Best car for cheap high mileage commute

[tersono]

Trust me, on a commute of that length you want something comfortable and wafty. I've done that sort of mileage (and more) in a lesser vehicle and it was the main reason for me finding alternative employment.

If I had to do it again, I'd be using my 8, but if i HAD to step down a notch, I'd be wanting a Lexus GS as a minimum.

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by 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 C5 made it to 360K before all the suspension bushes wore out. I look after another which is well North of 200K and is still going strong - it just did 3000 miles across Europe in a fortnight and didn't miss a beat. Most of my A4s are over 200K as well - I put 1000 miles a week on my daily @54mpg. The 1.9 TDIs are nigh on indestructible if you feed them good oil regularly.

I'd avoid a 2.5 though - that engine is a boat anchor. Its rare they make it past 200K without eating their valvetrain. Also avoid the B6 - they have too many dumb design flaws to qualify as 'cheap'. The C5 has a few, the B5 has a few, the B6 combined them all!

A 2001> C5 A6 1.9TDI with the PD130 and 6-speed is a nice comfy commuting wagon. A B5 1.9 is pretty good too, and gets 10mpg more.

[roberto]

i agree look at these..
depends on budget and how you feel about milage..the green skoda i would be having..all capable of 60 mpg..

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01605274370420

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01607015456054

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01509146904760

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01607246142075

[Artermis]

Might sound daft but if you're not bothered about the brand anything with the Fiat 1.9 JTD engine in will be bullet proof.

That gets you anywhere from an Alfa GT / 159 to a Vauxhall combo van (called 1.9 cdti in Vauxhalls); those engines were in pretty much everything. Think about all the things you see like the doblo taxis, Vauxhall insignia company cars, they all have them and range from 110bhp in earlier models to 170bhp ish in later models.

As they're fitted in just about everything on the motorway parts are dime a dozen and everywhere knows how to fix them.

If I had to pick one, I'd probably plumb for an Alfa GT. 150bhp, very easy to come across in diesel form for very little money, as long as the belts and water pump have been changed according to schedule you'll have a great looking Italian coupe that can eat miles.

[roberto]

had 3 brand new fiats thats a no from me..

Fix It Again Tomorrow (FIAT)

[oldnick]

agree with the remark about the VAG 1.9 diesel
my daughter does a 100mile/day commute and has an A6 avant from 2010 with 140K which still feels and drives like new , she would have changed a couple of years ago but this is so good she has decided to carry on
my next door neighbour's son has just bought an A3 1.9 from 2008 with 280K Km on the clock , still drives just fine

don't know how long you would want to keep it but one of those 1.9 skoda's

listed at under £5K would be my choice with a manual box , not sure what mileage wrong means though !

[ainarssems]

1.9TDI's are OK engines, but in larger cars like A6 they are a bit underpowered even 130 BHP, you can tune them to around 170 which improves things a bit. For me Audi without quattro is just a Volkswagen and 1.9 quattros is quite rare and you will feel lack of power even more. I have C5 A6 2,5TDI quattro estate for 5 years now, it is tuned to about 220BHP and near 200k miles now and still going strong. Valve train wear is a bit of worry, some fail even before 100k miles but mine is regularly serviced with Quantum oil so it's not that bad. Mines is 2000 year model with old design that suffers more of valvetrain failures but later years get roller rocker arms and are much better.

And will 1.9TDI work out cheaper than running 3.7 on LPG? And then you have to add cost of actual car purchase, road tax, insurance, servicing for the second car.

[1781cc]

Originally Posted by ainarssems

And will 1.9TDI work out cheaper than running 3.7 on LPG? And then you have to add cost of actual car purchase, road tax, insurance, servicing for the second car.

This!

[Ameiseuk]

I'd go down the honda accord or lexus IS route. Have run accords for years as repmobiles without much hassle
Both are capable long distance motors, brick outhouse reliability and the modern versions return good mpg.
I would choose either over vag group product for big mileage motoring.

If you are going down the vag group road i would probably go skoda superb. There's a taxi company in belfast that run them well over 300k

[Turbo Tony]

Personally, I'd go for a Volvo V70/S80 depending on how much space you need.

Not only are they bomb-proof, but they also have a premium feel and the most comfortable seats you'll ever find in a car.