Motorway cars

[Lacquer Peel]

Get an Octavia 1.9TDI or an Avensis D-4D or whatever they're called. 1,000,000 minicab drivers can't be wrong.

 

Yes a 405 has novelty value and you can enjoy the disappointment that running on vegetable oil doesn't actually work, but a high mileage one of the former will be so much more refined for those miles, more reliable and far better on fuel (and as a 6'3"er I can vouch for the extra legroom of modern cars)

 

GIVE UP AT LIFE and buy an Octavia, really dreary cars.

 

Running on veg oil does work, just because your mate "blew up" a fuel pump running on lard doesn't mean hundreds of thousands of people are wrong.

 

[Richard]

Aye, I'll probably steer clear of luxobarges mainly because at the lower end of the price-range, there are bound to be reliability issues. If my budget was larger, Xantias would be at the top of the list.

 

I'll probably end up going for a Rover or small Volvo. I wouldn't mind a pez engine up to 2.0, as long as the gearing was fairly tall, but a diesel would be preferable (especially on veg).

 

I would have thought a Xantia would offer the best chance of a decent example in your price range.

[HH-R]

Going off my past cars used for long distances, you need something low powered and high revving, like a 1.4 Rover 45 or Fiat Punto/Panda. 40 MPG and Tinnitus FTW!

[RoadworkUK]

Rover 800.

 

Of course.

[UltraWomble]

Citroen ZX 1.9TD - any flavour, but Volcane adds the toys.

 

1.9NAD should not be overlooked either.

[wuvvum]

 

Sorted.

[MrDuke]

Citroen ZX 1.9TD - any flavour, but Volcane adds the toys.

 

1.9NAD should not be overlooked either.

 

I'd be interested to know how ZXs measure up as long-haulers. They do seem to be at rock-bottom value, and I imagine they'd be light enough for decent enough performance from a N/A XUD

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Volvo 940 2.3 auto, never been cheaper to buy, comfy, quiet and reliable. Owned my J reg GLE petrol for 8 years, mainly to convey me, wife and 3 kids between Walsall and Barmouth every month. A 215 mile round trip averaging 33 mpg.

A visit to Bristol and back, mainly motorway, averaged 38 mpg,  Diesels even more frugal

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/volvo/volvo-940-turbo-diesel-saloon/1095227257

 

 

[RobT]

My Rover 220 (currently for sale...) is a good mile muncher, comfortable too. R8s are quite good for interior space considering their size, and gearing means 80 is around 3500rpm.

 

Or a repmobile? 2.0 8v Cavalier will be frugal with very tall gearing, the CD one i had did 90 at a knats over 3000rpm IIRC. Felt pretty stable at speed too. Plus they are still cheap.

[beko1987]

Zx 1.9td. I only do 25 miles of motorway every day, but get 400ish miles to £47.56, with 8 miles of back road too.

 

I'd say don't get a volcane though, mines not as comfy as the old 1.4 aura I had, although the drivers seat lh bolster is broken, suspensions harder too but again its done 200,000 miles almost exactly more than the old one when I sold it!

 

Good for going between 55 and 85 pretty quickly when needed though, and veg happy when warmer than it is now

 

1.9td in xantia flavour may be a tad more comfy, but I've never sat in a xantia. Don't find the zx horrendous though tbh, even though its not a patch on the xm

 

Xm 2.1td? I only got 28-30mpg grannying around at 60 taking a select route with not many corners to avoid the autobox sitting at 3k, hence I had to get rid as 270 miles a week was costing near on £60 without fucking about at the weekene

[Junkman]

From what I've seen, 405s seem to go for more than Xantias

 

That's because they are so much better than Xantias.

[Albert Ross]

Here's an off-the-wall suggestion. Bravo/Marea/Brava TD. Especially the 5 cylinder ones! I know you said no links.. but Cat C, cracked screen, short Test, WCPGW??? http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201411118901263/sort/default/postcode/dn50by/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/page/1/radius/1500/fuel-type/diesel/make/fiat/usedcars/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/quicksearch/true/model/marea_weekend/image-id/b268c51ad940b24132e30585c2469c5f?logcode=p

[vulgalour]

Practical, reliable, affordable, frugal, somewhat comfortable and so boring you'll forget you own it the minute you get out of it.  The Toyota Carina E could be the answer.

 

[Honey Badger]

I can heartily recommend an Accord coupe as a mile muncher, much better ride than a standard accord of the same age, quiet and comfortable but you can chuck them round the twisty stuff as well.

 

There's a 2.0 manual on fleabay at the mo, high mileage but a 2.0 manual F20 is a pretty tough engine that can soak up the miles well.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Accord-2-0i-sr-c-c-1999-ES-SERVICE-HISTORY-FULL-LEATHER-SEATS-HEATED-/171616656698?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27f5265d3a

[Lacquer Peel]

I wonder if there are many Honda Accord 2.0 TDIs left - you can proudly announce that your Honda is fitted with the more reliable Rover engine.

[oman5]

Audi 100. Superlative autobahn cruisers.

[garethj]

I used a Mk1 Octavia Tdi for a long commute and while it was incredibly reliable and did 60mpg it was uncomfortable after a while.  I'm 6'1" and couldn't get quite enough legroom even though the seat had height adjustment and the steering column was adjustable too.

 

Try a long drive before you buy.

[Richard]

I drove LP's Octavia for about 200 miles once and agree with the comment about the seat. It wasn't just a case of being comfortable, my back was aching after that one drive and I think driving it regularly would have given me real problems. I suffer a bit from sciatica and sore hips if I do a lot of driving but this was different. I honestly don't know how taxi drivers manage it.

[Melchior]

Mondeo mk1 /mk2 are like driving a sofa, and in diesel flavour pretty frugal

 

rover 620 diesel

 

Rover 420 diesel

 

What he said, except the 600.  Having been a Rover nut in the past, I did own a 600 diesel for 3 years.  MPG YES but comfy on long journeys, not so much.  Rover L series is FTW and I did briefly own a mk2 ("bubble" if you want) 420 diesel.  It was GSDi flavour and had leather seats, I don't remember it being uncomfortable (although that example was very shite) 

 

The mk1 Mondeo however, BIG COMFY.  Mine was a 1.8 petrol and seemed fairly OK on fuel.  Suppose you'll want a diesel, unsure if that generation of TD motors was much good.  

 

ETA - if you are able: increase effort and $ to find something with cruise control  Makes long motorway trundling more comfy.

[Partridge]

I can suggest what not to buy. VW Pisshat. I drive one to Wales and was in agony when I got out. Worse seats EVVAH.

[dollywobbler]

I remember my dad's boss owning a Mk1 Mondeo diesel. Was neglected for 330,000 miles, at which point the crankshaft broke. It's a decent lump and they are nice motors.

[Craig the Princess]

SAAB 900 convertible like the ex-moog one. The most comfortable seats I've ever sat in. Auto, 35+ mpg on the motorway and the freaking roof comes down.

 

Also HH-R flavoured Rover 420, get a top speed one for leather and cruise control and they cost buttons.

[warninglight]

Another vote for the VAG TDi engined Volvos! 850, S/V70 and some early S80/V70s had it.

 

My old S70 used to religiously get 45mpg, could crack 50 with ease on a 70mph cruise though.

 

Or a similar 10V/20V motor with a decent LPG conversion?

 

I put 20k on this one in 8 months, reckon on a 47mpg average over that. I was practically living out of it too. Great motors.

[Billy SR]

i love my six speed 1.6 corolla on motorways, close ratio gearbox for overtaking, then when you get to sixth it's a 16v mpg friendly warrior 

[RoadworkUK]

Have you bought a Rover 800 yet?

[willswitchengage]

Running on veg oil does work, just because your mate "blew up" a fuel pump running on lard doesn't mean hundreds of thousands of people are wrong.

 

Yeah, that's not what I said. Great riposte

 

As a general theme though here... motorway driving isn't exactly the Stelvio pass anyway, why do we need something exciting? I'd add a requirement of a working HVAC system in a car... something Frenchies have sadly never mastered

[forddeliveryboy]

Buy the best you see for the budget, simple as. And something which appeals to the soul - bills are almost inevitable with anything and it hurts less spending on something you enjoy using.

 

Remember the 'best' car when newer or in good condition is the worst choice when bodged and abused. The old Audi 100/A6 is very good but they're so old now. Watch out for expensive breathers on late 90s V70s with the 5 pot Audi enigne, as well as knackered (and awkward to do) rear suspension bushings after years of reliable towing.

[Richard]

That's a good point. I reckon it's cheaper to buy and fit a towbar than to sort out the back suspension on a car that already has one.

[MrDuke]

Here's an off-the-wall suggestion. Bravo/Marea/Brava TD. Especially the 5 cylinder ones! I know you said no links.. but Cat C, cracked screen, short Test, WCPGW??? http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201411118901263/sort/default/postcode/dn50by/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/page/1/radius/1500/fuel-type/diesel/make/fiat/usedcars/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/quicksearch/true/model/marea_weekend/image-id/b268c51ad940b24132e30585c2469c5f?logcode=p

 

That's the kind of leftfield suggestion I was hoping for........ although maybe not that actual suggestion   The one '90s Fiat that I've owned (Brava 1.4) was great fun to drive and fairly frugal - right up until it ate its own camshaft.

[lisbon_road]

I recently sold a Mk3 Astra with the 16V 1.6 engine and auto box.  Gave a real 45 mpg on a run if I kept it steady.  GLS spec gave seriously comfy seats.  I gave various non car people lifts in it who said it was comfy.

 

They're real oil burners though.

 

I personally do a lot of motorway miles in a 1.4 manual Astra and average over 50 mpg.  But that's eccentric and probably not what you are looking for.