£2500 commuter- 25 miles a day.
Discussion
My Peugeot 107 is great but it's not the most comfortable.
I think I'd be happy with circa 30-35mpg. Journey is mostly long sweeping country roads and a bit of duel carriage way. About 12.5 miles each way to and from work. Definitely not enough to warrant a diesel. So it has to be petrol.
Would like something bigger, comfier, pokier and it needs to be somewhat reliable. Is a late MK3 Mondeo good at this price point? Specifically the 2.0 Petrol? Honda Accord?
Could go down the old German barge route, but the probability of big bills puts me off.
I think I'd be happy with circa 30-35mpg. Journey is mostly long sweeping country roads and a bit of duel carriage way. About 12.5 miles each way to and from work. Definitely not enough to warrant a diesel. So it has to be petrol.
Would like something bigger, comfier, pokier and it needs to be somewhat reliable. Is a late MK3 Mondeo good at this price point? Specifically the 2.0 Petrol? Honda Accord?
Could go down the old German barge route, but the probability of big bills puts me off.
I think your initial instincts are bang on the money with the Accord and the Mondeo.
I've owned an Accord but not a Mondeo.
I don't think there's much in it on the fuel economy for the Accord between the 2.0 and the 2.4 (best check that though), but the 2.4 is quite a bit quicker than the 2.0 (190 vs 150 bhp). Mine was a 2.4 and returned 30mpg pretty much all the time on roads like you're describing.
Prices of Gen7 (2003-08?) Accords seem to be all over the place. As always, try and buy one that looks like it's been looked after and serviced well. There's a fairly short list of things that go wrong with them (Alpine CD player / DVD Sat Nav player fails, suspension bushings, particularly the rear one on the lower control arms if I've got my terminology right, clutch pedals creak... that's all that comes to mind).
My Gen7 tourer was great and I thought it handled surprisingly well for what it was. Mine had over 140k on it and was comfortable and reliable for four years. I wish I hadn't got rid of it. Let us know what you get!
I've owned an Accord but not a Mondeo.
I don't think there's much in it on the fuel economy for the Accord between the 2.0 and the 2.4 (best check that though), but the 2.4 is quite a bit quicker than the 2.0 (190 vs 150 bhp). Mine was a 2.4 and returned 30mpg pretty much all the time on roads like you're describing.
Prices of Gen7 (2003-08?) Accords seem to be all over the place. As always, try and buy one that looks like it's been looked after and serviced well. There's a fairly short list of things that go wrong with them (Alpine CD player / DVD Sat Nav player fails, suspension bushings, particularly the rear one on the lower control arms if I've got my terminology right, clutch pedals creak... that's all that comes to mind).
My Gen7 tourer was great and I thought it handled surprisingly well for what it was. Mine had over 140k on it and was comfortable and reliable for four years. I wish I hadn't got rid of it. Let us know what you get!
2.0i Ford Mondeo Ghia
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111300...
Titanium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...
Lexus IS250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106153...
Saab 9-5 Vector:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...
2.0i Mazda6 TS2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...
1.8i Insignia SRI good reliable cars
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201161...
2.0T S60 S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201010...
CLK200 Avantgarde
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...
C230 Coupe comfortable swift
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112180...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108166...
All are reliable options that'll do 30-35mpg .
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111300...
Titanium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...
Lexus IS250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106153...
Saab 9-5 Vector:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...
2.0i Mazda6 TS2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...
1.8i Insignia SRI good reliable cars
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201161...
2.0T S60 S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201010...
CLK200 Avantgarde
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...
C230 Coupe comfortable swift
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112180...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108166...
All are reliable options that'll do 30-35mpg .
I do 27 miles there and back commute, so what...54 miles, went from a 2013 5 cylinder 2.0 diesel V60 to a 2009 £800 1.4 MINI petrol, this MINI does average 45/50mpg on a good run, quite astonishing really, and is pretty comfortable.
25 mile commute is nothing, would be getting the cheapest thing possible, the V60 in my case was way overkill, and the SAAB 9-3 ttid I had previously was aswell, all those potentially ££££ expensive diesel issues, nice not thinking about it now, and I've had diesels for the past 20 years, bit of a change.
25 mile commute is nothing, would be getting the cheapest thing possible, the V60 in my case was way overkill, and the SAAB 9-3 ttid I had previously was aswell, all those potentially ££££ expensive diesel issues, nice not thinking about it now, and I've had diesels for the past 20 years, bit of a change.
I don't think you need something as big as a Mondeo or Accord if you are just commuting, you are just wasting fuel lugging all that extra metal about. These below are plenty big enough to be comfortable while still practical and reliable.
Mazda 3 1.6 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201010...
Fiat Bravo 1.4 T-Jet
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201081...
Ford Focus 1.8 Style
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201201...
Renault Megane 1.6 16v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111249...
Hyundai i30 1.6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...
Mazda 3 1.6 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201010...
Fiat Bravo 1.4 T-Jet
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201081...
Ford Focus 1.8 Style
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201201...
Renault Megane 1.6 16v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111249...
Hyundai i30 1.6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...
Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Thursday 20th January 21:31
757 said:
I do 27 miles there and back commute, so what...54 miles, went from a 2013 5 cylinder 2.0 diesel V60 to a 2009 £800 1.4 MINI petrol, this MINI does average 45/50mpg on a good run, quite astonishing really, and is pretty comfortable.
25 mile commute is nothing, would be getting the cheapest thing possible, the V60 in my case was way overkill, and the SAAB 9-3 ttid I had previously was aswell, all those potentially ££££ expensive diesel issues, nice not thinking about it now, and I've had diesels for the past 20 years, bit of a change.
I tend to agree - for years I did 25 miles each way in a 1.3 Yaris (still do now and again), and never found it in the slightest bit uncomfortable. In fact I regularly use it for journeys 10 times the length of the OPs 12.5 mile journey to work and don't find it uncomfortable then either. I do sometimes think of getting something a bit bigger and faster but quickly think what's the point of spending more than I need to on just getting to work. However everybody's different, and if I were to get something a bit bigger for £2.5k it would probably be an Avensis as somebody else mentioned above.25 mile commute is nothing, would be getting the cheapest thing possible, the V60 in my case was way overkill, and the SAAB 9-3 ttid I had previously was aswell, all those potentially ££££ expensive diesel issues, nice not thinking about it now, and I've had diesels for the past 20 years, bit of a change.
Thanks for the links and advice all,
I think I am narrowed down to the following:
MK3 Ford Mondeo- seems my budget will get a late model 2.0 high spec with sensible mileage. Concerns are, rust (I had an ST220 that was pretty crusty but hidden well) engine troubles and expensive clutch if it goes. MPG seems a tad out of line for the soso performance that's on offer. Auto is an option- seems reliable. I like the looks and know they handle superbly. Something appealing about owing a late model version of a car.
2006ish 2.4 Honda Accord- Again a decent car to be had within the budget. Seems I need to worry about abs sensors, brake calipers and a few reports out there about timing chain woes- The 2.0 is definitely an option, I hear the manual gear change is lovely. I do like the sharp looks of the car in saloon guise.
Things got interesting when I saw the Lexus IS250 is not out if reach. £2500 isn't all the money I have in the world, a grand (ish) more would seem to get me in one of the most reliable cars known to man if what I read is true (2.5 litre V6) A big car that rivals the German equivalents but without all the faf and running costs, and achieves decent MPG for what it is. Drawbacks are that the earlier one's don't run on E10 fuel and that their only "big bill" common issue is the exhaust. I do know of them, think they look decent. Rear wheel drive also is a plus point. They are also very cheap to insure. I really can't find many horror stories.
Back to the 107, fundamentally there is nothing wrong with it. It's got a few dings and some bad spray over, oh and it's Cat N.. but it does the job very well. I just don't find it that comfortable. I don't think I'd sell it as it's an excellent little town car and practically costs nothing to run, but doing 10,000ish miles a year in one is taxing.
I think I am narrowed down to the following:
MK3 Ford Mondeo- seems my budget will get a late model 2.0 high spec with sensible mileage. Concerns are, rust (I had an ST220 that was pretty crusty but hidden well) engine troubles and expensive clutch if it goes. MPG seems a tad out of line for the soso performance that's on offer. Auto is an option- seems reliable. I like the looks and know they handle superbly. Something appealing about owing a late model version of a car.
2006ish 2.4 Honda Accord- Again a decent car to be had within the budget. Seems I need to worry about abs sensors, brake calipers and a few reports out there about timing chain woes- The 2.0 is definitely an option, I hear the manual gear change is lovely. I do like the sharp looks of the car in saloon guise.
Things got interesting when I saw the Lexus IS250 is not out if reach. £2500 isn't all the money I have in the world, a grand (ish) more would seem to get me in one of the most reliable cars known to man if what I read is true (2.5 litre V6) A big car that rivals the German equivalents but without all the faf and running costs, and achieves decent MPG for what it is. Drawbacks are that the earlier one's don't run on E10 fuel and that their only "big bill" common issue is the exhaust. I do know of them, think they look decent. Rear wheel drive also is a plus point. They are also very cheap to insure. I really can't find many horror stories.
Back to the 107, fundamentally there is nothing wrong with it. It's got a few dings and some bad spray over, oh and it's Cat N.. but it does the job very well. I just don't find it that comfortable. I don't think I'd sell it as it's an excellent little town car and practically costs nothing to run, but doing 10,000ish miles a year in one is taxing.
Edited by W201_190e on Saturday 22 January 23:30
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