Commuting car, but with a bit of poke

TheFullDuck

Hi All,

So I've recently moved jobs which resulted in me losing my company van and diesel card

The new job will involve a 160km commute, all motorway driving so ideally I'm looking for something that may be described as a miser on diesel.

However, having come from a 1.5l transit courier I'm looking for something with a bit of speed, some toys (cruise control, AC minimum) and comfort.

My friend recently bought a Golf GTD which I was very impressed with when I took it for a spin, I've also seen the Volvo V40 D3 mentioned but doesn't appeal to me as much.

So what would you recommend, budget approx 12,000 but could stretch if it's a special car. Open to buying in the North/UK too if the spec is higher.

Thanks

marty whelan

TheFullDuck wrote: »

Hi All,

So I've recently moved jobs which resulted in me losing my company van and diesel card

The new job will involve a 160km commute, all motorway driving so ideally I'm looking for something that may be described as a miser on diesel.

However, having come from a 1.5l transit courier I'm looking for something with a bit of speed, some toys (cruise control, AC minimum) and comfort.

My friend recently bought a Golf GTD which I was very impressed with when I took it for a spin, I've also seen the Volvo V40 D3 mentioned but doesn't appeal to me as much.

So what would you recommend, budget approx 12,000 but could stretch if it's a special car. Open to buying in the North/UK too if the spec is higher.

Thanks

2015 facelifted Mazda 3, as quick as a gtd, nicely specced.

selectamatic

marty whelan wrote: »

2015 facelifted Mazda 3, as quick as a gtd, nicely specced.

2.2d mazda's are only 147bhp, they'd be a long long ways slower than a gtd golf.

Mazda diesel's have a tendency to be very unreliable too.

PauloMN

Audi A5 is an option, I've a 177bhp model which is super on diesel, €200 motor tax and has enough power when required. Has the options you'd want. I'd imagine €12k or so should get you a reasonable one.

For Forks Sake

Octavia VRS

bazz26

Seat Leon FR 184bhp:

https://www.usedcarsni.com/2015-Seat-Leon-FR-TECHNOLOGY-TDI-217720659?search_type=1&make=27&fuel_type=2&age_from=2013&price_from=0&user_type=0&model=1221&trans_type=0&age_to=2015&price_to=0&mileage_to=0&keywords=fr&location%5B%5D=0&car_class=

marty whelan

marty whelan wrote: »

2015 facelifted Mazda 3, as quick as a gtd, nicely specced.

I can see you down in the pub telling the lads your mazda 3 is faster than a gtd.

listermint

Octavia.

Close thread.

bazz26

Ah here, I often think some folks get a bit carried away when describing a Golf GTD. They are brisk for a diesel but let's keep things in perspective.

tedpan

Everybody has recommended the same car VW/Audi/Skoda/Seat

Have you looked at Gallardos? I heard they've got some poke. Apologies for another VW recommendation!

TheFullDuck

Thanks lads, some nice suggestions here, never even considered the Leon FR for example - definitely something to mull over the next while.

Online quotes for insurance being a bit of a pain, I havent held a policy in my own name for nearly 4 years due to the company van so An Post, Liberty and Allianz wouldn't even provide a quote online :rolleyes:

meep

TheFullDuck wrote: »

Online quotes for insurance being a bit of a pain, I havent held a policy in my own name for nearly 4 years due to the company van so An Post, Liberty and Allianz wouldn't even provide a quote online :rolleyes:

In exactly the same boat. Have been named driver on partners policy for 7 years and despite years of CNBC in my own name before that, finding a lot of companies don’t want to know.

Do post if you find someone to quote on named driver experience - I’ve gone to a broker to see what they come up with.

selectamatic

TheFullDuck wrote: »

Thanks lads, some nice suggestions here, never even considered the Leon FR for example - definitely something to mull over the next while.

Online quotes for insurance being a bit of a pain, I havent held a policy in my own name for nearly 4 years due to the company van so An Post, Liberty and Allianz wouldn't even provide a quote online :rolleyes:

From what I've heard that'll rule 177bhp tdi audi's out for you. They're supposed to be a bit of a b1tch to insure.

Oddly enough gtd's, vrs' and fr's aren't as bad.

Kevin Finnerty

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-optima-2013-satnav-leather/19746303

If you're doing motorway miles, a nice place to be. Even better if you have a cold!

Oops, forgot the poke requirement.

Wildly Boaring

330d 40 mpg
320d or 520d nearer the 50mpg
Take the risk on timing chain or buy one for 10k and get chain done yourself

bazz26

bazz26 wrote: »

Ah here, I often think some folks get a bit carried away when describing a Golf GTD. They are brisk for a diesel but let's keep things in perspective.

Show us where someone described a gtd in this thread?

marty whelan

BrownFinger wrote: »

I can see you down in the pub telling the lads your mazda 3 is faster than a gtd.

Oops, don't know how I got that so wrong, quicker than 2.0d non gtd golf though, not that that's anything to shout about.

I have 2.0t petrol s60 btw. Which is probably shower than every car mentioned in this thread and half the mpg 😠

Henry Ford III

Focus ST. There's a diesel option, and they will be decent value (relatively).

Caliden

142+ C-class 220d.
167 bhp and it's comfortable.

I've got the sport version and it's a joy to drive. Plenty of power when you need it and I regularly get 4.5l/100km on motorway journeys.

R.O.R

selectamatic wrote: »

2.2d mazda's are only 147bhp, they'd be a long long ways slower than a gtd golf.

The Mazda 2.2 feels a lot more powerful than the figures suggest. Drover a 2.2d Mazda 3 for a few days and it was a hoot - expect when trying to pull out in to traffic on a wet road.

0-60 times:
Golf GTD - 7.4
Mazda3 2.2d - 8.1 (Not that far off a GTD)
Octavia VRs 7.9
V40 D3 - 9.6
V40 D4 - 7.4

(www.evo.co.uk)

selectamatic wrote: »

Mazda diesel's have a tendency to be very unreliable too.

Of that, there is no doubt!

selectamatic

R.O.R wrote: »

0-60 times:
Golf GTD - 7.4
Mazda3 2.2d - 8.1 (Not that far off a GTD)
Octavia VRs 7.9
V40 D3 - 9.6
V40 D4 - 7.4

As is usually the case, above 60 is where the proof is in the pudding.

The 7 speed dsg gtd really seems to continue to pull where quite a few diesels fall flat.

marty whelan

Forgive my ignorance, but is the 2015 onwards diesel not meant to be reliable? Was sure I read that somewhere. Probably same place I read it was quicker than a gtd......

selectamatic

marty whelan wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance, but is the 2015 onwards diesel not meant to be reliable? Was sure I read that somewhere. Probably same place I read it was quicker than a gtd......

They're supposed to be better alright but it's not like its hard improve on what went before. It's also early days too, the next couple of years will really tell the story.

kirving

I was recently considering an F10 520d or F30 320d (both -190bhp auto) for my long motorway commute, until I drove them.

Couldn't fault either car whatsoever, but I just didn't feel like I could relax. You feel like you're driving the car all the time - which is great, until you've driven 1000km that week and just want to relax.

Personal opinion of course, but I preferred the S60 190bhp DR Volvo I also tried out.

In the end, bought a Merc E300 200bhp+27bhp electric motor, 500Nm. Absolutely brilliant on the motorway, less engaging than the BMW but nice and relaxing which is what I wanted.

At 100kph it will do 5.0l/100km, up to 6.2l/100km (at the very worst) when keeping up with motorway speeds.

Wildly Boaring

Kevin Irving wrote: »

I was recently considering an F10 520d or F30 320d (both -190bhp auto) for my long motorway commute, until I drove them.

Couldn't fault either car whatsoever, but I just didn't feel like I could relax. You feel like you're driving the car all the time - which is great, until you've driven 1000km that week and just want to relax.

Personal opinion of course, but I preferred the S60 190bhp DR Volvo I also tried out.

In the end, bought a Merc E300 200bhp+27bhp electric motor, 500Nm. Absolutely brilliant on the motorway, less engaging than the BMW but nice and relaxing which is what I wanted.

At 100kph it will do 5.0l/100km, up to 6.2l/100km (at the very worst) when keeping up with motorway speeds.

Get what you mean a bit I suppose.

But I drive 8.5 hours yesterday in F10 520d. Felt nice and comfy all day and could do the same again today. Just love the seats, seating position, the way it sits in bends and used the go plenty times for overtakes on back roads.