Recommend me a car to ruin? Commuter Hack

Nomisf

Nomisf

Nomisf

Man of Honour
Joined
6 Aug 2006
Posts
1,497
Location
Stratford-upon-Avon
Hey Everyone,

Want to know if this is possible/sensible, and if so what would OcUk recommend,

  • 2-3k hand outright purchase
  • 700+ miles a week, 500 of those are motorway
  • Estate
  • Manual or Auto (would take Manual over rubbish auto)
  • Relatively reliable/economical (Petrol or Diesel is fine, as long as it isn't known for chronic DPF/Inject/Pump issues)
  • Doesn't have to be cool or fast, just not intolerably slow on the motorway.
  • Possible to insure my partner on (mid twenties driver, 2yrs exp. She can insure an Octy vRS but nothing "hotter" than that)

The long story is, a couple of things have popped up in my life - namely moving in with my girlfriend and picking up some new customer work in Cornwall that will last at least the next 6 months, and I am finding it aggravating to be piling 700 miles a week on my beloved GS450h, scraping it down country lane bushes, and my girlfriend not being able to use it when she needs a larger car than her Fabia.

I figure the solution is to pick something cheap-ish up and ruin that with the mileage and girlfriends magnetic attraction to kerbs instead.

So far the interwebs has presented everything from 3/5 series tourings, to Honda Accords & VW Passat Estates - and if it isn't a performance/interesting car I don't have a clue!

Can happily do work/maintenance/servicing myself etc

Help?
 
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we put nearly 200k trouble free miles on our 2003 Accord, mostly my 250mile a week commute.

Now i've upgraded to a 2009 2.4L Honda Accord and expect that to last 200k trouble free miles as well.
 
Spunkey said:
I was going to suggest an Octavia, but it seems you can get a newer and better spec'd Passat for this budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807058154372?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-desc&model=PASSAT&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&radius=1500&price-to=3000&make=VOLKSWAGEN&postcode=mk37wa&page=1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201804075321220?sort=price-desc&make=VOLKSWAGEN&postcode=mk37wa&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&model=PASSAT&price-to=3000&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=2
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The Passat seems to be winning at this point,

ShiWarrior said:
Mondeo estate ?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807319005604?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-desc&model=MONDEO&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&radius=1500&price-to=3000&make=FORD&postcode=mk37wa&page=1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807278870647?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-desc&model=MONDEO&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&radius=1500&price-to=3000&make=FORD&postcode=mk37wa&page=1
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wedrum said:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808029074377?sort=mileage&price-from=2500&advertising-location=at_cars&fuel-type=Diesel&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&model=MONDEO&body-type=Estate&make=FORD&price-to=3500&radius=1500&postcode=ox394je&page=2
Click to expand...

This was my first thought, as a friend had a very reliable one he loved, but the Passats seem to have better spec/cash ratio. And although its totally childish - I can't get over that center dashboard.

SC0TTRS said:
Mazda 6 Estate: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808059175125?sort=sponsored&postcode=np182lh&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Diesel&seller-type=private&price-to=3000&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=1

Audi A4: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807028062249?fuel-type=Diesel&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&sort=sponsored&advertising-location=at_cars&price-to=3000&seller-type=private&radius=1500&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&postcode=np182lh&body-type=Estate&page=1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808039098315?sort=price-desc&postcode=np182lh&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Diesel&seller-type=private&price-to=3000&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=3

Audi A6: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807258798263?sort=price-desc&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&radius=1500&body-type=Estate&postcode=np182lh&fuel-type=Diesel&advertising-location=at_cars&seller-type=private&price-to=3000&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=1
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I know they are all the same/similar cars underneath, but are the Audis more/less/equally expensive to look after than the VWs ?

The Mazda is a tempting option, I do love my Japanese cars

Uncle_Gravy said:
we put nearly 200k trouble free miles on our 2003 Accord, mostly my 250mile a week commute.

Now i've upgraded to a 2009 2.4L Honda Accord and expect that to last 200k trouble free miles as well.
Click to expand...

Whats the economy like with the Petrol/VTEC engines on a motorway run ?

Thanks everyone, keep the ideas coming :)
 
I have an 08 Mazda 6 and even the hatchback is huge. I can fit bigger things in the back than my mates 09 A4 Estate.

Mines the 2l petrol and for reference I've averaged 38mpg over 18k miles of mixed driving. Big motorway tanks I've had 44mpg and that's without hanging about..
 
Nomisf said:
Whats the economy like with the Petrol/VTEC engines on a motorway run ?

Thanks everyone, keep the ideas coming :)
Click to expand...

Not economical by modern standards. But you are a LOT less likely to issues with them (and Japanese cars in general) than something German. Especially at this price/age.
 
^ The 2L and probably the 2.4L wasn't really economic, 30-35mpg if you behave yourself.

The 2.2 diesel was considered one of the best at the time in terms of how frugal it was, but i've never owned or driven the diesel so couldn't comment on it's reliability
 
Use the Lexus and spend the saving on refurbishing it in the future.

700 miles a week is a lot - doing it in a crap bucket is annoying, doing it in the Lexus will be nice.
 
My friend has a Mazda 3 I think year 2009

It’s falling to bits 80 k miles and is rusty as anything underneath

German is the way
 
Regy53 said:
German is the way
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I thought a 3k German car would be the last thing he'd want? My mates 3 Series is falling apart & most of the reliability surveys I can find tend to put the big German brands nowhere near the top.

I drove back from Cornwall in 2016 and apart from a Y Reg focus that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a decade every other car on the hard shoulder was German.
 
Iamzod said:
I thought a 3k German car would be the last thing he'd want? My mates 3 Series is falling apart & most of the reliability surveys I can find tend to put the big German brands nowhere near the top.

I drove back from Cornwall in 2016 and apart from a Y Reg focus that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a decade every other car on the hard shoulder was German.
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Its very true that perceived German reliability doesn't hold up to scrutiny, but it's something the German marques try to keep going, often by spending millions on marketing saying so. BMW and Mercedes are no longer premium if you look at sales anyway, they sell just as many cars as Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault etc but seem to have more problems than some.

OP thought about a Saab 95 diesel? Very comfy placed to sit.
 
Regy53 said:
My friend has a Mazda 3 I think year 2009

It’s falling to bits 80 k miles and is rusty as anything underneath

German is the way
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Mazda are particularly prone to rusting unfortunately. I've repaired plenty that are just a couple of years old, but for reliability Jap or Far Eastern is miles ahead of German these days.

Spoken as an Audi & VW owner with over 30 years in the motor trade.
 
MissChief said:
Its very true that perceived German reliability doesn't hold up to scrutiny, but it's something the German marques try to keep going, often by spending millions on marketing saying so. BMW and Mercedes are no longer premium if you look at sales anyway, they sell just as many cars as Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault etc but seem to have more problems than some.

OP thought about a Saab 95 diesel? Very comfy placed to sit.
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Yep it's all marketing. They spend loads trying to convince people their brand is "premium" and reliable. While Japanese manufacturers just let their reputation speak for itself.

Range Rover are the same. They cost loads and look nice on the surface, but dig down and there's ticking time bombs just waiting to blow up your wallet...

Mercs don't tend to be as bad, it's usually the gadgets/electronics breaking with those. GL fixing those out of warranty though.
 
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[TW]Fox said:
Use the Lexus and spend the saving on refurbishing it in the future.

700 miles a week is a lot - doing it in a crap bucket is annoying, doing it in the Lexus will be nice.
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Deep inside I know this is probably the answer, its just been painful watching it go from a good condition 70k mile car to closing on 100k covered in stone chips & branch marks from the narrow lanes. One reason for considering it (and I openly admit I havn't done much research into the underlying truth of this) is that from second hand listings, it looks like the Hybrid GSs take a value hit over 100k, probably due to perceived hybrid system reliability. Again could be baseless conjecture, at the moment is more of an "emotional" choice.

Ps. And yeah, I know I am spoiled doing the journey in the GS at the moment - nothing in the price range is going to be as pleasant to spend 4.5hrs + in :(

MissChief said:
Its very true that perceived German reliability doesn't hold up to scrutiny, but it's something the German marques try to keep going, often by spending millions on marketing saying so. BMW and Mercedes are no longer premium if you look at sales anyway, they sell just as many cars as Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault etc but seem to have more problems than some.

OP thought about a Saab 95 diesel? Very comfy placed to sit.
Click to expand...

Cookeh said:
V70.
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Mum drives Saabs, Dad has Volvos. While I like them both, neither have been reliable across 4/5 different cars in 15 years. The estate platform Volvos chew through front suspension parts, and all bar one has had Gearbox issues or cooling system issues. The Saabs have all had ignition system, fuel system or electrical issues, not to mention the camber-tastic suspension bush issues on the estates especially, and on both the interiors have fallen apart slowly. I loved the T5 and the D5 V70s Dad had, and the 9-3 HOT Aero Saab Mum has now - but I never want to see the inner workings of one again after 15 years of looking after them :)
 
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