Motorway cars

[MrDuke]

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.

 

No, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for - I couldn't give a toss how old/ugly/small/rusty/crap it is, as long as it fits my criteria. If it's comfy for lanky gits, has 'proper' suspension, and returns decent MPG, I'd like to know about it.

[RichL]

Another vote for the Volvo S80. The only reason I don't own one is because I don't need a motorway car.

 

2.4 petrol 140 brake manual for proper shite points. 2.4 170 auto better. Or be brave and go D5...

 

EDIT: These are a properly strong Volvo so should stand up well to any impact.

[lisbon_road]

Well OK then.  A Mk3 Astra is dirt cheap, and in C14SE form, that's the multipoint engine, very reliable and economical.  As long as it has the wide ratio gearbox, it will cruise comfortably.  GLS seats are best and most comfortable.  Various versions of Cavalier are also probably good though if on your own, you don't really need any more space.  The 16 valve versions are inclined to oil guzzling but if you get one that doesn't fill the car park with blue smoke on start up, you're probably ok.

 

All ok as long as you don't push it.  If you try and cruise at a high speed, I'd buy something else.  Suspension?  Not brilliant on corners, in a straight line, just (as the chinese say) 'ordinary living standard'.

 

They were never famous for handling.

[AnthonyG]

Volvo's are designed for this sort of thing.

 

Rover 75's are also very comfortable, but may not be as simple to own and run as a Volvo, they have a lot of quirks as many on here can tell you. But if you get a good one they are a lovely car.

 

Saabs also have very good seats, how about a 9-5 or 1990s 900 shape 9-3?

[garethj]

We had an S80 a few years ago as family car, it had 100,000 on the clock and didn't feel as together as the 740 I had at the same time with 170,000 on it.  The 740 was also more economical on a motorway run and more comfortable for me as a tall driver, but finding a good 740 now could be a problem.

 

We had to get rid of the S80 after several visits to a specialist to fix the engine management light, none of which worked.  The throttle body is a weak point on the 2.4 petrol engine, the replacement is expensive and a spare has to be a new part, coded to the ECU by dedicated software.  I've thankfully wiped from my memory all the other parts that were replaced so can't help you much more.

 

It was comfortable, quiet, a relaxing drive and speedy enough (I think we had the 170bhp version) but it cost as much to unsuccessfully repair every year as buying 2 740s.

 

I'd be very tempted by an 8V Cavalier or even that engine in a Calibra.  Are they comfortable, because I bet its garage bills would be a quarter of something newer.

[warninglight]

Grilfriend picked this up last night, one owner, 150k and totally immaculate, it's a very early ph2 so still has the VAG 5 pot TDI motor mentioned before in this thread, but with the ergonomics and armchairs of the phase 2 cars. It's manual as well, and has never ever towed. Excellent service history and a fresh test, all for £1100. Can't really go wrong! And it did 650 miles on the last tank, at 49mpg.

 

 

[John F]

Another vote for the Mk 3 Cav, in whatever engine flavour you like.

[oldcars]

My vote goes to a Kia Shuma. About 34mpg but dirt cheap to buy and very comfy indeed. I did Edinburgh - Birmingham return in a day and felt fine after it.

Tax is a bit high but other than that all is good.

[UltraWomble]

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

They are. Ive had a couple and if Im honest I dont really find the TD that much faster, sure its a little more speedy off the mark but not so much as you would be bothered. Well I wouldnt anyway.

They rust, inner wings and suspension turrets seem a favorite spot. Other than that I like them a lot, so much so I bought a Xsara Picasso.

[nacho man]

A nice very early vectra, my uncle had a cdx 2.0 16v with fake wood and all sorts was a lovely cruiser and was good on juice, worth peanuts now. I reckon 1.6 focus's's's's have a silly tall top gear which makes them quite a nice cruiser, also cheap.

[forddeliveryboy]

Perfect motorway car with plenty of leg room and space for a conference or orgy. Ride will be way better than any Xantia with that wheelbase and Cit hydraulics for the back axle, plus you can fill up at the back of hotels and restaurants.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-250-D-LWB-AUTO-SILVER-LIMOUSINE-6-DOORS-7-SEATER-LIMO-DIESEL-IMMACULATE-/151597101064?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item234be43008

 

[beko1987]

They are. Ive had a couple and if Im honest I dont really find the TD that much faster, sure its a little more speedy off the mark but not so much as you would be bothered. Well I wouldnt anyway.

They rust, inner wings and suspension turrets seem a favorite spot. Other than that I like them a lot, so much so I bought a Xsara Picasso.

Mines been a wonderful motorway car so far! Will sit at 80 at just over 3k rom all day, and goes from 60 to 90 fairly rapidly so will get you out of bother.

 

Frugal too, I put £20 in Friday morning to see me through until Thursday pay day, done 198 miles so far at about 70 average (don't want to take the pics this close to payday), and the light will probably come on tomorrow night, and I'll brim it up on Thursday morning at Asda.

 

Luckily mines not rusty (that I can tell). The bashed up wing helps deter idiots trying to sneak across the lanes too, might keep that...

[inconsistant]

I'm gonna say Mini.

Our 2004 Mini was lovely on the motorway, it was my wife's company car and she used to do about 18000 mostly motorway and town centre miles a year. She always felt safe solid and secure in it. Ours was the base 1.6 engine so it wasn't too sharp off the lights, but there aren't any on motorways. Felt like a much bigger car and was very stable and sure footed. Honestly.

Was also good fun when not on the motorway. Driven nicely we used to easily get 45mpg. Lots of legroom, ( as long as theres no one sat behind you) I'm 6ft. Comfy seats, we took it on hols to Scotland, S of France, Switzerland with no signs of achy backs, and I'm succeptable to that sort of thing.

[inconsistant]

Or get Tetleysmooth's barg. v40

[Lacquer Peel]

Are there many cars made in the past 30 years that aren't a good on motorways apart from microcars with cement mixer engines? It's one of the least challenging environments for a car.

 

Heron Austin Seven would be my choice.

[Pete-M]

E320 CDI Mercedes. Obviously.

[richardmorris]

Perfect motorway car with plenty of leg room and space for a conference or orgy. Ride will be way better than any Xantia with that wheelbase and Cit hydraulics for the back axle, plus you can fill up at the back of hotels and restaurants.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-250-D-LWB-AUTO-SILVER-LIMOUSINE-6-DOORS-7-SEATER-LIMO-DIESEL-IMMACULATE-/151597101064?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item234be43008

 

 

 

Who needs a people carrier when this is so cheap?

[richardmorris]

I got the merc mainly as a long distance cruiser. Long wheelbase and soft suspension.

 

Having said that, I drove my parents Citroen c3 to the Lake District and back last weekend and that was great on the motorway, and averaged 61.4 mpg too. ( 1.4 hdi)

[New POD]

Another vote for the Mk 3 Cav, in whatever engine flavour you like.

 

 

The 1.8 Carbed Petrol was a bit heavy on juice at mac 3 if I remember correctly.