100 mile roundtrip motorway commute with a catch
Discussion
I've been called back into the office 2 days a week so face a 100 mile roundtrip twice a week for the foreseeable future. I sold my daily and currently just have a Z4M which is not the ideal place to spend 50 miles on the M1 each way.
I'm looking for something that will be semi decent on fuel, 40+ mpg @70mph would do nicely and also not boring. The catch is that I live in the Ulez zone. I have about 12k to buy something out right or wouldn't mind potentially financing for something a bit nicer.
Currently looking at an Audi TTS in the 12k range and considering a 440i/M240i on tick. Anything I'm missing?
I'm looking for something that will be semi decent on fuel, 40+ mpg @70mph would do nicely and also not boring. The catch is that I live in the Ulez zone. I have about 12k to buy something out right or wouldn't mind potentially financing for something a bit nicer.
Currently looking at an Audi TTS in the 12k range and considering a 440i/M240i on tick. Anything I'm missing?
msportpanda said:
I've been called back into the office 2 days a week so face a 100 mile roundtrip twice a week for the foreseeable future. I sold my daily and currently just have a Z4M which is not the ideal place to spend 50 miles on the M1 each way.
I'm looking for something that will be semi decent on fuel, 40+ mpg @70mph would do nicely and also not boring. The catch is that I live in the Ulez zone. I have about 12k to buy something out right or wouldn't mind potentially financing for something a bit nicer.
Currently looking at an Audi TTS in the 12k range and considering a 440i/M240i on tick. Anything I'm missing?
Are you looking at replacing the Z4M or adding a second car to the fleet?I'm looking for something that will be semi decent on fuel, 40+ mpg @70mph would do nicely and also not boring. The catch is that I live in the Ulez zone. I have about 12k to buy something out right or wouldn't mind potentially financing for something a bit nicer.
Currently looking at an Audi TTS in the 12k range and considering a 440i/M240i on tick. Anything I'm missing?
The TTS/440i/M240i as dailies seem way to close to your Z4M in performance and running cost. The only thing you'll win is some refinement at the cost of running a second car.
How about a 320D a with a ZF8 auto if you want to be really sensible or the 330/335D if you don't mind losing a few MPG?
Those cars have got a lot of accessible performance at sensible speeds and RPM's due to the torque and you won't have to baby them around to get MPG out of them. A 330D with RWD would be my pick for lowest bork factor and most sensible running cost (both in repairs and MPG).
Totally agree with the above post, assuming you're keeping the Z4M then a 330d would probably be where I'd look- looks like you can get a decent ULEZ compliant one for about £15k, stretching up to £17k if you want an M-Sport with some decent options on. A 320d would be a fair bit cheaper to run if you're being sensible, or you can be a bit silly and go for a 335d, but I'd say the 330d is probably the sensible middle ground.
Even if you're really not a fan of diesels I'd at least give it a go, the 6-cylinder diesel is actually a really really nice engine to use, and will return much better fuel economy than the B58 even if you're being a bit silly. The Z4M will feel more special on the weekends too.
Now if you're getting rid of the Z4M, then I'd agree a 440i or similar would be a decent middle ground between fun and a good daily driver.
Even if you're really not a fan of diesels I'd at least give it a go, the 6-cylinder diesel is actually a really really nice engine to use, and will return much better fuel economy than the B58 even if you're being a bit silly. The Z4M will feel more special on the weekends too.
Now if you're getting rid of the Z4M, then I'd agree a 440i or similar would be a decent middle ground between fun and a good daily driver.
Don't forget to get the 330d remapped in true PH fashion ;-)
In all seriousness though would you get a 330d in ULEZ spec for 12k ? I think the 30d only became ULEZ in 2015
I could be wrong though, but my X3 30d is a couple of years older and even though the same as a 2015 model is not ULEZ
In all seriousness though would you get a 330d in ULEZ spec for 12k ? I think the 30d only became ULEZ in 2015
I could be wrong though, but my X3 30d is a couple of years older and even though the same as a 2015 model is not ULEZ
If you want to keep the Z4M then why not get a warm hatch for around 6k.
Giulietta Veloce:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203013...
Abarth 500
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203073...
Giulietta Veloce:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203013...
Abarth 500
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203073...
Super Sonic said:
50 m each way really isn't that far. Why not just enjoy your car? Don't forget if you buy another car you will have two cars to tax and insure, so adding the price of buying another car, would you really be saving money?
My thoughts exactly really, on the one hand I could maybe understand it if you were wanting to keep miles off the Z4M as they are definitely a bit special.But even then 200 miles a week, is 9400 miles a working year. How much extra depreciation/wear & tear are you looking at on the Z4M with an additional 9400 miles per year on it?
Whatever that number is will be up against the cost of buying the 2nd car, insuring it, servicing/repairing it plus any depreciation that has when you sell it.
OK you will get back the difference between what you paid for it and what you sell it for but you can see that financially this has a way to go to stack up unless you really feel that the Z4M isn't suitable for the journey.
For me I'd look at it that the Z4M is going to get a chance to stretch it's legs more often than it is now (assuming it isn't doing many miles at the moment) which justifies it's place on the drive/in the garage more and on the days when the traffic is kind to you at least you'll be doing a boring journey in a not boring car.
I recently sold my F30 330d and yeah fine they are a nice place to sit and can be driven quickly when you are in the mood but it's definitely not the sort of car you would go out for a drive in just for the sake of it in my book so it will just be a commuting tool.
Edited by Al U on Monday 14th March 19:45
Thanks all for the suggestions. The Golf has crossed my mind a couple of times as a sensible car to stack some miles on. I've got a C300 Estate coming in Jan/Feb next year so I just need an interim for the time between now and then.
The main reason for keeping the Z4 as a second car is to keep me from becoming used to it (if that makes sense). I fear that if I use it on a regular basis it'll feel less special/fun.
Keeping miles off it is not a worry, it's a slightly leggier one for the purpose of being able to drive it without worrying, but my last couple of drives into the office have yielded sub 30mpg figures which concerns me that I'm just burning money. I also just fancy driving something different purely for the sake of it.
That said doing the maths of buying another car, depreciation over the next 8 months as well as insurance and probably a service will likely add up to far more than just the fuel and maintenance on the Z4.
The main reason for keeping the Z4 as a second car is to keep me from becoming used to it (if that makes sense). I fear that if I use it on a regular basis it'll feel less special/fun.
Keeping miles off it is not a worry, it's a slightly leggier one for the purpose of being able to drive it without worrying, but my last couple of drives into the office have yielded sub 30mpg figures which concerns me that I'm just burning money. I also just fancy driving something different purely for the sake of it.
That said doing the maths of buying another car, depreciation over the next 8 months as well as insurance and probably a service will likely add up to far more than just the fuel and maintenance on the Z4.
I'm in a similar position at a much lower price point.
My only car is a 986 Boxster S and work closed my local office permanently during the pandemic, so now faced with a 40 mile each way commute to Northampton.
I've decided to keep the Boxster. And honestly, using it to pop to the supermarket, take the dog out, commute, etc ... makes absolutely no difference to how it feels when I get a nice quiet bit of twisty tarmac.
The quality time in the car has not been diluted one bit by the more mundane time spent in it ... and if an unexpected opportunity presents itself (a back road being much less busy than usual - as an example) then I'm in the right car to enjoy it as much as possible.
The cheapest car to own is almost always the one you already own!
Yes - it's bit of a pain burning Shell's finest at a scary rate ... but the cost of buying, insuring and running a 'cheaper' second car buys an awful lot of V Power! 
My only car is a 986 Boxster S and work closed my local office permanently during the pandemic, so now faced with a 40 mile each way commute to Northampton.
I've decided to keep the Boxster. And honestly, using it to pop to the supermarket, take the dog out, commute, etc ... makes absolutely no difference to how it feels when I get a nice quiet bit of twisty tarmac.
The quality time in the car has not been diluted one bit by the more mundane time spent in it ... and if an unexpected opportunity presents itself (a back road being much less busy than usual - as an example) then I'm in the right car to enjoy it as much as possible.
The cheapest car to own is almost always the one you already own!
Yes - it's bit of a pain burning Shell's finest at a scary rate ... but the cost of buying, insuring and running a 'cheaper' second car buys an awful lot of V Power! If the aim is to only use it for the motorway commute and keep the Z4 for fun, is "not boring" really a sensible criteria? You're not going to be driving it on interesting roads so why not go with comfort, reliability and low cost of ownership as priorities, all of which potentially point to boring. Depending on the traffic also consider an automatic.
I'd personally just use the Z4M.
I regularly do a similar 100-mile round trip to see my parents, as well as longer business miles. These trips are rare occasions when I get to drive on my own and I have access to an RS3, Fabia and a van. I can't imagine wanting to use the latter two for these solo trips!
OP - despite your concern about the specialness wearing off, I'd say my experience is the opposite. You'll really appreciate the nicer car and it makes even the mundane journeys enjoyable.
I suggest the next step is to rent or borrow a bog-standard car and try it out. It would be a far less expensive way to test things out than just buying another car.
I regularly do a similar 100-mile round trip to see my parents, as well as longer business miles. These trips are rare occasions when I get to drive on my own and I have access to an RS3, Fabia and a van. I can't imagine wanting to use the latter two for these solo trips!
OP - despite your concern about the specialness wearing off, I'd say my experience is the opposite. You'll really appreciate the nicer car and it makes even the mundane journeys enjoyable.
I suggest the next step is to rent or borrow a bog-standard car and try it out. It would be a far less expensive way to test things out than just buying another car.
Spend considerably less than £12k on something with a focus on comfort and efficiency rather than performance if you're keeping the Z4M I would suggest.
Auto, small wheels, comfy seats, big boot and efficient drivetrain and you've got a really useful second car that covers any number of bases the Z4 doesn't?
Auto, small wheels, comfy seats, big boot and efficient drivetrain and you've got a really useful second car that covers any number of bases the Z4 doesn't?
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