New job, 'nother new spec me a car thread

Squink · 27 Dec 2011 at 10:34

In about 3 weeks I'm starting a new job. The unfortunate downside is that rather than having to drive 3 miles each way like I do now, I'll be having to drive about 35 miles each way, made up of 8-ish miles urban and the rest dual carriageway. My knackered Honda Accord will probably cost near enough twice in petrol what some of the cheaper alternatives will, so I want to change to something that's reliable, with high MPG, not bothered if petrol or diesel, with a budget of 3-4k. The idea being that the new car pays for itself out of petrol savings over two or three years.

The car I initially had in mind is a Toyota Aygo which is reported to get 60mpg, plus is only £20 a year in tax. If the 60mpg is realistic, I'd be very interested, but I've read elsewhere that 50mpg is more likely. I know it's not going to be the best motorway cruiser and equally I know that small cars aren't necessarily great value for money which is why I'm looking for other opinions. I roughly estimate that 350 miles per week in my current car will set me back close to £280-£300 per month in petrol and I want to get it down to £160 or so if I can, while still being reliable.

Are there any cars out there that will fit the bill?

sovietspybob · 27 Dec 2011 at 10:45

You can realistically expect 50-55mpg out of an Aygo, here's someone's i found

Bigger cars offer better value for money but will never be as fuel efficient as small cars so its going to be a toss up between comfort and economy.

Fusion · 27 Dec 2011 at 10:54

Many will ask this, I'll be the first- do you really want to do 70 miles a day in an Aygo?

lordrobs · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:01

I posted up a similar thread regarding my 60 mile a day commute and the main point people raised (quite validly) was whether the time spent in a basic box of a car was worth it. I've pretty much decided that it isn't and will be considering other options when the time comes.

That said I found it quite comfortable for a small car and while basic it did the essentials well enough. Wasn't too bad cruising at 75 on the speedo and picked up pace adequately for its small power (off set by its small weight I guess). All considered it must be one of the cheapest cars to run that you can buy. Everything has been reduced to the minimum, as such expect bear metal inside, no parcel shelf (just a little flap thing) no glovebox etc.

I don't have a clue on what the economy was like as I just put a drop in as it was a loan car.

ChrisD. · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:02

Fusion said:
Many will ask this, I'll be the first- do you really want to do 70 miles a day in an Aygo?

This, I'd be wanting something German and Diesel for that mileage.

Squink · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:26

Fusion said:
Many will ask this, I'll be the first- do you really want to do 70 miles a day in an Aygo?

Aye that's the trouble. I'm willing to make sacrifices to save money (in the short term at least), but was kind of hoping there'd be something mid-sized out there with a diesel engine that would pull 55mpg out of the bag. The solution seems to be one of the new shaped Ibizas, Fiestas or Corsas as they seem to get huge miles out of a gallon of diesel, but with the exception of the Corsa, they are way out of budget. The Corsas seem to drop to 5k and even that's really more than I'd want to spend.

Is there maybe anything within my criteria that gets in the realistic high 40s but in a slightly more cruise-friendly format?

Fusion · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:39

mulpsmebeauty said:
Aye that's the trouble. I'm willing to make sacrifices to save money (in the short term at least), but was kind of hoping there'd be something mid-sized out there with a diesel engine that would pull 55mpg out of the bag. The solution seems to be one of the new shaped Ibizas, Fiestas or Corsas as they seem to get huge miles out of a gallon of diesel, but with the exception of the Corsa, they are way out of budget. The Corsas seem to drop to 5k and even that's really more than I'd want to spend.

Is there maybe anything within my criteria that gets in the realistic high 40s but in a slightly more cruise-friendly format?

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classi...age/12/radius/1500/postcode/ng172rq?logcode=p

Focus 1.8 TDCI Zetec 2005, 51.4 MPG combined, 61k miles, FSH, £4k. Fox may shortly point out that you'll need to budget extra for injectors/turbos/cambelt (if it hasn't already been done). The cost and lifespan of these items is certainly something to be aware of.

The 1.6 Focus petrol still gets 42.8 MPG combined and you can pick one up of the same age as the above for a grand less, so is definitely worth considering.

Other than that, the Mondeo is great value and a better cruiser but heavier and less good on fuel, and the Fiesta is the opposite- not a great cruiser but dirt cheap to run.

sovietspybob · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:40

You should be able to get a MK2 focus 1.6TDCI for that money?

I had one and averaged around 55-56mpg over the 50k i put on it.

Be a fair bit nicer to cruise in as its the 'next size up' compared to the others you said.

ChrisD. · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:40

Golf Mk4 TDI?

sovietspybob · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:47

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201151437143366 Something like this infact

Disco Boy · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:49

I imagine that you'll be able to get a golf/passat/octavia with the reliable 1.9 PD tdi for this money.

andrewdodd13 · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:49

70 miles a day? You'll want this. Not sure if it'll meet your 55mpg; it's the same engine as in the Golf, etc. but the car weighs a lot more. Actually looking at that example, the seats aren't leather so you might want to look around for one with them.

Seriously though, you'll find thousands of examples of this engine in various cars (Polo/Fabia/Ibiza, then Golf/Leon/Octavia, then Passat/Superb/Toledo) and it's pretty much designed for this sort of miles.

Saytan · 27 Dec 2011 at 12:26

i knocked up a spreadhseet that lets you pop in the MPG of a petrol car, the MPG of a diesel car and then gives you the fuel costs for a set of mileages

70 miles a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year is 17500 miles.

using the combined figures for those two focuses, the saving running a diesel (based on fuel prices at my local asda) for that distance, is £272.98

a genuine ford DMF is £400 for the part.....

MofoKilla · 27 Dec 2011 at 13:27

thats an awsome saving,defo get the diesel

Disco Boy · 27 Dec 2011 at 13:30

Saytan said:
i knocked up a spreadhseet that lets you pop in the MPG of a petrol car, the MPG of a diesel car and then gives you the fuel costs for a set of mileages

70 miles a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year is 17500 miles.

using the combined figures for those two focuses, the saving running a diesel (based on fuel prices at my local asda) for that distance, is £272.98

a genuine ford DMF is £400 for the part.....

Hence 1.9 PD

ChrisD. · 27 Dec 2011 at 13:33

MofoKilla said:
thats an awsome saving,defo get the diesel

The saving is negated if the DMF needs replacing, that's his point. On top of the £400 you need to add labour, not sure how much it would be to replace the DMF.

Saytan · 27 Dec 2011 at 13:34

MilanoChris said:
The saving is negated if the DMF needs replacing, that's his point.

and let's not even start on the injectors, or the turbo.

Disco Boy · 27 Dec 2011 at 13:42

Are your sarcasm detectors broken?

mattyprice4004 · 27 Dec 2011 at 17:57

I had 2 diesel cars at less than £1,000 each, both never cost me anything to run and got 50mpg.

It can be done, but you'll need to look at older stuff.

lordrobs · 27 Dec 2011 at 18:41

mulpsmebeauty said:
Aye that's the trouble. I'm willing to make sacrifices to save money (in the short term at least), but was kind of hoping there'd be something mid-sized out there with a diesel engine that would pull 55mpg out of the bag. The solution seems to be one of the new shaped Ibizas, Fiestas or Corsas as they seem to get huge miles out of a gallon of diesel, but with the exception of the Corsa, they are way out of budget. The Corsas seem to drop to 5k and even that's really more than I'd want to spend.

Is there maybe anything within my criteria that gets in the realistic high 40s but in a slightly more cruise-friendly format?

It is a tricky one and I'm running the thoughts through my head as you are as my commute has gone to just over 50 miles a day, soon to be over 60, from just over 5 miles previously.

My thought process went:
Aygo > Don't think I can live with anything that small > Focus 1.6TDCi > But what if it goes wrong? > How about the petrol? > Focus 1.6 petrol > ...but now how much will I be saving? Not enough to warrant the change > What will save me proper money? > Aygo .....rinse and repeat

At the moment I'm thinking of getting a medium / large diesel and saving at the pump and hoping not to pay at the dealers but I'll have changed my mind again by the end of the week