You've a 75 mile daily commute. Which do you choose?

[Starjet99]

I keep going round in circles with this question so asking strangers on the internet seems a sensible way to aid my decision:

I've narrowed my options down to:

Cheap shedding [my current modus operandi]:


A bit of bargain basement barging:


A usable daily classic:


A shiny new car with a warranty and modern conveniences:


A nearly new hybrid:

[shtu]

Starjet99 said:

I've narrowed my options down

You really haven't.

[Starjet99]

shtu said:

You really haven't.

True. I think that's the problem

[MrGTI6]

I've just got home from a 4-hour/270-mile drive. I feel fresh as a daisy and the car was faultless. It was also a cheap 23-year-old French hatchback. What I mean by that is if you want a huge barge then by all means buy one, but don't be fooled into thinking it's a necessity.

[Starjet99]

MrGTI6 said:

I've just got home from a 4-hour/270-mile drive. I feel fresh as a daisy and the car was faultless. It was also a cheap 23-year-old French hatchback. What I mean by that is if you want a huge barge then by all means buy one, but don't be fooled into thinking it's a necessity.

I'm not! I've done 500+ mile journeys in my shed and it's fine. Incidentally, I'd love a GTi-6, ideally a phase 1, but they are like rocking horse poo these days! I wish I bought the one I was offered about 10 years ago.

[Pistonheader101]

None

Would go for a 2010 Audi A6/ 7 series/ S class.

Can’t put a price on comfort.

[MrGTI6]

Starjet99 said:

MrGTI6 said:

I've just got home from a 4-hour/270-mile drive. I feel fresh as a daisy and the car was faultless. It was also a cheap 23-year-old French hatchback. What I mean by that is if you want a huge barge then by all means buy one, but don't be fooled into thinking it's a necessity.

I'm not! I've done 500+ mile journeys in my shed and it's fine. Incidentally, I'd love a GTi-6, ideally a phase 1, but they are like rocking horse poo these days! I wish I bought the one I was offered about 10 years ago.

I agree, a phase one would be my preference too. No chance of getting one on my budget though! I'm glad I bought mine when I did. Admittedly it's a phase two, but at £700 beggars can't be choosers!

[clockworks]

A diesel repmobile for close to shed money - old Mondeo or Insignia.

I spent 20 years as a field service engineer, clocking up 40k miles a year in those when they were new. Perfectly adequate for the job, a good mix of economy and comfort. Never had one break down, even with 120k miles on the clock.

[bsidethecside]

Pre COVID I did 60 miles per day mostly motorway and bought an ex-demo 330d. Absolutely perfect with plenty of smooth grunt and 50+ mpg. I subscribed to traffic info on the satnav and got a speaker upgrade. All I needed and still amusing if I took a quiet back road.

[Itsallicanafford]

For my 60 mile daily commute I choose Lexus. Comfy pews, Mark Levison Hifi, never goes wrong. Job done. Versions of this combo in Lexuses are available to suit every budget.

[Mouse Rat]

Depends on the type of road.
For my 90 miles a day commute which is 75% motorway I chose an E class 350cdi. 1500rpm at 85mph and over 40mpg, perfect.

[Walter Sobchak]

Starjet99 said:

I'm not! I've done 500+ mile journeys in my shed and it's fine. Incidentally, I'd love a GTi-6, ideally a phase 1, but they are like rocking horse poo these days! I wish I bought the one I was offered about 10 years ago.

I might know of a Phase 1 someone would be willing to let go.

[bearman68]

S60 D5 E3.

£1k, nice seats awesomely economical. Good reliability, and very very long life.

Leather seats are the nicest.

[Andy_C77]

+1 for a 330d stick some all season tyre on it like Michelin CrossClimates and you’d be sorted.

[djglover]

Ive just leased a VWID3 for a 140 mile commute round trip. I was in an Octavia VRS, cost per year on fuel goes from £3,200 to £320 if I charge overnight with an EV tariff.

no brainer

Edited by djglover on Sunday 9th May 20:46

[J1990]

Ioniq Premium isn't a bad place at all do be having to do long, boring commutes. It's not exciting and it's not flashy. It is cheap to buy and maintain, with a strong 60mpg and enough toys to make the commute pleasant (adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, heated seats/wheel etc)

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd get a rep mobile something with less than 60k that you'll grt a few years out of.

Insignia Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101228...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101117...

DS5 DStyle this one is ULAZ compliant

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104161...

[The spinner of plates]

clockworks said:

A diesel repmobile for close to shed money - old Mondeo or Insignia.

I spent 20 years as a field service engineer, clocking up 40k miles a year in those when they were new. Perfectly adequate for the job, a good mix of economy and comfort. Never had one break down, even with 120k miles on the clock.

Agreed.

I used a Jag XJ X350 V6 for a similar commute which was 100 miles a day, but the company were paying the fuel. If they weren't then £400 in petrol would have got boring quickly.

When I started self-funding, the 220cdi Merc autos were my choice. C if you don't need much space, if you do.

£5k gets you a lot of choice and I found reliability good. They like being used daily for big miles.

[C7 JFW]

Honda Civic 1.6 - it won an mpg award and it'll likely cost you pennies to run.

[gmaz]

My 2014 Merc C220d coupe is available. 80 mpg driven carefully, 210bhp and Merc build quality.

Yours for £6500