Downsizing due to commute - what next? 7k and excellent mpg

[I.miss.my.old.cars]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 24 January 2024 at 19:07

[sunnyb13]

With a 55 mile commute and frequent 200 mile trips, I wouldn’t suggest a small hatchback at all.

If you can stretch your budget slightly a saloon would probably be a better fit, something like a Skoda Octavia or similar.

[Hitch]

I downsized to a 2016 Focus 1.0 125bhp for just over £6k in September last year and it is epic.

If I drive sensibly it gives 44mpg. If I drive like a hoon it gives 39mpg. I've driven 350 miles in a day in it and felt no worse than in the Passat estate (DSG, comfort seats, auto-cruise) or Discovery (effortless pace and space) that proceeded it.

Tax is £20 and insurance was super cheap.

It was supposed to be a stop-gap, but spending an additional £30k on whatever was supposed to be next just seems silly now. We do tend to get wrapped up in new/badge/gadget issues in the UK.

[Hitch]

Edit to add - the VAG 1.6d is the one to go for if you want mega mpg. Chap I know regularly gets high 50s in his Passat.

[Carguy44]

sunnyb13 said:

With a 55 mile commute and frequent 200 mile trips, I wouldn’t suggest a small hatchback at all.

If you can stretch your budget slightly a saloon would probably be a better fit, something like a Skoda Octavia or similar.

Get a saloon, something like a Skoda Octavia?!?!

[ZX10R NIN]

I.miss.my.old.cars said:

Same thing, same thing...

Currently on an 18 reg Insignia Estate 1.6D, supposed to get good MPG but nowhere near my 16 reg Astra with the same engine (Insignia 44mpg, Astra 53). I guess the Insignia is too heavy for that engine and my normal routes involve a lot of transient, so while on the motorway bits the Insignia is ok, it suffers overall (but this is another discussion)

Also, my wife is starting to drive and I'm afraid the estate will be too big for her.

Decided to go back, and will probably go back to another Astra as I had a good experience with them. But the i30/Ceed duo catches my eye on mpg figures (from realmpg website), and despite not liking 308s much, they also seem to give great mpg.

So I'm working a 7k budget, open to family cars, 2014+, not fussed about miles but prefer it to be below 100k (that could be another discussion but not here). Cheap insurance, excellent fuel economy, maximum £30 tax. I'm a fat guy with a 55-mile commute and traveling 200mi+ trips twice a month, so anything smaller than a family hatchback is not wanted.

Shortlist is:
Astra
i30/Ceed
308 (but not that keen).
Civic (?)

What else should I be looking at? Or have I done my homework properly?

To be honest if you were happy with the Astra then I'd go for one of those.

You'll get a nice Elite Nav spec with sensible miles for your budget real world the Kia/Hyundai will be similar to the Astra in terms of mpg but are normally a little older & not as high a spec.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212302...

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

SRI Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301283...

A car that I've regularly seen 50+mpg on a run is tha 2.0d 150bhp Alfa Giulietta:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301213...

The 1.6d Fiat Tipo Elite is also worth looking at:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211071...

Lounge:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212142...

[I.miss.my.old.cars]

sunnyb13 said:

With a 55 mile commute and frequent 200 mile trips, I wouldn’t suggest a small hatchback at all.

If you can stretch your budget slightly a saloon would probably be a better fit, something like a Skoda Octavia or similar.

By small I meant Golf, Focus, Astra, Ceed... maybe I mislabeled them.

Hitch said:

I downsized to a 2016 Focus 1.0 125bhp for just over £6k in September last year and it is epic.

If I drive sensibly it gives 44mpg. If I drive like a hoon it gives 39mpg. I've driven 350 miles in a day in it and felt no worse than in the Passat estate (DSG, comfort seats, auto-cruise) or Discovery (effortless pace and space) that proceeded it.

Tax is £20 and insurance was super cheap.

It was supposed to be a stop-gap, but spending an additional £30k on whatever was supposed to be next just seems silly now. We do tend to get wrapped up in new/badge/gadget issues in the UK.

For some reason I'm a bit afraid of the small turbo petrols with high mileage. Am I being silly?

ZX10R NIN said:

To be honest if you were happy with the Astra then I'd go for one of those.

You'll get a nice Elite Nav spec with sensible miles for your budget real world the Kia/Hyundai will be similar to the Astra in terms of mpg but are normally a little older & not as high a spec.

Yeah, mine was an Elite Nav (so is the Insignia) and I found it excellent... I tend to avoid going back to a place I was happy once, but I might open an exception this time...

[I.miss.my.old.cars]

...and the Skoda Octavia, sometimes I think it'll suffer the same evil as the Insignia (heavy car, small engine)

[ZX10R NIN]

I.miss.my.old.cars said:

...and the Skoda Octavia, sometimes I think it'll suffer the same evil as the Insignia (heavy car, small engine)

You might as well keep the Insignia.

[bearman68]

Hitch said:

Edit to add - the VAG 1.6d is the one to go for if you want mega mpg. Chap I know regularly gets high 50s in his Passat.

And regularly hits 4 figure repair bills. Avoid this engine, at pretty much all costs. (IMO)

[bearman68]

How about a Volvo V40 type thing. Based on a Focus 1.6 diesel (and these engines are quite good to be fair), but nicer everything, seats, layout, ambience, while sharing the underpinnings of the tough ish Focus.

[Slow]

Surely now is the time to shine for a 320d ED?

£30 tax, 53-78 mpg

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210110...



Edit: The 116d ED is also an option but I prefer the 320d option.

£0 tax, 62-83 mpg



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211051...

Edited by Slow on Tuesday 31st January 20:46

[ZX10R NIN]

The 308 is a decent car as long as you can get on with the cockpit design they're worth a look but I'd personally take the Astra over the 308:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212222...

The e-hdi really isn't that much better on fuel but adds possible borkage.

[I.miss.my.old.cars]

Slow said:

Surely now is the time to shine for a 320d ED?...

£30 tax, 53-78 mpg

...

Edited by Slow on Tuesday 31st January 20:46

Thing with bimmers is that I think maintenance and insurance will bite me off.

[Baked_bean]

I have just started using a 2013 Focus and with the 1.6 diesel engine, it is £20 tax and an easy 52mpg.

The previous generation engine was awful but this is meant to be reliable and drives nicely for what it is in that typical Ford way.

[Slow]

I.miss.my.old.cars said:

Slow said:

Surely now is the time to shine for a 320d ED?...

£30 tax, 53-78 mpg

...

Edited by Slow on Tuesday 31st January 20:46

Thing with bimmers is that I think maintenance and insurance will bite me off.

You see thousands of them on the road, generally they are pretty damn solid. Even more so these “base” spec cars not the big engine top spec with all the electric gadgets.

I’ve ran many sub 2k BMWs and generally been more reliable than average.