New commute, diesel or not?
Discussion
Ill be starting a new job in the new year. I have a 2 mile commute atm and my 10 year old Skoda Yeti 1.2 petrol has done the job - I have a "fun" car for the weekends so dont need anything else(it did 2000 miles last year) and I dont need to impress anyone - it gets parked in the road.
However, Ill be looking at 80 miles a day, probably 3 days a week but probably more initially. My role is more senior and I want something a bit more grown up.
My initial thoughts were stay away from diesel, but is this just me following a trend?
As an idea, I want something with some go and budget is 20-25K, BMW 335d floats my boat if diesel was a sensible thing to do, if not, petrol compromise of performance ie Golf GTI might be ok, but M140i probably too juicy. Not sure on electric/hybrid but Im open to all ideas
Don't know why you 'need' to spend £20k anyway...unless you're getting a car allowance.
Is it going to be a 'fun' commute with nice, twisty, clear roads...or a dual-carriageway/motorway peak time stop-start bore-fest commute?
If the former, a 125D, 320D, 330D or almost any other BMW diesel will suffice. I have a 2015 320D M-Sport Touring Auto for my 500 mile weekly commute which I bought as an AUC for £15k on 40,000 miles.
If the latter, I'd just keep the Yeti as it'll probably do the stop-start commute as easily as anything else - and you'll save £20k.
Is it going to be a 'fun' commute with nice, twisty, clear roads...or a dual-carriageway/motorway peak time stop-start bore-fest commute?
If the former, a 125D, 320D, 330D or almost any other BMW diesel will suffice. I have a 2015 320D M-Sport Touring Auto for my 500 mile weekly commute which I bought as an AUC for £15k on 40,000 miles.
If the latter, I'd just keep the Yeti as it'll probably do the stop-start commute as easily as anything else - and you'll save £20k.
Edited by mmm-five on Thursday 9th December 09:44
I want an auto because itll start on a currently restricted to 50mph M27 motorway, move onto the M3 then A road and dual carriageway - the latter part can be fun.
20k-25k - thats a number Im easily comfortable with and buys me a car of roughly the right mileage, spec etc. I dont want a car with 100K on the clock.
20k-25k - thats a number Im easily comfortable with and buys me a car of roughly the right mileage, spec etc. I dont want a car with 100K on the clock.
I have a 335d ‘66 plate, on 44k miles (much reduced this last 18 months). WBAC say about £19k, BMW AUC say about £22k to £24k. So you should probably get something younger. Mine is now 5 years old, still feels new, bought on 9 miles as pre-reg, when there were huge discounts and no extra VED. The extra VED came in in April 2017. The only extra I would have had is electric seats, but they seem very rare, surprisingly. Ot copes with B , A and M roads. It is supremely capable, but not an exciting car. I go from ‘this is a keeper’ to ‘I fancy a change’. Probably keep it!
I would be looking at electric also.
My i3 rex will do 80 or so miles on elastic trickery alone and a further 80 on petrol. Later models will do 130 miles electric.
I personally find it a hoot to drive around town and very relaxing on longer journeys.
Whether you consider it to be 'grown up' or not is a matter of personal opinion. I think it does but you might think it to be too quirky!
My i3 rex will do 80 or so miles on elastic trickery alone and a further 80 on petrol. Later models will do 130 miles electric.
I personally find it a hoot to drive around town and very relaxing on longer journeys.
Whether you consider it to be 'grown up' or not is a matter of personal opinion. I think it does but you might think it to be too quirky!
8-P said:
I want an auto because itll start on a currently restricted to 50mph M27 motorway, move onto the M3 then A road and dual carriageway - the latter part can be fun.
20k-25k - thats a number Im easily comfortable with and buys me a car of roughly the right mileage, spec etc. I dont want a car with 100K on the clock.
Sounds like your Golf GTI suggestion in the original post would be a good choice. Fun on the A roads at the end of your commute, decent automatic gearbox, good fuel economy, and a bit more "grown up" than your Yeti.20k-25k - thats a number Im easily comfortable with and buys me a car of roughly the right mileage, spec etc. I dont want a car with 100K on the clock.
Alternatively I'd suggest anything with the ZF 8HP gearbox. 120d, 320d, maybe a Jag XE as a leftfield choice?
Is any charging available at work?
If there is and you could stretch the budget to a PHEV, Even one that only attains 20 mile range would effectively halve your mileage on petrol.
Furthermore, PHEVs usually come with handy features for the commute like pre-start climate control that you can run from your phone to have the car cool in summer and warm in winter.
If there is and you could stretch the budget to a PHEV, Even one that only attains 20 mile range would effectively halve your mileage on petrol.
Furthermore, PHEVs usually come with handy features for the commute like pre-start climate control that you can run from your phone to have the car cool in summer and warm in winter.
8-P said:
I want an auto because itll start on a currently restricted to 50mph M27 motorway, move onto the M3 then A road and dual carriageway - the latter part can be fun.
20k-25k - thats a number Im easily comfortable with and buys me a car of roughly the right mileage, spec etc. I dont want a car with 100K on the clock.
You're not heading Newbury way are you?? M27/M3/A34 is what I'm potentially looking as a commute which I tried in my mustang last week and was great but would be crippling daily hence looking at using my i3.20k-25k - thats a number Im easily comfortable with and buys me a car of roughly the right mileage, spec etc. I dont want a car with 100K on the clock.
If you definitely don't want fun but want auto and not diesel I'd go electric. 80 mile round trip would be easy, they're torquey and most of the koreans have adaptive cruise and lane assist etc for the boring bits.
Or if petrol an RC200 Lexus or a saloon equivalent would be a left field choice, dead reliable, loads of kit but fuel costs may be relatively silly.
Or BM-something-something-zzzzz...
Or if petrol an RC200 Lexus or a saloon equivalent would be a left field choice, dead reliable, loads of kit but fuel costs may be relatively silly.
Or BM-something-something-zzzzz...
I guess it depends how much is too much when it comes to your monthly fuel cost. I think an 80 mile commute [40 miles each way] 3 days a week is still petrol territory. A Golf GTi and M140i are still capable of returning north of 30mpg.
If I was you, I'd reduce my budget a bit [leaving spare cash for fuel] and buy a 335i Touring.
I do 55ish miles, 5 days a week, in a supercharged V8 [22mpg] and right on the limit of what I want to spend per month on fuel [especially as fuel costs have shot up] ;(
If I was you, I'd reduce my budget a bit [leaving spare cash for fuel] and buy a 335i Touring.
I do 55ish miles, 5 days a week, in a supercharged V8 [22mpg] and right on the limit of what I want to spend per month on fuel [especially as fuel costs have shot up] ;(
BUG4LIFE]I guess it depends how much is too much when it comes to your monthly fuel cost. I think an 80 mile commute [40 miles each way said:
3 days a week is still petrol territory. A Golf GTi and M140i are still capable of returning north of 30mpg.
If I was you, I'd reduce my budget a bit [leaving spare cash for fuel] and buy a 335i Touring.
I do 55ish miles, 5 days a week, in a supercharged V8 [22mpg] and right on the limit of what I want to spend per month on fuel [especially as fuel costs have shot up] ;(
From someone who owned an M140i auto from new, 30mpg is the Minimum I'd expect from it. My old M27 commute regularly saw >50mpg. It's an incredible engine the B58, massive amounts of power yet really efficient when you want it to be. Still faster and more efficient than the 2.0 4pot turbo that replaced it in the new M135iIf I was you, I'd reduce my budget a bit [leaving spare cash for fuel] and buy a 335i Touring.
I do 55ish miles, 5 days a week, in a supercharged V8 [22mpg] and right on the limit of what I want to spend per month on fuel [especially as fuel costs have shot up] ;(
BUG4LIFE]I guess it depends how much is too much when it comes to your monthly fuel cost. I think an 80 mile commute [40 miles each way said:
3 days a week is still petrol territory. A Golf GTi and M140i are still capable of returning north of 30mpg.
If I was you, I'd reduce my budget a bit [leaving spare cash for fuel] and buy a 335i Touring.
I do 55ish miles, 5 days a week, in a supercharged V8 [22mpg] and right on the limit of what I want to spend per month on fuel [especially as fuel costs have shot up] ;(
Yes its certainly a close call as to whether a diesel is worth it or not, hence the post really. if it was 120 miles a day I think diesel would win.If I was you, I'd reduce my budget a bit [leaving spare cash for fuel] and buy a 335i Touring.
I do 55ish miles, 5 days a week, in a supercharged V8 [22mpg] and right on the limit of what I want to spend per month on fuel [especially as fuel costs have shot up] ;(
As it is petrol will be more in fuel costs but l suspect the depreciation might be better with diesels rapidly becoming less popular?
QuattroDave said:
From someone who owned an M140i auto from new, 30mpg is the Minimum I'd expect from it. My old M27 commute regularly saw >50mpg. It's an incredible engine the B58, massive amounts of power yet really efficient when you want it to be. Still faster and more efficient than the 2.0 4pot turbo that replaced it in the new M135i
Interesting. My E46 M3 used to do well over 30 mpg on a motorway run, I actually got 39mpg on a long trip up North once.Is it a comfortable car to drive? ie not too rock hard.
I am currently using a 16 year old diesel Merc CLK, 2 grands worth.
Usually the nadir of all things unholy being a lowish powered diesel and automatic and I hate myself for saying this, I love driving it.
Get a newer Merc, not so new as they got all over styled, say a 2008 W211 320cdi maybe, hell of a car for like 4 grand, keep the money for something fun.
Usually the nadir of all things unholy being a lowish powered diesel and automatic and I hate myself for saying this, I love driving it.
Get a newer Merc, not so new as they got all over styled, say a 2008 W211 320cdi maybe, hell of a car for like 4 grand, keep the money for something fun.
8-P said:
BUG4LIFE]I guess it depends how much is too much when it comes to your monthly fuel cost. I think an 80 mile commute [40 miles each way said:
3 days a week is still petrol territory. A Golf GTi and M140i are still capable of returning north of 30mpg.
If I was you, I'd reduce my budget a bit [leaving spare cash for fuel] and buy a 335i Touring.
I do 55ish miles, 5 days a week, in a supercharged V8 [22mpg] and right on the limit of what I want to spend per month on fuel [especially as fuel costs have shot up] ;(
Yes its certainly a close call as to whether a diesel is worth it or not, hence the post really. if it was 120 miles a day I think diesel would win.If I was you, I'd reduce my budget a bit [leaving spare cash for fuel] and buy a 335i Touring.
I do 55ish miles, 5 days a week, in a supercharged V8 [22mpg] and right on the limit of what I want to spend per month on fuel [especially as fuel costs have shot up] ;(
As it is petrol will be more in fuel costs but l suspect the depreciation might be better with diesels rapidly becoming less popular?
A.J.M said:
I would do the commute for a while in the Yeti so you can see how the route is and if there is anything you need to consider with it before spending 20 grand on a car.
This was my original plan - see how it goes, makes sense right? Its a 105bhp so not great for overtaking/cruising but I could live.I don't want to sound like the big I am but Im moving into a much bigger company where Ill be head of department and I feel I need to set the tone a little from the off. I wouldnt turn up looking all scruffy in tired clothers and feels like I should do the same with cars. Or am I totally misguided.
We bought a 2013 C Class Coupe to help reduce fuel/running costs for visiting relatives/euro holidays. It's a nice car, 50,000 miles on the clock. Returns 60+ MPG quite easily on long trips. Has a bit of punch (220CDI) and a nice auto box with Eco, Sport or Manual modes.
It's no where near as fast or fun as our weekend car. But the MPG, autobox and laser-cruise make it a very versatile mile-muncher on longer motorway runs. It's also not an Ad Blue version of the C Class, so reduces potential costs there (failures of that system causing MOT headaches etc).
What age car are you thinking of? Much newer?
It's no where near as fast or fun as our weekend car. But the MPG, autobox and laser-cruise make it a very versatile mile-muncher on longer motorway runs. It's also not an Ad Blue version of the C Class, so reduces potential costs there (failures of that system causing MOT headaches etc).
What age car are you thinking of? Much newer?
Edited by andyvvc on Thursday 9th December 10:13
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