Looking for a daily hack

[Rtaylor2208]

I've been offered a new job which although has an extra 10K on the salary it's a daily commute of 90 miles round trip.

So I've been looking at something as a daily hack, not fussed really what it looks like, spec, colour etc.

It needs to get at least 50MPG and I've got a budget of about 3K.

I've seen a couple of E46 318 and 320 Diesels advertised but at this price range are they worth taking the punt?

Or going for something completly different?

[Topblag]

Congratulations. Should I assume your offer came from the East of Scotland ?

I'd recommend a Skoda Octavia diesel. All the taxi drivers use them round my way as they are reliable, comfortable, good on fuel and cheap to service and repair. They're also able to manage high mileage well. Every part on them is VAG.

I used to have bmws and merc as dailys but my derv Skoda is the best balance of cost, reliability and BHP. I've done 43k miles in mine and it's cost me two sets of tyres and £450 in servicing (although it's on long life servicing). That's hard to beat.

[Rtaylor2208]

Ideally I would have liked something a little less taxi but that sounds pretty much exactly what would make most sense. Don't want to say too much about the job just yet as I've not accepted it but its in Renfrewshire.

The extra cash sounded like a great deal at first but since I've not had a regular insurance policy in my own name, don't have a car to use every day and not to mention the cost of fuel I need something cheap to make it worth the move.

On the plus side there is some travelling worldwide to some pretty awesome customer sites.

[Duke137]

My old man runs 100 miles a day in a X Reg Xantia HDI 2.0

He bought off DanThe's mate for a few hundred pounds with I think 143k on it. It now has 148k, he has only had it a few months. We changed the timing belt out of precaution as it was £48 for the kit IIRC and it just keeps going. He has to try hard not to do 50mpg and on the motorways and A roads it is super comfy.

Theory is: If it dies, buy another for a few hundred and scrap it off. Works well for him.

Congrats on the new job Russ!

[Rtaylor2208]

Cheers Ferg, that sounds even more tempting, the cheaper the better.

Is that not the same lump thats in most of the old french turds? Xsaras, 406, 306 etc etc.

Would take a 306 as a daily as for some strange reason I still quite like them.

[Jhonno]

Something VAG and diesel.

/Thread.

[Topblag]

Would take a 306 as a daily as for some strange reason I still quite like them.

You're one sick puppy.

[320Touring]

Would take a 306 as a daily as for some strange reason I still quite like them.

You're one sick puppy.

the 306 is a great chassis- for a fwd french econobox

hard to fault the Octavia or Fabia TDI as a daily though

[DanThe]

Golf/Bora has the same engine as the Skoda, I service a Bora 1.9tdi thats coming up to its 4th timing belt interval, 23*,000 miles its on, its had oil/filters every 10,000 miles since the warranty/milage was out, the only repairs its had has been an alternator pulley (its a clutch type) a front wheel bearing and a boot lock. Just brakes/tyres/fluids/filters apart from that, the driver is getting 70mpg regularly and is not about to get rid of it!

[Andyboy]

Ford focus tddi's are okay and so are Peugeots - a 406 or 307 HDI would do the job as they do monster miles. VAG stuff is okay but I wouldn't touch a BMW diesel.

[bmw9818]

peugeot 106 1.5d 60odd mpg

[jonny323i]

I know someone selling a 320d estate 2001 wants 2250 if I remember right

[capri_rob]

Audi A4 - get the SE and they are well specced and you won't get less than 50mpg unless you punch a hole in the tank

[Rtaylor2208]

Thanks all, going on the fact were all BMW daft on here and pretty much everyone is giving VAG / French turd recommendations it looks like that's the way to go.

Got a chat with the company on Monday to finalise negotiations on the overall package so might be hunting for a car come Monday night.

[e30topless]

I bought a 2002 focus gas oil burning shooting brake for a grand a year ago, I constantly nail it everywhere and generally abuse it, still returns around 55mpg

done me proud for the last 17k and i have never lifted the bonnet other than to change the oil/filters

[Blitz]

I have been having dirty thoughts about a E34 524td and running it one vegetable oil.

[Andyboy]

Forget it. First you need to find a 525td that isn't shagged out scrap and even if you do, it'll only be doing 25-30 mpg at best.

[scott180gtb]

Forget it. First you need to find a 525td that isn't shagged out scrap and even if you do, it'll only be doing 25-30 mpg at best.

This ^^^^^

I used to run one of these old turds. Shocking on fuel.

Anything VAG 1.9 pump duce will do. I use to run a Passat 130 sport which was really good on juice and good to drive. Six speed box helps with the motorway miles.

I sold mine to my old man who is possible selling his on. I will ask him to see how much bread he wants.

[suchy]

As Andy mentioned earlier the big derv peugeots do interstella miles and are reliable and most VAG stuff is pretty good and reliable/cheap. Audi's are ok but I've known a couple with expensive ABS problems (A3 & A4) and they're costlier than the comparative Passat.
Not had much experience with BMW diesels but a good friend has a v.reliable E39 2.5 but as also previously mentioned it does eat fuel comparred to others.

[Blitz]

Forget it. First you need to find a 525td that isn't shagged out scrap and even if you do, it'll only be doing 25-30 mpg at best.

This ^^^^^

I used to run one of these old turds. Shocking on fuel.

Anything VAG 1.9 pump duce will do. I use to run a Passat 130 sport which was really good on juice and good to drive. Six speed box helps with the motorway miles.

I sold mine to my old man who is possible selling his on. I will ask him to see how much bread he wants.

Are you talking about the M51 or M21? I was thinking of the M21 that was only sold in Continental Europe?

[Andyboy]

M21!!!

Like an M51 only worse.

[fingerman]

As already mentioned above VAG is the way to go

My 2005 Passat HL 130bhp (remapped to 170ish bhp) B5.5 returns close to 60mpg, done 7k in her and no issues

[e30shed]

My missus had a 306 1.9TD for ages, ran it upto 165k with minimal servicing over 5 years with no problems. Only replaced it after she reversed into a Range Rover. We now have a 320d facelift 150 bhp 6-speed, it now has 160k on it, and its been a great car so far....

[DanThe]

Forget it. First you need to find a 525td that isn't shagged out scrap and even if you do, it'll only be doing 25-30 mpg at best.

Only lorry drivers or mugs buy E34 dervs! I must admit to buying one though, however, after handing over £400, driving it home and removing the factory fit towbar I didnt feel that bad about moving it on at £900 to the nice man from daarn saarf

[MattTheHat325]

A hummer is economical to a lorry driver dan! This is why I think I'm being frugal by driving a 328i 60+ miles everyday! Not really had much experience with dervs but a few mates have them. One is a 55 a4 2.0tdi s-line estate. Lovely car and does massive mpg, been to the south of France, round the ring etc BUT he's spent nearly 4 grand in the last couple of years on it, and isn't too pleased with it anymore as it owes him a fortune!

Another has a mk4 gttdi. What a car. He drives it like an absolute animal and the computer registers an average of around 54-55 mpg. Very reliable car. One of these or a fabia vrs if you can find one for your budget!

Other end of the scale, few years back I bought an astramax for 75 sheets. Never missed a beat and if it was any more economical the petrol stations would have been paying ME!