Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 14:58

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - AW24

Hello all

I am proving to be not a very decisive used car buyer and so i thought i would ask some people with more expertise than me for some advice please.

My seat 1.6 tdi has nearly died ( 163 k miles) and so i need a new used car to help get me to work 4 times a wee k ( 25 miles each way) and for 260 mile round trips to see my elderly father 2-times per month

I have been tempted to look at the golf 1.4 tsi ( post 2014 ) and see ot gets good reviews but my work colleagues tell me that i should get a bigger engine and so the 2.0 tdi may be the better bet. I tried a mazada 3 ( 2.0 petrol 120 bhp - 2017 ) on a test drive as i read they were very reliable cars but i was not too keen on the drive. I am not sure if the 1.4 tsi would be a big enough or robust engine to cope with the miles i do 25 k per year possibly. Any advice would be welcome

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 15:41

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - skidpan

We have had 2 cars with the 1.4 TSi engine, the first was a 2013 Leon with 140 PS, the second a 207 Skoda Superb with 150 PS.

Both were excellent cars, totally reliable and very economical. Both averaged about 46 mpg over the yeas we had them but on longer run the Superb was slightly better (52 mpg against 50 mpg) despite being much bigger. Plenty of power from the engines.

Having had diesels for years (with as much power) before buying the Leon I quickly realised that the TSi was a far better drive and never wanted a diesel again.

As for the Mazda, we drove a 120 bhp 3 and a 150 bhp 6 and both were poor unless you really kept the revs at the top end of the scale. The TSi's pull from about 1500 rpm getting really into their stride from 2000 rpm to just over 6000 rpm (an area where you rarely - if ever - need to go).

Drive one and decide for yourself but make sure its a 140/150 PS version and not the lower powered 126 PS version.

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 15:48

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - AW24

Thanks very much for the reply, much appreciated. I have read similar reviews of the 1.4 tsi engine but am still a bit wary of the 1.4 engine being appropriate for doing 20,000 miles per year .

I will test drive the 1.4 gold or leon this weekend and also a 2.0 tdi and see how they compare. Thanks very much

i might also try a hyundai or kia as you seem to get more value perhaps

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 16:25

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - badbusdriver

My seat 1.6 tdi has nearly died ( 163 k miles)

Curious as to what you mean by this comment?

With the mileage you are doing, diesel is absolutely fine (assuming no ULEZ related problems). A look on Autotrader shows 139 VAG cars for sale with the same 1.6 TDI yours has and with more than 150k miles, 9 of those have more than 200k and the winner is a Skoda Octavia estate with 347k (!).

So unless something is actually wrong with it, your car could potentially last a while yet. And because of what your annual mileage does to the value of any car, there is no benefit to changing before absolutely necessary.

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Sun 28 Jul 2024 08:13

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - AW24

HI , well, my 1.6 tdi leon had an oil leak from the rocker cover gasket and front main oil seal and the engine also looked like it was breathing heavily so i ( like you said) thought it may be worth spending the money on the repairs to try and reach 200 k on it ( as you suggest) The car has been put in to the mechanics who have replaced the rocker cover gasket and also the cambelt but after he was doing some final checks on it he noticed the engine was breathing a bit ( smoke coming up through oil filler cap ) and a tiny bit of smoke was coming up through some of the injectors. I asked if he had replaced the injector seals when he replaced the rocker cover and he said no. So he decided to put new injector seals etc but once he did this the car wouldnt run. It turns out that the injector solenoid valves have seized and are now being fixed at an injector specialist . I havent had a car for several weeks and have been hiring one ( a 1 5 tsi golf) and hence why i think that there seems to be more problems with the car than its worth , but i am in no way an expert. The mechanic has advised me to move the car on so i am looking for a replacement as we speak hence why coming on here for some advice .... Thanks to everyone for their thoughts

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 16:32

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - catsdad

I have a 1.4 Golf in the lower 124hp tune. It’s fine both pottering about and on long distances. It’s got plenty of poke. You may not need the higher powered version. I understand your concern if you are doing 20k miles a year but it’s a very good engine. It’s sensible to keep it serviced (not longlife) and not to turn it off when the turbo is hot to reduce the risk of turbo bearing failure.

That said, with such a high mileage and a focus on reliability, conventional wisdom would be to a non-turbo petrol, and Japanese. The obvious choice is the Mazda you’ve already tried. Other Japanese manufacturers mainly went turbo some years ago but you might find an Auris or 1.8 Civic.

I would find it hard to go back to a non-turbo petrol though. Sure you need reliability doing high miles you also want to enjoy your car. On balance I would continue to look for a 1.4 TSI.

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 15:56

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - Falkirk Bairn

The usual advice on this site is in summary.

BUDGET is a big factor and limits your choices

Japanese/Korean with full service history

Petrol /Petrol Hybrid

(You are high mileage where diesel can be a good buy BUT the previous owner's use might be a low mileage/ short journey history!)

Toyota up to 10 year/100K warranty assuming Franchise Servicing

Hyundai 5 year warranty assuming required servicing

Kia - similar to Hyundai 7 year warranty

Suzuki - up to 7 year warranty assuming Suzuki servicing

Mazda petrols are good, avoid their diesels

All of the above refers to a range of models BUT you have to pay particular attention to the car you are looking at on the garage forecourt

A well looked after, serviced Vauxhall Astra/ Renault could be a much better buy than a neglected Toyota

I would look at an Toyota Auris Estate - rare as Taxi drivers hoover them up!

£10K budget - Private Sale could yield better value - older driver giving up driving - carefully looked after car..................... thin on the ground but they do exist!

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 16:04

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - AW24

Thanks very much for your reply! Your advice does all make sense. I wonder if the the auris estate would be a bit too big for me and maybe less fuel efficient due to its size.

I will certainly look at this type of car though

Would you say that petrol is the better choice of fuel even considering the mileage i di ( 20 - 25 k miles per year)

Many thanks indeed

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 16:48

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - skidpan

My seat 1.6 tdi

Didn't spot yours was a 1.6 diesel, with your concerns about the 1.4 TSI led me to incorrectly presume you had the 2 litre. We drove a Leon with the 1.6 TDi engine in about 2006 and it was dreadful. Just checked and the engine we drove was 105 PS thus has way less power than the 1.4 TSi.

At that time we actually bought a Focus 1.6 TDCi 110PS. Only another 5 PS but it was a different car totally. That was replaced by a Kia Ceed CRDi with the 115 PS, better than the Ford by far yet only another 5 PS.

Have nothing against the VW TDi engine, we had a 1.9 TDi 90 PS for 7 years and it was fine, the 1.6 was a major step back from my experience.

You have nothing to worry about with the 1.4 TSi, its in a different league.

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 21:25

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - Falkirk Bairn

A daughter-in-law had a Lexus CT200 - bought low mileage 3 years old and sold at 7 years old - 100% reliable apart from a brake calliper. Just servicing, exhaust, pads & tyres. Services at Toyota garage as it was cheaper & local rather than 20+ miles each way.

She averaged 53mpg - 25 mile commute each way.

The Auris is the same car under the skin.

Changed jobs, now WFH as they closed lots of small offices and the new "main office" is too small for everyone.

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Sat 3 Aug 2024 23:28

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - Big John

I am not sure if the 1.4 tsi would be a big enough or robust engine to cope with the miles i do 25 k per year possibly. Any advice would be welcome

I did a high mileage commute / trips (not quite 20k but not far off) for many decades latterly a 1.4tsi 2014 Skoda Superb mkII owned since 2015 and other than regular servicing & brakes, a couple of snapped suspension springs, rear shocks, one new battery, a replacement clutch/slave at 120k miles it was a brilliant car averaging about 46mpg. Would I recommend - you bet.

Sadly recently sold and I've now retired so the horrible commute is over!!

PS Another consideration is a hybrid with Toyota gubbins ( Toyota, Lexus, Suzuki Swace) but your budget limits you.

PPS Avoid a diesel - at your budget the country is against you re probably not being Euro 6+

Edited by Big John on 03/08/2024 at 23:40

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Sat 10 Aug 2024 14:55

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - AW24

Hello

Many thanks for your message. I still think for the next few years it may be wise to purcahse a 2.0 l tdi for about 9 or 10 k ( one with 50 or 60 k miles on) and then sell it on in 2 or 3 years.

Im not sure a 1.4 tsi would stand up to the 600 miles im doing ( 60 mile daily commute (mon - fri) and 250 mles motorway trip once a week).

We shall see

But thanks for the advice. much appreciated

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Sat 10 Aug 2024 18:47

Which used car- budget of 10 k t-20,000 miles/year - Adampr

I did about 20,000 a year in a Seat Toledo with a 1.2tsi. It was fine, so I can't imagine the 1.4 would have a problem. Especially if you're doing motorway miles.

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