What car for 130km commute

mick4_2000

OK here is the story. For the last 5 years i have been driving a 2003 BMW 318ci coupe.

For the last year i travel about 65km each way along the N21 to work. I do like my cars but the petrol is killing me so i think it is time for a change. Any suggestions of what to go for? Give it 2 to 3 grand with my own car.

I have been thinking about usual Passat, Octavia etc.
What could i expect to get for my own car.

I also can take a work van 1 or 2 weeks out of every month but i cant count on it. But that is saving me at the moment.

Would like something over 140bhp

Idbatterim

320cd?

Ded_Zebra

how about this?

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3592223

IrishZeus

<edit> Posted to wrong thread.

Ded_Zebra

IrishZeus wrote: »

More info there please...

Whats the budget?
Saloon vs hatchback?
Any personal tastes?

Read the op :rolleyes:

The budget is 2 - 3 grand plus the BMW.

As he mentions that he is considering a Passat or a Octavia......

Capt'n Midnight

How about an electric car ?

If you have a charging point at work work out the costs

mick4_2000

I have had a 2 door car for the past 10 years and its beginning to annoy me. Mostly because people cant seen to get in and out of the back without pulling or dragging something.

Also i have it in my head I wont buy a French car. I know people swear by them but most people I know have had issues at one point or another with electrics and general issues mecanics can never get to the bottom of.

I have looked at electric but I'd still like to drive to Dublin etc. The range is not what it needs to be yet.

Katunga

Audi A4 1.9 tdi 130 bhp. much better than a Passat

the culture of deference

mick4_2000 wrote: »

I have had a 2 door car for the past 10 years and its beginning to annoy me. Mostly because people cant seen to get in and out of the back without pulling or dragging something.

Also i have it in my head I wont buy a French car. I know people swear by them but most people I know have had issues at one point or another with electrics and general issues mecanics can never get to the bottom of.

I have looked at electric but I'd still like to drive to Dublin etc. The range is not what it needs to be yet.

I have 2 french cars, both bought new (one now 10 years old), 1 puncture and a few bulbs and thats it. go for a 1.4 diesel, they will do 120km per gallon driven right

GavMan

Katunga wrote: »

Audi A4 1.9 tdi 130 bhp. much better than a Passat

err

In what sense? Pretty much the same car

Katunga

GavMan wrote: »

err

In what sense? Pretty much the same car

Look better. Same age Passat is on the older A4 platform.

Capt'n Midnight

mick4_2000 wrote: »

I have looked at electric but I'd still like to drive to Dublin etc. The range is not what it needs to be yet.

Take a few minutes to have a read of this, commuting 110km each way from Laois/Kilkenny/Tipperary border to Dublin daily.

https://selfficiency.wordpress.com/automotive/nissan-leaf-diary


map of charging points - admittedly much better on the M1 / M7 / N11 routes
http://www.esb.ie/electric-cars/electric-car-charging/electric-car-charge-point-map.jsp

Idbatterim

just read that blog there, the fall off in range in cold weather is fairly substantial...

mick4_2000

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Take a few minutes to have a read of this, commuting 110km each way from Laois/Kilkenny/Tipperary border to Dublin daily.

https://selfficiency.wordpress.com/automotive/nissan-leaf-diary


map of charging points - admittedly much better on the M1 / M7 / N11 routes
http://www.esb.ie/electric-cars/electric-car-charging/electric-car-charge-point-map.jsp

I was getting interested but if you take a look at the map of charge points. I travel from outside Abbeyfeale to Limerick not one en-route yet.
I must have a chat with work as they were talking about putting in charge points earlier this year.

the culture of deference

LIGHTNING wrote: »

What electric car are you going to get for 2/3 grand plus a 2003 BMW 318 series?

Capt'n Midnight

LIGHTNING wrote: »

What electric car are you going to get for 2/3 grand plus a 2003 BMW 318 series?

Diesel is €1.60 a litre,
you can get a full charge of an electric car for that.

130Km x 250 days = 32,500Km depending on your mpg that's going to add up

Katunga

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Diesel is €1.60 a litre,
you can get a full charge of an electric car for that.

130Km x 250 days = 32,500Km depending on your mpg that's going to add up

electric have one major problem batteries only last 4 years max five with little use and fully charging it every time you charge.

boz13

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Take a few minutes to have a read of this, commuting 110km each way from Laois/Kilkenny/Tipperary border to Dublin daily.

https://selfficiency.wordpress.com/automotive/nissan-leaf-diary


map of charging points - admittedly much better on the M1 / M7 / N11 routes
http://www.esb.ie/electric-cars/electric-car-charging/electric-car-charge-point-map.jsp

just read quite a bit of your blog found it interesting, electric cars aint for me but i do see the appeal.

on a side note you travel at 80/85kpm on a motorway?? IMO that is too slow to be travelling on a motorway especially with only 2 lanes:eek:

Lawless2k12

Volkswagen polo bluemotion 1.2 litre TDi. Or a golf with the bluemotion technology. Mentioned this car on someone elses post a day or so ago as I believe it to be very eco friendly indeed. Road tax is free in Britain, unsure of what it is here though? Can do upwards of 80mpg on motorways although it wont be the fastest machine out there. 0-60mph in 13 secs. for the polo, 11.5 secs. for the golf. Golf's mpg is only about 6 or 7 mpg lower than the polo and runs on a 1.6 TDi engine I believe (Possibly 1.4?) but is a more costly car obviously...

Katunga

Lawless2k12 wrote: »

Volkswagen polo bluemotion 1.2 litre TDi. Or a golf with the bluemotion technology. Mentioned this car on someone elses post a day or so ago as I believe it to be very eco friendly indeed. Road tax is free in Britain, unsure of what it is here though? Can do upwards of 80mpg on motorways although it wont be the fastest machine out there. 0-60mph in 13 secs. for the polo, 11.5 secs. for the golf. Golf's mpg is only about 6 or 7 mpg lower than the polo and runs on a 1.6 TDi engine I believe (Possibly 1.4?) but is a more costly car obviously...

how could OP buy that with 2-3k and a 03 BMW 318ci

Lawless2k12

Sell the BMW on donedeal and try get 4/4.5k. Add another 4k (Slightly pushing the budget here) and you may haggle down a used Polo... It's just a suggestion and possibly out of reach but look around. You may be able to get one for that. Very low tax, insurance and upkeep on it as well.

Wicklowandy

So your gonna buy a bluemotion polo for 8.5k and get 4 to 4.5k for a ten year old coupe?

Lawless2k12

There are a few 318's selling for just over 4k around the place. And ya, I know it would be tough but it is possible. Flash 9 grand in front of a dealer nowadays for a car and they'll think about it. If the BMW is an absolute minter and somewhat low on milage then its possible.

Wicklowandy

While it is true to say cars can be bought cheaply for cash, it is also true that selling prices are much removed from 'asking' prices

Lawless2k12

Wicklowandy wrote: »

While it is true to say cars can be bought cheaply for cash, it is also true that selling prices are much removed from 'asking' prices

Ya I agree but I was just giving OP another option if he wished to go for it. Be slightly more costly but won't have any trouble from the car for some time and save a bomb on tax, insurance and fuel. For example; the tax on the Polo is 160 euro for an '08 model. For an Audi A4 1.9 TDi of similar price (2008 model?) tax is approx 800 euro and lucky to get 50mpg. Just an extra option although his request of 140 bhp is reduced quite significantly to about 65 :P

Wicklowandy

http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/MotorTax/MotorTaxRates/MotorTaxRatesbasedonCO2Emissions/

Tax rate band a same on either car

Dymo

mick4_2000 wrote: »

Also i have it in my head I wont buy a French car. I know people swear by them but most people I know have had issues at one point or another with electrics and general issues mecanics can never get to the bottom of.

I thought it was swear at them, ex Laguna owner and it was like a lottery if it decided to start or wait till the repair man arrives and then it starts straight away.

Leonard Hofstadter

Lawless2k12 wrote: »

Sell the BMW on donedeal and try get 4/4.5k. Add another 4k (Slightly pushing the budget here) and you may haggle down a used Polo... It's just a suggestion and possibly out of reach but look around. You may be able to get one for that. Very low tax, insurance and upkeep on it as well.

Did you miss the bit where the OP said he wanted 140 bhp minimum?

OP, get an E90 320d and be done with it. You'll still have a nice car with more power and more mpg than your current motor. As with all BMWs, a full service history is essential and I would ignore BMW's recommended service intervals and get the oil done every 20,000 km minimum.

Lawless2k12

captainspeed wrote: »

Did you miss the bit where the OP said he wanted 140 bhp minimum?

I mentioned the 140bhp above by saying he would have to sacrifice the power for economy driving. Just giving him another option for saving money in this economic climate.

Wicklowandy wrote: »

http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/MotorTax/MotorTaxRates/MotorTaxRatesbasedonCO2Emissions/

Tax rate band a same on either car

Nope. '08 model of the audi A4 will give out around 150 so it will be at least 330 euro for tax, and that's if you get the '08 audi a4 for the same money?

Katunga

Lawless2k12 wrote: »

Ya I agree but I was just giving OP another option if he wished to go for it. Be slightly more costly but won't have any trouble from the car for some time and save a bomb on tax, insurance and fuel. For example; the tax on the Polo is 160 euro for an '08 model. For an Audi A4 1.9 TDi of similar price (2008 model?) tax is approx 800 euro and lucky to get 50mpg. Just an extra option although his request of 140 bhp is reduced quite significantly to about 65 :P

No such thing as a 2008 1.9 TDI Audi A4 and a 1.9 TDI 130 bhp 6 speed A4 would easily get 55mpg. I can get it with my one. No tax is a lot closer to 600 than 800 going by the old tax ban and €330 for the 2.0 TDI 2008. Do your research before typing next time. The 120 BHP 2.0 TDI A4 is €225 a year.

Lawless2k12

Katunga wrote: »

No such thing as a 2008 1.9 TDI Audi A4 and a 1.9 TDI 130 bhp 6 speed A4 would easily get 55mpg. I can get it with my one. No tax is a lot closer to 600 than 800 going by the old tax ban and €330 for the 2.0 TDI 2008. Do your research before typing next time. The 120 BHP 2.0 TDI A4 is €225 a year.

Apologies for knocking .068 litres off the capacity of the 2008 A4. I was still thinking of the B7 version. For some reason I thought the B8 wasn't introduced until '09... And I said €800 with the tax as I paid in 3 monthly installments of €186 when I had mine. Overall in 1 go its €660 by pre '08 registered 1.9's. €225 for the new A4 for the 120bhp model. Correction noted lad.