What car to do 50k miles a year in?
 

This could be a dillema I am faced with soon. Although I would look to move nearer to my workplace, this is a possible alternative.

These are the options

1. Buy a brand new car, an Audi isn't as appealing due to their 60k mileage cap on their warranties. A BMW is a possibility, great engines and cars with an unlimited mileage warranty, but I don't want to be trapped 100 miles from home when the bad weather comes down, snow tyres?
2. Buy a D3 TDI A8, replace it every year, so not too be lumbered with a too high a mileage car that will be hard to shift in the future, and possibly less reliable.
3. Buy a B5 RS4 weekend toy and get the train

What would you buy if you HAD to drive?

- Fuel economy
- Reliability
- Comfort
- Fairly decent poke

Would you buy old/new or lease? Let me know your thoughts.

2. But I would not replace it every year. At that kind of mileage I imagine it would be mostly motorway miles. Just keep it well cared for/serviced and I don't see why it should not last 4 years 200k miles.

Depends on the job...

Train could be handy for catching up with paperwork, etc. so you don't have much 'down' time in your day, especially if you're commuting that kind of distance.

This was my immediate thought too. You'll lose way more chopping and changing, than you would just keeping one car right.

However, you're a lot like me, and get itchy feet, so not sure how it'll go down in practise +++

For the same reason, I wouldnt lease as you can get tied in and not able to change (although great for self dicipline if you're confident you're going to stay in the job)

Buying new is almost always a costly option, and you get way less for your money, so 2nd hand is always the way for me.

If you want to save money, and be at work on time, dont get the train (!!)

'poke' is almost always offset by Fuel economy (or rather cost per mile), so unless you're going to reverse your hatred of LPG, you're going to have to settle for one or the other. My D3 isnt slow, but its nothing like you're used to !! - The 4.2 Tdi is more brisk, but the MPG is noticibly lower.

Paperwork won't be a problem, but that is an intresting point you make Richard.

What Ainerseems says is what I would sway towards. This however leads to another question. Do I buy a £5k D3 TDI and even if I get £2k back for it after 200/250k, then it would have paid for itself, or do I spend £15k on a newer one with fewer miles in the hope it will need less and break less?

Although you can get a D3 tdi for 5K, it will be a tired high mile example I imagine.

I think given its important, ie you *need* to get to work, and have little time for faffing around, you would probably find something a bit newer more reliable. I would worry too much about the mileage - but something only 4 or 5 years old max is going to last you well.

The specs on the D3 get better as they get older too. An early 3.0Tdi will be quite poverty specced....

What kind of miles will you be doing? All motorway?

Might even be worth looking at a well-specced 'city car' with a silly little diesel engine that'll give a million miles to the gallon and be OK to live in.

A Corsa :)

..... and I was expecting you to recommend a boxster.... ;)

Not sure poke is such an issue on a commuter.
I'd go for MPG, Comfort/quietness and Safety.

One of those long legged A4 diesels or similar from the vast VAG range. Or, like you said Beemers.

I too don't buy new, and if you can avoid finance in whatever guise they dress it up, you'll not have the banks cut eating your hard earned cash.

Keep something fun for the weekends... Like an S6 Plus perhaps :D