely comfortable
Economical
Reputation for reliability
Well equipped
Good stereo system

Not a poxy Jazz or boring toyota

I didn't think you'd get one this cheap

Stretch the budget a little for an S80: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by rlg43p on Thursday 7th May 16:04

[ZX10R NIN]

So OP do any of the suggestions suit your needs?

[ToastMan76]

swampy442 said:

Skoda Octaiva or any of the non PD VW engines. I've used them as commuters for years, bomb proof reliabillity, regularly touch 60mpg on a long trip.

I currently use a Mazda 6 2.2 diesel whilst not being as good on fuel, is a much nicer place to be

I can get 60mpg from my Mazda3 2.0 petrol!

[DailyHack]

Saab diesel

[flatso]

I would most definitely add he Citroen C5 in exclusive trim into the mix. With double glazed windows, hydropneumatic suspension and a decade long chassis tradition of comfort it is a majestically comfortable cruiser. The diesel engines are nice units.

[peterperkins]

rlg43p said:

Volvo S60 Diesel D5

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

Supremely comfortable
Economical
Reputation for reliability
Well equipped
Good stereo system

Not a poxy Jazz or boring toyota

I didn't think you'd get one this cheap

Stretch the budget a little for an S80: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by rlg43p on Thursday 7th May 16:04

They do seem good.

[bearman68]

rlg43p said:

Volvo S60 Diesel D5

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

Supremely comfortable
Economical
Reputation for reliability
Well equipped
Good stereo system

Not a poxy Jazz or boring toyota

I didn't think you'd get one this cheap

Stretch the budget a little for an S80: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by rlg43p on Thursday 7th May 16:04

Not bomb proof reliability, but a pretty nice choice I would say.

Look at this C5. 2.0 hdi which is a very rugged engine, with 63k miles on for £2k before haggling. Bargain

[lornemalvo]

when I was in this situation and wanted to keep the miles down on my 33d bmw I bought a toyota avensis. I didn't want something too small and it was economical (1.8 petrol) and very reliable. Boring as hell though