economical car recommendations?

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Wed 12 Oct 2011 19:52
economical car recommendations? - zoobyzoo

Hi all,

Have just started a job 40 miles from where I live so doing at least 80 commuter motorway miles 5 days a week (plus "leisure miles"). My current car is an SLK 200 registered in 2003, so is costing £140 per WEEK in petrol. Clearly this isn't sustainable!

I'd be really grateful for some guidance on getting a new car. My criteria are:

  • diesel
  • good fuel economy
  • automatic

I would prefer:

  • cheaper end of the insurance bracket
  • 1.6 - 2l engine (I assume that's reasonable? Don't want it to struggle on the motorways)

I'd also welcome advice on leasing vs buying. I don't mind keeping a car for a good few years, but I worry that if I buy I'll be clocking up around 25k miles pa and that that will make resale pretty painful. However I've been warned that leasing may not work out particularly economic in the long run...

My budget needs to be under 10K, and I don't want something that is too old/has too many miles on the clock already. Maybe this is an impossible dream(!)

I really don't know much about cars so I'd welcome any advice! Thanks in advance.

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Wed 12 Oct 2011 20:17
economical car recommendations? - Bobbin Threadbare

Zooby - what do you consider to be the cheaper end of the insurance bracket? Obviously it depends on age/location and NCB but having done a little search using your criteria, for something able to cope with that kind of motorway cruise and not be a teensy little hatchback, I'm getting about the same insurance for all of the cars, and about the same tax too.

You'll be wanting a comfy car I imagine if you're having to sit in it for that long (I do a similar journey to you!) so I have discounted any BMWs, really small vehicles and cars with absurd wheels.

I'm seeing a lot of Saab 9-3s, Seat Ibizas and Leons (the 1.9L TDi VAG engine), VW Passats and Golfs, and a few Audi A4s. Not to mention the Skodas Octavias! For £10k most of these are around the 08/58 plate age, with under 40k on the clock.

I used to do a 120 mile a day round trip in a 52 plate petrol Ford Focus 1.6 LX. It was perfectly able to cope, it was comfortable and reasonably economical, but I found a 1.6 a little bit underpowered. I whacked 30k p.a. on it and part-exed it for sod all (just under £1.5k)! Can't complain though; I got what I wanted out of it and I didn't get a bad back driving it.

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Wed 12 Oct 2011 20:39
economical car recommendations? - zoobyzoo

Bobbin that's great - very specific and helpful :) I suppose I was just thinking about insurance as compared with my current car. Thankfully I have about 10yrs NCB so that should help drive things down. Plenty to think about, but other suggestions from others welcome too!

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Wed 12 Oct 2011 20:48
economical car recommendations? - daveyjp
Diesel and auto.
Skodas, VWs, but VAG autos aren't noted for reliability.
BMW
Jag S type, but 6 cylinder so thirsty, X type, but may not yet be in budget and has a useless DPF system
Mercedes, plenty to choose from and excellent autos, as long as the fluid is changed regularly.
Ford Mondeo mk IV. I had one on hire, it was sluggish and thirsty.
Japanese, no idea what may be available
Vauxhall do diesel autos, but I've never read a good report.
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Thu 13 Oct 2011 22:05
economical car recommendations? - barney100

C class 220 Diesel would fit the bill, maybe 3 gallons a day at your mileage would save £50 or so a week.

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