78mph on a Motorway...and on a speed awareness course.???...I don't think so.
He wouldn't even be stopped by the county mounties at 78mph.
As for the OP's original question.?...at your budget go petrol...and if you want the best chances of reliability ...go Japanese
Bear in mind that the '10% +2mph' so-called 'rule' is nothing more than a local one that certain Police forces use as a guide for them to pull over/prosecute drivers - i.e. its what they 'consider' to be speeding so that an inaccuracy in the speed gun or camera. If I recall correctly, some forces use 5% +2mpg, and apparently one or two may now even use 1mph over the prescribed limit.
I bet most people a) don't know what the 'limits' are in each county/Police force area or b) even if they've crossed from one county/area to another (not all boundaries are signposted).
If I were the OP, whatever they get/use as their replacement car, don't hammer it down the motorway etc thinking they'll 'get away with it because everyone else is doing it'. If you do get nicked, or even given the option of going on a 'speed awareness course' your insurance will almost certainly go up quite a bit, though less so with the second option (some insurers don't at all, but I suspect less will over time).
Rather than be in a hurry and drive at 90 etc, just leave home 3-5 mins earlier, drive respeonsibly at or below the speed limit (as the circumstances dictate for safety [for everyone]) and reduce your fuel use by 25%, maybe more (even in a diesel), which could be spent on getting a better/newer car.
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