Commuter Car Recommendation

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 13:09
Commuter Car Recommendation - Murielson

I am normally a £1k tops for a commuter car but the last one has now given up the ghost (Fiat Brava) and am looking at something a bit better. The commuter was a third car and now looking at getting back down to 2 and trading in the wife’s Peugeot 307 1.4l petrol Envy (53 plate) for a diesel.

Interested in thoughts on the best makes and models to meet the following:

Commute – commute circa 30k miles per annum (75 miles each way, A34/M3/M25) and this vehicle will bear the brunt of the load along with the current Vauxhall Astra diesel Estate. This is why I am focussing on diesel unless advised differently.

Size/Comfort – doesn’t have to be large but large enough to be comfortable as I will spend circa 3 hours + in it daily. I am not restricting size at this time as interested to see what is about. Prefer 4 doors as a minimum and not too cramped so roomy interior. Driving wise I normally sit at circa 75/80 mph, don't need anything too high performance but wouldn't want to be underpowered either.

Economy – been getting circa 50mpg+ from the Fiat so keen to keep that as a minimum and improve if possible.

Cost – note comment in para 1 re circa £1k maximum but am looking beyond that this time. This will be shared with the wife and therefore needs to be a decent car and therefore willing to pay for such. Can buy new if required (within reason) and am able to offer cash so if there are any very good new cars that meet the above criteria I am happy to listen to advice. However, I know cars depreciate hugely from new and therefore assume this will not be the case. Also, based on the intended mileage I do not usually look at re-sale value and look at circa 10 years ownership as a minimum. Prefer low tax bracket if possible and running costs overall.

General – would prefer not to spend too much money on excessive servicing costs (cambelt changes etc a bugbear of mine!!) so possibly chain instead of belt preferred. Likewise spending a fortune on larger size tyres annoys me but I can live with it if the overall running costs are not excessive.

Interested in your thoughts if you would care to take the time to offer a view, especially from those who also commute and may have experienced similar. It is not funded by car allowance etc so it is all down to me and therefore I need the balance of reliability, low costs etc with sufficient comfort for where I spend my time for 3 hours + for at least 4 days per week.

Thanks in advance.

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 13:36
Commuter Car Recommendation - veryoldbear

That's some ask for a £1K car ...

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 13:40
Commuter Car Recommendation - Murielson

Thanks for the response VOB.

Am obviously now changing approach and willing to spend more to get the right vehicle going forward but hence also wanting to make sure I get as much advice as possible. Previously only ever down £1k if I finished up with a dud (never did TBH, always got quite a good return) but now a bit more selective if paying more.

Been looking at Fiesta at circa £12k so happy to go for new for right vehicle. Cliche but I want as much as I can get for as little as possible. If I spend £12k plus and get very good value for money for many years then that is fine. If I can spend £5-£10k and get the same then I would rather spend the lower amount.

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 14:21
Commuter Car Recommendation - Fernando P

A Nissan Note - either petrol or diesel for even better consumption might suit you. The vehicle is "built" in the UK, the petrol engines and gearboxes are made in Japan and the Renault diesel engines are vg and will run efficiently for many miles.

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 15:10
Commuter Car Recommendation - gordonbennet

If you don't need the versatility of an estate or hatch then one model springs to mind, the now bargain values of which have taken a knock since new Optima has been released, though wouldn't matter to you with long term ownership, Kia Magentis 09 on.

Another really nice car for comfort would be Avensis hatch or tourer, of which the 1.8 petrol is surprisingly economical, not far behind the Diesel.

Both should be quiet reliable commute cruisers, both have good auto box options if reqd, no silly quirky troublesome gearboxes here.

Cambelts don't make or break a deal for me so long as the replacement costs are not at pull your pants down rip off levels.

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 15:47
Commuter Car Recommendation - madf

I f you buy secondhand, avoid all French cars.

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 19:22
Commuter Car Recommendation - mrnikko

I think the comment avoid all French secondhand cars is very stupid

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 19:51
Commuter Car Recommendation - bazza

I don't think that buying new will be the best option here, putting 30000 miles a year on a new car. After 3 years, what's a 100000 mile hatch worth a a percentage of brand new? Not a lot. But you would get the benefit of warranty cover at a price.

What about keeping the 307 petrol and running it into the ground? Should be good for 150000 and around 45mpg. Might be your cheapest option.

I think I would go for something that's depreciated down to around a grand or two, something unfashionable and with a good reliability record. Diesel obviously better on mpg grounds but need to beware of expensive failures of the usual components. So Magentis, a cheap Hyundai or Kia diesel as long as it's cheap and with a service history. Or a Corolla or Avensis petrol, bombproof and 40 to 45 mpg with luck, should go to 200K , change the oil every 5 or 6K and keep an eye on the consumables. And if the worst happens, scrap it and do the same again.Got to be cheaper than buying brand new for this kind of use! Check out the What Car depreciation calculator, the depreciation graphs are eye-watering in year 1 and 2!!!

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 20:12
Commuter Car Recommendation - Avant

It's worth looking at a 1- or 2-year-olf Kia Ceed or Hyundai i30: they will be comparatively cheap and have long warranties. Or, if you want to go older and spend less, something with the VW Group 1.9 TDI engine (Golf, Octavia or SEAT Leon / Altea).

Not all French cars are duds: they are just more vulnerable to neglect and abuse. You can get a good one, but it's more of a gamble because you don't know how it's been driven by a previous owner.

Edited by Avant on 26/02/2013 at 23:16

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 22:48
Commuter Car Recommendation - Murielson

Thanks for the info Avant, the balance of the warranty is worth having a look at if I can find some options.

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Mon 25 Feb 2013 22:45
Commuter Car Recommendation - Murielson

Thanks Bazza, appreciate the response. Very similar to the philosophy I have had for the last few years in terms of service history, oil changes, consumables etc. As previously stated, KIA and Hyundai are on my list as are the Seats so I can have a look around these and include Corolla and Avensis.

Will have a look at the depreciation calculator but already coming away from brand new based on all the reasons I have known for a while. Good to get a check that my reasoning is still valid.

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Tue 26 Feb 2013 13:06
Commuter Car Recommendation - Ethan Edwards

I second that. The Note is really comfortable. The 1.5 diesel should suit you perfectly.

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Tue 26 Feb 2013 11:41
Commuter Car Recommendation - barney100

If I read your post correctly then you are looking to spend uop to 12k. I would have a look at a Toyota Prius as it may tick a few boxes for you.

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Tue 26 Feb 2013 16:43
Commuter Car Recommendation - 72 dudes

If I read your post correctly then you are looking to spend up to 12k. I would have a look at a Toyota Prius as it may tick a few boxes for you.

The Prius is not at its best on long motorway commutes as the petrol engine will be running constantly, and the electric motor will be kicking in constantly to help it go up hills or overtake.

On this sort of journey, the Prius is basically an expensive petrol car with a nasty CVT gearbox.

I would second an Avensis, probably with the D4D engine.

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Tue 26 Feb 2013 19:18
Commuter Car Recommendation - Alf_Hooker

Citroen C4 1.6 HDI from about 2008 are comfortable, very economical and quite cheap to buy - especially the 92 bhp version, which is less stressed than the 110 bhp version, therefore more likely to be reliable in the long term.

A dear friend of mine used one for commuting between Sheffield and Leeds for a few years, 100% reliable and very low servicing costs.

You can't just write off all French cars, look how much better their trains are than ours, and the roads over there don't all look like Yosser Hughes's Knuckles....

Take advantage of the epic depreciation and also consider a recent Renault Laguna 1.5 DCi. Ive seen these for about 4 K too. The Boss of Renault was adamant that the quality of this model had to be spot on. This engine is the one used by Nissan in the Note and Quashquai, not known for any problems

Edited by Alf_Hooker on 26/02/2013 at 19:19

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