Best £2000 All Wheel Drive for 90 Mile Round Trip Commute
Discussion
Neither finances or prospects for promotion are currently indicating that I'm going to be able to sensibly look at replacing the M3 with anything I'd consider a big enough leap forwards. To be honest, it's just an exceptionally competent and enjoably car for the money, and I'm coming back to reality to appreciate that I don't have another £30k on top of my car to buy a GT3 
Patience, dear boy! Patience!
Anyway! Slogging backwards and forwards to work in the M3 isn't doing it much good. Most of my commuting roads turn into slurry covered Kielder replicas at this time of the year. M3 fuel economy is getting a little boring too, despite taking it in turns with another pair of drivers/cars.
After the BMWs miserable performance in last years snow, I'm considering a cheap AWD vehicle for the journey. My criteria is putting something like a CR-V or Rav4 pretty high up the shopping list, however I'm interested to hear other peoples opinions of where I would best wave a couple of grand to buy a vehicle that did the following:
- Space for 4 adults
- Large ish boot to take a pair of bikes with the seats down
- 30mpg average (ish)
- Reliable, and cheap to run ..... is the Freelander really such a POS?
- At least half competant away from tarmac .... Not G&T to the Pole competant, but able across a muddy field
Patience, dear boy! Patience!
Anyway! Slogging backwards and forwards to work in the M3 isn't doing it much good. Most of my commuting roads turn into slurry covered Kielder replicas at this time of the year. M3 fuel economy is getting a little boring too, despite taking it in turns with another pair of drivers/cars.
After the BMWs miserable performance in last years snow, I'm considering a cheap AWD vehicle for the journey. My criteria is putting something like a CR-V or Rav4 pretty high up the shopping list, however I'm interested to hear other peoples opinions of where I would best wave a couple of grand to buy a vehicle that did the following:
- Space for 4 adults
- Large ish boot to take a pair of bikes with the seats down
- 30mpg average (ish)
- Reliable, and cheap to run ..... is the Freelander really such a POS?
- At least half competant away from tarmac .... Not G&T to the Pole competant, but able across a muddy field
Octavia 4x4?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2185170.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2185170.htm
Edited by Highway Star on Wednesday 17th November 13:17
mat205125 said:
KingRichard said:
Subaru Legacy B4 
How Epically do they fail on the mpg front?I'd imagine that my M3 would a better companion from an mpg point of view.
It's also never had ANYTHING wrong with it in two years and about 30k miles. Not even a bulb
Just found this, is this cheap or about right for a non turbo Impreza?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
02 with only 64k miles.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
02 with only 64k miles.
KingRichard said:
williamp said:
How about a jaguar X-type?
The top gear review Clarkson did in the snow is very complementary of its 4wd grip. And its a lovely place to spend time.
Great suggestion The top gear review Clarkson did in the snow is very complementary of its 4wd grip. And its a lovely place to spend time.
Can even get a 2.5 diesel sport for that money...
The X Type came with a 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 V6 petrols (the 2.5 and 3.0 are the only two with the AWD powertrain).
The 2.0 and 2.2Ds are FWD.
The 2.5 and 3.0V6's are probably going to be getting 26-32mpg - so not much different to the M3, I'd wager. Unfortunately! I'd suggest a 1.8T Octavia 4x4 - they can do 35mpg quite easily if you drive them sensibly, I understand.
Edited by rfn on Wednesday 17th November 13:52
rfn said:
KingRichard said:
williamp said:
How about a jaguar X-type?
The top gear review Clarkson did in the snow is very complementary of its 4wd grip. And its a lovely place to spend time.
Great suggestion The top gear review Clarkson did in the snow is very complementary of its 4wd grip. And its a lovely place to spend time.
Can even get a 2.5 diesel sport for that money...
The X Type came with a 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 petrols (the 2.5 and 3.0 are V6's and are the only two with the AWD powertrain). The 2.0 and 2.2Ds are FWD.
I'm at least 90% certain that they did a 2.5 diesel... and they did a sport trim which was really smart
KingRichard said:
Are you sure?
I'm at least 90% certain that they did a 2.5 diesel... and they did a sport trim which was really smart
Most certain.I'm at least 90% certain that they did a 2.5 diesel... and they did a sport trim which was really smart
They did a sport trim, certainly (and also a Sport Premium trim). It looks very smart, sans chrome. But they used Ford Duratorq diesel engines (2.0 and 2.2 versions).
Edited by rfn on Wednesday 17th November 13:55
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