Long distance driving - best car

Meathlass · 23-03-2012 09:12PM #1

My Nissan Primera died on me yesterday so on the look for another car.Any suggestions based on the below?

Drive about 700 miles a week (daily commute is 55 miles each way). Have always had diesels before this.

Budget under €5000. Will only be me in car so doesn't need to be a salon.

For tax reasons prob looking for a 1.6l at most (have always driven 2.2l but can't afford tax any more)

Big priorities are reliability (spent €2000 on last car in last 18 months), good fuel efficiency. Not too bothered about year, would be nice to move up a few years so maybe 04 or 05.

I've been thinking about mini coopers (heard bad things about fuel efficiency though), Ford ka, fiesta or focus or skoda fabia.

Opinions? Heading to the garages in the morning.

Phill Ewinn · 23-03-2012 09:23PM

Ford focus. The 1.8 TDDi is a little rocket in 115 bhp trim, mad relaible and can do 60mpg easy.

Donnielighto · 23-03-2012 09:33PM

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

Ford focus. The 1.8 TDDi is a little rocket in 115 bhp trim, mad relaible and can do 60mpg easy.

Truth, have one myself, beautiful little car.

eth0 · 23-03-2012 09:38PM

Skoda fabia wouldn't be the most comfortable for long distance. the seats are fierce hard

Meathlass · 23-03-2012 09:41PM

Great info thanks. There's a bewildering range of options out there at the moment for second hand cars and I'm been forced into buying early by the head gasket blowing on my own car.

johnayo · 23-03-2012 09:43PM

Skoda Octavia. Massive boot.

Meathlass · 23-03-2012 09:46PM

eth0 wrote: »

Skoda fabia wouldn't be the most comfortable for long distance. the seats are fierce hard

Really, I've driven a Skoda Superb for a while and it was incredibly comfortable. Just presumed the fabia's would be the same.

MidlandsM · 23-03-2012 09:52PM

Citroen c5 2.0 hdi - uber comfy, cheap,job done.

Mycroft H · 23-03-2012 09:54PM

MidlandsM wrote: »

Citroen c5 2.0 hdi - uber comfy, cheap,job done.

There should be plenty of the 1.6Hdi versions floating about at that price point too.

Stinicker · 23-03-2012 10:44PM

BMW 320d, good enough on fuel, and ideal for chewing off the Motorway miles.

pred racer · 23-03-2012 10:51PM

MidlandsM wrote: »

Citroen c5 2.0 hdi - uber comfy, cheap,job done.

+1

colm_mcm · 23-03-2012 10:57PM

Meathlass wrote: »

Really, I've driven a Skoda Superb for a while and it was incredibly comfortable. Just presumed the fabia's would be the same.

The fabia is based on the polo, it's way smaller.

Given that you're doing massive miles and spending a lot on diesel, would you not be able to justify the bit extra to tax a 1.9? (180 a year or €3 a week)

Meathlass · 23-03-2012 10:58PM

Stinicker wrote: »

BMW 320d, good enough on fuel, and ideal for chewing off the Motorway miles.

Unfortunately only about 15 miles of my commute is on a motorway, the rest are on N and back roads. Averaging 50mph for trip.

highdef · 23-03-2012 11:01PM

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

Ford focus. The 1.8 TDDi is a little rocket in 115 bhp trim, mad relaible and can do 60mpg easy.

I agree about the fuel economy and reliability of this. I have a 2009 Focus, with I think a 1.8 TDCi rather than a TDDI.....I could be wrong there. I generally get about 800km per tank but recently have been less generous on the throttle. My current tank is looking like being the most efficient yet. The fuel low warning only came on this evening coming home from work at just under 850km which means it expects another 80km following this. Not bad at all. The car has over 93k on it now with no problems bar a cabin heating problem not long after I got it new. I have the van version which means even less weight. It is also rated at 115bhp and I can confirm that when I need the power, it's certainly there.....my previous car was a 2.5 V6 petrol and it would be a close match in a drag race between them.
Having said that, the French hdi's are known for their frugality and I would be willing to check them out to, particularly in 1.6 form, if it's pure fuel economy you want.

Meathlass · 23-03-2012 11:01PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

The fabia is based on the polo, it's way smaller.

Given that you're doing massive miles and spending a lot on diesel, would you not be able to justify the bit extra to tax a 1.9?

I don't really mind the tax amount, I'm used to paying €250 every quarter. Sorry for the stupid question but would the 1.9 be more fuel efficient in the long term? Currently spending about €105 a week on fuel so it's a big consideration. If I can get it down at all I can justify the extra tax.

highdef · 23-03-2012 11:09PM

Meathlass wrote: »

Unfortunately only about 15 miles of my commute is on a motorway, the rest are on N and back roads. Averaging 50mph for trip.

If its mainly N roads and if the back roads you use are fairly straight with little in the way of slowing down, then these could be even more fuel economic than when driving at motorway speed. I drive into work via the M4 from Kilcock. My fuel economy greatly increases when I go from the 120 to 80 limit when the M4 becomes the N4 at Leixlip.

dr.fuzzenstein · 23-03-2012 11:11PM

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

Ford focus. The 1.8 TDDi is a little rocket in 115 bhp trim, mad relaible and can do 60mpg easy.

Beat me to it, have an '06 CMax, TDCI 115 hp ZETEC, heavier car, so makes 48-50 mpg.
Bought it two years ago with 130k km on it, right now has 210k km on it and aside from an electrical fault it needed nothing but oil and filters.
And it's very comfy, has aircon, heated windscreen, alloys and a good radio with an aux input (may require extra wire)

Chuck_Norris · 23-03-2012 11:15PM

Not wanting to sound like a fanboi, but I can give a big thumbs up for an Octavia. Definitely the most comfortable seats of any car I've ever owned, and they are something that have been commented on by alot of people.

It's a 1.9 that I've had remapped from 105bhp, to 155bhp, with no major effect on fuel consumption. I get in average 5.8l/100km, but most of that is tipping around town driving now. Before the remap it was 5.1l/100km and that was mixed driving.

I used to be a self employed sales rep, and put up 120,000 km in just over 18 months (mostly inter county driving), and the car never let me down.

The only issues I've had with the car, apart from the usual servicing wee a worn rear wheel bearing (cost €120 parts and labour), rear wiper motor (twice, both times done under warranty), front wiper motor (€60, and an hour of my time) and the drivers side, side airbag (done under warranty).

And yes, it has a big boot! :pac:

frankz · 23-03-2012 11:16PM

Meathlass wrote: »

Unfortunately only about 15 miles of my commute is on a motorway, the rest are on N and back roads. Averaging 50mph for trip.

At only 15 miles of a 55 mile journey on motorway would have thought it would be hard to get to an average of 50mph.

If you are doing circa 550 miles a week for work and 150 for leisure then surely comfort has to come first? Also as you are primarily on n and back roads you dont need a pocket rocket. Would you consider a mondeo over a focus? Might be more similar to your outgoing primera.

As others have said c5 is prob best for your budget. Lots of people do commutes in golfs - put very popular so may have to go older.

At 700 hundred a week you at doing probably circa mid 30K miles a year - I know there is the boring arguement but as the budget is limited would you consider an avensis? We had a family one for years, 3 drivers in the house, put up good miles and had no major problems with it and fairly comfortable

Richie1991 · 23-03-2012 11:17PM

Vw golf tdi, very comfortable, reliable and 55-60mpg good cars for holding there value. Should get a clean 1 under 5g's

Meathlass · 23-03-2012 11:22PM

Richie1991 wrote: »

Vw golf tdi, very comfortable, reliable and 55-60mpg good cars for holding there value. Should get a clean 1 under 5g's

Had one of those before and wasn't too pushed about the look of it - good car though.

frankz · 23-03-2012 11:23PM

highdef wrote: »

If its mainly N roads and if the back roads you use are fairly straight with little in the way of slowing down, then these could be even more fuel economic than when driving at motorway speed. I drive into work via the M4 from Kilcock. My fuel economy greatly increases when I go from the 120 to 80 limit when the M4 becomes the N4 at Leixlip.

A straight back road in Ireland?????

Even the motorway between the 2nd Nenagh exit and Roscrea manages to be twisty!! ( :-) fair enough not so much that you would have to slow down)

Meathlass · 23-03-2012 11:28PM

frankz wrote: »

At only 15 miles of a 55 mile journey on motorway would have thought it would be hard to get to an average of 50mph.

If you are doing circa 550 miles a week for work and 150 for leisure then surely comfort has to come first? Also as you are primarily on n and back roads you dont need a pocket rocket. Would you consider a mondeo over a focus? Might be more similar to your outgoing primera.

As others have said c5 is prob best for your budget. Lots of people do commutes in golfs - put very popular so may have to go older.

At 700 hundred a week you at doing probably circa mid 30K miles a year - I know there is the boring arguement but as the budget is limited would you consider an avensis? We had a family one for years, 3 drivers in the house, put up good miles and had no major problems with it and fairly comfortable

I have to fess up to speeding in relation to your first comment. 700 miles a week is a very quiet week for me. If i'm doing anything at weekends it's usually closer to 1000 as I head home to see family.

I actually hated the Nissan so don't really want anything similar to it and I had a Mondeo before so don't really want one of them either. I've always had big engine, diesel cars (bought off parents whenever they upgraded to something else) so really want to get something more suited to my young, free and single lifestyle at the moment!

frankz · 23-03-2012 11:34PM

Meathlass wrote: »

I have to fess up to speeding in relation to your first comment. 700 miles a week is a very quiet week for me. If i'm doing anything at weekends it's usually closer to 1000 as I head home to see family.

I actually hated the Nissan so don't really want anything similar to it and I had a Mondeo before so don't really want one of them either. I've always had big engine, diesel cars (bought off parents whenever they upgraded to something else) so really want to get something more suited to my young, free and single lifestyle at the moment!

Fair enough - it wasn't a dig that you might be speeding, just wondering had you worked it out correctly. Even still you must give most of th journey well over the limit to get an average of 50 on n and back roads.

Ok, so at 1,000 miles a week and you have had mondeo, golf, primera and dont want any of them again, even if you are young surely at that kinda mileage comfort has to up there?

At a 1000 miles a week is there any streching the budget from 5k? Not sure trendy, 1000 miles a week and €5k are compatable!! That said the e46 bmw are pretty trendy, go for a 318 or pref a 320 over a 316. An older a4? Ya both saloons but .... on carsireland.ie you can see all cars in the 3-5k category and 5-7k category which I think is handy

Ps - I hope they are nice to you in your local filling station!!

Meathlass · 23-03-2012 11:46PM

frankz wrote: »

Fair enough - it wasn't a dig that you might be speeding, just wondering had you worked it out correctly. Even still you must give most of th journey well over the limit to get an average of 50 on n and back roads.

Ok, so at 1,000 miles a week and you have had mondeo, golf, primera and dont want any of them again, even if you are young surely at that kinda mileage comfort has to up there?

At a 1000 miles a week is there any streching the budget from 5k? Not sure trendy, 1000 miles a week and €5k are compatable

Ps - I hope they are nice to you in your local filling station!!

Yeah comfort is definitely important but I love driving and have never had a problem really with uncomfortable seats etc. The only issue was with an alfa romeo I owned - it was a little to close to the ground and I always felt like I was peering over the wheel (though I wasn't obviously)

Don't think the budget will be too stretchable - depends on the credit union really. I certainly don't want to pay much more than it for a car that I will literally drive until it falls apart. I'm certainly interested in what I've heard about the focus and citroen this evening though. The latter wasn't one I'd really considered.

And, yes, my local filling station think I'm fabulous! I'm in there every 4 days to fill the tank up!

colm_mcm · 24-03-2012 12:01AM

Something with a TDI in it I reckon. 3 years ago I'd have said something unfashionable like a Toledo or Leon, then they became popular...

Farmer Pudsey · 24-03-2012 12:06AM

Do you need a car or would a small van do for a year or two

Meathlass · 24-03-2012 12:08AM

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Do you need a car or would a small van do for a year or two

Well I don't need a van so I'd prefer to go with a car tbh. I'm currently driving a Citroen Berlinger until I get sorted and it's so heavy and clunky, could never get used to it!!

Farmer Pudsey · 24-03-2012 12:19AM

I was thinking more in the line of a Corolla or focus car van if you could find one, or a VW caddy.Was it a 1.6hdi berlingo or one of the 1.9's.

Rowanvella199 · 24-03-2012 12:19AM

I would say volvo, for comfort and for the fact it is very economical!

Meathlass · 24-03-2012 12:22AM

God, only in my early 30s, that's not mid life crises territory yet is it :eek:

The 4 cars I've had have all been boring, sensible family cars that I've not really had a choice in taking on for various reasons so now i'd like something a bit more fun I suppose.

Long distance driving - best car

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