Advice for a noob soon to be commuting 120ish miles a day...
Discussion
Hi all,
First post but have followed PistonHeads for many years for advice and thought now would be a good time to join as a member.. I work for a company that is currently based close to my home address however come November we will be moving to Harwich around 60 miles away (one way) and due to the nature of my work I'll be doing this 120 mile drive 14 days out of a month roughly.
I knew this when I took the job and bought a little 1.6 TDCI fiesta for economy.. so far.. it has proven to be a good little car in light of all the bad things I had previously read. The fiesta is returning on average of 65mpg to/from Harwich which is great but the deal breaker for me is the comfort.. it's like sitting on a bench seat and at the end of the journey I feel like I let Mike Tyson in his prime use my spine as a punch bag, you don't normally test drive a car for 60 miles so I didn't really know just how uncomfortable it can be until it was too late...
So.. here lies the needed help.. I'm looking to part ways with the fiesta in the coming months and add a little cash to my budget, aiming to be around £3,500ish maybe £4,000 for the right car.
I have been looking at loads of various cars such as a 320d, Volvo C30 1.6D, Alfa Romeo Mito/Julietta, Mondeo 1.8/2.0 TDCI, Ford Focus 1.8 TDCI, Jag X-type, VW Golf... the list goes on however as with all forums, every car seems to have 'nothing but issues' now, granted, people only normally go on forums to report problems but each one has left me with a knock of confidence in following up on a purchase.
My key points I'm looking for are:
1) Comfort (first and foremost)
2) Reliability (I know with my budget I'll inevitably see issues at some point but I really don't want to be spending ALL my off shift watching my car being torn to pieces in a garage)
3) Economy (I know I won't see fiesta economy but high 40s - high 50s would be nice)
4) Gadgets (I'm happy to install a parrot kit but ideally looking for something that is nice to sit in)
5) Space (I carry a bit of kit for my job and it just fits in the fiesta so need an 'ok' sized boot)
I appreciate these types of questions have been flogged to death and to be honest I've spent a few days reading through them but I thought it's worth asking myself personally.
Apologies for the long intro, look forward to speaking with you all
First post but have followed PistonHeads for many years for advice and thought now would be a good time to join as a member.. I work for a company that is currently based close to my home address however come November we will be moving to Harwich around 60 miles away (one way) and due to the nature of my work I'll be doing this 120 mile drive 14 days out of a month roughly.
I knew this when I took the job and bought a little 1.6 TDCI fiesta for economy.. so far.. it has proven to be a good little car in light of all the bad things I had previously read. The fiesta is returning on average of 65mpg to/from Harwich which is great but the deal breaker for me is the comfort.. it's like sitting on a bench seat and at the end of the journey I feel like I let Mike Tyson in his prime use my spine as a punch bag, you don't normally test drive a car for 60 miles so I didn't really know just how uncomfortable it can be until it was too late...
So.. here lies the needed help.. I'm looking to part ways with the fiesta in the coming months and add a little cash to my budget, aiming to be around £3,500ish maybe £4,000 for the right car.
I have been looking at loads of various cars such as a 320d, Volvo C30 1.6D, Alfa Romeo Mito/Julietta, Mondeo 1.8/2.0 TDCI, Ford Focus 1.8 TDCI, Jag X-type, VW Golf... the list goes on however as with all forums, every car seems to have 'nothing but issues' now, granted, people only normally go on forums to report problems but each one has left me with a knock of confidence in following up on a purchase.
My key points I'm looking for are:
1) Comfort (first and foremost)
2) Reliability (I know with my budget I'll inevitably see issues at some point but I really don't want to be spending ALL my off shift watching my car being torn to pieces in a garage)
3) Economy (I know I won't see fiesta economy but high 40s - high 50s would be nice)
4) Gadgets (I'm happy to install a parrot kit but ideally looking for something that is nice to sit in)
5) Space (I carry a bit of kit for my job and it just fits in the fiesta so need an 'ok' sized boot)
I appreciate these types of questions have been flogged to death and to be honest I've spent a few days reading through them but I thought it's worth asking myself personally.
Apologies for the long intro, look forward to speaking with you all
Cheers for the quick replies guys!
I've across this but have no experience of Volvo's, they are one of the only cars I haven't owned and I have had many
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
The Skoda is a good shout, I haven't looked at those yet
I've across this but have no experience of Volvo's, they are one of the only cars I haven't owned and I have had many
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
The Skoda is a good shout, I haven't looked at those yet
jhonn said:
If it's just the seat that is the issue with the car why not just change it? There will be aftermarket options (from Recaro, etc) for your car - it may be a lot more convenient and cheaper than changing to another car, which is an unknown quantity.
A friend with back problems had to drive hundreds of miles in a Freelander - he changed the seat to a Recaro and found a huge difference in how he felt at the end of the day.
Welcome to PH by the way.
That is a good point and I have considered the cheaper alternatives like changing parts of the fiesta to improve comfort but, at the same time, I also feel I'd like a change and to someone that will just soak up the miles ideally. Unfortunately, I don't stick with cars long I'm 27 and average a new car every 6 months BUT if I can find a good commutable work horse then I'll look to save the pennies for a weekend car A friend with back problems had to drive hundreds of miles in a Freelander - he changed the seat to a Recaro and found a huge difference in how he felt at the end of the day.
Welcome to PH by the way.
greysquirrel said:
I do 100 miles a day in a 520d auto. It is a bit too big really but 55mpg in comfort is good. Whatever you get, the miles quickly rack up and it is a difficult balance between buying a decent car that will be worth nothing/dead in a few years or keep getting cheaper cars that just don't do it for you, but don't cost much to run.
My wife had an eco diesel fiesta - 70mpg, free tax and bullet proof. You would just be quite tired after a week of changing gear and using the clutch and it wasn't really an exciting car.
That is part of the reason for wanting a change, the fiesta feels tiresome to drive after a couple of days.. don't get me wrong I can handle the commute as I've done much worse in the past but I don't want to get to work in the morning and already be snuffed. My wife had an eco diesel fiesta - 70mpg, free tax and bullet proof. You would just be quite tired after a week of changing gear and using the clutch and it wasn't really an exciting car.
I looked at a 520d/320d and all I came across was timing chain failure for 2007+ (177bhp) models so moved down to something 2005/2006 which a) fell into the budget nicely and b) seems to have better reliability.
Grey squirrel.. you hit the nail on the head there with your last comment. The 5 and 3 series BMs have always appealed and up until 2 days ago I was looking at an 07 plate 320D M Sport but I just don't want to take that very expensive gamble... are the older 2005/2006 models more reliable??
@Insert Coin, that's not a bad find with the A6, I'm probably going to ask a very laughable question here but how do you know it is Cat C?
@Insert Coin, that's not a bad find with the A6, I'm probably going to ask a very laughable question here but how do you know it is Cat C?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Something like this? albeit without the horrendous alloys
Something like this? albeit without the horrendous alloys
northwest monkey said:
Quite nice that. Looks more than £3k worth of car.
I'd still consider an automatic and a decent radio is a must. It gets very boring changing gear a lot and you can spend a long time doing 120 miles...
Don't bother reading old reviews for these sorts of cars - a journalist will get to drive one when its brand new on specially selected roads. They aren't driving a 10-year old one with mismatched tyres, a knackered shock absorber and a sagging seat. What might have been comfy 10 years ago could now be a spine jarring lump.
Bigger cars tend to be more comfy than smaller cars and doing lots of miles I'd forget about "fun". Getting to work / home is far more important. I've done a big commute in the past and found a Jeep Cherokee far more relaxing than a 330i.
I don't know if I'm narrowing it down or adding to the list.. The S40 is a nice motor but forums report poor fuel consumption so I'm back to the C30... as long as the boot isn't any smaller than the fiesta then I can cope with it.. I'm on the wavelength of... lighter car + same engine as S40 = better mpg... someone please correct me if I'm wrong? I'd still consider an automatic and a decent radio is a must. It gets very boring changing gear a lot and you can spend a long time doing 120 miles...
Don't bother reading old reviews for these sorts of cars - a journalist will get to drive one when its brand new on specially selected roads. They aren't driving a 10-year old one with mismatched tyres, a knackered shock absorber and a sagging seat. What might have been comfy 10 years ago could now be a spine jarring lump.
Bigger cars tend to be more comfy than smaller cars and doing lots of miles I'd forget about "fun". Getting to work / home is far more important. I've done a big commute in the past and found a Jeep Cherokee far more relaxing than a 330i.
My list stands now at..
Volvo C30 2.0 D R-Design
Volvo S40 2.0 D SE Sport (If I can get some facts on mpg)
Honda Civic 2.2 I-CDTi (either EX or Type S)
Audi A4 2.0 TDI
Audi A6 2.0 TDI
I figure I can always add a parrot kit to the car I buy if it doesn't come with many gadgets like the C30
culpz said:
The Volvo's look like a decent bet but i don't know that much about them and I've heard that certain engines are a no go and suffer various issues. I'm not sure if the C30 and S40 with those particular engines are specifically troublesome though.
I'd never personally touch a Honda with a diesel engine. Similar to Lexus really, it's not their forte and they tend to be uneconomical and unreliable compared to their petrol variants.
The A6 looks like a good shout. It will be a huge step up from the Fiesta and very comfortable, wafty and at-home chewing up the motorway miles nicely. It's quite a big barge though and could be pretty expensive to repair.
So, i'd probably go for the A4 out of that lot. It's just like the A6 but a bit smaller, lighter and probably a bit cheaper to run and maintain.
Cheers, great help. If it turns out the C30/S40 do suffer with common issues then I guess the A4 will be the focus point.. I'm now looking at an S60, seats look like arm chairs!I'd never personally touch a Honda with a diesel engine. Similar to Lexus really, it's not their forte and they tend to be uneconomical and unreliable compared to their petrol variants.
The A6 looks like a good shout. It will be a huge step up from the Fiesta and very comfortable, wafty and at-home chewing up the motorway miles nicely. It's quite a big barge though and could be pretty expensive to repair.
So, i'd probably go for the A4 out of that lot. It's just like the A6 but a bit smaller, lighter and probably a bit cheaper to run and maintain.
austinsmirk said:
don't know yr budget- but the "new" shape mondeo's are a good mile muncher.
a 2.0 D will do 55/57 mpg on a run and they are packed with kit/toys. phone kit, dash display for phone, 3.5 mm jack plug for phone/music, DAB, auto lights, wipers. heated front screen is a god send in winter. I've driven big distances in mine with no comfort issues.
they're everywhere and will be cheap to buy. No extra £ for the badge !
I don't like diesel or petrol VAG or specifically skoda's. My sister had 3. 1 pet, 2 diesel. All three had terrible engine failures- all 3 were new, expensive cars too, not high mileage shed stuff. maybe she was unlucky- who knows.
search on here for past threads. much love for them.
Looking around £4,000 at a maximum a 2.0 D will do 55/57 mpg on a run and they are packed with kit/toys. phone kit, dash display for phone, 3.5 mm jack plug for phone/music, DAB, auto lights, wipers. heated front screen is a god send in winter. I've driven big distances in mine with no comfort issues.
they're everywhere and will be cheap to buy. No extra £ for the badge !
I don't like diesel or petrol VAG or specifically skoda's. My sister had 3. 1 pet, 2 diesel. All three had terrible engine failures- all 3 were new, expensive cars too, not high mileage shed stuff. maybe she was unlucky- who knows.
search on here for past threads. much love for them.
Malcs87 said:
I have a 2011 C30 D3 SE LUX and regularly get between 55-60mpg doing a 45 mile commute each way, every day (Iver to kidlington and back). Its comfortable, although the seating position is not the best in my opinion (I'm 6ft 1). I've done almost 30k in the last twelve months with no issues whatsoever and the service periods are every 18k. It will push over 60mpg on a flat motorway, 70mph cruise control. It packs a punch and economical at the same time.
I think my budget will only stretch as far as 2008 unfortunately so I'm left with the older PSA 2.0 engine or the 2.4 D5AnneTeak said:
Of the three diesel engines (1.6, 2.0 and 2.4) in that age group for me it'd be the D5 every time (like the first C30 you linked to or one of these). If you manage to sneak into the 2010 year, the S40 range got the 5 cylinder diesel (shortened version of the D5).
Worth noting if you're buying the 1.6 or 2.0 version the DPF filter (around £3-400) is technically a service item at 72000, although not always necessary. In terms of MPG the 2.0 isn't particularly efficient.
Cheers for this info! I think I may sway towards either a D5 C30 or S40 I just need to see the size of a C30 boot to see if I can live with itWorth noting if you're buying the 1.6 or 2.0 version the DPF filter (around £3-400) is technically a service item at 72000, although not always necessary. In terms of MPG the 2.0 isn't particularly efficient.
Edited by AnneTeak on Thursday 28th September 10:30
Just kicking this off again.. Was on holiday enjoying a nice 5.0 V8 Mustang that was pure luxury only to return to my bench seated pish fiesta 1.6tdci that had a dead battery and flat tyre when we got home.. 
I'm still looking at various cars to replace the fiesta with. I'm still keen on a C30 or S40 or something within the Ford range as you just seem to get a lot for your money... except with Fiesta's... they provide everything you need to eventually need to claim for disability with how the seats are designed
Has anyone had much experience with Mondeo ST's? I had the V6 version a few cars back and just remember the seats being incredibly comfortable and, with the exception of a stupid analog clock, it came pretty well spec'd as standard... anyone know much on the ST TDCI? I've heard of injector failure but just how bad is this?
I found this which seemed good value for money and has the big recaro seats
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I'm still looking at various cars to replace the fiesta with. I'm still keen on a C30 or S40 or something within the Ford range as you just seem to get a lot for your money... except with Fiesta's... they provide everything you need to eventually need to claim for disability with how the seats are designed
Has anyone had much experience with Mondeo ST's? I had the V6 version a few cars back and just remember the seats being incredibly comfortable and, with the exception of a stupid analog clock, it came pretty well spec'd as standard... anyone know much on the ST TDCI? I've heard of injector failure but just how bad is this?
I found this which seemed good value for money and has the big recaro seats
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
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