What diesel with variable servicing?

wonder_lander · 30 Mar 2010 at 08:50

My 2006 Alfa GT will be going in for its 96k service during April and it got me thinking about what I'll replace it with when it dies.

The only practical issue I have with the GT is that it's on fixed 12k service intervals which as I trundle up and down the M6 each day (100 miles per day) I am having to service the car at least twice a year. (I am currently averaging around 28k miles per year)

With my type of driving use I feel a car with v****ble servicing should be high on my next priority list so am looking for ideas of cars that would fit this brief.

I still don't know what I should do about my next car in respect of purchasing cost. The GT was literally a gift and so I've had nearly 3.5 yrs of depreciation free motoring.

So with a budget of say £10k and my usage pattern and brief what would you recommend? (For reference the GT is returning around 44mpg for my current usage pattern.)

wonder_lander · 30 Mar 2010 at 09:01

ajstan said:
You after another coupe?

Doesn't need to be a coupe. Will consider anything that fits the brief!

wonder_lander · 30 Mar 2010 at 10:27

killsta said:
£10k - any age limits?

Some sort of diesel BMW instantly springs to mind

No restrictions on age per se but I guess it will be some sort of compromise between mileage / age.

wonder_lander · 30 Mar 2010 at 11:04

Not looking to change just for the sake of it because as you say I wouldn't be upgrading in any way shape or form!

For me and my commute reliability is key. If I can't drive to work then I am kind of stuck!

When reliability becomes an issue the need to change will be forced and so am thinking for at that time what should I be looking for.

wonder_lander · 30 Mar 2010 at 11:16

GinG said:
Just out of interest have you had much go wrong with your car? I would love an Alfa however as I need my car to get me to work having it in the garage all the time would really be a bad thing.

Saying that I am putting my faith in a 11 year old ST24 with patchy service history to get me to work and back every day!

It's been very reliable in my experience.

Apart from servicing it's needed a new hose for the trubo which, a headlight leveller motor, new passanger seat base (warranty), new door handles (I think they only needed lubricating but they replaced under warranty), Door straps that stop the door ripping off the hinges (again I think needed lubricating but they replaced under warranty), adjustment to the gear linkage as engaging 6th was difficult (under warranty)

I've had it since 6 months and 19k miles and as I say it's now 4 years old (well it will be on its birthday tomorrow) and 95k miles.

wonder_lander · 30 Mar 2010 at 19:00

Thanks guys, as I say I'm not looking to change by choice, just if the car dies and I need to....whenever that may be!

wonder_lander · 31 Mar 2010 at 12:26

So apart from the fun of th filter and the fact that I'm not going to get rid for the sake of it is the only option the "some sort of diesel BMW" and a Golf?

wonder_lander · 31 Mar 2010 at 13:32

So realistically when the time comes am I better off raising my budget and keeping the car for say 12 months?

wonder_lander · 31 Mar 2010 at 13:37

The_Abyss said:
Why not keep the current one as long as you can, and save for the next one at the same time?

I am keeping the current one for as long as I can.

My question is about when the time comes to replace what should I be looking at?

wonder_lander · 1 Apr 2010 at 22:37

My main dilema when I come to chop is where to place my budget.

Do I spend nearer £15k or £20k on something a year or 2 old and chop it in after 6 - 12 months to minimise depreciation?

Or do I pay £5k on a high mileage car that I can just run to the ground?

wonder_lander · 1 Apr 2010 at 22:42

I hope you're right Fox, I honestly don't want to replace it!

It's still one of those things though that has kept my mind busy....if I had to a) what would it be and b) what should my budget be?