Car recommendations

Soldato
Joined
19 Jan 2005
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Arite I've just started a new job that requires me to drive to leeds (from just outside manchester) and back everyday, its about 40 miles or so. I've currently got a V reg megane coupe which seems to be a bit of a love or hate type car but I've had it for over 2 years I think and for that time I was a student using it to drive home every now and then, to the supermarket everynow and then and then just odd drives etc. and I never had a problem with it, the common fault that goes wrong with these is the head gaskets blow and you have to get almost a new engine (new rebuild at least), at one point I had one, my mum had one, my mate had one and HIS mum had one, mad I know but all of them except mine blew their head gaskets in the space of about a year and cost over 500 quid to fix. Fortunately mine had this done about 300 miles before I bought it and its not happened to me again.

Anyway, it was perfectly fine bombing it around Leeds or home and the odd long drive but now its being put to constant use its useless, not suited whatsoever to long driving and I need to get something better,

I'd say with a weekends worth of work, I could probably get upwards of a grand for my coupe and even though I'm earning now, I do not want to spend a shed load on a new car and so I'm looking for cheap(er) options. Can anyone recommend anything? IObviously I've got a reasonable drive everyday so maybe a diesel and given that a large part of it is traffic I'd sacrifice speed for a little bit of comfort, I'd easily sacrifice performace etc. for some nice little comforts such as air con, remote central locking etc.

I was thinking a golf, maybe a yaris, something along those lines, what would you recommend, last time I asked I got some good opinions so please, fire away.

Cheers.
 
Budget?

How can you say the Megane Coupe is a load of rubbish for driving 40 miles, but that you're considering a Yaris? The Yaris will be even worse for long distance driving.
 
arite, my budget is 3 grand max, max. max I'd be prepared to spend but I'll admit I really dont wanna spend that, ideally I'd like to get a grand or so for my car and then put a little more in the pot, say 800 or so.

I've seen a Golf on Autotrader, doesn't say how many miles but its 2001 1.9SDi alloys and things, airbags etc. who reckons thats a good price? Doesn;t say how many miles but with a VW they normally hold out alright dont they?
 
the sdi golf is non turbo methinks and as such wont be much cop really. Seriously if circa 2k is your budget then a mondy is your best bet.

probably best to hunt a 2.0 petrol for that cash it'll do grand on the mpg for the type of driving you will be doing and is considered far more reliable than the tdci
 
Plus a Yaris is cheap to run, insure, can always get 2nd hand parts and are pretty cheap now for a 1.3 around the 1500k mark
 
they handle motorways well. this lass i know has 1 and she goes from Manchester to Leeds in her 1.0l and shes had no problems. She drives like 65mph but it gets her there and back with barely any pertol used at all and get like 58mpg
 
plus on the motorway when i do 70mph i do about 45mpg and i did a 200 mile trip so put in £20 worth of pertol (20L) which took it about 1/2 way on my petrol dial and i only use about 1/2
 
Plus a Yaris is cheap to run, insure, can always get 2nd hand parts and are pretty cheap now for a 1.3 around the 1500k mark

they handle motorways well. this lass i know has 1 and she goes from Manchester to Leeds in her 1.0l and shes had no problems. She drives like 65mph but it gets her there and back with barely any pertol used at all and get like 58mpg

plus on the motorway when i do 70mph i do about 45mpg and i did a 200 mile trip so put in £20 worth of pertol (20L) which took it about 1/2 way on my petrol dial and i only use about 1/2

Have you not learnt how to put everything in one post yet?
 
oh i have now just seen the edit thing will do it from no on sorry

see didnt realise obviously

i nearly did it again.

What Clio is that
 
they handle motorways well. this lass i know has 1 and she goes from Manchester to Leeds in her 1.0l and shes had no problems. She drives like 65mph but it gets her there and back with barely any pertol used at all and get like 58mpg

Are you serious? Anyone who would punish themselves (and other road users...) running the M62 at 65mph in a 1.0 Yaris should have their head looked at. I used to do Huddersfield - Warrington commute, that is NOT Yaris territory

Anyway, OP - Mondeo, 2.0 Ghia X. If you want more comfort you're looking towards the 3 Series/5 series which will be an older car and more to run/maintain. Small cars have their place, in supermarket car parks. If you go medium-sized (Focus/Golf) etc, you get less for the money as they are more desirable as they have a wider appeal.
 
she sticks to lane 1 cause shes a little scared so doesnt go into the middle lane unless she has to overtake anyone else going slower than she is. but it still does loads of mpg
 
But does it get her there in comfort..?


Edit: And I get better fuel efficiency than that doing that speed on the motorway in my 14-yr old 106. But I don't recommend it as a motorway car....
 
At 65mph, it is bordering on dangerous, especially overtaking the huge number of wagons on the M62. It is not suitable for purpose. No, the seats aren't comfy, it is excessively loud at motorway speeds and it is not something the OP should consider - his current car would be better. Wow, 58mpg??? I get half that and drive a 7 series. The Manc/Leeds run is about 50 miles? So it costs me a fiver more to knock off 20 mins+ and get there without a shattered spine/ear drums. I bought the 7 serries to do a 60 mile round trip on the A19, sod the economy, pay a bit less for a more suitable car?!?!
 
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