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My 27-year-old son has just landed a new job that will entail daily travel around the Middlesex area. With occasional trips to Cornwall and Manchester we think the mileage will be in the 20,000-30,000 miles a year range. The post includes a generous monthly car allowance, but the car has to be "appropriate" for the job, liaising between tennis coaches and the LTA. It does not have to be new. He thinks a Golf, Peugeot 308 or an Audi A3 would be good, and is unimpressed when I suggest he considers a Kia Cee’d, Hyundai i20 or a Skoda. He has an R reg. Citroen ZX, the MOT ran out last week, which could be scrapped or MOT'd probably fairly cheaply and sold. Your suggestions on car options, new or second hand would be much appreciated. Would the high mileage rule out leasing?

Asked on 14 November 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
The high mileage means leasing will be expensive. The car will lose considerable value being used like this and an expensive car will lose a lot more value than a cheap one. VAG cars are not proving particularly reliable at the moment. He'd probably be best off in an Efficient Dynamics BMW 118d, which is also £35 a year tax, should give more than 50mpg and carries enough status. Try to get it on the smallest wheels (16") with deepest profile tyres for some degree of ride comfort.
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