Economic Diesel for 180km commute, 3k budget

Lemlin

I'll start this by saying I know little or nothing about cars.

I'm starting a 180km round trip commute from November though and need to get a diesel car for it. Most of it will be on a motorway.

My budget is 3k and the main thing I am looking for is something that will give me the best fuel economy I can get.

I have a Mondeo for the family so this car will be used purely for this commute.

Style of car does not matter to me. This is all about making this commute as cheap as possible!

All opinions appreciated.

CharlieZeroOne

I'm no expert, far from it, but i believe diesels got some new technology roundabouts 2007-2008 that made them more efficient. For instance volkswagen and Audi diesels. however, i dont think you can get one of those for that money, if you do it'll be a high miler, i think.

none of that is concrete, but i believe that to be the case. mabe look at something like a fiesta or small car diesel.... though its likely that smaller engine will be under more strain at motorway speeds and chew through,more fuel... a 1.8 or 2 liter engine will find the going easier.

best of luck.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

That budget is at the lower end of the scale, so there's no point focusing on a particular make or model, judge each car on it's individual condition.

I'd start local, search for diesel cars with preferably recent NCT and test drive them. Once you've found one you like, have a mechanic give it the once over. Your mechanic can also advise you of any known issues with a particular car, and check to see if they've been rectified, or if you'll need to factor that in.

Bigus

Renault megane 1.5 dci, electrical gremlins make them good value,60 mpg commuters , safe and comfortable too. 6 speed has more power and better for your commute.

Lemlin

Had seen 1.9 Octavias recommended on another thread. Any opinion on those?

diomed

Toyota Auris 1.4D 65mpg overall (mostly motorway).

CIP4

Lemlin wrote: »

Had seen 1.9 Octavias recommended on another thread. Any opinion on those?

Generally they are a good value reliable car. That older 1.9tdi a fairly bulletproof engine once regularly serviced and minded and would be well capable of 180km trip. They would be a good choice for your budget.

diomed wrote: »

Toyota Auris 1.4D 65mpg overall (mostly motorway).

I dread to think what any auris you could get for 3k euro would look like. Nice car but decent examples would be well out of the op budget even an older 1.4 d4d Corolla would often make more than 3k euro,

marklazarcovic

a yaris d4d or corolla d4d would suit you

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/1-4-diesel-yaris/10073272


there ya go

bazz26

I'd hate to be doing 180 km round trip in a car the size of a Yaris everyday. Comfort should be as important as fuel economy imo.

CJhaughey

Seat leon 1.9tdi very good economy from the old and trouble free VAG diesels and a smallish light body make them capable of 60+ mpg easily.

saabsaab

You would need a bit of comfort and at 3k probably and older diesel car. I'd say seat 1.9, skoda octavia or if in good nick a saab 93.

Lemlin

Skoda Fabia and Seat Inca were recommended to me by a motor assessor today.

saabsaab

Yep, the skoda fabia diesel would be good I'd say but the inca is a van, which mightn't suit.

octavia 1.9tdi should be easy found within budget, hit the 60mpg if looked after at all, and a good comfortable/reliable/spacious car for that length of commute

bazz26

Lemlin wrote: »

Skoda Fabia and Seat Inca were recommended to me by a motor assessor today.

Fabia is the same size as a Polo and an Inca is a van. Neither would be ideal for long daily commutes.

Noccy_Mondy

Could you not take the mondeo as the cruiser and get something else for the family? That's assuming it's a diesel. The mk4, if that's what you have, is designed exactly for what you've stated.

Lemlin

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

Could you not take the mondeo as the cruiser and get something else for the family? That's assuming it's a diesel. The mk4, if that's what you have, is designed exactly for what you've stated.

My Mondeo is a 2008 125bhp 1.8 litre engine. It has 210,000 kilometres on it though so I didn't really want to put it any higher if possible as that's already high.

My thinking was also I don't need a car that big for just myself to commute.

The Seat was actually an Ibiza. I was mistaken saying an Inca. There's a 1.4 diesel Ibiza available like these:

http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/seat-ibiza-1-4tdi/9988648?offset=1
http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/2005-seat-ibiza-tdi/10049803?offset=2

Tax is 413e so wouldn't be too bad.

bazz26

You need a comfortable car for commuting and bigger cars tend to be more comfortable. Small cars like the Ibiza are mainly designed for city driving with the occasional long trip. They are not designed to be mile munchers. The last thing you need is to be getting out of a car after a long uncomfortable commute and your are shattered. You will find a huge difference in both comfort and power dropping down from a diesel Mondeo to a diesel Ibiza.

JJJJNR

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2004-seat-altea-1-9turbo-diesel-s/10030978

Supercell

I've an 05 Fabia 1.4 diesel with 200k + on it and its never left me stranded and never had anything major or expensive fail (only been into the garage twice outside services in almost 10 years now and one of those was a prang). I'm not selling mine by the way. Plenty of life left in her, just would be a suggestion in this price range. Personally I think it's bulletproof (it is my second reliable Fabia in a row so i am a bit biased)

kirving

Anything smaller than a Golf is really not going to be a nice place to be for 180k a day.