advice needed re commuter car

[montytom]

Hi as above I don't want to keep putting alot of miles on my rover 75 driving to work and back.

 

What would people recommend as a good commuter car. Cheap running etc?

 

Even though I'm a chubby begger I'm really tempted to buy a smart car (I can fit in one).

 

Any other suggestions.

Please note last time I was on the look out for a cheap to run commuter car I ended up buying a rover 800 vitesse.

 

I really need something cheap to run so v8 jags are unfortunately out of the question.

 

Thanks in advance Thomas

[loserone]

KIA PRIDE.

 

What's the commute like? Traffic? Back roads? A couple of hundred miles of motorway?

[montytom]

KIA PRIDE.

 

What's the commute like? Traffic? Back roads? A couple of hundred miles of motorway?

Sorry should have said about 5 miles of twisty country roads and about 60 miles of duel carriageway and motorway.

[sawdustman]

Something with a DW8 or XUD engine? They're good on fuel.

I didn't like driving a Peugeot 206 though. Big let down after driving a 306 for a couple of years

[320touring]

Much as it pains me to say it, my £400 2004 Skoda Fabia has given sterling service for the last 3 months and 6k miles.

 

60+mpg, sprightly enough and also comfortable for long distance/early morning commutes..

 

Not too shabby at all!

 

Info is in me thread:)

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/26322-320tourings-rank-taxi-2-2004-skoda-fabia-tdi-pd/?fromsearch=1

[montytom]

Much as it pains me to say it, my £400 2004 Skoda Fabia has given sterling service for the last 3 months and 6k miles.

60+mpg, sprightly enough and also comfortable for long distance/early morning commutes..

Not too shabby at all!

Info is in me thread:)

http://autoshite.com/topic/26322-320tourings-rank-taxi-2-2004-skoda-fabia-tdi-pd/?fromsearch=1

Thanks I must admit I had a skoda fabia sdi many years ago

[320touring]

Thanks I must admit I had a skoda fabia sdi many years ago

The turbo makes a useful addition over the SDI, but loses the veg munching capabilities..

 

But at 60+mpg it hardly breaks the bank;)

[Tam]

Got to say I was impressed with my little Rover 25 Diesel last weekend!! 650 miles in 12 hours 11 hours of that was driving at motorway speed.

Not the comfiest but I wasn't crippled and 50 mpg. All in all not a bad little car and cheap to buy

[Cavcraft]

Zafira, obvs.

 

*Edit, or a Smart car. Ideally one that used to be yellow, but isn't any more.

[Snipes]

Rover 800 Vitesse

[garethj]

My commute is similar to yours, I'll tell you the last couple of cars that worked for me.

 

Volvo V70 Tdi.  In about 2001 or 2002 they changed to a different engine, mine is the earlier 2.5 used in Audi A6 of the time and it does 50mpg with nothing complicated to go wrong.  Service it every year and it doesn't go wrong, it's also very comfortable with a brilliant stereo and as it's quite a big car you don't get bullied by twats.  The saloon is an even bigger bargain if you don't need the estate car's load space.

 

Skoda Octavia Tdi.  Mine was the pre-PD engine which is a teeny bit less powerful but cheaper to fix.  Huge boot, 60mpg and very reliable, I found the seats a bit uncomfortable but possibly because I'm tall.

 

Both these cars encourage laid back driving which makes for a more relaxing commute.  The Suzuki Baleno GSR is much more involving and just as reliable but as it comes to life when you thrash it you tend to arrive at work 10 minutes earlier, breathing hard and the brakes glowing red hot.

[SiC]

Any early 2000 French hatch. Cheap as chips, cheap parts, every garage knows how to fix them and excellent on fuel+tax+insurance.

 

Pretty sturdy and reliable (small cars is what the French do best). The only issue is finding one at this stage that hasn't be neglected. Usually paying a bit more for an example will get a good one, but this is like saying buying a £900 example over a £400 one.

 

Also the bigger engines do seem to be generally looked after better and usually go pretty well. I think it's because the type of person who scrimp on every penny would be choosing the smallest engines and so those examples tend to be them. Sweet spot between running costs on most of that era are the 1.4 petrols.

[tommotech]

If your looking at the kind of budget that would obtain a Smart then really the world is your lobster.

 

If you really only want two seats then an MX-5 would be a good choice for the twisty bits and has a bigger boot than a Smart. Be careful though as they rust from the inside but your budget should get a decent one.

 

If you want a town car it looks like Toyota iQ is heading down towards your budget. Two seats and enough room in the back for your sandwich box.

 

Alternatively take the shiters option and go big.

[tommotech]

Forgot to mention Citroen C2

[Honey Badger]

Nothing french unless you dont actually want to get to work.

 

Travel to work in style and comfort, it's the economy* 2.0 pez version as well.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-HONDA-ACCORD-COUPE-72-000-MLS-EXTENSIVE-HISTORY-BEAUTIFUL-CONDITION-/252787275776?hash=item3adb4bb800:g:ifMAAOSwr~lYsfIS

 

Honda Civic 2.0 Type S is always worth a recommendation, chain driven pez engine, tough and reliable (unless owned by Capt 70s) with a very good driving position. Good at being thrown round bends but also great on the motorway.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Civic-2-0i-VTEC-Type-S-/272443535476?hash=item3f6ee67074:g:vJAAAOSwXeJYLbcv

[bub2006]

My c2 is a good all round motor. Yesterday it went down to Melton, back across to yardley then back to Ripley. Sat the majority of the way on motorways and bypass at just* the speed limit and the clutch and steering is so good in town traffic too. Split fold tailgate, boot is tiny but the two individual back seats go forward and back and recline individually. I'm averaging around 44 mpg on the computer and yesterday got it up to nigh on 49. Insurance is dirt cheap too

[purplebargeken]

My Mk3 Golf is a good 'un, it was cheap, plenty of spares availability, easy to maintain, comfy for me 'cos fat git. Nice to drive. Classic insurance but with mileage restrictions, although had choice of waiving that.

[SiC]

Nothing french unless you dont actually want to get to work.

 

Rubbish!

[loserone]

If you really only want two seats then an MX-5 would be a good choice for the twisty bits and has a bigger boot than a Smart. 

 

I really enjoyed commuting in my MX5, would do it again without hesitation.

 

Whilst commuting in something relaxing is nice, if your other car is a relaxing drive ("Relax, it's a Rover") then you might be thankful for something a little more engaging.  It depends if you want to sit and listen to the radio, or blast there and back with the window open / roof down.

 

I notice you've now had three cars with Mazda B series engines suggested and nearly everything else has been a diesel.  Seems like two different approaches to pick from.

[burraston2006]

Diseasel C-Max? I've put 25k on mine in 18months now on 160k and no major issues. You can pick them up for peanuts and at the w/e they are big enough to do the tip/shopping run. I usually average mid to high 50 mpg out of mine ( 2.0lt and pulls like a train).

[Eddie Honda]

Sorry, I thought someone said Commutacar

[djimbob]

That's a hell of a commute, if you were talking five miles there and back I'd say avoid dizzlers like the plague, but you'll be fine with that 60 miles on the motorway, should blast all the crap out the exhaust end no bother in true Italian style tune -up  - which is not to say I recommend an Italian built car of course, that's just pushing your luck

 

As a fat lad myself, I like a big, comfy luxobarge, so maybe a Merc diesel would tick many boxes, aside from the usual sensible advice about Oriental reliability?

 

How long is the journey? Sounds like it could be up to two hours, so four hours a day driving is hard on a man's frame in a small car, I would go for something sturdy, with all the toys personally, and take a hit on the fuel costs

 

Basically you can have almost any motor if mpg isn't too high on your agenda

[sierraman]

Depends what you want. I'd say Focus 1.6. Cheap on fuel, parts etc. Does the job. How much are you wanting to spend? If it's £6-700 I'd forget Bmws Audis and mercs, they'll be fucked at that price.

[Guest Breadvan72]

[blatant Plug]

 

Girlie but fun Pug 206 CC convertible?  Not a gas guzzler, OK to drive, top comes down.  Bit dented, but scrubs up reasonably.  Currently up for roffle at six quid, buyable outright for under 400 minus MoT (needs front discs, exhaust blow, two bulbs, wiper blades, advisory rear pads)  may put an MoT on it if looks like selling, in which case wd add some to price.

 

[/blatant Plug]

[DaveDorson]

Astra H diesel like the one what I am selling  

[Longblackcoat]

Cheap to run or cheap to buy?

 

You could get a Merc C220CDI for not too much - a bag will get you a scruff, £1500 gets you something decent. 45mpg, comfy, cruises well. Dull as anything, but for a 60 mile commute it's approximately 2457% better than a Smart car.

[vaughant]

I've just acquired a seat Leon TDI and it does everything perfectly with little fuss, go for an fr derv for MOAR POWUZZZ or just enjoy the 110/130horses,mines returning great mpg, feels tough and is really comfy.

[LC Torana]

If you don't want to put too many miles on your Rover 75, the best answer is

 

a second Rover 75.

 

They're cheap, reliable, comfortable and economical on the open road.

[rantingYoof]

Speak to Supernaut about a very reliable mechanically sound Xantia diesel now with 12 months ticket on it that he is literally on the cusp of probably selling to indulge in luxobarge nonsense.

 

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[richardthestag]

Any early 2000 French hatch. Cheap as chips, cheap parts, every garage knows how to fix them and excellent on fuel+tax+insurance.

 

Pretty sturdy and reliable (small cars is what the French do best). The only issue is finding one at this stage that hasn't be neglected. Usually paying a bit more for an example will get a good one, but this is like saying buying a £900 example over a £400 one.

 

Also the bigger engines do seem to be generally looked after better and usually go pretty well. I think it's because the type of person who scrimp on every penny would be choosing the smallest engines and so those examples tend to be them. Sweet spot between running costs on most of that era are the 1.4 petrols.

 

Like 83C's Pug 307 1.4 pez that Matt Thestag bought for beer money

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/26591-peugeot-307-in-devon-%C2%A3120/

 

Ideal