Is a Toyota Corolla the ideal car for me? (sobs)

[wahman]

Hi all, recently changed jobs, gone from 50 miles a week to doing nearly 500. Also working for myself now under a ltd company, so I think too soon for a business lease due to lack of accounts history. live in a flat so an EV is out of the question I think. Currently have an old 2012 Focus TDCi which has served us well but Euro 5 and some advisories in the MoT and 123k miles!

Budget: £16k
I am estimating 20k miles per year.
Must haves: Euro 6/Automatic/Reliability/Economy/Android(or Apple) Auto/Heated seats
Would likes but not essential: Heated steering wheel, memory seats, pan roof.

Originally I wanted a Mazda CX-5 or Lexus UX250 but these are more in the 19/20k range.

I wanted these because I thought (and still do to an extent) that the added ride height is a plus for lots of motorway driving.

I was thinking about pushing my budget up to accommodate the higher cost of a lower mileage CX-5 but think maybe a Toyota Corolla ticks all the boxes for less money (and albeit less comfort/ride height).

Something like this... I would like one with pan roof but they seem like hens teeth.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17168640

Open to other suggestions! Thank you if you read this snooze-fest.

[RayDonovan]

Is it mostly motorway mileage or mixed?

[wahman]

RayDonovan said:

Is it mostly motorway mileage or mixed?

I am in Scotland and mileage will be mostly between Glasgow and Edinburgh I think... so yes mostly motorway. Thanks!

[Jiebo]

Don't spend 16 grand and get a bottom of the range one. They look pretty smart in Excel trim. I would also look at the Mazda CX-30.

[LightningBlue]

For motorway miles a hybrid won’t be great..they’re usually better in urban areas where you’re braking and the battery can regen.

Have you had a panoramic roof before? They do make the cabin brighter but as you can’t really look out of it while you’re driving I wouldn’t make it a must have.

High driving position isn’t really an advantage either - you’re just getting more drag and possibly a perception of safety rather than real safety. What could be better is a car with a longer wheelbase and built for comfort. Something like a Volvo S90 would be nice and wafty for mile munching. I don’t think the R Design is as crashy as reviews say but Inscription models would be very pleasant, Momentum have plenty of standard kit.

Later Vauxhall Insignias and Ford Mondeos can be good options.

[wyson]

I’d be looking at a D segment diesel for that use.

320d etc.

Longer wheelbases add a degree of comfort for motorway cruising.

[wahman]

Thanks, I think my wife doesn't want anything too long like an Insignia or a V90 sadly I like the latter.

There will be intercity driving too... (I am a H&S consultant and go to lots of building sites for audits) hence the mileage

[wahman]

Jiebo said:

Don't spend 16 grand and get a bottom of the range one. They look pretty smart in Excel trim. I would also look at the Mazda CX-30.

Looked at CX-30 but the economy isn't great. Hoping for something like I got with the focus (50ish according to the dash)

Thank you!

[p4cks]

Good cars these, and expect about 52mpg on the motorway - I did 70 miles a day in mine

[RayDonovan]

We have a 2.0 GR and it's not great on the motorway in my opinion. Great car apart from that aspect. Super reliable, long warranty and cheap to run/maintain.

[wahman]

wyson said:

I’d be looking at a D segment diesel for that use.

320d etc.

Longer wheelbases add a degree of comfort for motorway cruising.

Thanks I considered a 320D... but I thought about the servicing costs of a BMW would be more than a Toyota, and perhaps less reliable too.

[turbomoggie]

RayDonovan said:

We have a 2.0 GR and it's not great on the motorway in my opinion. Great car apart from that aspect. Super reliable, long warranty and cheap to run/maintain.

What's bad about the motorway performance?

[RayDonovan]

turbomoggie said:

RayDonovan said:

We have a 2.0 GR and it's not great on the motorway in my opinion. Great car apart from that aspect. Super reliable, long warranty and cheap to run/maintain.

What's bad about the motorway performance?

Just a little twitchy and unrefined at motorway speeds, but I do have the GR version so bigger wheels etc.

[wahman]

RayDonovan said:

turbomoggie said:

RayDonovan said:

We have a 2.0 GR and it's not great on the motorway in my opinion. Great car apart from that aspect. Super reliable, long warranty and cheap to run/maintain.

What's bad about the motorway performance?

Just a little twitchy and unrefined at motorway speeds, but I do have the GR version so bigger wheels etc.

I would like a spec with the bigger wheels as they make the car look much better... but for sensibility and tyre cost I am thinking I should get the icon trim with the 16's... also less chance of the trouble and strife kerbing them as she has done so well on the 18s on our focus

Edited by wahman on Saturday 14th December 12:32

[CrgT16]

I would go 320d on a medium spec. One of the best cars I had and super reliable up until 187k miles when I sold it.

Mine was on small wheels as well, very comfortable.

I would steer away from SUVs, not necessarily most comfortable due to higher spring rates unless on air suspension.

Cheaper cars will do as well. I also ran a Honda civic for 100k miles with acc and was very good as well and very cheap to run. Could be slightly noisier on motorways but good.

My choice would be either something like a 320D or something like a VW gold diesel if want to save some money. Servicing costs were reasonable. My bmw needed only oil and filter changes mostly, some of which I did my own very quickly and cheaply.

[loskie]

I had a Peugeot 2008 recently as a rental. It was a plug in hybrid. I didn't plug it in and it told ne it hadn't been plugged in for a number of days.

I went from S Scotland to Leicester worked down there for 9 days.

I was pleasantly surprised with the car.

[Jimjimhim]

LightningBlue said:

For motorway miles a hybrid won’t be great..they’re usually better in urban areas where you’re braking and the battery can regen.

Have you had a panoramic roof before? They do make the cabin brighter but as you can’t really look out of it while you’re driving I wouldn’t make it a must have.

High driving position isn’t really an advantage either - you’re just getting more drag and possibly a perception of safety rather than real safety. What could be better is a car with a longer wheelbase and built for comfort. Something like a Volvo S90 would be nice and wafty for mile munching. I don’t think the R Design is as crashy as reviews say but Inscription models would be very pleasant, Momentum have plenty of standard kit.

Later Vauxhall Insignias and Ford Mondeos can be good options.

Don't get a car with a pan roof because you can't look out of it while you're driving?!

[ZX10R NIN]

Kia Ceed GT Line S DMHEV, with a few years of warranty left:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...

[Tindersticks]

wahman said:

Thanks, I think my wife doesn't want anything too long like an Insignia or a V90 sadly I like the latter.

There will be intercity driving too... (I am a H&S consultant and go to lots of building sites for audits) hence the mileage

You’re the one doing 20k miles a year in it.

[Silvanus]

ZX10R NIN said:

Kia Ceed GT Line S DMHEV, with a few years of warranty left:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...

Or a Niro