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Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
#1292967
29/11/2011 07:54
29/11/2011 07:54
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
OP
Forum veteran
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OP
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
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Although in my mind I will always be more of a 911 man like Brewster, in reality, I am struggling to eke out a motoring life and now I'd like some help in deciding what hideous, financially-motivated thrill-free A-to-B-mobile to get in place of our admired and beloved '02 E39 530d Sport.
The criteria are simple: my budget will be roughly the value of the Beemer, so say £3k. What is the cheapest car to tax, insure and to run, capable of 15k trouble-free miles per year, some of which on motorways?
From your soul-destroying suggestions, I'll tearfully try to choose my fate...
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1292969
29/11/2011 08:02
29/11/2011 08:02
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tim42
Unregistered
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tim42
Unregistered
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Simple.... Golf Diesel. There are even some "fun" ones
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Brewster]
#1292979
29/11/2011 08:48
29/11/2011 08:48
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tim42
Unregistered
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tim42
Unregistered
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I'd be looking more at Skoda diesels. Essentially a Volkswagen but without the Dub premium. I'd have thought you could pick up a reasonable Octavia for that amount. A colleague that I lift-share with has one and it's brisk enough if entirely uninspiring. It has done over 100k miles in his possession trouble free bar servicing and clutch. And all at >45mpg. Good choice; plenty of 03 to 04 models on Autotrader for this price, although they have all done loads of miles.....
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1292997
29/11/2011 09:42
29/11/2011 09:42
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
OP
Forum veteran
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OP
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
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Thank you Gentlemen. I should have added to my above spec that we must have 5 seats. The problem with diesel Skodas is that they have become the car of choice for the people Brewster despises more than almost anyone: beardy, save-the-planet, middle class pretend socialists (hope I'm not overstepping the mark, Adam?). The result is that the prices for these cars are inflated, sometimes beyond the equivalent VW because the inverted snobbery of Skoda ownership has become almost an epidemic. Buy your son a car for his gap yah? Yes, but it's only a Skoda ("they are VW's underneath, you know" they mutter to each other across the Guardian). Sorry, rant over, and I should add that I don't hate Skoda owners per se - both my parents have or had Skodas (not that they bought me one...).
To be grimly honest, I've been looking at even lower forms of life: Fiat Grande Punto (can get an 06, should be reliable?), Toyota Yaris (makes me do sick in my mouth, but probably goes forever) and even things by Kia (I'll hand in my FCCUK membership on the way out)
Last edited by Jim_Clennell; 29/11/2011 10:07. Reason: "Prices is" What was I thinking?
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1292998
29/11/2011 09:54
29/11/2011 09:54
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,748 Pistonheads
Brewster
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,748
Pistonheads
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Bang on the money JC. Although I did briefly consider getting a Fabia VRS as a daily drive and returning to an older, air-cooled 911 as a weekend toy instead of the later "kettle" C4S I now run daily.*
The JTD lump in the FIAT is likely to be the same as in the Alfa GT I had which was also an 06 plate. Not a bad lump and in a lighter Punto should be spritely, although I did have problems with the EGR valve coking up. It's pretty accessible at the top of the exhaust manifold and it's relatively easy to take it off, drill it out and clean it up.
Last edited by Brewster; 29/11/2011 09:55. Reason: * Thread to follow in the near future...
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1293014
29/11/2011 11:00
29/11/2011 11:00
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,486 London Tan
technics
I need some sleep
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I need some sleep
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,486
London Tan
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vw passat Or One of those vw blue motion things.
Jags are pretty cheap too.
Now in the 400+ bhp club!
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: technics]
#1293017
29/11/2011 11:10
29/11/2011 11:10
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
OP
Forum veteran
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OP
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
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vw passat Or One of those vw blue motion things.
Jags are pretty cheap too. Apart from the Bluemotion idea (are they within budget?), I'm not sure that you've quite grasped what I'm after, technics!
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1293044
29/11/2011 13:19
29/11/2011 13:19
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057 Southsea
Gunzi
Club member 189, Former Club President
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Club member 189, Former Club President
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
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A left wing suggestion but what about a MG ZR 2.0D? It's a marmite car, but a number of years ago I had a 200 SDI with that engine in and it would return 55-60mpg in relative wafty comfort. More if you slipstreamed lorries at 54mph.
Last edited by Gunzi; 29/11/2011 13:24. Reason: ZT probably too big for 60mpg.
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1293047
29/11/2011 13:30
29/11/2011 13:30
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DanielTheManual
Unregistered
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DanielTheManual
Unregistered
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Gunzi]
#1293052
29/11/2011 13:50
29/11/2011 13:50
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,061 ation
szkom
Club member 2000
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Club member 2000
Forum is my life
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,061
ation
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A left wing suggestion but what about a MG ZR 2.0D? It's a marmite car, but a number of years ago I had a 200 SDI with that engine in and it would return 55-60mpg in relative wafty comfort. More if you slipstreamed lorries at 54mph. Indeed they can. I have one. Cracking little car.
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1293073
29/11/2011 14:50
29/11/2011 14:50
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 32,122 Cumbria
stan
Dr. Frankenstan
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Dr. Frankenstan
Forum Demigod
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 32,122
Cumbria
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Yeah, wot Mrs Stan drives; you still get the VAG mechanicals, without silly expensive dm flywheels, reliable, non-Guardian reading, although I have wiped my backside on it, does that count? SEAT Leon TDi. Look for the 110 TDi, so 02/03 models, all the toys you need, cheap to fix (how does £30 for a radiator grab you?) and easily hits 54mpg driven with vim! Responds well to a remap or even a "tuning box". Go for the SE model if possible. Downside; boot is not as large as the Octavia. If you can get past the SEAT badge, look at the Toledo; very under-rated cars, very quiet inside even for a diesel! A huge thumbs-up from me and I don't give a flying *fig* for the future of the planet!
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1293219
29/11/2011 22:08
29/11/2011 22:08
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057 Southsea
Gunzi
Club member 189, Former Club President
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Club member 189, Former Club President
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1293224
29/11/2011 22:35
29/11/2011 22:35
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AP1
Unregistered
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AP1
Unregistered
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Avoid the S40, very poor ride and uncomfortable seats, mpg is way off 55-60mpg.
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1293235
29/11/2011 23:20
29/11/2011 23:20
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DanielTheManual
Unregistered
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DanielTheManual
Unregistered
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Before my company car option came up, I was very close to buying a Clio 1.5 dci, around a 2004 model for as close to £2k as I could find (most were around £3k). MPG on those is in the mid-60's. A guy at work has had one from new and not any major issues.
Their sunroofs always rattle though!
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Re: Cheap and cheap to run. Recommendations please!
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1293369
30/11/2011 14:58
30/11/2011 14:58
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,636 Aldershot
PeteP
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
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Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,636
Aldershot
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Brewster suggested a diesel Grande Punto. I have had one from new and as a daily car it is brilliant.
1.3litre 16valve turbo diesel with chain driven camshafts so that ia one less service expense.s I had to collect some stuff from near Gibraltar a couple of years ago: 36hours each way door to door for about 1600 miles and an overall fuel consumption of just over 60mpg. Not hanging about either, generally cruising it at an indicated 80 to 90 mph.
Earlier this year Bockers and I drove it to Lancaster and back in one day without undue fatigue.
Nothing has broken on it yet apart from a piece of trim which was replaced under warranty.
Avoid 1.2 petrol engined versions like the plague, they are seriously underpowered. The slug sums them up.
16VT and X1/9 1500
We must all do our part for the planet. I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
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