Best car for cheap high mileage commute

[YorkshireBloke]

Hi All,

I would like to hear your experiences or the experiences of people you know re the best cars for high mileage, low cost work.

There are urban myths about some prestige brands but I want to avoid cars where owners cherish them and are willing to drop loads of dosh to keep running / like the car was when new (i.e. Like our A8s!) .

Thing is I am considering a job offer in Nottingham, 120 mile round trip so 600 miles a week. This is a LOT for me and ain't going to run the legs off of my baby...

My plan so far (such as it is) is an already gassed up 4 cylinder Nissan Primera / Toyota Avensis or similar "bore-mobile" , everyday quality but nill image or sentiment.

But what real examples do YOU know of, the 200,000 miles + motors you've come across?

I really will be grateful for your thoughts as the job pays only "OK" money and the costs of commute could swing it for me.


Thanks!

Robert

[paulrstaylor]

A8 Tdi

Sold my 4.2tdi at ~180K and still going strong with another forum owner, depreciation wasn't that bad and running costs were routine servicing (done myself) + a couple of glitches attended to at an inde.

[Architex_mA8tey]

Something like a Honda Accord 2.2 cdti saloon or estate
I had 2 in succession and they drive well with good pull, did about 50-60 mpg and were gentle on tyres and critically never put a foot wrong once.
Also pretty well spec-ed for the type of car they are.

[YorkshireBloke]

Any more out there?

Trying to get a feel for it, all mentions so far are Japanese (A8 is not feasible imho).

Robert

[ainarssems]

What's wrong with the 8, yours is already on LPG so fuel costs should be reasonable. Doing 120 miles a day I would want something comfortable and quite. Accord is not a bad car, my friend has 2.2 diesel estate but it's a bit noisy inside.

[vagdream]

Make sure you have a look at something in the Skoda Octavia or Superb range, we have run a diesel Superb 4x4 estate for the last 30 months and 90000 miles and it still feels and drives like the day it was new. The quality reminds me of previous BMW company cars.

[Joe2.0E]

You should consider an early D3 3.0TDI, I bought one with 60K miles on it in 2010 and changed it at 260K last year for a D4. In that time, it did a consistent 40mpg and other than 1 wheel bearing and 2 parking break motors, just routine servicing.
With a commute like that, an Avensis or such is just an awful place to spend 2+ hrs per day in my opinion.

[1781cc]

I agree about using your own car, you can't take it with you and no offence, a 3.7 on LPG won't set the typical cherished classic market alight in years to come, so I'd just do that, it's a great place to whittle away the hours.

If you do a cost comparison, additional fuel on the 8 vs Buying a car, tax, mot, insurance, etc and see where it all falls.

The other thing is, the 8 is the devil you know, how risky would it be to start a new job and have the new car leave you on the side of the road because a previous owner skimped on something?

[Titan]

My A6 avant C5 model is now on 220k and still runs great. Dirt cheap to run. It's the 1.9Tdi. I put the mileage on it with a daily round trip of 100 miles over many years.
My mate did the same journey in another A6 C5 2.5Tdi and sold it with 265k. He wishes he hadn't!
We both got about 600 miles to a tank with his six speed box versus my smaller engine and 5 speed.
Certainly a few tired examples for sale but you might pick up a decent run out model from around 2005.
Hope this helps.

[roberto]

i think this is all down to ..
1. budget
2. car size

reliability / economy

1.9 tdi anything

skoda fabia vRS for a small car
skoda superb for the large car

but any vag vehicle with the 1.9 tdi engine

or this.. 1.4 tdi £30 a year road tax, this is round the corner from me, been for sale a few weeks, i would make a cheeky offer.....


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401138449922