What's the most economical barge for under a grand?

[swiftpete]

I've got a reasonably fast car at the moment (tinkered with fiat coupe turbo), but am thinking of getting rid and getting a motorbike and a comfortable barge instead. I quite often do 250 mile motorway round trips and the fiat is ok for that, but not great.
My thinking is, get a sports bike and something I can sit back and relax in when I'm not in motorbike mood. I had a 5 series bmw before which was very comfy, don't fancy another though as they're not really that economical unless diesel and I can't get diesel for this budget.
Anyone got any ideas? I don't want to spend more than a grand on the barge and the only requirements are;

1. Cruise control
2. Comfortable
3. Cheap to run

That's it really. Petrol or diesel, I'm not bothered as long as it'll cruise at 80mph and be cheap to run.
Cheers.

[BlueMR2]

Checkout some LS400's. try for a mk3 if you can.

[braddo]

Merc 190e.

[plasticpig]

Vauxhall Omega 2.5 TD. The engine is a BMW one.

[GingerWizard]

plasticpig said:

Vauxhall Omega 2.5 TD. The engine is a BMW one.

this ^^^

They are like the pub dog, reliable, nice to be in the company of, and take only small amounts of money to keep running. People i know have had a couple, and an estate (various friends) nothing but glowing reports.

[Dominicc01]

Cost of running is not just petrol / diesel. Yes, the Omega diesel is within budget, and the engine is reasonably reliable. But it's a miserable oil burner with a dreary cabin.

Personally, I would get a Jag XJ6 3.2 (well that's what I have!). Very pleasant to drive, very comfortable. Fuel economy can be as high as 30 on a long run with a well-regulated right foot. Servicing and maintenance is cheap and easy. You can get a good (early) one for £1,000.

[OMNIO]

Old BMW 5 Series?

the 2.5l petrol gets 20ish mpg around town but around 40 on a motorway

theres a tidy looking 1999 (V) 523i SE 4dr Saloon on Auto trader with 91,000 miles for £999. theres cheaper others on there but they have higher milages

[TheD]

OMNIO said:

Old BMW 5 Series?

the 2.5l petrol gets 20ish mpg around town but around 40 on a motorway

theres a tidy looking 1999 (V) 523i SE 4dr Saloon on Auto trader with 91,000 miles for £999. theres cheaper others on there but they have higher milages

Read the post

[OMNIO]

facepalm

[excel monkey]

BlueMR2 said:

Checkout some LS400's. try for a mk3 if you can.

for under a grand?

[BlueMR2]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[anonymous-user]

If you're worried about something being "Cheap to run" then buying anything that can remotely be considered a "Barge" is an extremely poor choice.

Old Luxury cars aren't cheap to run.

[swiftpete]

Yeah I know what you mean. Well the fiat gets probably something like 30mpg if I don't go too crazy with the turbo, so I don't want anything that gets less than that really, although something that gets similar but is considerably more comfortable would be a bonus. Somehow when large engined old barges get mentioned, the phrases 'on a run' and 'gentle right foot' get mentioned. I've had a car that supposedly got 30mpg plus 'on a run' before (540i) and all of those phrases were a load of bks. It drank like a fish and used up money I could've been spending on other things. That's why I'm thinking of a diesel skip, but not sure how economical the old diesels are.
If I get something cheap but comfy, the motorbike will be a damn site easier on my pocket.

Edited by swiftpete on Monday 28th June 01:14

[frosted]

I know the feeling , there is ppl on here convinced that their diesel does 20000 miles to a tank in town driving however I can't get past 400 . People saying well my boy , my v8 BMW gets 40 mpg on the motorway .

Does it really ? Does it fk

Edited by frosted on Monday 28th June 01:23