£6000 commuter/dog car, over 50mpg

[Normodog]

Hi,

Looking for some advice on what to buy for my next commuter.

Criteria:

£6000 budget maximum
20,000 miles a year dual carriageway commute
Room for one baby and a medium dog
Over 50mpg (current civic 2.2 struggles to get 50mpg)

An estate would be good, but I'm alright with putting a cover on the back seat and having the dog in there.

I've been looking at megane estates, focus estates etc. I think around that size would be good as I drive around the Devonshire lanes alot, it helps having a slightly narrower car.

Obviously I'm picking a bad time to buy a car but the civic is on it's last legs now.

Cheers

[mikeyr]

Not sure what the Jazz is like for MPG (think they are petrol only?) but certainly small and they have the magic seats which means room for dog on floor in the back. Same for a Nissan Note. I had a Civic 2.2 like you and the one thing I miss is all the space for putting stuff in!

I had a Cactus lease for a while and that is slightly narrower than a Fiesta apparently. Believe the diesel was meant to be efficient but, as always, these thread are a good chance to look up prices and bloody hell they are expensive now!

Dacia Logan are in budget with low mileage but depends on your likes.

[mikeyr]

Sorry, I'd read that as you wanting to go down a size not stick with Astra/Focus size! Ignore

[ZX10R NIN]

Astra SRI Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...

Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105243...

[clockworks]

I recently stumbled on what, for me, is the ideal workhorse - a Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6 diesel (don't laugh).

I live in Cornwall, so I know what you mean about having a narrower car for the lanes. The C3 Picasso is one of the narrowest cars around for what is such a capacious vehicle - just an inch and a half wider than a Fiesta, 2.5 inches narrower than a Focus. It's a bit more "upright" than a standard hatch, so the view over hedges is better.

Plenty of boot space, and the front passenger seat folds forwards to allow loads up to 8' long to be carried. Fairly comfy ride, and well-equipped in Exclusive trim.

I paid £5600 for mine a few weeks ago. 2014 plate, 30k miles, good history, full MOT, new front tyres, everything works. I got it from a Ford main dealer, with a 2 year warranty upgrade.

It's the second most economical car that I've ever owned, only being beaten by a Panda diesel. Easy 60+mpg in mixed driving.

It's not a car for anyone who really cares about cars, but it does the job.

[georgeyboy12345]

The Focus and Megane are good cars for what you need. Here are some nice ones

Renault Megane 1.5 dCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108055...


Ford Focus 1.5 TDCi 120 Zetec
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108186...



Here are some alternatives

Dacia Logan MCV 1.5 dCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...


Seat Leon 1.6 TDI Sport Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108025...


Peugeot 308 SW 1.6 BlueHDi - make sure they MOT it before buying as it expires soon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109287...

[Macron]

The 308 is ULEZ compliant and has £0 tax, great points when selling later. The horrid 1.5dCi engines in the others need an expensive belt every 5 years. No idea on the Pug, or the Astras, but I’d watch out for surprise costs like that (unless you’re handy with spanners).

[Normodog]

ZX10R NIN said:

Astra SRI Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...

Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105243...

Cheers, that elite looks good. Can't believe they still make cars with wind up rear windows.

[Normodog]

georgeyboy12345 said:

The Focus and Megane are good cars for what you need. Here are some nice ones

Renault Megane 1.5 dCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108055...


Ford Focus 1.5 TDCi 120 Zetec
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108186...



Here are some alternatives

Dacia Logan MCV 1.5 dCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...


Seat Leon 1.6 TDI Sport Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108025...


Peugeot 308 SW 1.6 BlueHDi - make sure they MOT it before buying as it expires soon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109287...

Hadn't considered the 308, they look good. Had considered the Logan, but they don't seem such good value second hand compared to their new price.

[V8mate]

Citroen Berlingo/Peugeot Partner Tepee?

[andburg]

sounds like you want a newer 1.6 diesel civic to me.

Mines been faultless for almost 4 years, averaged about 67mpg, its the hatch but magic seats would mean fitting a large dog between the front and rear seats woulnd't be an issue.

[Normodog]

V8mate said:

Citroen Berlingo/Peugeot Partner Tepee?

That could work, ideal for carrying bikes aswell

[Normodog]

andburg said:

sounds like you want a newer 1.6 diesel civic to me.

Mines been faultless for almost 4 years, averaged about 67mpg, its the hatch but magic seats would mean fitting a large dog between the front and rear seats woulnd't be an issue.

I had one on lease back in 2015, was a really good car, regularly saw 70mpg travelling from Devon to Norfolk.

[anonymous-user]

I had a similar criteria but a slightly higher budget and went for a Dacia Logan Sptepway 0.9. Very comfortable, good mpg and a huge boot, got the toys I need too, very very pleased with it

[anonymous-user]

Why is MPG so critical? Unless you're doing truly mega mileages the fuel cost savings start tailing off dramatically once you get past 35/40 MPG.

Fair enough if you're doing the miles, but if you're not then you could be able to widen your criteria nicely.

[andburg]

charltjr said:

Why is MPG so critical? Unless you're doing truly mega mileages the fuel cost savings start tailing off dramatically once you get past 35/40 MPG.

Fair enough if you're doing the miles, but if you're not then you could be able to widen your criteria nicely.

OP stated 20k miles a year

assuming £1.37p/l the difference between 50mpg and 70mpg is about £700

edit: as ever the cheapest thing is to run the current car into the ground but assuming the £6000 budget includes trade-in OP's budget could be substantially reduced if it has a genuine issue.

Edited by andburg on Thursday 30th September 12:07

[georgeyboy12345]

Normodog said:

Hadn't considered the 308, they look good. Had considered the Logan, but they don't seem such good value second hand compared to their new price.

With the 308, I’d make sure you like the unusual interior - small steering wheel & touchscreen ventilation controls, they are quite divisive.

One advantage the Logan MCV has over the other cars here is its low kerbweight - it’s over 200 kg lighter than the other cars, which means it’s better on fuel, more nimble, components like brakes, tyres last longer, etc.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

E91 3 series isn't a big car by any means but big enough for kids and a medium sized dog. Loved mine and would personally much rather have something like that than a slightly more more modern Focus/Megane etc. 318D/320D will do 50mpg all day long...

[Normodog]

andburg said:

OP stated 20k miles a year

assuming £1.37p/l the difference between 50mpg and 70mpg is about £700

edit: as ever the cheapest thing is to run the current car into the ground but assuming the £6000 budget includes trade-in OP's budget could be substantially reduced if it has a genuine issue.

Edited by andburg on Thursday 30th September 12:07

The budget is excluding my current car, to keep the car reliable it'll probably cost around £2000, it has a cracked exhaust manifold, air con compressor is on it's way out and the clutch is starting to slip.

[andburg]

manifold and clutch are probably going to set you back about £1000 fitted and you can live without air conditioning.

at £6000 you're looking at a car that's still going to be 6/7 years old and probably 60k miles. That sort of window is pretty average to be due for a timing belt / clutch anyway.

I'd be tempted to get the major issues sorted at £1000 vs £6000 for a £700/yr saving