30K miles commuting car

[Panos76]

Hi,

I have the following issue and I would like your opinion.

At my current workplace are cutting stuff by 30% so I was in the list of the unlucky ones.
However did manage to get a new job, which I do like, but is 130 miles daily commuting. (The job market north of Lincoln is dead).
That is approximately 30,000 miles pa, 90% of which is motorways.

I would like to move house, however with the house market being pants, is impossible to sell the last 18 months (brand new 5 bed house too!!)
Thought to rent a place near my work, however the renting prices in Leeds are pretty much insane at the moment, and can't find non shared properties either!!!!

So my commuting options are, 5 hours on trains, + 40 mins drive (aprox 5000 miles pa) (without counting parking, or train fares raise) approx £4200.
The other option is driving 3 hours, it will set me back around £3800 pa fuel cost.
Please note fuel cost are calc on 50mpg and £1.40 per litre. (generous calc).


Currently I'm leasing a new Mini diesel, (doing 70mpg+), however the mileage limit is 10k pa and need 2 more years to end the contract.
Any thoughts? I would break off the lease, (and pay the penalty) so maybe try to get a new/used car to do the commuting? But which one?
If I managed to get a car doing more mpg than 50, (like 70 I do now), the fuel will be almost half of the train commuting expenditure.

PS I don't seek to sell the car on the typical 3y period. As long as it goes it will go.

Thanks.

Edited by Panos76 on Tuesday 1st February 14:37

[R26Andy]

Find out what the excess mileage carge is on the mini and depending on the answer the cheapest option is likely to be to keep it.

e.g. Mine is £0.044 per mile, so 20,000 miles a year excess would equal £880/year.

[jke11y]

A lot of people would just use the mini and clock it before each service / handing it back. Its rife allegedly on lease cars to get round the miles charge.