£10-£12k reliable, auto, hatch/estate

[LeeM135i]

Hello PH massive

New job leaves me needing a new/another car. I will be driving to the office on Monday, staying most of the week at hotel or air BNB then travelling home. Office is c.200 miles each way. I will be heading out for site visits so I will add to this milage occasionally with product so need a hatch or estate.

Currently have a 2018 C63S coupe which I will be keeping for fun times but I have been into the office a couple of times and its mostly dull motorway miles and cost £100 in petrol alone for each visit.

To keep the miles off the C63S, keep it special and avoid bankruptcy I am looking for a newish, reliable (probably diesel) auto hatch/small estate. I have £14k in the bank to buy the car, tax/insure/ have a small balance to service / maintain it.

Looking at what I can buy the usual suspects, Golf, A3 or Merc A/B class are out of my budget as I will be buying a 2014 or older car with c.100k miles which is not a great start for cheap reliable economical motoring.

Moved onto Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia, Skoda Rapid or Ford Focus of which the Leon in Estate form looks promising. Any experience of the 7 speed dry clutch (1.6tdi) or 6 speed wet clutch (2.0tdi)? When I had my last 2013 GTD Golf the DSG was fairly new tech and could be unreliable did they improve with age/refinement? Are the 2016 or newer any more reliable?

Also looking at the Astra, really didn't think about the 2016-2018 Astra but they look like a lot of car for the money and the YouTube reviews are very positive. Looking at a 2016 or newer SRI/Elite 1.6tdi auto either hatch or estate. Some of the forums are less positive regarding long term running costs especially with cam chain issues. Any one here run one with positive things to say?

Any other suggestions? Sorry its a long request but just looking for a reasonably cheap, reliable motorway hack so I can keep the C63.

Thanks in advance!

[edc]

If a B class was on your radar why not keep looking at that?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-Mercedes-Benz-B-Cl...

I have a 2012 B200 for 15 months or so now and only cost £8,800. Won't set the world on fire but happy at 7/10ths, big boot.

[samoht]

For a cheap, comfortable, economical long-distance diesel cruiser I'd be considering something French, home of diesels and soft suspensions - perhaps a 308 or Megane? Their poor reputation mean you can get something fairly new for the money, too.

[LeeM135i]

edc said:

If a B class was on your radar why not keep looking at that?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-Mercedes-Benz-B-Cl...

I have a 2012 B200 for 15 months or so now and only cost £8,800. Won't set the world on fire but happy at 7/10ths, big boot.

Thanks EDC hadn't seen this car it is what I am looking for but it is a bit of budget creep and I've been put on a strict budget if I want to keep the C63. My wife has a B200 we have owned from new and we are very happy with it but in her mind why do I want/need 2x cars, I tried asking why she needed multiple pairs of shoes but it didn't go well.

[samoht]

Infiniti Q30? Apparently shared platform/engines with the A-class
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110309...
2017, 32k miles, £13,795, 2.1 diesel auto

[LeeM135i]

samoht said:

Infiniti Q30? Apparently shared platform/engines with the A-class
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110309...
2017, 32k miles, £13,795, 2.1 diesel auto

Thanks SAMOHT, going to add the Q30 to the list! Mostly Merc running gear and the dash looks very B class. Good shout!

[ZX10R NIN]

LeeM135i said:

Hello PH massive

New job leaves me needing a new/another car. I will be driving to the office on Monday, staying most of the week at hotel or air BNB then travelling home. Office is c.200 miles each way. I will be heading out for site visits so I will add to this milage occasionally with product so need a hatch or estate.

Currently have a 2018 C63S coupe which I will be keeping for fun times but I have been into the office a couple of times and its mostly dull motorway miles and cost £100 in petrol alone for each visit.

To keep the miles off the C63S, keep it special and avoid bankruptcy I am looking for a newish, reliable (probably diesel) auto hatch/small estate. I have £14k in the bank to buy the car, tax/insure/ have a small balance to service / maintain it.

Looking at what I can buy the usual suspects, Golf, A3 or Merc A/B class are out of my budget as I will be buying a 2014 or older car with c.100k miles which is not a great start for cheap reliable economical motoring.

Moved onto Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia, Skoda Rapid or Ford Focus of which the Leon in Estate form looks promising. Any experience of the 7 speed dry clutch (1.6tdi) or 6 speed wet clutch (2.0tdi)? When I had my last 2013 GTD Golf the DSG was fairly new tech and could be unreliable did they improve with age/refinement? Are the 2016 or newer any more reliable?

Also looking at the Astra, really didn't think about the 2016-2018 Astra but they look like a lot of car for the money and the YouTube reviews are very positive. Looking at a 2016 or newer SRI/Elite 1.6tdi auto either hatch or estate. Some of the forums are less positive regarding long term running costs especially with cam chain issues. Any one here run one with positive things to say?

Any other suggestions? Sorry its a long request but just looking for a reasonably cheap, reliable motorway hack so I can keep the C63.

Thanks in advance!

This one is simple if you like the A Class then go for an Infiniti Q30 (they're an A Class apart from the sheet metal) you'll get a good low mileage one for you budget job done.

2.2d Premium this one comes in under budget too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110288...

Servicing wise if you have a good Indy near you then because it's an A Class parts etc are not an issue.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 11th February 22:07

[eleveneleven]

I'd be looking at a Volvo S60 (D4)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111139...

[Bannock]

Honda Civic Tourer, 1.8 petrol auto. It's a TC auto, normally aspirated engine, just about the most reliable drivetrain imaginable. I've got one, I can almost get 500 miles from a tank of fuel (50 litres) if I try.

It's bloody briliant.

[georgeyboy12345]

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 JTDM-2 TCT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201311...


Renault Megane 1.5 dCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112120...


Peugeot 308 SW 2.0 HDi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201291...


A couple of VWs

Passat Variant 2.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...

Golf 2.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201081...


VW's cousins

Seat Leon FR 2.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202052...

Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112200...



This BMW 320d ED Touring is a bit leggy, but someone over on bimmerforums has one with over 220k on theirs and it's still going strong. Also, some chap on this forum has one and regularly gets 1000 miles to a tank
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202032...


Similar applies to the C220d - these are in Sprinter vans that do 500,000 miles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...


Recently I was in an Uber Hyundai that had nearly 200,000 miles on it - driver said his last one had 500,000 miles by the time he scrpped it. It had one of these 1.7 CRDI motors in it

Hyundai i40 1.7 CRDi estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202102...

Same engine - Kia Optima 1.7 CRDi Sportwagon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202102...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Friday 11th February 22:09

[V6Nelo]

2021 I swapped a 2012 Giulietta to a 2015 Kia Optima.

Whilst the Giulietta was very agile and swift with 170bhp I have really enjoyed driving the Optima.

With a lot of motorway journeys it’s so relaxing compared to previous cars. Engine suits them, not great for accelerating but good for high speeds and mpg. Instead of looking forwards to engine sounds it’s the infinity stereo (12speakers).

The 3 has lots of toys which will make moving to another car tough

Whist the read seats fold and the boot is huge I do miss the hatch for both ikea trips and bike carrying. Should have got the wagon instead of saloon but got taken in by the coupe like looks.

Was interested by the infinity q30 but never found one local to test drive.



Lots of nice options given so far, happy shopping

Edited by V6Nelo on Saturday 12th February 08:27

Edited by V6Nelo on Saturday 12th February 08:29