Commuter Car - 25k

[Duff]Chef · 12 Mar 2010 at 23:53

Now im car less (mini sold), im looking for a new car and given that my annual mileage is about 25k (if not a little more), im looking for something cheap to run..

Ideally dont want to spend more than 10k, but would prefer around 7k-8k and put rest on a new bike (not for commuting)

But, it has to be comfy and not lot like utter crap inside.. Given I spend 15 hours a week in it, it needs to be nice

Any ideas greately appreciated.

MarkDavis · 13 Mar 2010 at 00:21

BMW 525d/530d

End of thread.

Alternatively, Mercedes-Benz S320 CDi, Lexus IS220d, VW Phaeton V6 TDi though the latter is likely to be outside of your budget.

[TW]Fox · 13 Mar 2010 at 09:04

MarkDavis said:
BMW 525d/530d

End of thread.

Alternatively, Mercedes-Benz S320 CDi,

He's looking for something cheap to run. You seem to be under the misapprehension that the only cost involved in running a car is fuel economy. Jez spends perhaps £2000 a year keeping his S Class running, for example.

Something with a less posh badge is needed here.

Older big diesel execs are pointless as they suck the fuel economy savings away in other running costs.

Slackworth · 13 Mar 2010 at 09:20

My 330d *touch wood* has cost me very little outside of fuel considering.

- Servicing varies from around £120-300 at a main dealer (which you can cut by a further £40 by buying your own oil)
- £175 a year on tax
- between £46-150 a corner for tyres depending on how brave you are with cheap tyres.
- £99 for rear or front pads (or do it yourself if able for much less)

When I first got the car it had a maintenance pack on as well so didn't even have to pay for servicing. Buy a bad car though and your wallet will be empty!

nichorob · 13 Mar 2010 at 10:28

Mondeo

iaind · 13 Mar 2010 at 11:12

Pah, saw the subject and thought 25k was the budget

Never mind. Mondeos do a great job of being a white good for commuting, but 10k is a bit of an awkward budget for one. It's a bit too much to spend on a Mk3 thats not an ST - with the rare exception of some nice Titanium X's with optional extras. It's just not quite enough to get a good Mk4 either, there are some basic cars coming into that budget now (2.0 TDCi Zetec) .

Big executive cars like the 5,S class etc are not for you I dont think if you want somethng cheap to run. But saying that, something like a 3 series (dare I even suggest 320d?) or C class shouldnt cost a lot more than a Mondeo to run if you find a good one but will be a nicer place to be than the Mondeo.

VW Passats get a bad rep around here, but as utilitarian transport they do a good job. Honda Accort, Skoda Octavia and Mazda 6 are worth looking at too.

If I had 10k to spend on something to do long distances in as cheaply and comfortably as possible though, I'd probably look at the Avensis - they're utterly forgettable and boring, but they're well specified, reliable and uncannily comfortable

Moeks · 13 Mar 2010 at 11:34

Octavia 2.0 TDI would fit the bill, you'ed get a reasonably new one for that price too.

MarkDavis · 13 Mar 2010 at 12:27

[TW]Fox;16147314 said:
He's looking for something cheap to run. You seem to be under the misapprehension that the only cost involved in running a car is fuel economy. Jez spends perhaps £2000 a year keeping his S Class running, for example.

Have you ever had a job with a 25k+ a year commute?

Well, since you haven't, I can tell you that it's hideous. You get up at the crack of dawn, you have a stressful day/week/month year, you're mentally exhausted by the end of the day, then you go home when its dark, then you cut through traffic jams, crashes, roadblocks etc.

The LAST thing you need if you have a demanding job is car or a commute thats grinds you down. You don't want the car to have feedback, you don't want it to be 'sporting', you don't want a lot of steering feedback, you'd kill for automatic and you don't want any noise or vibration.

Doing 25k a year is going to be expensive come what way. The difference between running a BMW as opposed to a Skoda Octavia is nowhere near enough of a difference - given the baseline fuel figures, the distance and the physical and emotional that a 25k commute is going to take on you - to justify picking the lesser car. It just doesn't.

I did over 30k in 2008 between Bristol, London and Leeds. Had I known that I was going to be doing that sort of mileage, I would have chopped my car in for a luxobarge / other more comfortable car, ages ago.

Unless you have a low stress job, 25k in year in a car other than the best you can get your hands on is simply foolish.

Morba · 13 Mar 2010 at 13:07

I dunno, I find my 330d sport fine for over 20k. Don't feel the need for an uber barge at all.

Adz · 13 Mar 2010 at 14:22

[TW]Fox;16147314 said:
Jez spends perhaps £2000 a year keeping his S Class running, for example.

I'm actually surprised it's that little. Considering what a newer one would lose in depreciation alone it sounds like a fairly sensible proposition.

As for the £10k commuter car, I think the most pertinent question is how new the OP wants it to be. That will dictate whether it's a Mondeo or a Mercedes he will be getting for his budget.

Abyss · 13 Mar 2010 at 16:43

MarkDavis said:
Have you ever had a job with a 25k+ a year commute?

Well, since you haven't, I can tell you that it's hideous. You get up at the crack of dawn, you have a stressful day/week/month year, you're mentally exhausted by the end of the day, then you go home when its dark, then you cut through traffic jams, crashes, roadblocks etc.

The LAST thing you need if you have a demanding job is car or a commute thats grinds you down. You don't want the car to have feedback, you don't want it to be 'sporting', you don't want a lot of steering feedback, you'd kill for automatic and you don't want any noise or vibration.

Doing 25k a year is going to be expensive come what way. The difference between running a BMW as opposed to a Skoda Octavia is nowhere near enough of a difference - given the baseline fuel figures, the distance and the physical and emotional that a 25k commute is going to take on you - to justify picking the lesser car. It just doesn't.

I did over 30k in 2008 between Bristol, London and Leeds. Had I known that I was going to be doing that sort of mileage, I would have chopped my car in for a luxobarge / other more comfortable car, ages ago.

Unless you have a low stress job, 25k in year in a car other than the best you can get your hands on is simply foolish.

I am in a similar sort of role and rack up about 40k a year. I disagree that you have to find the best car you can and it must be a luxury barge. I used to do it in a mk1 Focus, currently do it in a 56 plate Avensis, and for a period have used an Astra and A-class. Yes it makes a difference and I prefer being in the Avensis over the Focus but it's not as is it's the end of the world. I'll be doing the driving in a 56 plate Mondeo soon and I am sure I will be happy given its increased performance and better handling over the Avensis.

My advice would be a Mondeo, Avensis or Volvo S60.

Morba · 13 Mar 2010 at 16:48

God no, not avensis. My boss has one and it's annoying over long journeys

Rwac · 13 Mar 2010 at 16:57

2007 Volvo S40 1998 cc 2.0D (136 PS) Sport

4 Doors, Manual, Saloon, Diesel, 70,200 miles, Silver, 1 Owner(s), Cloth, Off Black, 18'' Alloy Wheels, Cruise Control, Front Fog Lights, Height Adjustable Pass Seat, Information Centre, Outside Temperature Gauge, Performance Sound Audio System, Steering Wheel Remote Control, 5 Three Point Seat Belts, ABS + Elec Brake Distribution, Anti-theft Alarm, AQS (Air Quality System), Driver's Airbag, Dynamic Stability Traction Ctrl, EBA (Emergency Brake Assist), ECC (Electronic Climate Ctrl), Electric Heated Door Mirrors, Electric Windows, Forward Folding Passenger Seat, Front Centre Armrest, Head Restraints for all 5 seats, Headlamp Levelling System, High Level LED Brake Light, Home Safe & Approach Lighting, IC (Inflatable Curtain), Leather Steering Wheel, Passenger Airbag. £8,995

[TW]Fox · 13 Mar 2010 at 17:26

MarkDavis said:
Have you ever had a job with a 25k+ a year commute?

Actually yes.

Well, since you haven't

Errr?

Doing 25k a year is going to be expensive come what way.

I am the last person you need to explain how much better long distance in decent cars is to. I understand that which is why I drive a decent car.

However he clearly stated he wants low running costs and 5+ year old prestige cars are NOT going to offer him low running costs.

You don't want the car to have feedback, you don't want it to be 'sporting', you don't want a lot of steering feedback

So why bother with a BMW and the liabilities it can bring to the table? It will be sporting, even leaving aside the cost implications.

Morba · 13 Mar 2010 at 17:41

Have you? Thought you were just a student

[TW]Fox · 13 Mar 2010 at 17:53

Morba said:
Have you? Thought you were just a student

I graduated last year - but I worked for a period of time for an organisation on my placement meaning a round trip of 86 miles a day.

zetec452 · 13 Mar 2010 at 17:57

I did over 25k miles per year in a Mazda 6 and was more than happy with it.

MarkDavis · 13 Mar 2010 at 18:09

[TW]Fox;16149902 said:
I graduated last year - but I worked for a period of time for an organisation on my placement meaning a round trip of 86 miles a day.

What organisation was that then? Dreamworld Ltd? And if you graduated last year, how can you have done more than 25k a year?

Mk1 Focuses, Avensi, Astras, A-Classes, and Mk1 Mazda 6s are laughable as 25k+ a year cars. Yes, you can do it - you can do that distance over the course of a year in a Fiat Uno if you really wanted to - but they're not good cars to be in.

zetec452 · 13 Mar 2010 at 18:23

MarkDavis said:
Mk1 Focuses, Avensi, Astras, A-Classes, and Mk1 Mazda 6s are laughable as 25k+ a year cars. Yes, you can do it - you can do that distance over the course of a year in a Fiat Uno if you really wanted to - but they're not good cars to be in.

All in your opinion of course

. We had guys doing 60k per year in Sokda Octiva's or whatever they are called. Great cars for the job and the same size as a Mazda 6, 3xx BMW and Mondeo etc.

Why couldn't a uni placement student do more than 25k year? I did 32k per year on my placement.

[TW]Fox · 13 Mar 2010 at 18:27

MarkDavis said:
What organisation was that then? Dreamworld Ltd? And if you graduated last year, how can you have done more than 25k a year?

PLACEMENT. As part of my degree I had to work for a year, full time, 9-5, Monday to Friday. For a period of time during this placement I was relocated to Exeter, so I had to do the near 100 mile round trip to get to work. So I know what its like.

Mk1 Focuses, Avensi, Astras, A-Classes, and Mk1 Mazda 6s are laughable as 25k+ a year cars. Yes, you can do it - you can do that distance over the course of a year in a Fiat Uno if you really wanted to - but they're not good cars to be in.

I'm not disputing this but... he wants something 'cheap to run' and you are suggesting 7 year old S Class Mercs. In an ideal world it would be great to do your 25k in an S Class Merc but few people have the luxury of being afford that.

You, yourself, don't drive an S Class for example..