Need a Car for motorway

kona

I need a car for 9 months for commuting on the motorway from Dublin to Limerick once a week.

I want something nice and cheap, thats cheap to run and I can sell at the end at not much of a loss. It also has to be reliable, I already have one car that isnt reliable so need this to work and not give me crap.

Cars Ive Considered:

Alfa 156 1.6 / 1.8
Alfa 147 1.6/ 2.0 Triptronic
Fiat Punto
Citroen Saxo VTS/VTR
Peugeot 106 GTI
Renault Clio
Honda Civic.

Id be happy with mid 30s -40 MPG on the motorway, and I have a very heavy right foot.


Im not too sure on a Diesel as

1) I despise them
2) Dont think Ill get my value out of one.
3) See number 1.

Ive Budgeted around 2k.

Oral Surgeon

kona wrote: »

I need a car for 9 months for commuting on the motorway from Dublin to Limerick once a week.

I want something nice and cheap, thats cheap to run and I can sell at the end at not much of a loss. It also has to be reliable, I already have one car that isnt reliable so need this to work and not give me crap.

Cars Ive Considered:

Alfa 156 1.6 / 1.8
Alfa 147 1.6/ 2.0 Triptronic
Fiat Punto
Citroen Saxo VTS/VTR
Peugeot 106 GTI
Renault Clio
Honda Civic.

Id be happy with mid 30s -40 MPG on the motorway, and I have a very heavy right foot.


Im not too sure on a Diesel as

1) I despise them
2) Dont think Ill get my value out of one.
3) See number 1.

Ive Budgeted around 2k.

Not much to work with there;
Have you considered the bus,
36 weeks €20 round trip is €720

You'd pay more in petrol/ diesel and then have depreciation, insurance, tax, tolls, parking, nct......

And you can avoid buying and selling the car...

Can't believe that I'm saying this...!!!

kona

Oral Surgeon wrote: »

Not much to work with there;
Have you considered the bus,
36 weeks €20 round trip is €720

You'd pay more in petrol/ diesel and then have depreciation, insurance, tax, tolls, parking, nct......

And you can avoid buying and selling the car...

Can't believe that I'm saying this...!!!

Yea but Bus means being around the public and being at the mercy of them during winter. Feck that Stop being sensible!

and its a turf burner

CiniO

What about this

That would make your heavy right foot happy

kona

CiniO wrote: »

What about this

That would make your heavy right foot happy

Id fall under timewaster with that one, budget is around 2k! , but Id love it!

EPM

For motorway work I wouldn't discount diesel. They will be quicker than the equivalent petrol in the mid range. Also will give the mpg you want. Low capacity petrols at motorway speeds loose their economy meaning that often bigger engines are more economical.

kona

EPM wrote: »

For motorway work I wouldn't discount diesel. They will be quicker than the equivalent petrol in the mid range. Also will give the mpg you want. Low capacity petrols at motorway speeds loose their economy meaning that often bigger engines are more economical.

But in my price range diesels are going to be pre 2008 so that means that ill be shafted on the tax for a 2L.
Id consider one for the right price, but alot have starship mileage, are expensive to maintain and are just nasty and overpriced IMO.

Id rather fork out for 2L petrol tax than diesel tax. How much MPG difference in general would you expect between petrol and diesel?

Dilbert75

I've a 156 1.8 Sportwagen and on long runs I get 36-38mpg without holding back too much. You'd easily get one of those for 2k.

EPM

kona wrote: »

But in my price range diesels are going to be pre 2008 so that means that ill be shafted on the tax for a 2L.
Id consider one for the right price, but alot have starship mileage, are expensive to maintain and are just nasty and overpriced IMO.

Id rather fork out for 2L petrol tax than diesel tax. How much MPG difference in general would you expect between petrol and diesel?

The mch derided VAG 1.9 can be found in serviceable condition in your price range, especially if you have time to wait for a good one. Loads of cars use it and expect 40+ from a good one.

166man

As above ^^^

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2563873

kona

Dilbert75 wrote: »

I've a 156 1.8 Sportwagen and on long runs I get 36-38mpg without holding back too much. You'd easily get one of those for 2k.

In general what mainetenace to you need to do? Are they a disaster or would they need a few quid every few months, I can do everything myself so dont need to bother with labour charges.