Need some help
Discussion
mustang68 said:
Hi all, ok need to get myself a sensible (diesel) car for the commute, don't want to spend much more than 8k and don't want anything older than maybe 2006.
Any ideas/ suggestions would be greatly appreciated, have had a complete lack of imagination.
Thanks all
A couple of key points missing. Why do you want diesel? Are you doing big mileage? If so what sort of distance and what is your fuel budget? This will tell you what mpg or cost per mile you can afford, so means you could look at other vehcles. Any ideas/ suggestions would be greatly appreciated, have had a complete lack of imagination.
Thanks all
Then how many seats and doors does it need and do you haul stuff and need a big boot? This radically alters what to look at.
Lastly what do you ant from the vehicle, as in do you want speed, hp, fun, handling or comfort. Very few or possible no cars depending on you view of things can offer all of these. So what is important to you?
And the reasons I ask. A smart Roadster or Lotus Elise can offer very good mpg, better than many diesel hatches. But evidently are only 2 seaters with no real boot. They are also less comfy and more compromised. But they are huge fun and much more special.
Small petrol hatches such as a Fiat 500 or maybe a Kia Picanto will also offer good mpg. But don't have the space of a bigger car.
Something LPG fuelled such as a Lexus or Jag might be an interesting alternative option.
A diesel Focus or Astra will do a bit of everything. But are not fast and not fun.
looks like il have to keep lookingThe Crack Fox said:
300bhp/ton said:
some common sense for a change
Bloody hell 300 ! 
OP - To reiterate, why want something so new (yet still out of warranty period), and how many miles pa ? Based on the little we know, go S1 Elise for
fun and residuals, and Fabia VRs for economy and practicality.
If the missus is worried about driving a car with an earlier plate than she is used to, get an older and a private plate.
My missus wanted a mk4 golf gti turbo but we only had a limited budget so I just found her a lowish mileage year 2000 W reg and then bought a private plate, now it just looks like any other golf upto 2004.
mustang68 said:
As much as I'd live to get one, an elise isn't going to be big enough.
I would prefer a 3 door with some fun in it. I'm doing roughly 60 miles a day and have a fuel budget of 300 a month. Do alot of extra miles aswell with several commitments.
Ok then. So still why a hatchback? Do you need to fit kids, a dog, a bike or other stuff in it? Will it need to carry more than 2 people often?I would prefer a 3 door with some fun in it. I'm doing roughly 60 miles a day and have a fuel budget of 300 a month. Do alot of extra miles aswell with several commitments.
Also what is fun to you? Is it handling, steering feel, speed, sense of speed, image, looks, noise, etc.
As for your budget, assuming 5 days a week and average of 4.3 weeks a month it gives you a total of 1290 miles a month and with £300 that's funds to spend 23p per mile on fuel.
If you want to add in more social mileage but for the same funds. So let's say an extra 516 miles per month for a total of 1806 miles a month on average. £300 would give you scope to spend 17p per mile. To add a little realism that means a car running 95 Ron fuel and doing 33mpg would cost £301 to cover this distance, a car running superunleaded and doing 35mpg would cost £295 and a diesel doing 35mpg £297.
If you find a car of any type or fuel that betters these mpg figures they will be under budget by even more.
But looking at it something like a DC5 Integra Type R would be affordable in terms of fuel costs. If you really want diesel then you could look at things like Jaguar X Types or bigger and as far as fuel is concerned they would all be under budget.
MX5 would be well in budget too.
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