An enjoyable petrol that'll do around 30mpg?
An enjoyable petrol that'll do around 30mpg?
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CJ22

Original Poster:

43 posts

154 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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I'm looking at my options for my next daily driver, and I'm wondering if I can come away from diesels and instead go for a petrol. I do around 15k miles a year, mostly motorway, A, and B roads. A low traffic commute with the cruise control on for alot of it. I'd like something enjoyable though with some grunt, so a Prius and such are out of the question. Ideally, something around the 200bhp mark that could do in the 30's for mpg without dawdling everywhere? I've heard of newer BMW's doing more than 30 (although they're a bit out of my price range), and golf gti's and their VAG equivalents doing around 30, so i'm hoping there's something out there that fits the bill as it'd be nice to be back in a petrol.

Budget is up to 10k. I'd consider most makes and body styles. All ages, and anywhere in the price range. Automatic or manual, just nothing French though.

Any options? Tia

Edited by CJ22 on Sunday 20th September 21:00

Benrad

656 posts

178 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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I'll be going shopping next summer with a similar requirement to you, current front runner is a Suzuki swift sport (5dr, main reason for change from an MX-5 is Benrad jnr MK2 coming along).

Fun, 30++ mpg. Brisk but not powerful. Fun to drive. Reliable. Good examples available for much less than £10k. Slightly concerned it'll feel a bit light weight and low quality but we'll see.

I'd love a 6cyl but I don't think you'll get 30mpg real world out of any. I'll be following this thread with interest!

Rich1973

1,277 posts

206 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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XE Jag?

ZX10R NIN

30,502 posts

154 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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CJ22 said:
I'm looking at my options for my next daily driver, and I'm wondering if I can come away from diesels and instead go for a petrol. I do around 15k miles a year, mostly motorway, A, and B roads. A low traffic commute with the cruise control on for alot of it. I'd like something enjoyable though with some grunt, so a Prius and such are out of the question. Ideally, something around the 200bhp mark that could do in the 30's for mpg without dawdling everywhere? I've heard of newer BMW's doing more than 30 (although they're a bit out of my price range), and golf gti's and their VAG equivalents doing around 30, so i'm hoping there's something out there that fits the bill as it'd be nice to be back in a petrol.

Budget is up to 10k. I'd consider most makes and body styles. Automatic or manual, just nothing French though.

Any options? Tia
With the no French rule you're really missing out on the Megane RS but if we all liked the same thing life would be boring, with this in mind I'm going to suggest something a bit different because of your 15k a year you'll also want something with lowish miles:

Astra VXR good underrated steer well spec'd (which matters when doing 15k a year) great seats

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006220...

2.0T Focus ST-3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008192...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009083...

Mazda 3 MPS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009033...

braddo

12,257 posts

217 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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The obvious answer is a GT86!!

StuTheGrouch

5,918 posts

191 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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Benrad said:
I'd love a 6cyl but I don't think you'll get 30mpg real world out of any. I'll be following this thread with interest!
BMW 6 cylinders will return 30 mpg plus. I had an E46 330 and that averaged 30. I then had an E60 530 and that was even better (31-32 during my ownership).

If you thrash them constantly, then yeah, mid-20s.

CJ22

Original Poster:

43 posts

154 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
I wouldn't knock a swift sport and the likes for a shorter commute, but I'd want something with a bit more power and comfort for the commute I do.

A nice car, but a quick browse through autotrader, and I can only find diesel, or low spec petrol XE's for 10k and under.

One of my colleagues has a Megane RS. I like the look of them, and don't doubt they're a great drive, but it's the interior that lets it down for me unfortunately. The 3 MPS and the VXR are two I'd consider though. Probably more so the MPS. The practicality of a hatch could be handy too.

Not too long ago I had an E46 330ci that I would average 24mpg with, though I could have gotten more if I tried. She was also getting a bit long in the tooth though, high miles, vanos could have done with a rebuild among other bits; and ended up being the car I changed for a diesel to save on running costs.
I've heard of the E92 330ci being more economical with it's N52 engine. I haven't heard of what you'd realistically expect to get from it though.

CJ22

Original Poster:

43 posts

154 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
braddo said:
The obvious answer is a GT86!!
Do you think you could see 30mpg+ from one on average without nursing it everywhere? Great looking car in my opinion, have read great reviews of them, and i was surprised to see they were in my price range in good condition, but quickly thought an N/A boxer engine would probably be a bit thirsty.

Pica-Pica

16,528 posts

113 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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CJ22 said:
braddo said:
The obvious answer is a GT86!!
Do you think you could see 30mpg+ from one on average without nursing it everywhere? Great looking car in my opinion, have read great reviews of them, and i was surprised to see they were in my price range in good condition, but quickly thought an N/A boxer engine would probably be a bit thirsty.
Traditionally Subarus. (incl. the BRZ) have been accurate on fuel consumption. See Honest John real mpg.

Pica-Pica

16,528 posts

113 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
quotequote all
StuTheGrouch said:
Benrad said:
I'd love a 6cyl but I don't think you'll get 30mpg real world out of any. I'll be following this thread with interest!
BMW 6 cylinders will return 30 mpg plus. I had an E46 330 and that averaged 30. I then had an E60 530 and that was even better (31-32 during my ownership).

If you thrash them constantly, then yeah, mid-20s.
My E36 2.5 I6 got 34 mph on 95 RON (36mpg on 98RON, and was smoother).

ZX10R NIN

30,502 posts

154 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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Mr Tidy

31,155 posts

156 months

Sunday 20th September 2020
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I've had an E46 325ti Compact, two Z4 Coupes, an E91 325i and an E90 330i all with manual gearboxes and a petrol straight 6 and they have all easily averaged over 30 mpg.

But I'm no longer working so there is no commute and I mostly use them outside of rush hours (because I can) and until lockdown I often did longer runs of 30+ miles.

Obviously sitting in stop/start traffic every day 30mpg won't be achievable!

braddo

12,257 posts

217 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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CJ22 said:
braddo said:
The obvious answer is a GT86!!
Do you think you could see 30mpg+ from one on average without nursing it everywhere? Great looking car in my opinion, have read great reviews of them, and i was surprised to see they were in my price range in good condition, but quickly thought an N/A boxer engine would probably be a bit thirsty.
Owners' forums and Honest John suggest 35mpg is an easy average for typical commuting and 40'ish on motorways, so 30 mpg sounds very achievable. smile

hothatch1.6

73 posts

114 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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Ride quality may put this out of the question but I used to get 40mpg out of my Fiesta ST Mk 7.5 and mid 30s with occasional B road hooning

paradigital

1,099 posts

181 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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Benrad said:
I'd love a 6cyl but I don't think you'll get 30mpg real world out of any. I'll be following this thread with interest!
Granted it'll be out of the price range, but I commuted for the first time in my 440i this morning and averaged 40.5mpg (trip-computer figures make of that what you will) over 10 miles of mostly dual-carriageway (plus a bit of 30/40 limit stuff at either end).

But it goes to show that just because an engine is a 6-cyl doesn't instantly mean that decent economy figures are impossible.

cerb4.5lee

44,181 posts

209 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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If you don't mind a small(ish) car a F56 MINI Cooper S will do well over 30mpg(mine always does around 40mpg). It is a 4 cylinder 2.0 turbo.

ETA...just looked and they are a bit over budget.

Stick Legs

8,901 posts

194 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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cerb4.5lee said:
If you don't mind a small(ish) car a F56 MINI Cooper S will do well over 30mpg(mine always does around 40mpg). It is a 4 cylinder 2.0 turbo.

ETA...just looked and they are a bit over budget.
My R56 Mini Cooper S does 32 mpg virtually regardless of how I drive and is and absolute riot to drive. Highly recommended.

5harp3y

1,966 posts

228 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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Stick Legs said:
cerb4.5lee said:
If you don't mind a small(ish) car a F56 MINI Cooper S will do well over 30mpg(mine always does around 40mpg). It is a 4 cylinder 2.0 turbo.

ETA...just looked and they are a bit over budget.
My R56 Mini Cooper S does 32 mpg virtually regardless of how I drive and is and absolute riot to drive. Highly recommended.
ours too, easy 40mpg on a run

mega to drive

with cruise on is nice on the motorway

not practical though as boot is laughable

dunc69

916 posts

276 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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The best Golf GTI you can afford?

Fast enough, frugal on a run and comfortable enough for the commute.

Classless too.

Edited by dunc69 on Monday 21st September 15:12

Mr Tidy

31,155 posts

156 months

Monday 21st September 2020
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If you like the idea of a Golf GTi you might also like a Seat Leon FR or Cupra as well.