Best car for cheap high mileage commute

[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

[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.

[YorkshireBloke]

Hi,

Thanks for all your posts, especially re running my A8.

Some days I will be running the Audi anyway but usually I will be parking in an "alternative" location and push-biking into the office on my folding bike (yes, I have a caravan AND a bloody push-bike!).

I also just don't want to worry and I don't fancy pushing the mileage. I bought a car with 176,000 miles planning to run the A8 "for best" and to tour Europe. My plan is to do 6,000 mile a year for 8 years, not 24,000 for 2...

What is brilliant is the honest, REAL experience of you all and I am looking at the cars suggested already, i.e. Honda Accord and 1.9 VAG products.

Any more comments gratefully received!

Robert

[ainarssems]

Just looked at some cars on autotrader to kill the time. Couple LPG cars that caught my eye

Mazda 6,cheap, low mileage,11 months MOT, does not say much else, only 1 picture, might be worth a look if not too far: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...code=p&adPos=3

Jag, should be comfy ride, long MOT, not sure about reliability on these, http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...code=p&adPos=3

A4 if you want to stay with Audi, cambelt and clutch recently done, says will include fresh MOT and aircon regas at asking price, http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...code=p&adPos=5

Subaru Legacy, no MOT, has it's issues but could be cheap buy for 2007 car if you can sort it cheaply and I always liked Legacy but never owned one. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...code=p&adPos=1

[mannyo]

Volvo S60

I've got one that I use as a commuter and long distance car, got it for peanuts.

2003 2.4 D5 Diesel, got it on 163K miles in March. She currently sits on 167K miles having completed a big run in Northern France.

The seats are fantastic and very comfortable, dare I say more so than the A8, its mechanically quiet simple and has no DPF to worry about and with 163BHP is pretty nippy and manages 60MPG with the manual gearbox. The later 2.4 D5 has more power but its all lost because it has a DPF to worry about, the car to have is around 2004 with the black top D5 engine as it has no DPF.

If you have Bose in the A8 then get the SE variant of the S60 as you get the upgraded sound system with Dolby Surround, Sub Woofers etc. just like the D3. You can get so much distortion free bass in the S60 that the interior and external mirrors vibrate and you can feel it in your body.

[Delboy]

How about a motorcycle?

[roberto]

Originally Posted by ainarssems

Just looked at some cars on autotrader to kill the time. Couple LPG cars that caught my eye

Mazda 6,cheap, low mileage,11 months MOT, does not say much else, only 1 picture, might be worth a look if not too far: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...code=p&adPos=3

Jag, should be comfy ride, long MOT, not sure about reliability on these, http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...code=p&adPos=3

A4 if you want to stay with Audi, cambelt and clutch recently done, says will include fresh MOT and aircon regas at asking price, http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...code=p&adPos=5

Subaru Legacy, no MOT, has it's issues but could be cheap buy for 2007 car if you can sort it cheaply and I always liked Legacy but never owned one. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...code=p&adPos=1

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well thats 4 cars for the breakers yard then

[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.