Advice on a work runabout

MacRS4

MacRS4

MacRS4

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Joined
15 Dec 2008
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London
Hi guys

Need some advice. I'm looking for an interesting work runabout, as piling on the miles on the M3 just sitting on the M4 is a bit, well, daft.

Budget say up to 5k. I want something interesting, not mundane.

Finding it difficult to come with ideas that are not boring Mundanos or Focii. I was thinking along the lines of an Audi S3 (old shape, obviously) - had one of those a fair while ago and it was a great car...

Also, what about BMWs? Can you get decent 320s or 330s for that sort of budget? Won't save me much on fuel though unless they're diesels.

Anyways, struggling with inspiration. Any advice out there?
 
Ha, yeah, I guess so, but if I'm going to spend a fair bit of time in it I'd rather something vaguely interesting.
 
If you buy a BMW 330 and have and an M3, you'll have two expensive cars to run, both of which do fairly similar MPG.

It would make absolutely no sense to do this. You'll spend more on buying a 330, insuring it, taxing it, servicing it, repairing it and fuelling it, than you would by just taking the hit on the M3 by putting the miles on it.

Like Phil said, the point of a cheap runabout is to save money so that you can spend more on your toy.
 
Depends how much of a banger you are prepared to drive in :)

A couple of my mates have "runabouts" that don't care what they look like, as long as they are mechanically sound. Incidentally, they are both Peugeot 106 1.5D's.

306 HDi maybe?!
 
Can't be too crap, as it needs to be presentable as it'll need to presentable for work, also want something vaguely reliable.

Maybe a Mini? Only issue with that is my lass keeps calling it a lass' car :)

If you buy a BMW 330 and have and an M3, you'll have two expensive cars to run, both of which do fairly similar MPG.
Click to expand...

Getting 15.1mpg out of the M3.... Can't imagine a 330 is that bad is it?
 
MacRS4 said:
Getting 15.1mpg out of the M3.... Can't imagine a 330 is that bad is it?
Click to expand...

Apologies, i assume you have an E92 M3 then? Because there's no way on earth that you will get 15mpg out of an E46 M3 whilst sitting on the M4.

Even then, 15mpg on the motorway with an E92 M3 isn't great - perhaps adjustment of driving style is required?
 
Yeah, e92 - but I live in central London so even getting to the motorways drives the MPG down.

Golf TDI could work, thanks.
 
why spend 5k to do a lot of miles in a car not as good as you already have? +the price of tax, mot insurance servicing any problems
its an expencive way to not put miles on a car you paid good money for?
 
Surely the £5k you spend on another car would be better used to offset any gripes in running and fuel costs on the M3 unless you really don't want to put the mileage on it.

Seems daft to run two cars for this reason given the likely compromise and potential for a 5k car to throw up some big bills.
 
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