Most economical motorway driving on a 4k budget

Altbiz

I'll be doing predominantly motorway driving and am looking to get an economical car sorted on a max budget of 4k. Diesel surely the way to go but would be great to get your recommendation of car types to consider. Thank you.

chicorytip

Altbiz wrote: »

I'll be doing predominantly motorway driving and am looking to get an economical car sorted on a max budget of 4k. Diesel surely the way to go but would be great to get your recommendation of car types to consider. Thank you.

Mini One 1.4D, Toyota Auris 1.4D, Peugeot 308 1.6D, Ford Focus 1.6D, Renault Megane or Nissan Qashqai / Tiida 1.5D.
All would be sensible choices.

colm_mcm

I don’t think the Auris 1.4 are that economical at motorway speeds.

Something with a 6 speed gearbox is a good start, plus cruise control and comfy seats.

chicorytip

colm_mcm wrote: »

I don’t think the Auris 1.4 are that economical at motorway speeds.

Something with a 6 speed gearbox is a good start, plus cruise control and comfy seats.

The Auris has a six speed gearbox. It would probably be the pick of the bunch.

SmartinMartin

Something like this would be good. At your budget I wouldn't worry too much about the year, but the lower the mileage you can get, the better.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2011-nissan-tiida-1-5-dci-5dr-nct-07-2021-66k/25945202

coolbeans

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Something like this would be good. At your budget I wouldn't worry too much about the year, but the lower the mileage you can get, the better.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2011-nissan-tiida-1-5-dci-5dr-nct-07-2021-66k/25945202

Hateful cars. Op can surely do better.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Something like this would be good. At your budget I wouldn't worry too much about the year, but the lower the mileage you can get, the better.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2011-nissan-tiida-1-5-dci-5dr-nct-07-2021-66k/25945202

It’s worth half that.

SmartinMartin

They didn't ask for a car to fall in love with, they asked for economy. With that they also get reliability.

bazz26

A Renault Fluence should be well within your budget.

For example:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2011-renault-fluence-1-5-dci-nct-6-21/25945256

Leonard Hofstadter

chicorytip wrote: »

The Auris has a six speed gearbox. It would probably be the pick of the bunch.

Only after around 2010 I think. The earlier cars certainly did not.

Altbiz

Thanks v much for all the replies. I never would have thought a Qashqai would be an economical option, always assumed SUVs were the opposite. Are there other SUVs that I should be considering as very reliable/economical options?

colm_mcm

Altbiz wrote: »

Thanks v much for all the replies. I never would have thought a Qashqai would be an economical option, always assumed SUVs were the opposite. Are there other SUVs that I should be considering as very reliable/economical options?

A Qashqai won’t be as economical as the likes of a Megane which shares the same drivetrain but is more aerodynamic.

colm_mcm

Keep an eye out for a Kia Cee’d Ecodynamics

They’re a 1.6 89bhp diesel with 6 speed and lower suspension and stop/start (not a real advantage on the motorway!) and high gearing make it quite efficient for open road driving.

Altbiz

Would it be correct to say that a Qashqai or similar would be safer than a saloon? Just assuming that's the case because bigger and higher. As well as the motorway I'll be driving small country roads with a child so safety is actually pretty important, would definitely sacrifice economy for a safer option.

bazz26

All the Qashqai is is a tall hatchback with beefed up bumpers to give the SUV look and feel. On your budget you will be looking at a first generation Qashqai which was launched back in 2007 so it would have been as safe as most similar type new cars of that era. It won't be any safer because it's a crossover though. Something from the next segment up like an Avensis or Mondeo may have more safety features but in the case of the Avensis your probably looking at a late Mk2 which came out in 2003.

Altbiz

bazz26 wrote: »

All the Qashqai is is a tall hatchback with beefed up bumpers to give the SUV look and feel. On your budget you will be looking at a first generation Qashqai which was launched back in 2007 so it would have been as safe as most similar type new cars of that era. It won't be any safer because it's a crossover though. Something from the next segment up like an Avensis or Mondeo may have more safety features but in the case of the Avensis your probably looking at a late Mk2 which came out in 2003.

I'd have thought the higher profile would give better protection in the case of a collision which is what I'd be most concerned about out based on some of the driving I've seen on those roads.

I can see on DoneDeal there's a big price jump between 2010 Qashqais and the 2011 ones anyway.

bazz26

Higher profile means higher centre of gravity so easier to overturn than a conventional 3 box saloon.

Altbiz

Quite like the look of this, any thoughts?

edit: gone already

FrankC21

bazz26 wrote: »

A Renault Fluence should be well within your budget.

For example:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2011-renault-fluence-1-5-dci-nct-6-21/25945256

Agree with you bazz i owned a fluence, I commute from drogheda to dun laoghaire - m1 & m50 - full tank will get me 5 days.

And you get more for what you pay for

Qashqai, big heavy and expensive.

Altbiz

FrankC21 wrote: »

Agree with you bazz i owned a fluence, I commute from drogheda to dun laoghaire - m1 & m50 - full tank will get me 5 days.

And you get more for what you pay for

Qashqai, big heavy and expensive.

Thanks. What type of Fluence did you have? Is the 110bhp one the one to go for?

FrankC21

Altbiz wrote: »

Thanks. What type of Fluence did you have? Is the 110bhp one the one to go for?

I got the 110bhp, it is not too bad once you get to 6th gear it flows, the fluence isn't that great with acceleration, it is slow at start therefore, 90bhp wouldn't suit in my opinion.

It is not the most silent engine but cabin noise isn't bad I can still hear my wife talking when were out driving on the motorway.

Overall, from my experience driving it, you get more for what you pay for. Cheap and economical.

I choose the 110bhp need more power for overtaking slow cars like audi's and bmw's hehehe.

colm_mcm

FrankC21 wrote: »

Agree with you bazz i owned a fluence, I commute from drogheda to dun laoghaire - m1 & m50 - full tank will get me 5 days.

And you get more for what you pay for

Qashqai, big heavy and expensive.

Just to point out, the Qashqai and Fluence weigh exactly the same.

The fluence is a foot longer than the Qashqai and 4” wider.

Altbiz

bazz26 wrote: »

Higher profile means higher centre of gravity so easier to overturn than a conventional 3 box saloon.

It'd be head on collisions I'd be most worried about tbh, given some of the driving I've witnessed and a few close calls on small roads.

Altbiz

colm_mcm wrote: »

Just to point out, the Qashqai and Fluence weigh exactly the same.

The fluence is a foot longer than the Qashqai and 4” wider.

Wouldn't have guessed the Qashqai would be narrower, interesting.

bazz26

Altbiz wrote: »

It'd be head on collisions I'd be most worried about tbh, given some of the driving I've witnessed and a few close calls on small roads.

I don't get your logic. It's not like the Qashqai is some sort of tank because it sits taller than a standard saloon. It's just hatchback with a higher driving position and beefed up bumpers to make it look like a SUV. That doesn't make is safer in a collision compared to similar conventional cars.

Altbiz

bazz26 wrote: »

I don't get your logic. It's not like the Qashqai is some sort of tank because it sits taller than a standard saloon. It's just hatchback with a higher driving position and beefed up bumpers to make it look like a SUV. That doesn't make is safer in a collision compared to similar conventional cars.

Don't get me wrong I'm no car safety expert, I just assumed a higher driving position etc would be more favourable in a head on collision than a lower based car.

wassie

The dynamics of what type of car would be safer in a crash is highly variable. In certain situations, an SUV will perform better, in others a saloon, which makes generalising difficult.

The problem with crash test programs is that these can include only a very small range of tests compared to those occurring in the real world on many different roads and speeds. You can find one lot of research to support one argument or the other.

What is not is doubt is the newer the vehicle, the safer it is. Even within the same model, there are mid-cycle updates which often will include new safety features. Think airbags, ABS, stability control, seatbelt pre-tensioners. And this can be the difference of only a couple of years.

If you havent't seen this before, watch this video of a 1998 Toyota Corolla vs 2015 Toyota Corolla (Auris) Crash Test undertaken as a joint safety programme between the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

It certainly changed my perspective on buying a 'banger' as my kids first car.

colm_mcm

Anything from the last 20 years should have all the safety features you mentioned.

They’ve kinda jumped the shark in terms of safety a few years ago, and the focus now is on nannying devices to stop you getting in accidents and eventually become more reliant on it so you can check your phone more.

beggars_bush

colm_mcm wrote: »

Anything from the last 20 years should have all the safety features you mentioned.

They’ve kinda jumped the shark in terms of safety a few years ago, and the focus now is on nannying devices to stop you getting in accidents and eventually become more reliant on it so you can check your phone more.

which is the least safe thing you can do in the car

wassie

colm_mcm wrote: »

Anything from the last 20 years should have all the safety features you mentioned.

They’ve kinda jumped the shark in terms of safety a few years ago, and the focus now is on nannying devices to stop you getting in accidents and eventually become more reliant on it so you can check your phone more.

Not necessarily, there are plenty of vehicles over 10 years old that dont have all these features, especially towards the budget end of the market. Also actual the ways cars are designed & engineered has progressively changed dramatically more so in this period.

I agree with your sentiments though. A lot of the new advanced safety systems definitely now compensate for driving ability.....or lack there of.

colm_mcm

wassie wrote: »

Not necessarily, there are plenty of vehicles over 10 years old that dont have all these features, especially towards the budget end of the market. Also actual the ways cars are designed & engineered has progressively changed dramatically more so in this period.

I agree with your sentiments though. A lot of the new advanced safety systems definitely now compensate for driving ability.....or lack there of.

Rereading that, I genuinely meant 10 years and not 20!

FrankC21

colm_mcm wrote: »

Just to point out, the Qashqai and Fluence weigh exactly the same.

The fluence is a foot longer than the Qashqai and 4” wider.

WEIGHT

Unladen Weight
****************
Fluence - 1285 kg
Qashqai - 1382 kg

Gross Weight
*******************
Fluence - 1785 kg
Qashai - 1930 kg

Reference: https://www.autoevolution.com/carcompare.php?id1=17602&id2=11310

Nekarsulm

How about one of these?
Steady on the road, a few creature comforts, and if you remember to put it into 6th gear , should top 50 mpg on motorway running.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2010-t0yota-avensis-tz-2lt-d4d-new-nct-3450/26114456?campaign=14