High MPG car for £3-4k

[aaron1984]

Hi hoping you guys and girls will be able to help i currently have a Peugeot 406 coupe, its the V6 model and now its got to the point i need something thats more economical for everyday but would still like a bit of fun if its possible, i would like 40+ mpg and for it to be reliable. I have a mini clubman powered by a vauxhall redtop so thats is my fuel drinking toy, any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Major T]

Golf mk iv tdi, pd130.

[aaron1984]

Major T said:

Golf mk iv tdi, pd130.

Only problem with them i thought is that are getting quite old and high mileage around that age, and also there is the usual vag tax that comes with Volkswagen and Audis

[AlpineWhite]

Might be able to squeeze into a Fabia vRS at that money, mine's averaging high 50s. Or an ibiza sport will be within budget.

[DanGPR]

MG ZR Diesel?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2192687.htm

something like that , if you could get over the slight yoof image of the car?

[JWH]

AlpineWhite said:

Might be able to squeeze into a Fabia vRS at that money, mine's averaging high 50s. Or an ibiza sport will be within budget.

Ibiza Sport PD 130 was the conclusion I came to with similar requirements; a 53 plate with circa 70k can be found for £3k in decent condition with history. They're quite numb and lacking in feedback but grippy, strong brakes and respectably brisk in a straight line. I commute 40 miles each way on the M1 and find 55mpg is a given and if I keep the speed not above 70 then in excess of 60mpg is achievable; you'll struggle to get it much below 45mpg.

While it's far from my favourite car in terms of enjoyment it's fullfilling the purpose for which I bought it very succesfully.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SEAT...

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SEAT...

[aaron1984]

Cheers JWH didnt realise i could get one that cheap and being part of the vag group its going to be reliable, my sister has a 12v model as she drives like miss daisy but it seems like a nice car a bit bland but then what can i expect with my budget and wanted over 40mpg

[MondeoMan1981]

Seen as you have a Pug look at the 206 and 307 1.4hdi

Neither will set the tarmac alight with performance, but useable day to day and on the motorway both will deliver 70mpg+

Get 65mpg average out of a 206 myself, motorway only runs you can add 10mpg onto that.

£35 tax as well.

Astra 1.7cdti does mega-mpg too.

If mpg isnt the main consideration you get the 406 coupe with the 2.2hdi in it.....

Edited by MondeoMan1981 on Sunday 31st October 20:48

[Major T]

aaron1984 said:

Major T said:

Golf mk iv tdi, pd130.

Only problem with them i thought is that are getting quite old and high mileage around that age, and also there is the usual vag tax that comes with Volkswagen and Audis

Yeah, but they wear their miles well, and the PD engines aren't nearly as fussy/unreliable as common rail.

[Platinum]

DanGPR said:

MG ZR Diesel?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2192687.htm

something like that , if you could get over the slight yoof image of the car?

BMW turbo diesel.

[Fordo]

DanGPR said:

MG ZR Diesel?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2192687.htm

something like that , if you could get over the slight yoof image of the car?

bmw diesel engine the ad says? lies!

Its a rover L series- and will never get near the mpg quoted in the ad 45 - 50 mpg is more realistic. As far as i'm aware, it was on the rover 75 that came equiped with a beemer derv engine.

I run a diesel ZR as my daily hack. Its an ok car, but for that money, theres better cars out there. - i picked mine up for 1500 notes, and made more sense at that price

[Triumph Man]

Without sounding to 'samey' or biased, a Passat 110 tdi will be easily attainable within that price bracket, in fact £3k buys a VGC 110 tdi. I say the 110 tdi because they are simpler than the later PD engines, and aside from the usual Passat issues, which for that price you shouldn't get/should have already been sorted.

I find 55 mpg average easily attainable in my Passat, in fact I am disappointed if it drops below 50 mpg

The 115 PD engine also represents a reasonably good buy.

[stewies_minion]

JWH said:

AlpineWhite said:

Might be able to squeeze into a Fabia vRS at that money, mine's averaging high 50s. Or an ibiza sport will be within budget.

Ibiza Sport PD 130 was the conclusion I came to with similar requirements; a 53 plate with circa 70k can be found for £3k in decent condition with history. They're quite numb and lacking in feedback but grippy, strong brakes and respectably brisk in a straight line. I commute 40 miles each way on the M1 and find 55mpg is a given and if I keep the speed not above 70 then in excess of 60mpg is achievable; you'll struggle to get it much below 45mpg.

While it's far from my favourite car in terms of enjoyment it's fullfilling the purpose for which I bought it very succesfully.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SEAT...

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SEAT...

+1

A friend of mine has the kevved up version (FR?) of these. A quick £150 remap and it does 60+ mpg if you Miss Daisy it and pulls the skin off custard.

[yinujim]

Run it on Vegi oil

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mercedes-300D-Diesel-W124-Le...

[Fordo]

stewies_minion said:

JWH said:

AlpineWhite said:

Might be able to squeeze into a Fabia vRS at that money, mine's averaging high 50s. Or an ibiza sport will be within budget.

Ibiza Sport PD 130 was the conclusion I came to with similar requirements; a 53 plate with circa 70k can be found for £3k in decent condition with history. They're quite numb and lacking in feedback but grippy, strong brakes and respectably brisk in a straight line. I commute 40 miles each way on the M1 and find 55mpg is a given and if I keep the speed not above 70 then in excess of 60mpg is achievable; you'll struggle to get it much below 45mpg.

While it's far from my favourite car in terms of enjoyment it's fullfilling the purpose for which I bought it very succesfully.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SEAT...

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SEAT...

+1

A friend of mine has the kevved up version (FR?) of these. A quick £150 remap and it does 60+ mpg if you Miss Daisy it and pulls the skin off custard.

They look like very tidy little cars - only group 7 insurance too!

[aaron1984]

i see that everyone is recommending the Vag group cars, are they really that much better than all the others? im quite tempted by the ibiza, im not so sure about the passat as i thought they would be a lot higher mileage? cheers for the suggestions im open to any others.

[AnotherClarkey]

An off-the-wall suggestion might be something petrol - a Mk.1 Focus 1.8 or 2.0 must get high 30's, 40 on a run and be loads more fun than anything VAG to drive. Less to go expensively wrong than something TDi too.

[aaron1984]

i have thought about something petrol but i dont think it will be as good for the type of driving i do i think a diesel will save me more in the long run