£5k - newest, highly specced mile muncher?

[goldar]

Whilst I wait for the right Tesla model S to pop up, I thought I'd grab something to fill the gap for my 140 mile daily commute around the M25.

Price: up to £5k
Age: no older than 2013
Features: 60mpg+, comfortable, cruise control, high spec
Bonus points: estate, tow bar

So early candidates are BMW 320d, C220, and Golf 1.6d. There are various German cars that fit the criteria. So much choice, I don't know what to pick.
Looking for the best option. Most bang for buck. Most efficient. Most newest. Most comfortable.

Many thanks.

[Monospace]

I'd have the l thought the answer would be not anything premium badged or that holds its value.

Therefore a look at bigger mass market stuff (Citroen Peugeot ford vauxhall and all).

Saloon not SUV as less desirable therefore more affordable.

Will be interesting to follow this thread and see what suggestions come up, as it'll be different from the usual 320d suggestions.

There were some quirky big comfy Hyundais or Kias at one point. Not sure how many people are selling big saloons now? Renault dropped Laguna ages ago but still sell its new equivalent in Europe - though I forget the name.

If you must go the BMW route I'd consider 5 over 3 for that mileage and usage - a lot more of everything comfort-wise; platform shared with 7-series (and perhaps by extension Rolls Royce stuff but maybe there's no crossover usage there?).

Fwiw I did a Citroen c5 when I had the same need as you. Was a chance to own something different, and bucket list to have a large soft french car on hydro suspension.

[goldar]

Thanks, that's a very helpful post.

I've been looking at fuelly to see what sort of mileage people are getting and using it to compare vehicles. I could get into a f10 520d, but it appears that it hits nowhere near 60mpg, whereas a f30 320d can.

Something quirky is fine, so long as it's not too difficult to sell or causes a large financial hit.

Edited by goldar on Sunday 18th September 01:22

[clockworks]

I've owned quite a few cars over the years. Only 2 have achieved a true 60+ mpg in mixed driving:

Fiat Panda diesel 72mpg
Skoda Citigo 60bhp petrol 61mpg

My current workhorse Citroën C3 Picasso is indicating 61mpg, but that's a true 58mpg. It could probably manage a true 60+mpg on longer runs, as long as it was kept below 65mph.

I had a cheap C220d for a while, and it did less than 50mpg.

I think you will struggle to get a true 60mpg from a £5k car that's comfy and high spec, unless your commute is on an empty M25.

[lornemalvo]

You can make it easy. Go on autotrader and choose your parameters. maximum price, minimum mpg, engine size etc. It will mostly return small cars but may give you some ideas and is a good way to get some suggestions you may otherwise not have thought of.. A couple that caught my eye were an Audi A3 tdi, 2010 with 48000 miles on and a Mazda 6 2.2 diesel, 2014 with 59000 miles on

Edited by lornemalvo on Sunday 18th September 09:11

[ZedLeg]

goldar said:

Something quirky is fine, so long as it's not too difficult to sell or causes a large financial hit.

Edited by goldar on Sunday 18th September 01:22

Starting to get a bit moon on a stick here . If you find a comfy, high spec, 60mpg car that’s less than 10 years old and has strong enough residuals to not lose much as you double the mileage for £5k let us know.

[Fusion777]

Go for a mainstream manufacturer rather than premium with this budget/age requirement. Mondeo 2.0 diesel, Insignia, C5, 508, Octavia, Mazda 6, Passat, etc.

[ZX10R NIN]

goldar said:

Whilst I wait for the right Tesla model S to pop up, I thought I'd grab something to fill the gap for my 140 mile daily commute around the M25.

Price: up to £5k
Age: no older than 2013
Features: 60mpg+, comfortable, cruise control, high spec
Bonus points: estate, tow bar

So early candidates are BMW 320d, C220, and Golf 1.6d. There are various German cars that fit the criteria. So much choice, I don't know what to pick.
Looking for the best option. Most bang for buck. Most efficient. Most newest. Most comfortable.

Many thanks.

At this price point I wouldn't go for a premium brand, something from the mainstream car makers will be more popular & easier to move on.

In your case I'd look at something like an Insignia in Elite Nav form so you get high spec & you'll see real world mid 50's mpg:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207268...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209109...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208309...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207298...

[goldar]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've done a lot of looking around, and the one car that's really doing it for me is a f30 320d efficient dynamics. 70mpg is actually achievable. And it should be fairly easy to move on.

[GR_TVR]

It'll be interesting to see how you do actually get on with the mpg - it sounds optimistic to me!

For reference, my G20 320Xd has averaged 46.6mpg over 30k miles, probably around 80% motorway/A road usage.

[HelldogBE]

goldar said:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've done a lot of looking around, and the one car that's really doing it for me is a f30 320d efficient dynamics. 70mpg is actually achievable. And it should be fairly easy to move on.

My F31 320D ED never hit 60mpg but maybe it wasn't boring enough to completely restrain myself as it's a great allrounder. It'll also have an N47 which does have a timing chain flaw, which should be looked at as an expensive consumable.

For 5k I'd be looking at a Ford Focus or other smaller cars with 1500/1600cc turbodiesels instead of German metal.

[ChocolateFrog]

goldar said:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've done a lot of looking around, and the one car that's really doing it for me is a f30 320d efficient dynamics. 70mpg is actually achievable. And it should be fairly easy to move on.

Seems like the obvious answer.

Might as well buy something with miles on if you're going to pile on another 700-800 per week.

[MissChief]

Fusion777 said:

Go for a mainstream manufacturer rather than premium with this budget/age requirement. Mondeo 2.0 diesel, Insignia, C5, 508, Octavia, Mazda 6, Passat, etc.

Could do a lot worse than a Mondeo 2.0/2.2 Diesel Titanium X Sport.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208309...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209189...

Forgot estate preferred. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209099...

[dontlookdown]

goldar said:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've done a lot of looking around, and the one car that's really doing it for me is a f30 320d efficient dynamics. 70mpg is actually achievable. And it should be fairly easy to move on.

My dad has had one of these from new. It's a capable if slightly dull car and the ride could be better. Good motorway hack though. He's a fairly sedate driver and gets low 60s mpg on the trip computer.

Timing chain is a potential cost if it hasn't been done.

[goldar]

Thanks for the info. I'm looking at vehicles with 100-150k on the clock. At what point should the timing chain be changed? And are there any tell-tale signs to indicate that it needs replacing?

Edited by goldar on Monday 19th September 18:25

[samoht]

For a car to sit in for 3+ hours a day, I'd probably be prioritising comfortable seats first.

(I'm finding my W203 Merc very good, however comfort is a very personal thing so try and sit in a few different cars).

[goldar]

samoht said:

For a car to sit in for 3+ hours a day, I'd probably be prioritising comfortable seats first.

(I'm finding my W203 Merc very good, however comfort is a very personal thing so try and sit in a few different cars).

Thanks for the advice.

I injured my lower back around 5 years ago. The only car i've had issues with comfort in is a e46, where the lumbar support stuck out into my vertebrae and caused a lot of discomfort. Everything else I've sat in has been fine so far. I was regularly doing 300 mile trips in a single stint in my w208 clk55 up until recently. I even found a clapped out 2015 polo to be fine bombing up and down the A1M.