Long commute. What next?

fits

I’m currently doing a 260 km round trip three days a week in an 06 Mercedes C200. I find the car great for the journey but the seats could be a little more comfortable. The car does about 1000 km a week. It has 350000 miles on it and we plan to keep it until something catastrophic happens but are beginning to think about what might be a good replacement.

I’d like something similarly comfortable and reliable but better economy and lower tax. Budget about 10k. Must be auto.

Any ideas?

_Brian

Nissan Leaf.

That seems to be the go to recommendation here and if you disagree your just trying to poison everyone with your dirty diesel.
So get yourself and extension lead and a book to pass the time while it charges.

_Brian

Or a Mitsubishi Outlander phev

Then you get to look smugly at everyone for the first 40km, but then regret having a 2l petrol for the rest of the journey.

The Bishop Basher

You sir, and I’m going to enjoy typing this, most defenitely need a diesel..

But In agreement with _Brian that the mob will be along shortly to tell you the world will end in a big fireball if you don’t go and buy a leaf or at least something with a plug on it.

Lantus

Any good simple diesel will serve you well. If the merc is OK I'd be inclined to service well and keep going.

Don't bother with elec or hybrid. Won't make a blind bit of difference to you.

fits

Oh we plan on keeping the merc until it dies. It’s a great car still but no equity left in it.

I actually would love an electric car but it’s clearly not a practical option.

Would like to hear what has goodcomfort and economy.

_Brian

fits wrote: »

Oh we plan on keeping the merc until it dies. It’s a great car still but no equity left in it.

I actually would love an electric car but it’s clearly not a practical option.

Would like to hear what has goodcomfort and economy.

2l Skoda Superb, 160/180bhp, presume they come with a dsg variation or decent auto box if that’s really a thing you want.

Pkiernan

Volvo S80?

Comfortable as it gets under 10k.

peasant

Perhaps try a French car?

They are well known for being comfortable (i.e. no pseudo sporty German harshness) and they've had diesel engines pretty much nailed down for years.

For your long trips I'd go old style 2l diesel rather than the newer, more sensitive 1.6

Two examples:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/renault-laguna-initiale-top-spec/19938020

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2010-peugeot-407-hdi-diesel-automatic-54000-miles/19942692

fits

That Laguna is nice actually. S80 would be nice too. Not a lover of the skodas. I’ve driven the superb and it’s not a patch on our current cars.

Idbatterim

yeah get a diesel obviously, if the budget is 10k, BUT at ten k and with the budget you have, how long before you get all the typical diesel issues? if you could afford to spend 25-30k it would obviously be electric. Then again, given what you are firing into the diesel, do your sums, it might be far better to go out and get an electric ioniq?

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/hyundai/ioniq/used-2017-171-hyundai-ioniq-ev-5dr-au-dublin-fpa-201809150538246

25k, of course the depreciation will be far heavier on the ioniq and loan interest if applicable, or you fire it into diesel, servicing and related repairs...

Idbatterim

fits wrote: »

I’m currently doing a 260 km round trip three days a week in an 06 Mercedes C200. I find the car great for the journey but the seats could be a little more comfortable. The car does about 1000 km a week. It has 350000 miles on it and we plan to keep it until something catastrophic happens but are beginning to think about what might be a good replacement.

I’d like something similarly comfortable and reliable but better economy and lower tax. Budget about 10k. Must be auto.

Any ideas?

is it worth lpg the merc and I wonder could you simply put a comfier driver seat into it?

fits

Idbatterim wrote: »

yeah get a diesel obviously, if the budget is 10k, BUT at ten k and with the budget you have, how long before you get all the typical diesel issues? if you could afford to spend 25-30k it would obviously be electric. Then again, given what you are firing into the diesel, do your sums, it might be far better to go out and get an electric ioniq?

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/hyundai/ioniq/used-2017-171-hyundai-ioniq-ev-5dr-au-dublin-fpa-201809150538246

25k, of course the depreciation will be far heavier on the ioniq and loan interest if applicable, or you fire it into diesel, servicing and related repairs...

I think the range would commit me to a charge during the day. There are chargers at my workplace but I don’t really want to do it. I’d only consider it if I could get there and Home without charging.

Mooooo

Idbatterim wrote: »

yeah get a diesel obviously, if the budget is 10k, BUT at ten k and with the budget you have, how long before you get all the typical diesel issues? if you could afford to spend 25-30k it would obviously be electric. Then again, given what you are firing into the diesel, do your sums, it might be far better to go out and get an electric ioniq?

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/hyundai/ioniq/used-2017-171-hyundai-ioniq-ev-5dr-au-dublin-fpa-201809150538246

25k, of course the depreciation will be far heavier on the ioniq and loan interest if applicable, or you fire it into diesel, servicing and related repairs...

That length of driving would suit a diesel fine, once you can get a correct car service on time twud be fine. Its short journeys lead to more issues

fits

Mooooo wrote: »

That length of driving would suit a diesel fine, once you can get a correct car service on time twud be fine. Its short journeys lead to more issues

I’ve always driven diesels and have never had an issue. They suit the mostly rural driving I do.

Prenderb

I have recently had a Volvo fitted, an S60. I find it very comfy. Dunno if the economy is what would work for you though, so check that out. Mine's 2012, auto, and I get around 17km/l with a mix of motorway, regional and national road driving.

ytareh

Wow that's an epic C200 petrol you've got at 350k miles ! Is it an auto too? Must be hard enough on juice ?32mpg ish? Any big bills down through the years ?

daheff

_Brian wrote: »

Nissan Leaf.

.

as per last nights tv ad, range of leaf L40 is 270 km. you'd be leaving yourself very tight on range. plus its out of your budget


Diesel it is.

fits

ytareh wrote: »

Wow that's an epic C200 petrol you've got at 350k miles ! Is it an auto too? Must be hard enough on juice ?32mpg ish? Any big bills down through the years ?

It’s a diesel. Just spent 800 on suspension. Just regular wear and tear. It’s a very solid car though. No idea what mpg it does.

Idbatterim

fits wrote: »

It’s a diesel. Just spent 800 on suspension. Just regular wear and tear. It’s a very solid car though. No idea what mpg it does.

Ah, the fact you already have a diesel explains the lack of urgency in replacement. I wonder can you get a comfier seat in it ?

fits

Idbatterim wrote: »

Ah, the fact you already have a diesel explains the lack of urgency in replacement. I wonder can you get a comfier seat in it ?

After 2 and a half hours in it this morning I wonder too!

Idbatterim

fits wrote: »

After 2 and a half hours in it this morning I wonder too!

Sometimes I think it’s just the length of time spent in car. I have an s class and it’s a comfy seat, but your still sat for two and a half hours in your case ! You could go into a breakers and ask them ... if there was an alternative comfier seat in those c class or if not ,if you could get one from e class etc ...

ELM327

daheff wrote: »

as per last nights tv ad, range of leaf L40 is 270 km. you'd be leaving yourself very tight on range. plus its out of your budget


Diesel it is.

You won't get 270km out of a leaf L40 in the real world without driving very slowly.
Same for the Ioniq. Unless you put your name down for a brand new Kona EV or Niro EV that will have 400km real world range (or you can afford a tesla) Currently EVs will not do that round trip. I have an Ioniq EV so I'm not an EV hater but you have to be realistic!



You sir, need a Diesel.