Need a work hack - Options?
Discussion
Hi everyone,
So I've just landed a new job and the commute is now 80 miles round trip, 3/4 times per week and maybe 5 eventually. I just told my Mk2 TT because it just wasn't fit for purpose, and have maybe 3-6k to spend on something that would.
I'm no car snob, happy to consider all brands. I've had anything from a 330d, Saab 1.9TiD and VW 2.0 TDI to a Fiat 20vt and Toyota VVTI, but I do prefer the diesel power curve. Would like a few toys but in reality cruise control is the only must, 4WD would be nice but really not a deal breaker, same for it being auto or manual.
Have seriously considered:
1) 8th and 9th gen civics, main thing throwing me towards 8th gen 2.2d is lack of DPF and pennies these days for good spec. The 1.6 and 2.2d seem to be good value too for what they bring but not sure on reliability on the mileage I can afford, around 110k and up!
2) All forms of Volvo, fancy the 2.0 diesels and they have nice kit once again. Not sure on reliability in newer ones but understand they are literally where the term workhorse shed comes from.
3) e90 320d I am just worried it's going to feel like a crap version of my 330d with what I understand, worse reliability? Nice looking cars though but you pay for it
4) Honda Accord, basically a civic but with worse economy but look a bit nicer. Worse dash imo but maybe more suited for long driving journeys.
5) Saab 93/95, lovedddd my old one but concerned they no longer exist and the twin turbos are meant to be expensive to repair.
I would love any contribution, be it new cars or opinions for or against these I've considered. Like I say the budget is 6ish, could stretch maybe to 7 but I'd also rather spend closer to the bottom end of my budget for if something catastrophic happens!
Thanks in advance and will be looking at stuff over the weekend!!
So I've just landed a new job and the commute is now 80 miles round trip, 3/4 times per week and maybe 5 eventually. I just told my Mk2 TT because it just wasn't fit for purpose, and have maybe 3-6k to spend on something that would.
I'm no car snob, happy to consider all brands. I've had anything from a 330d, Saab 1.9TiD and VW 2.0 TDI to a Fiat 20vt and Toyota VVTI, but I do prefer the diesel power curve. Would like a few toys but in reality cruise control is the only must, 4WD would be nice but really not a deal breaker, same for it being auto or manual.
Have seriously considered:
1) 8th and 9th gen civics, main thing throwing me towards 8th gen 2.2d is lack of DPF and pennies these days for good spec. The 1.6 and 2.2d seem to be good value too for what they bring but not sure on reliability on the mileage I can afford, around 110k and up!
2) All forms of Volvo, fancy the 2.0 diesels and they have nice kit once again. Not sure on reliability in newer ones but understand they are literally where the term workhorse shed comes from.
3) e90 320d I am just worried it's going to feel like a crap version of my 330d with what I understand, worse reliability? Nice looking cars though but you pay for it
4) Honda Accord, basically a civic but with worse economy but look a bit nicer. Worse dash imo but maybe more suited for long driving journeys.
5) Saab 93/95, lovedddd my old one but concerned they no longer exist and the twin turbos are meant to be expensive to repair.
I would love any contribution, be it new cars or opinions for or against these I've considered. Like I say the budget is 6ish, could stretch maybe to 7 but I'd also rather spend closer to the bottom end of my budget for if something catastrophic happens!
Thanks in advance and will be looking at stuff over the weekend!!
If you aren't bothered about the badge, more the value for money and capability, have you considered a Skoda for day to day duties?
Had one in the past, similar to this and it was a cracking car.
Towards the bottom end of your budget, 88K miles, FSH, 0-60 in 7-secs, the cruise your require and more options on top...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103069...
No affiliation, just something I spotted tonight - might buy it myself!!
Had one in the past, similar to this and it was a cracking car.
Towards the bottom end of your budget, 88K miles, FSH, 0-60 in 7-secs, the cruise your require and more options on top...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103069...
No affiliation, just something I spotted tonight - might buy it myself!!
Well that journey is about £12 per day in fuel or £3 per day in electricity. Let's call it £150 per month.
https://www.leaseloco.com/car-leasing/hyundai/ioni...
12k miles lease is £200/month plus a £2,400 deposit which you have, then £50 a month on top of the money you're saving on fuel.
Hard to argue against as you get to waft around in a brand new car, with many toys, that will be under warranty.
That's where my money would go without hesitation.
https://www.leaseloco.com/car-leasing/hyundai/ioni...
12k miles lease is £200/month plus a £2,400 deposit which you have, then £50 a month on top of the money you're saving on fuel.
Hard to argue against as you get to waft around in a brand new car, with many toys, that will be under warranty.
That's where my money would go without hesitation.
SCEtoAUX said:
Well that journey is about £12 per day in fuel or £3 per day in electricity. Let's call it £150 per month.
https://www.leaseloco.com/car-leasing/hyundai/ioni...
12k miles lease is £200/month plus a £2,400 deposit which you have, then £50 a month on top of the money you're saving on fuel.
Hard to argue against as you get to waft around in a brand new car, with many toys, that will be under warranty.
That's where my money would go without hesitation.
I'm not sure I would fancy paying over £7k for a car for 2 yearshttps://www.leaseloco.com/car-leasing/hyundai/ioni...
12k miles lease is £200/month plus a £2,400 deposit which you have, then £50 a month on top of the money you're saving on fuel.
Hard to argue against as you get to waft around in a brand new car, with many toys, that will be under warranty.
That's where my money would go without hesitation.
PH User said:
SCEtoAUX said:
Well that journey is about £12 per day in fuel or £3 per day in electricity. Let's call it £150 per month.
https://www.leaseloco.com/car-leasing/hyundai/ioni...
12k miles lease is £200/month plus a £2,400 deposit which you have, then £50 a month on top of the money you're saving on fuel.
Hard to argue against as you get to waft around in a brand new car, with many toys, that will be under warranty.
That's where my money would go without hesitation.
I'm not sure I would fancy paying over £7k for a car for 2 yearshttps://www.leaseloco.com/car-leasing/hyundai/ioni...
12k miles lease is £200/month plus a £2,400 deposit which you have, then £50 a month on top of the money you're saving on fuel.
Hard to argue against as you get to waft around in a brand new car, with many toys, that will be under warranty.
That's where my money would go without hesitation.
SCEtoAUX said:
liner33 said:
12k lease won't work if the op is going to be doing 400miles a week will it?
He said three or four days, I assume he will get some holiday, so it won't be far off of 12k, probably nearer 13k but excess miles won't break the bank.bearman68 said:
Old fashioned Volvo S60 D5 Euro 3.
70 mpg is well within the norm (87 is the best I've seen on mine), comfy seats, cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, and no value if everything goes horribly wrong.
Electric would be a great option. Just make sure the RAC recovery is up to scratch.
Yep that would be a good choice. 70 mpg is well within the norm (87 is the best I've seen on mine), comfy seats, cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, and no value if everything goes horribly wrong.
Electric would be a great option. Just make sure the RAC recovery is up to scratch.
So I'm not a big fan of the lease, I'll be buying a house come July and having that huge payment coming out monthly according to our mortgage broker isn't really an option!
I really really want a D5, is the S60 the best motorway mule for it? There's a few for sale, top end of my budget but they have some lovely kit and performance stats are ridiculous. There's a Cat S for sale on AT at 3.8k which I might ask to see what's been done to it, otherwise there aren't that many for sale.
Anything else similar to the D5 in terms of power and reliability, and anything to look out for? I assume chain driven and the DPFs aren't a massive common fault?
I really really want a D5, is the S60 the best motorway mule for it? There's a few for sale, top end of my budget but they have some lovely kit and performance stats are ridiculous. There's a Cat S for sale on AT at 3.8k which I might ask to see what's been done to it, otherwise there aren't that many for sale.
Anything else similar to the D5 in terms of power and reliability, and anything to look out for? I assume chain driven and the DPFs aren't a massive common fault?
I'm bias but a CLK320cdi is a great place to while away the miles (especially with the heated Orthopedic seats) & you'll get a real world low to mid 40's on a run or high 40's to low 50's with a map.
They're also very practical with a big boot & folding rear seats.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102179...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049...
If you want a nice 2.0d that'll see you with real world low 50's but also a well appointed interior with sensible miles on the clock I'd find it hard to look past the DS5 & the Auto's are torque converter units:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101288...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101258...
Or the Insignia Elite Nav is another good pick but I'd take the DS5 over one of these:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103099...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...
They're also very practical with a big boot & folding rear seats.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102179...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049...
If you want a nice 2.0d that'll see you with real world low 50's but also a well appointed interior with sensible miles on the clock I'd find it hard to look past the DS5 & the Auto's are torque converter units:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101288...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101258...
Or the Insignia Elite Nav is another good pick but I'd take the DS5 over one of these:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103099...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...
Solid suggestions coming in, really appreciate it. So would it be agreed the diesel is the better option, and maybe go for a larger exec as they tend to be better looked after by the owners.
I'm after something not from a dealer, I have family in the trade at main dealers and I understand they are putting huge margins on, and able to hide a lot of issues better than your average Joe, even as morally questionable as that is.
Seen a few nice Civics, no DPF and the 1.6s. The V/S60s and c30s are lovely and the D5 is an exciting prospect too. The last 4 mentioned are also of interest, bit wary of the citroen quality from my mates DS4 that went bang but you could say that for every car I suppose.
Any other ideas keep them coming, or opinions!
I'm after something not from a dealer, I have family in the trade at main dealers and I understand they are putting huge margins on, and able to hide a lot of issues better than your average Joe, even as morally questionable as that is.
Seen a few nice Civics, no DPF and the 1.6s. The V/S60s and c30s are lovely and the D5 is an exciting prospect too. The last 4 mentioned are also of interest, bit wary of the citroen quality from my mates DS4 that went bang but you could say that for every car I suppose.
Any other ideas keep them coming, or opinions!
Having run one for 3 years and 105k from new, I'd also say check out a Seat Exeo.
Based on the 2005-2009 Audi A4, It's a nice place to be if you get the Tech Pack.
Everything you need, not one of the dodgy engines, 140 or 170hp. Cruise, Bluetooth Nav ( in the Tech Pack)
Try to avoid the S, go for the SE Tech or Sport Tech.
Based on the 2005-2009 Audi A4, It's a nice place to be if you get the Tech Pack.
Everything you need, not one of the dodgy engines, 140 or 170hp. Cruise, Bluetooth Nav ( in the Tech Pack)
Try to avoid the S, go for the SE Tech or Sport Tech.
I would be extremely reluctant to splurge £2k on an aging Merc, seems to be to be a very risky proposition.
And I would sooner beat my fingers with a hammer than have a VAG product. Fantastic places to sit, but the list of niggles and downright bad things is going to be very long.
An alternative would be a big Citroen or Peugeot. I've heard the C5 has comfy seats, and either the 2.0 or (better) the 2.2 diesels are very solid. The French stuff is much much better than PH reputation suggests. There are some ridiculous bargains to be had here, and at £2k, the world is your oyster. A Mondeo is very good, and these are so unfashionable at the moment, a few grand will get something very very respectable. A quick scout on Ebay shows a 2009 one at £950 with 129k on it. How far wrong can you go?
But it's not going to be as economic as the big Volvo - nothing comes close in my experience. (I currently have 12 of these D5 engines in a small fleet in various guises, and all doing big miles month in month out).
£1,000 on a Euro3 S60, and another £1k for servicing and repair would be my solution and budget.
And I would sooner beat my fingers with a hammer than have a VAG product. Fantastic places to sit, but the list of niggles and downright bad things is going to be very long.
An alternative would be a big Citroen or Peugeot. I've heard the C5 has comfy seats, and either the 2.0 or (better) the 2.2 diesels are very solid. The French stuff is much much better than PH reputation suggests. There are some ridiculous bargains to be had here, and at £2k, the world is your oyster. A Mondeo is very good, and these are so unfashionable at the moment, a few grand will get something very very respectable. A quick scout on Ebay shows a 2009 one at £950 with 129k on it. How far wrong can you go?
But it's not going to be as economic as the big Volvo - nothing comes close in my experience. (I currently have 12 of these D5 engines in a small fleet in various guises, and all doing big miles month in month out).
£1,000 on a Euro3 S60, and another £1k for servicing and repair would be my solution and budget.
Right so, the Volvo seems to be very popular. Going to see some next weekend, a few S60s which I think the D5 is the choice, there are also some V50s.
Also fancy the mondeo although the interior is rather dated in the old shape, but the titanium X is nicely specced.
Really like the look of the C5s, I've found a 2.0HDi, 2.2 and also the V6, are all a good choice?
So not a single vote for a big diesel German like the 3.0TDI in the A4/A5 or 330d?! Not complaining I'd rather pay for the engine and spec than badge by the way!
Thanks so much for the feedback, keep it coming my options just keep growing!
Also fancy the mondeo although the interior is rather dated in the old shape, but the titanium X is nicely specced.
Really like the look of the C5s, I've found a 2.0HDi, 2.2 and also the V6, are all a good choice?
So not a single vote for a big diesel German like the 3.0TDI in the A4/A5 or 330d?! Not complaining I'd rather pay for the engine and spec than badge by the way!
Thanks so much for the feedback, keep it coming my options just keep growing!
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