100 mile commute

MayoForSam

I'm doing some research on my next car.

I have a 100 mile commute 5 days a week (50 each way) plus the odd weekend trip, my current car is a 2008 Focus 1.6 TDCi, 130K on the clock. Needless to say, I've had a few issues with the DPF, but got that sorted (hopefully) and I'm getting around 50 mpg. Still a large overhead to bear with fuel costs however.

I'm looking to change in the new few weeks/months and I'm wondering what my options are. My budget would be around €15K-ish. Skoda Octavia, another Focus/Mondeo (if the DPF issues have been sorted), Volvo S40, may be even a Toyota Prius are all in the pot. I went to the UK last time out to import the Focus so that's an option too.

Any comments/recommendations, I will gladly take on board.

pete4130

If diesel is about €1.42 a litre/€6.47 per gallon you're using 2 gallons for work a day (about €12.89 a day) which is about €65 a week Monday to Friday.

Even if the DPF went again twice it works out cheaper to keep the current car in theory. The other cars mentioned won't really make that much of an increase in mpg to recoup spending €15K on a different car.

Idbatterim

Id only change if you were planning on doing so anyway. Dont change if the aim is to "save money" i.e save a few quid a week on fuel and lose god knows how much more on depreciation and loan interest if applicable. Also if your considering a used car, sometimes its better the devil you know...

bazz26

The cheapest option around the DPF issue would be to get it removed altogether. Can be done for under €500 these days.

corkgsxr

Forget the 1.6hdi there a troublesome engine. In real life its mpg is down on claims as its highly turbocharged. And before anyone butts in iv had the new and old version of the engine.

But a 2 litre diesel. There under less strain. Give better mpg.

Ffs herselfs 02 avensis diesel with 209k miles is doing 55mpg and iv always sed iv a heavy foot

colm_mcm

I'd just stick with the focus tbh

Bigus

You're going to kill any cars value and suffer high depreciation with that type of mileage being added every week.

However a Prius on LPG might save you a lot if you can get an lpg fill handy.

ck83

Just to mention, the DPF only tends to be a major issue in focuses imported from the uk. I have the exact same car, slightly longer commute, and the same DPF issue. So if you do decide to change (which I wouldn't, given the speed at which you'll depreciate any motor), bear that in mind!

Wheelnut

The Volvo S40 is a glorified Ford Focus with the same Peugeot-derived engine, so no advantage to be gained there.

If keeping the present car is to be considered, what mileage is on it and what major services have been done? (Timing belt, DPF fluid, Brakes etc.)

EDIT: Sorry, just spotted 130k miles on the clock, still a young car with plenty of life left in it. My daughter has the same engine in a 307 with over 150k miles and still going strong.

maidhc

Kepp what you have. Nothing else will do better MPG, and most will be worse.

P.K.M.

Genuinely not being smart, but would you not consider a motorbike? My commute was 106 miles a day, costing me a fortune on petrol (had a 1.8 Mazda) tolls and wear and tear. Got a bike, saved a fortune in fuel costs straight away, and then there's cheaper tax, no toll etc. etc. I'll never use a car to commute again. Just my 2c.

NuckingFacker

P.K.M. wrote: »

Genuinely not being smart, but would you not consider a motorbike? My commute was 106 miles a day, costing me a fortune on petrol (had a 1.8 Mazda) tolls and wear and tear. Got a bike, saved a fortune in fuel costs straight away, and then there's cheaper tax, no toll etc. etc. I'll never use a car to commute again. Just my 2c.

I wouldn't, anyway. And I had one for years. Any cash savings someone might make pale into insignificance as your bum/head slide along raw tarmac, on a freezing cold morning. Just my 2c:) Been there, done that.

P.K.M.

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I wouldn't, anyway. And I had one for years. Any cash savings someone might make pale into insignificance as your bum/head slide along raw tarmac, on a freezing cold morning. Just my 2c:) Been there, done that.

Fair enough, I know where you're coming from - had the spill myself (4 breaks in the collarbone and other injuries) but I still use the bike. I'll never NOT use it. It's not for everyone though, and chances are, the OP (like many other in the Motors forum) would prefer the heat and comfort of a car, which is fair enough too.

Mycroft H

Stick with the focus. Keep it serviced on the button with the correct spec parts. Engine will happily do that sort of mileage daily and your already getting decent consumption.

650Ginge

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I wouldn't, anyway. And I had one for years. Any cash savings someone might make pale into insignificance as your bum/head slide along raw tarmac, on a freezing cold morning. Just my 2c:) Been there, done that.

You won't save money on a bike, tyres every 5k will eat any saving you make on tolls and not many bikes that will suit 50 miles each way will do 50mpg.

Zubeneschamali

I wouldn't change to save money. I'd change if 2 hours in the Focus every day is doing your head in.

A comfy seat, aircon, cruise control and a good stereo are worth a few mpg off your figure. A Mondeo 2.0 or a Volvo would be a nicer place to be for 10 hours a week.

P.K.M.

650Ginge wrote: »

You won't save money on a bike, tyres every 5k will eat any saving you make on tolls and not many bikes that will suit 50 miles each way will do 50mpg.

Every 5k??? Jaysus you must be using a very soft compound! I'm getting 10k on a rear and 14k on a front. I'm only using my commute as an example, but I put €28 into the bike twice a week, so to round up, €60 a week on fuel and half an hour commuting each way, versus €100 in the car and one hour 15 mins each way....it's a no-brainer really, or at least it is for my circumstances.

corkgsxr

When I don't need to carry tools all the time I switch to a bike. And I save money even on a gsxr600. But for me its more I just prefer the bike to the car/van.

Save time too.

The likes of a cbf250 would savage mpg and consumables last ages

MrDerp

Sounds to me like you're bored of the focus. I can identify, I changed from a focus for precisely that reason.

Instead of spending 8-10k on changing your car for another Diesel, just to run it down on 100 mile commuting, why don't you keep the focus and buy yourself a weekend car out of some of the money. Something that you'd never commute in but gives you a bit of joy in your motoring, and that you might take for your commute once a week when you're feeling frivolous?

TGi666

My 03 mondeo is getting 55-60mpg and I am doing a similar drive to the op but I usually set the cruise control to 100 on the motorways though, but I thought the focus would return a better mpg

Idbatterim

I wouldn't change to save money. I'd change if 2 hours in the Focus every day is doing your head in.

agree with this and this would be the main reason I would change if the thought were in my head...

anthony4335

TGi666 wrote: »

My 03 mondeo is getting 55-60mpg and I am doing a similar drive to the op but I usually set the cruise control to 100 on the motorways though, but I thought the focus would return a better mpg

I see figures been put out there for different kinds of cars, and they make no sense. I had an 02 Mondeo years ago and not on your life would you get 50mpg. Checking fuelly the figures are more like I remembered (mid 40's) and yes it was the TDDI and not the TDCI. I wonder how may people actually check their MPG figures or just guess them!

TGi666

anthony4335 wrote: »

I see figures been put out there for different kinds of cars, and they make no sense. I had an 02 Mondeo years ago and not on your life would you get 50mpg. Checking fuelly the figures are more like I remembered (mid 40's) and yes it was the TDDI and not the TDCI. I wonder how may people actually check their MPG figures or just guess them!

Mine is the tdci and I have an app on the phone to work out the mpg although dropping from 120kph to 100kph on the motorway boosted the mpg from around the 45-50 it was previously

Driving style makes a big difference. Dad is averaging 56mpg on his 307 1.4HDI over the years (from the on board computer which in my experience are a lot more accurate than some people let on). Anytime I've driven it I've kept an eye on the read out and I dont get up to them sort of figures as I naturally drive more aggressively, holding gears longer etc.

MayoForSam

Thanks for all the advice folks. Motorbike is definitely out. Hanging on to the Focus for another while is definitely an option. My MPG isn't bad at all considering I'm traveling country roads for half my journey, the other half on decent national primary road, averaging 50 mph with plenty of stops and starts.

The need for a slightly more comfortable, spacious ride would be one of the main reasons I'd be looking for a change. The Focus is grand, decent road holding and nippy, but since I'm spending 10-12 hours a week behind the wheel, I was just wondering what else is out there?

September1

If you have access to electricity at work, then you might consider LEAF from UK, it costs about 15k and is VRT-free. I think commute cost would be around 20e pw depending on how you get you electricity.

corkgsxr

September1 wrote: »

If you have access to electricity at work, then you might consider LEAF from UK, it costs about 15k and is VRT-free. I think commute cost would be around 20e pw depending on how you get you electricity.

Id imagine they wouldn't be the nicest on a 50 mile trip. And if you forget a charge you wont make it