€16k, 230 Kilometres per Week

Jentle Grenade

Hi all, would love some advice on where best to put this money car-wise.

My old commute was nearly 500km per week and I did this quite comfortably in a VW Scirocco 2.0 TDI. My new commute is maximum 230km per week which includes general spinning around. I have €16k cash max that I can put into a replacement car. I want something relatively good looking but also reliable, comfortable, capable of a 40ish mpg, well specced and with a decent bit of go. I'd prefer a 2/3 door too that was 3/4 years old at max.

I've test driven a lot of cars since January. I had considered a new/used Fiesta ST but the car felt a bit too small for my liking (just personal preference). I did quite like the 141 Golf petrol models (comfortable interior) but once I tried a 1.6 TDI they felt pretty under-powered and most are out of my price range. I've found it pretty difficult to find nicely specced petrol Focus'. I tried a Fabia Monte Carlo which felt quite nice but again was a bit mean with the spec. I feel like I must be missing a trick here with what I can buy that's fun and reliable but 16k or less within my criteria.

Any other suggestions for what I should have a look for? I'd prefer not to borrow, but should I be looking at something else outside of a 3 door hatchback? Thanks for any suggestions.

The One Doctor

First thing, why a diesel? You're not doing diesel mileage, diesels are more expensive than the equivalent petrol model and the minimal MPG gain won't recoup the extra cost of buying a diesel in the first place. Makes no sense from a logical perspective.

Aside from that, why contribute to the already high levels of diesel pollution?

kirving

He wants 50 ish mpg, and the vast majority or cars available will be diesel?

deathtocaptcha

Opel Astra?

Markcheese

Not much other than diesel out there these days...

colm_mcm

Is this 16k plus the scirocco? Or do you not have it now?

Jentle Grenade

Sold the Scirocco. I actually don't want a diesel, the 50mpg should be 40ish so I'll edit that now. With max 230km per week I want a petrol engine. Not a fan of the old gen Astras.