Car for 500km+ per week commute

Benny_Cake

Hi folks,moved house and jobs in the last year and I'm doing a roughly 100km per day round trip commute,most of it by motorway.Needless to say my first car (10 year old Renault Clio) is not quite up to this,so I'm looking at getting something a little more fuel efficient and comfortable on longer drives.I have a budget of roughly 10k,I'd be looking for a diesel.Been thinking about a Skoda Octavia,or maybe a Ford Focus or Mondeo - does anyone have any recommendations?Thanks!

argosy2006

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/201036199428067/advert?channel=CARS
merc diesel auto

Hal1

The Merc looks good, comfortable on those commutes.

keithclancy

Benny_Cake wrote: »

Hi folks,moved house and jobs in the last year and I'm doing a roughly 100km per day round trip commute,most of it by motorway.Needless to say my first car (10 year old Renault Clio) is not quite up to this,so I'm looking at getting something a little more fuel efficient and comfortable on longer drives.I have a budget of roughly 10k,I'd be looking for a diesel.Been thinking about a Skoda Octavia,or maybe a Ford Focus or Mondeo - does anyone have any recommendations?Thanks!

Just be prepared for the increased running costs of the Merc.
Expensive bits to replace if something goes wrong.

Depends what you want, if you want comfort, get the Merc, if you want to be frugal get something Japanese, Toyota/Honda. Stay away from VAG (Skoda/Seat/VW/Audi) as they will break your heart with suspension issues.

50MPG in the E220 is a bit optimistic, more like 40-45mpg with Normal Driving, its a bloody heavy car, dead comfy though.

bazz26

I'd go for something like this:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201035199368898

Swedish cars have very comfortable seats and that 1.9 Fiat diesel unit is a good engine.

Seweryn

keithclancy wrote: »

Just be prepared for the increased running costs of the Merc.
Expensive bits to replace if something goes wrong.

50MPG in the E220 is a bit optimistic, more like 40-45mpg with Normal Driving, its a bloody heavy car, dead comfy though.

For the type of driving that Benny does, 50 mpg in the Benz is not a problem. Below that would be pessimistic really. Parts for the Benz are not more expensive that any other brand.

R.O.R

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd go for something like this:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201035199368898

Swedish cars have very comfortable seats and that 1.9 Fiat diesel unit is a good engine.

Is it just me, or is there no mileage mentioned in the ad?

If the mileage is half reasonable then that looks like a lot of car for the money, but I'm guessing mileage will be erring on the side of galactic,

johnos1984

While the Merc is a nice option I don't feel it will be what the OP wants.

Going from a Clio to something the size of the Merc would be fairly daunting for a driver without experience of such.

Also the OP mentions he wants something the size of a Focus/Octavia.

While also on the large side how about this Op

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Skoda/Superb/2.0-tdi-/200916192481404/advert?channel=CARS

bladespin

Whatever you decide on, make sure it has a 6 speed box, been driving a 5 speed Corolla for the past week (loaner) and it's driving me mad on the motorway, talk about a buzzbox.

My personal preference would be a Mondeo, cheap to run and keep and solid, looking at the classifieds there's lots with well over 170k on them, a fair sign that they last well.

I had an Alfa 156 JTDM and found it brilliant (the diesel doesn't have the petrol's problems but shares the depreciation a second hand bargain) at devouring the miles, returned over 50mpg and was utterly reliable. They're hard to find though and there's lots of knockers out there (that haven't ever drriven one lol).

Benny_Cake

Cheers for the feedback guys-the Merc looks very tempting,but I'd like to keep it 2.0 litre or below,what with the motor tax and I only have 3 years no-claims so insurance is still costing me a fair bit.I've been told high mileage is nothing to worry about with Mondeo diesels as they last forever (as bladespin says). I've also seen a few Volvo S40s in my price range-any thoughts. Thanks again for all the feedback.

JJJJNR

You would be crazy to put out 10k on a car you are going to be using for just a commute, I'd advise dropping that to 5k, keep the rest for a spare set of wheels for winter tires, more regular servicing, repair money, and better insurance cover.

Get something that has already done high mileage with a FSH and receipts for any recent work done.

Good example

I'd look at 5000 as it seems to have a lot of work done so would stand you well.

Benny_Cake

It wouldn't be just for commuting,I do a fair bit of weekend driving too and I'd need it for general day to day use,as well as heading down the country to visit family,weekends away and the rest of it.The main reason I've kept the Clio for so long is it was my first car,I owe nothing on it,and while I lived in Dublin it was cheap to run.Fair point about the extra costs involved though - if I could find something decent under 10k all the better!

Benny_Cake

Just wondering how much mileage would be too much on a diesel Octavia / Mondeo / Passat? Probably a stupid question,a lot of the ads I've seen are well over 100k - I'd like get somethin under that if possible. NCT on the clio is coming up in a week and had to get a new regulator on the passenger window this morning so its given me the kick up the backside I need to get looking at some cars!

PaulKK

keithclancy wrote: »

Just be prepared for the increased running costs of the Merc.
Expensive bits to replace if something goes wrong.

Depends what you want, if you want comfort, get the Merc, if you want to be frugal get something Japanese, Toyota/Honda. Stay away from VAG (Skoda/Seat/VW/Audi) as they will break your heart with suspension issues.
.

Sorry have to disagree there. There is a lot of assumptions that certain makes are more expensive than others. Yes, if you go to the main dealers it is. But if you buy OEM parts online and get a trusted mechanic to fit them then they are no more to maintain than anything else.

Disagree on your VAG point. Apart from a B6 passat we have had no trouble with VAG, (3 VW and 1 Audi) and no suspension issues either.

And in general, the Japs can't touch the Germans for diesels, which is what the OP needs.

OP I suggest a 320d:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1575236
or
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1549498

sk8board

you should easily be able to find somehting within that budget; Focus II would get my vote

however, 500km is as much as you think; its 25km or 15k miles per year

thats about a 30mile each way commute,and if its by motorway, then its probably not taking that long timewise; my point being I wouldn't got for a luxo barge like the e-class for a 30miles trip ...

Odelay

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd go for something like this:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201035199368898

Swedish cars have very comfortable seats and that 1.9 Fiat diesel unit is a good engine.

I see the problem there, it's in the long list of extras, inbetween half heather seats and electric windows "Repair history available", not saying anything worng with that, if it's correctly repaired. Certainly has me thinking!

Odelay

JJJJNR wrote: »

You would be crazy to put out 10k on a car you are going to be using for just a commute, I'd advise dropping that to 5k, keep the rest for a spare set of wheels for winter tires, more regular servicing, repair money, and better insurance cover.

Get something that has already done high mileage with a FSH and receipts for any recent work done.

Good example

I'd look at 5000 as it seems to have a lot of work done so would stand you well.

This is good, not flashy but if clocking decent miles it will serve and the important bits done "new flywheel and clutch", don't worry about mileage, look for well maintained

missfemale

tdi diesel audi a4 or maybe a tdi passat/bora

EPM

Odelay wrote: »

I see the problem there, it's in the long list of extras, inbetween half heather seats and electric windows "Repair history available", not saying anything worng with that, if it's correctly repaired. Certainly has me thinking!

It's just another way of saying service history available.