what's the most comfortable motorway mile muncher? £2.5k

[eltax91]

As the title. What is the MOST comfortable way to munch through 25k miles a year, when nearly 90% will be motorways? Just two restrictions, it has to be a DERV (to hit a real world40 mpg) and Reliable. Image, size etc don't matter 1 jot.

Edited by eltax91 on Monday 31st March 20:38

[Barkychoc]

Ok shoot me down in flames but I do alot of driving and a couple of years ago I went through loads of hire cars while mine was repaired following a crunch.
By far my favourite was a vectra 2.0 dti sxi, 04 reg, it was such a good fit for my 6 foot 3 frame, and very quiet on the motorway.
My neighbour is vertically challenged and hates vectras - he says the seats are too big!

Chris

[dinkel]

I'd go for a D4D Avensis, although I like the Corolla better.

Not much beats a 406 though . . .

[sniff petrol]

E36 325TDS (same engine in a 525tds but may struggle to return a real world 40mpg in a 5 series)

[Mustard]

Passat TDi 110 / 130 , durability, good mpg, decent image

[spikeyhead]

Spend £1k on a Xantia. You'll get 45mph if you keep to 70mph and there's the magic carpet ride.

Just make sure there's an independant mechanic local to you that understands how to fix them and you'll be fine for years to come.

[Mr E]

spikeyhead said:

Spend £1k on a Xantia. You'll get 45mph if you keep to 70mph and there's the magic carpet ride.

I'd spend 2K and get a pair. Always wise to have a spare Citroen...

[flattotheboards]

Mondeo, Vectra, Primera. Basically any family car with big depreciation.

[sleep envy]

spikeyhead said:

Spend £1k on a Xantia. You'll get 45mph if you keep to 70mph and there's the magic carpet ride.

don't forget to fix the speedo first

[Apache]

Mustard said:

Passat TDi 110 / 130 , durability, good mpg, decent image

I'll second that, extremely comfortable seats, rocks along nicely and returns 50mpg....and you can chip em cheaply

[NiceCupOfTea]

I would consider (in fact I am considering!) a Saab 9000 Aero 2.3 LPT.

1-1.5k gets you a minter, best seats in the business, magic carpet ride, full climate control, decent stereo, huge boot, and granite build quality.

OK, you get 30-32mpg, but you've saved at least a grand, and with diesel being 10+p/l more expensive than unleaded it's going to take quite a few miles to make a difference.

[Baffled Spoon]

Have you considered a focus tdi? Good handling and small ligthish body should give you good economy. I find my one comfortable on the 500 mile trip to uni.

Edited by Baffled Spoon on Monday 31st March 21:41

[Fetchez la vache]

Was just about to mention Saab. My sensible car is a 9-5 Diseasal Vector Estate, and my criteria was:
a) Estate
b) Diesel
c) Comfort
I go for comfort as I do lots of long journeys - 5 hrs+ (I live on the West Wales coast, and the office is in Northampton, and the folks are on the E.Coast in Suffolk).

The thing is *great* for long motorway journeys - by a long way the most comfortable car I've ever been in (used mercs, Passats, 5 series - though not tried a big Lexus).

OK, so the thing sounds like a tractor at cold start, but v.quiet hn on the motorway. Stick it in cruise, and listen to 5+ hrs of podcasts in leather clad comfy luxury, like sitting in a leather sofa at home.

Now were did I put my pipe?...

[mft]

NiceCupOfTea said:

OK, you get 30-32mpg, but you've saved at least a grand, and with diesel being 10+p/l more expensive than unleaded it's going to take quite a few miles to make a difference.

Assuming all else is equal (like tax) at today's prices (106p/L vs 116p/L), it would take roughly 18130 miles for a 50mpg diesel to save a grand over a 30mpg petrol.

So comfortably less than a year, given the OP's projected 25k miles.

Edited by mft on Monday 31st March 22:23

[mft]

Fetchez la vache said:

Was just about to mention Saab. My sensible car is a 9-5 Diseasal Vector Estate

What sort of economy does it return?

[Jasandjules]

Mustard said:

Passat TDi 110 / 130 , durability, good mpg, decent image

Bingo.

Passat TDIs return 45-55mpg on motorway miles..

[NiceCupOfTea]

I guess Neither of my cars gets better than 25mpg so 30 seems pretty good to me!

[MrMoonyMan]

mft said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

OK, you get 30-32mpg, but you've saved at least a grand, and with diesel being 10+p/l more expensive than unleaded it's going to take quite a few miles to make a difference.

Assuming all else is equal (like tax) at today's prices (106p/L vs 116p/L), it would take roughly 18130 miles for a 50mpg diesel to save a grand over a 30mpg petrol.

So comfortably less than a year, given the OP's projected 25k miles.

Edited by mft on Monday 31st March 22:23

Also to add that most people I know with 9000's get a decent bit more than 30mpg on consistent motorway miles.

Try one.

[Chris_VRS]

dinkel said:

I'd go for a D4D Avensis, although I like the Corolla better.

Not much beats a 406 though . . .

seconded...well the 406 part anyway.

[Fetchez la vache]

mft said:

Fetchez la vache said:

Was just about to mention Saab. My sensible car is a 9-5 Diseasal Vector Estate

What sort of economy does it return?

Probably high 30's, but tbh never bothered to work it out...