My job situation may well change in the near future, possibly resulting in a requirement to commute 35 miles each way, a good deal of which will be on the M25 going past the M3 and M4 junctions.
Having had a good think about it, the Volvo S60 D5 has caught my eye. Looks like it would be fairly economical, comfortable, easily available as an auto (a good thing on the M25) and is considerably cheaper s/h than the equivalent German motor. The handling bias towards comfort really isn't a big deal to me, can always take the Bimmer if I want to make my passengers queasy.
Any thoughts or experiences with similar Volvo's?
Before you ask, I've thought about the following:
Mondeo - obvious option and clearly cheap. Problem is that a friend of mine has a 2ltr diesel (what I'd probably look at) and every time I've sat in it or driven it, I get out wondering what all the fuss was about. Just feels like the auto equivalent of a Zanussi.
E46 diesel - not cheap and the higher mileage diesels have their reputation for eating swirl flaps. I know that I could run a petrol, but I'm guessing that I'd save approx £1200 in fuel alone by going with a diesel.
Merc E class diesel - even less cheap, but bearing in mind the interstellar mileage ones that you see advertised, might be an interesting long term option that could be kept for years to offset the initial price.
Civic 2.2. Don't **** them off till you try one. Brilliant car, but not available as an auto and as they're quite new, isn't as cheap as the Volvo.
MX5 - Another "don't ask". Doesn't fit any sensible criteria, but I've just seen a lovely 99' 1.8S advertised for peanuts. I know that I could get mid-high 30s out of it and the depreciation might offset the fuel costs. Problem is that I'd rarely get to use it the way I should because of now having a very young son. Having said that, I really enjoyed my last one and know that it's reasonably comfortable at normal speeds and would still make me smile every morning (unlike the Mondeo).
Having had a good think about it, the Volvo S60 D5 has caught my eye. Looks like it would be fairly economical, comfortable, easily available as an auto (a good thing on the M25) and is considerably cheaper s/h than the equivalent German motor. The handling bias towards comfort really isn't a big deal to me, can always take the Bimmer if I want to make my passengers queasy.
Any thoughts or experiences with similar Volvo's?
Before you ask, I've thought about the following:
Mondeo - obvious option and clearly cheap. Problem is that a friend of mine has a 2ltr diesel (what I'd probably look at) and every time I've sat in it or driven it, I get out wondering what all the fuss was about. Just feels like the auto equivalent of a Zanussi.
E46 diesel - not cheap and the higher mileage diesels have their reputation for eating swirl flaps. I know that I could run a petrol, but I'm guessing that I'd save approx £1200 in fuel alone by going with a diesel.
Merc E class diesel - even less cheap, but bearing in mind the interstellar mileage ones that you see advertised, might be an interesting long term option that could be kept for years to offset the initial price.
Civic 2.2. Don't **** them off till you try one. Brilliant car, but not available as an auto and as they're quite new, isn't as cheap as the Volvo.
MX5 - Another "don't ask". Doesn't fit any sensible criteria, but I've just seen a lovely 99' 1.8S advertised for peanuts. I know that I could get mid-high 30s out of it and the depreciation might offset the fuel costs. Problem is that I'd rarely get to use it the way I should because of now having a very young son. Having said that, I really enjoyed my last one and know that it's reasonably comfortable at normal speeds and would still make me smile every morning (unlike the Mondeo).
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
)
