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Keeping distance

I commute 50k per year (90% motorway) and need to replace my current car, a 2003 Mondeo TDCi Zetec S with 168k. I’m looking for diesel/reliability/mpg/re-sale, budget: approx. £10k -/+ part exchange of current workhorse (FSH - inc. all receipts). Any ideas? I’ve looked at: 05/06 Audi A4 TDi; 05/06 Jag X-Type. (I drive 10 miles country lanes, 80 miles motorway and 10 miles London roads each day.)

Asked on 1 May 2010 by D.M., via e-mail

Answered by Honest John
Classic need for a diesel. An X Type is the same as you've got in a Saville Row suit that will get ruined doing 50k miles a year. An A4 is less reliable and belt cam with the same sartorial problem. What might be quite interesting is a Hyundai i30 1.6CRDI with balance of 5 year unlimited mileage warranty. You just have to think of a car the value of which you will destroy almost completely. So paying extra for flash is stupid. But you still have to live with the thing, so can't go too cheap and nasty.
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