Recommend a hardy work horse car for high mileage.

kob29

I have a 5year old corolla with 220,000km on it and it's really starting to cost me money now with wear and tear things going in it. Im broke from putting brake pads on it, followed by discs, general servicing, shocks not to mention the black hole that is the diesel tank. I commute a long distance for work for the mileage is unavoidable. I also need decent space in it for equipment.

It's getting to the stage where Im working to fix the bloody car.

On the basis of the advice I got buying it and the research I did Toyota were the recommended brand.

At this stage Im wondering if there's a better brand for high mileage/ wear and tear requirements the next time around.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to make it cheaper in the meantime Id love to hear them, it's costing me so much now I can't even put a few quid aside towards the next time Im changing it.

bazz26

Most of the stuff you mention there are wear and tear items, you will be replacing them on your next car too. Imo this is down to the use you are giving the car rather than the car itself.

Also how long you get out of things like pads, discs and a tank of diesel can also depend on the driver. May be it worth experimenting on changing your driving style and see if there are any improvements. Another thing to look at is the quality of the parts such as pads/discs etc that are being fitted. Cheaper parts may get consumed alot quicker than better quality parts.

Green Hornet

Well I've an Accord Cdti and I cover 30k miles per year. Solid and reliable if a bit unspectacular. Thought about changing for a Lexus IS220d a couple of months ago and was very disappointed with it. Required far more gear changes and drank juice too. Opened my eyes a bit on the Accord. It mightn't set pulses racing or anything but its a real reliable workhorse.

kob29

It's always been Toyota parts gone into it. Im beginning to wonder too if I may as well be putting the cheaper parts into it altogether. I'd consider I drive fairly handy. I have a motorway to work and back which is free moving. I've calculated that between home and work I brake 5 times in 40miles. I don't think its exceptionally hard on diesel. But it's getting brake dics at least every 18months, pads 9months, rear shocks last summer, front ones gone now, 3-4oil changes a year.
Im just looking at people around me and how little they see a mechanic.

ford2600

Brakes are al about your driving style..
Got rid of vw passat in January with 290k miles on her, only ever put two sets of pads on her since I bought it with 50k on her. Never replaced the discs. Half worn when I moved it on.

If your heavy on brakes your heavier than you need to be on diesel

kob29 wrote: »

It's always been Toyota parts gone into it. Im beginning to wonder too if I may as well be putting the cheaper parts into it altogether. I'd consider I drive fairly handy. I have a motorway to work and back which is free moving. I've calculated that between home and work I brake 5 times in 40miles. I don't think its exceptionally hard on diesel. But it's getting brake dics at least every 18months, pads 9months, rear shocks last summer, front ones gone now, 3-4oil changes a year.
Im just looking at people around me and how little they see a mechanic.

newmug

Sell that Corolla, get yourself an early 90's golf or jetta, no more than E500. You will never look back.

BrianD3

ford2600 wrote: »

Brakes are al about your driving style..
Got rid of vw passat in January with 290k miles on her, only ever put two sets of pads on her since I bought it with 50k on her. Never replaced the discs. Half worn when I moved it on.

If your heavy on brakes your heavier than you need to be on diesel

He brakes 5 times in 40 miles. Even in the unlikely event that each braking is a hard stop from high speed his brake pads should be lasting longer than 9 months.

There may be a problem with sticking calipers, this would also affect fuel economy. Or else he may be being being ripped off by a garage who is telling him to replace his brakes when they are nowhere near needing replacement

dgt

Frankie Lee

kob29 wrote: »

It's always been Toyota parts gone into it. Im beginning to wonder too if I may as well be putting the cheaper parts into it altogether. I'd consider I drive fairly handy. I have a motorway to work and back which is free moving. I've calculated that between home and work I brake 5 times in 40miles. I don't think its exceptionally hard on diesel. But it's getting brake dics at least every 18months, pads 9months, rear shocks last summer, front ones gone now, 3-4oil changes a year.
Im just looking at people around me and how little they see a mechanic.

Buying service items out of a main dealer is a rip off in itself. Service items such as pads and filters are usually around half price spurious and as long as you are using decent brands there are no real difference in quality.

Do you see the old discs and shocks every time your mechanic changes them?

Overall I think you will strugge to find a more suitable car for your needs then the 1.4d4d corolla unless you decide to replace it with a car with far lower mileage.

Pottler

kob29 wrote: »

It's always been Toyota parts gone into it. Im beginning to wonder too if I may as well be putting the cheaper parts into it altogether. I'd consider I drive fairly handy. I have a motorway to work and back which is free moving. I've calculated that between home and work I brake 5 times in 40miles. I don't think its exceptionally hard on diesel. But it's getting brake dics at least every 18months, pads 9months, rear shocks last summer, front ones gone now, 3-4oil changes a year.
Im just looking at people around me and how little they see a mechanic.

So, no exceptional expenses whatsoever - thats good going for any car. Buy somthing else, ideally buy a Peugeot, come back in 12 months time, start a new thread about how you never knew how good you had it nor how cheap to run your old car was. Stay going in what you're in is my advice. None of the above is anything except wear and tear and the pads probably never got changed anyway, despite you getting a bill for them.:) Shocks are once off, probably see the car out now they are done.

kob29

Thanks for the replies so far.

Tell me more about these calipers. Maybe I should retrain as a mechanic, that might be cheaper at this stage.

Also can I request that a main dealer use spurious parts instead of branded?

MuppetCheck

Your car has 220k km on it - things wear out. If you buy another car you will periodically be required to spend similar money on maintenance. So the best way of saving money would be to find a cheaper alternative for servicing. An independent over a main dealer would be the way to go.

dev100

kob29 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies so far.

Tell me more about these calipers. Maybe I should retrain as a mechanic, that might be cheaper at this stage.

Also can I request that a main dealer use spurious parts instead of branded?

They're probably doing that anyway:)

sean1141

learn how to change the oil and filters yourself. if you are paying a main dealer to do them 3-4 times a year you will save a good few quid.

Imo you are mad to be going to a main dealer with a 5year old car with bigish miles on the clock. a good indy garage will charge roughly half the labour costs.

On the brake pads/disks.. either you are vrey hard on them, you have sticking calipers or the dealer is making a laugh out of you. You should get 80000km at least out of a set of front pads. usually 3 times as long out of disks

E39MSport

+1 for dgt and the 406.

Read some recent coments on the chat thread about them.

My recent purchase is giving insane mpg and the engine is a peach.

mickdw

As soon as you mentioned main dealer, all became clear.
Get to a good local garage. Prices will be better and I guarantee you won't need as much brake discs and pads.
I don't see a cheaper option for doing those kind of miles than current car unless you go for an older corolla maybe. You have had no issues that are not wear and tear.