Economical car with small budget?

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I hope someone can give me a bit of advice on what car to buy. I have a budget of up to €4000. I'm not really fussed on what I drive, but I know nothing about cars.

I will be making a round trip of 150kms each day (taking up a government internship scheme) so I need something as economical as my possible as money will be tight. Almost all of my journey will be motorway.

I would be delighted if anyone could suggest a few models or just even suggest an engine size and fuel type please. Thanks.

bazz26

150km a day is roughly 39000km per year. If doing that sort of daily mileage then comfort should be a priority just as much as economy. Do you have any limitations on engine size/motor tax?

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It will just be for 9 months driving that much for the duration of the internship. I have 4 years no claims bonus, I got a quote for fully comp on a 2004 1.4 diesel fiesta and it was €420. I couldn't afford much more than that. Again with motor tax, i'd be hoping to keep costs low. I know I don't have much choices with my budget....

bazz26

I would not fancy doing 150km a day in a car the size of a Fiesta. I'd aim for something at least the size of a Focus.

ba_barabus

Pug 307 1.4HDI?

Although with the miles you are doing I'd prefer something with a larger displacement.

bazz26

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus-lx-for-sale/5281235

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Thanks for the tips, I was looking at smaller cars because I was trying to get lower tax and insurance and more mpg, but I suppose as you've suggested my distance is just too great. I really want to take this internship because the work experience will be invaluable, but its going to be a costly 9 months! Thanks for your advice, i'll keep looking based on what you've suggested.

bazz26

Smaller engine doesn't mean better fuel economy in all cases. If you are driving 150km per day on motorways then a 1.8 diesel Focus will be more comfortable and relaxing than a 1.4 diesel Fiesta. The Focus because it has a larger more powerful engine, will probably be more economical too as it isn't under the same strain as the smaller Fiesta engine especially at constant motorway speed or overtaking.

Cookies.

See I know nothing about cars...
Though now that you mention it, I fully understand what you mean about motorway driving, I couldn't keep my last 1.3 topped up with petrol when driving motorways. I'll get an insurance quote on a 1.8 and see what the damage is. Thanks

166man

Lads in all fairness the French drive savage distances in cars the size if Twingo's and Clio 1.5DCI's. if they can do it, it's not impossible.

Sticking to 60mph on a motorway in a Yaris 1.0 should see fairly decent mpg. It's highly unlikely to break and tax and insurance are low.

Tax and insurance are likely to be a few hundred more on a 1.8D Focus, add in the risk is higher of something going wrong.

It's a risk I wouldn't take, if it was me I'd buy a small 1.0 car and benefit from the reduced costs up front, its only for 9 months after all. And just slow down a little and a small car is grand on the motorway.

dgt

A comfy Xantia should fit the bill, cheap to buy and spend the rest of that budget on the next car

MuppetCheck

Something like this maybe?

Comfortable, reliable and reasonably safe. I do a similar commute each day and you need a certain level of comfort. I have done it in smaller cars and it soon grates. My buddy brought one of those Volvos for 240k miles without any major issues. It was written off in the end but did it's job perfectly even then. I'm not saying that particular car (no mention of NCT length or tax) but it is a tidy looking motor.

Bigus

An 2004 diesel fiesta isn't a bad choice for your needs even taking the motorway into account.

Charlie Babbitt

If it were my money and had your needs, I'd get a 2004/2005 Peugeot 407 1.6HDi (Diesel).

They are very comfortable to drive, punchy when needed (110Bhp) tax is not too bad on them (less than €150 per quarter) and best of all, you should get around 55+mpg if the majority of your miles are motorway.

Here's the Parker's page on 'em with customer reviews etc:

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/owners-reviews/peugeot/407/saloon-2004/review/7787/



A few for sale at the minute:

Link: Peugeot 407 SR 1.6 HDI 4DR 41 €3,699





Link: 2004 Peugeot 407 For Sale Diesel





Link: Peugeot 407 HDi





Link: Peugeot 407

166man

Charlie Babbitt wrote: »

If it were my money and had your needs, I'd get a 2004/2005 Peugeot 407 1.6HDi (Diesel).

They are very comfortable to drive, punchy when needed (110Bhp) tax is not too bad on them (less than €150 per quarter) and best of all, you should get around 55+mpg if the majority of your miles are motorway.

Here's the Parker's page on 'em with customer reviews etc:

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/owners-reviews/peugeot/407/saloon-2004/review/7787/



A few for sale at the minute:

Link: Peugeot 407 SR 1.6 HDI 4DR 41 €3,699

You couldn't pay me to buy one of those second-hand with that engine. On paper they're fantastic but the reality is in Ireland with your average Irish motorist servicing the car every so often, these engines don't last. They need to be maintained on the button.

JohnBoy26

166man wrote: »

You couldn't pay me to buy one of those second-hand with that engine.

I have to agree with this. With that 1.6 engine those cars are a bit of a risk imo.

166man wrote: »

On paper they're fantastic but the reality is in Ireland with your average Irish motorist servicing the car every so often, these engines don't last. They need to be maintained on the button.

Even well serviced examples suffer the same fate eventually.

Charlie Babbitt

166man wrote: »

You couldn't pay me to buy one of those second-hand with that engine. On paper they're fantastic but the reality is in Ireland with your average Irish motorist servicing the car every so often, these engines don't last. They need to be maintained on the button.

Says the guy with the Alfa.

Only kidding :P

I had a Citroen C4 1.6 Hdi for two years and the engine never gave an ounce of trouble and have one other friend who has a 307 with the same engine with no bother.

I have read that they have a bad rep before though, injector seal faults were common enough in some early models apparently but just hasn't been my experience.

Which low cc, 2005'ish, diesel engines do you feel better it?

FrontDoor

What about the 2.0 407/C5? Are they not a better job.

3k stg would get you a very good C5 and <1k to import.

Wear the increase in tax.

I know of a few of the Mk1 C5 with 300+ k miles on them.

sean1141

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2004-skoda-fabia-vrs/5490201