Station car / daily

[TheAngryDog]

Pretty sure there will be several of these threads...

As I'm now commuting twice a week, and given the running costs of my M5, I really, really, do need a daily.

Petrol? Diesel? Does it matter now? Car will do around 6k a year I guess.

Budget is around £2k (not much I know), could stretch to £2500.

I need to travel up the motorway as well so I'd prefer something that isn't isnt a super mini etc, but needs to be able to return 35mpg.

What's out there?

TIA.

[d_a_n1979]

With that mileage I'd be looking at petrol.

E46 325i, 328i or 330i, or an E39 525i, 528i or 530i personally

Both solid cars. Engines (M52 and M54) are solid and easy to fix/maintain and parts are plentiful (Meyle, Moog, Lemforder, Febi Bilstein etc)

Yes they can suffer from rust, but as long as its been looked after and the engine serviced / maintained (same with the cooling system) they should be good to go

An SE will be the waft bus, the Sport obviously more firmer. Get one that's OEM, on OEM suspension and alloys IMO

[ZX10R NIN]

The petrol or diesel will depend on your commute but around 2k is actually a healthy budget.

Alfa 1.6 T Spark Collezione very good cars reliable & a nice place to be:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111169...

8V 1.9d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202262...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202072...

A modern leftfield alternative is the MG6 with your budget & brief, this is will be a good daily:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112010...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203073...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201291...

From the German brands my bias is to look at something like a Mercedes CLC220cdi Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203063...

Or a CLK270cdi these are pretty much bulletproof & will see an easy 45mpg on a run:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203013...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 11th March 19:47

[georgeyboy12345]

Hyundai i30 1.6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203063...


Honda Civic Type-S GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202142...


Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202162...

[eleveneleven]

Mazda 3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202212...


KIA Magentis (Leftfield)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203083...

[RoVoFob]

TheAngryDog said:

Pretty sure there will be several of these threads...

As I'm now commuting twice a week, and given the running costs of my M5, I really, really, do need a daily.

Petrol? Diesel? Does it matter now? Car will do around 6k a year I guess.

Budget is around £2k (not much I know), could stretch to £2500.

I need to travel up the motorway as well so I'd prefer something that isn't isnt a super mini etc, but needs to be able to return 35mpg.

What's out there?

TIA.

I’d go for something like this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203103...

The S60 has excellent seats, is refined and has a smooth ride, plenty of power and can be pretty economical when cruising. Should be decently reliable, too, if you get a good one.

[bodhi]

We've recently had similar requirements for a second car to take the load off my 125i whilst moving house / going to the tip / station duties etc for a similar budget and ended up with a 2008 Honda Civic. Will admit I've always like the styling which has held up pretty well to this day, but it's been perfectly reliable, will do 40+ mpg on the motorway (closer to 30 round town) and is more than comfortable sitting in the outside lane doing outside lane speeds.

It's not the last word in handling sophistication but is still perfectly amusing to punt around town.

[blue_haddock]

A nice wafty saab would be my choice

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108045...

[TheAngryDog]

Some interesting suggestions up to now.

The S60 is a decent shout, but I can't see a 2.5T getting me close to 25mpg let alone 35mpg.

I had an S80 (I wish I still had it) D5 that would have been ideal for this.

I'm also trying to avoid getting anything that I would want to modify.

Re the Saab, I'd want an Aero, which I know is daft, as it just puts me down the road of wanting to modify again.... Being a car enthusiast is a curse.

[A500leroy]

Honestly a Aygo will be perfectly acceptable for this, youd save a wedge of cash.

[blue_haddock]

How about a Rover 75 waftmobile?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201091...

[RoVoFob]

TheAngryDog said:

Some interesting suggestions up to now.

The S60 is a decent shout, but I can't see a 2.5T getting me close to 25mpg let alone 35mpg.

I had an S80 (I wish I still had it) D5 that would have been ideal for this.

I'm also trying to avoid getting anything that I would want to modify.

Re the Saab, I'd want an Aero, which I know is daft, as it just puts me down the road of wanting to modify again.... Being a car enthusiast is a curse.

On motorway trips it will. I had a V70 2.5T and an S60 2.4 T5 - both would do 35mpg easily enough. The T5 was seriously quick, too.

The S60 handled well and I personally wouldn’t have wanted to modify it… Decent tyres, brakes and reasonable condition standard suspension is all you need. All depends how picky you are!

[TheAngryDog]

RoVoFob said:

TheAngryDog said:

Some interesting suggestions up to now.

The S60 is a decent shout, but I can't see a 2.5T getting me close to 25mpg let alone 35mpg.

I had an S80 (I wish I still had it) D5 that would have been ideal for this.

I'm also trying to avoid getting anything that I would want to modify.

Re the Saab, I'd want an Aero, which I know is daft, as it just puts me down the road of wanting to modify again.... Being a car enthusiast is a curse.

On motorway trips it will. I had a V70 2.5T and an S60 2.4 T5 - both would do 35mpg easily enough. The T5 was seriously quick, too.

The S60 handled well and I personally wouldn’t have wanted to modify it… Decent tyres, brakes and reasonable condition standard suspension is all you need. All depends how picky you are!

My station run is A and B roads, I can't see one being that much better than my m5

[PurpleTurtle]

Purely on the basis that this is a station car that you just want to be comfy, reliable, not throw any big bills and not a supermini I would be looking at a petrol Japanese hatchback. How about the Civic 1.8 VTEC hatch?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202222...

138bhp means it's not mega quick but it's no slouch either. £210 to tax and 44mpg on the combined, which we all know is optimistic, but you should see it manage 35mpg.

I'd totally avoid a modern diesel at this price point and your mileage as that just screams 'expensive bill inbound'. Keep it as low-tech as you can with a petrol.

Owners love them, generally bulletproof: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/owner-reviews/Honda/C...

Edited by PurpleTurtle on Friday 11th March 16:44

[ZX10R NIN]

TheAngryDog said:

My station run is A and B roads, I can't see one being that much better than my m5

That 147 I linked to earlier really seems to hit the brief, or there's the Hyundai Coupe:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202112...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203033...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112280...

[nobrakes]

PurpleTurtle said:

Purely on the basis that this is a station car that you just want to be comfy, reliable, not throw any big bills and not a supermini I would be looking at a petrol Japanese hatchback. How about the Civic 1.8 VTEC hatch?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202222...

138bhp means it's not mega quick but it's no slouch either. £210 to tax and 44mpg on the combined, which we all know is optimistic, but you should see it manage 35mpg.

I'd totally avoid a modern diesel at this price point and your mileage as that just screams 'expensive bill inbound'. Keep it as low-tech as you can with a petrol.

Owners love them, generally bulletproof: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/owner-reviews/Honda/C...

Edited by PurpleTurtle on Friday 11th March 16:44

This

‘ I'd totally avoid a modern diesel at this price point and your mileage as that just screams 'expensive bill inbound'. Keep it as low-tech as you can with a petrol’

Though ZX10R’s CLK270cdi is very tempting. It’ll probably barely be nudging 2000rpm at 70mph. Has memory good seats.

[TheAngryDog]

Car purchased. Well, I've agreed to buy it.

I'm buying back my old Octavia vRS MK2 TFSi.

[GranpaB]

For that mileage, i would rather use the M5.

Hardly seems worth the extra purchase cost, insurance/tax fuel general running costs and whatever else that will probably need doing .

[TheAngryDog]

I can see your logic, and I have been using it, but it's picking up damage in the train station car parks and as I plan to put the M5 on a limited mileage policy this year, plus I could do with a tip / local running around car and one that doesn't wake the street at 6:55am when I set off for work, a daily is really needed.

[GranpaB]

TheAngryDog said:

I can see your logic, and I have been using it, but it's picking up damage in the train station car parks and as I plan to put the M5 on a limited mileage policy this year, plus I could do with a tip / local running around car and one that doesn't wake the street at 6:55am when I set off for work, a daily is really needed.

Ah ok fair comment.

I'd be all over this, although front suspension can be pricey to repair because of the stupid multi-link construction.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203173...

Edited by GranpaB on Sunday 20th March 09:24