Cars on a Tight Budget

[B5234FT]

You're doing 10k miles a year, why on earth are you looking at diesels?

You're making running cost comparisons with the matter of a few takeaways between costs. The real life variance is MUCH larger. Any of them could need a timing belt depending on the mileage you buy at, diesels with a DPF require different and more expensive oil, different tyre sizes have wildly varying costs depending on the number sold and you may or may not need to buy any.

Do you have an spanner turning abilities to maintain cars or will you be forced to pay labour?

No modern cars blow up at 100k miles, or even 200k miles and they dont rust either, they just produce more and more bills gradually until you're throwing more money at keeping the older one than a new one would cost. That point is MUCH earlier if you pay labour.

Personally, barring perhaps a 1.6 petrol focus (theyre like cockroaches), I wouldnt touch any of your list.

The best car will be one that has been cared for, so avoid buying from auctions, ever. No one has ever sent an honest car to an auction, they're all there for a reason. Find a private seller and buy a car that's worth almost as much in bits as youre paying and look at it before you buy.

For example:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-FORD-MONDEO-1-8-LX-5-DOOR-ESTATE/172953044265?hash=item2844ce0529:g:vUQAAOSw~HBZ9Qx1

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-FORD-FOCUS-ESTATE-1-6-PETROL-5-DOOR/142537079881?hash=item212fdf3c49:g:8kMAAOSw9jdZ364a

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V40-2-0T-SE-Estate/112623363558?hash=item1a38e025e6:g:NJ0AAOSwr1tZ94rU

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw/263293812368?hash=item3d4d88be90:g:cLMAAOSwZtlZ-tYt

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-VECTRA-1-8i-VVT-2006-56-IDEAL-ESTATE-FACE-LIFT-HPI-CLEAR/152767595548?hash=item2391a8841c:g:0KgAAOSwUMxZ-Z8E

And with each one you'd need to see what servicing is next due, how much meat is left on the tyres and what the previous MOT history and advisories were. Find one thats 30k from needing a belt and has just been serviced and you should be able to keep it for 2 years and 20k for the price of a service and a pair of tyres if you're lucky.

[_Will_]

Second B5234FT's comment on mileage, you will be better off with a petrol (moreso now the gap at the forecourts is growing again)

An older CR-V with a 2.0 petrol can be picked up around 100k for a grand. Also the early IMA hybrids from honda were bought by the beige wearing generation so are tidy if you can find one and good one fuel.
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[dodsi]

I recently had the same question come up in my head, my 325i needed replacing because it just needed a couple of bits that were not worth it to me - but were for somebody else.

I went with a 2001 56K miles, 2 owners - one for the last 14 years. Toyota Avensis 1.8vvti to get me some Cam chain action so I dont have to think about cam belt services.

£800 - maybe a little on the high side for the price but 4 new tyres, serviced every year to save £200 or so on the car but it need nothing spending on it for the immediate future then a cheaper car could cost me much more than £200 to just buy reasonable tyres.

Only had it a matter of weeks but all appears fine on it.

[arry]

My current Bangernomics is a Lexus IS300 Sportcross. 3 litre straight 6 2JZ with 200+ bhp and a half decent auto box with tiptronic controls; electric and leather everything inside - £850 with a full tank of fuel It's mega - it's actually a little bit too good as I've started to spend money on it, which sort of defeats the object

[M.C]

[Rogerborg]

Mmm, it's weird that now we've realised that diesels are soot belching deathmobiles that we haven't retconned VED to reflect that. It's almost as though it's more about reliable revenue rinsing than reducing emissions.

Mine is the "low emission" Band G version at only £190. Pretty stiff for something that only gets driven a few kilomiles a year, it's probably about 50% of the cost of the fuel I put in it.

Relevant to thread because you do need to check VED rates on things like arry's "£850" penguin punisher that costs £1385 once you've paid for its 265 carbons.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[arry]

Luckily there were no published emissions figures on the IS300 by all accounts and therefore it's flat rate - still lumpy but I roll in mad dorrah.

[Rogerborg]

[Fizzoid]

[arry]

[M.C]

[Rogerborg]

[M.C]

So VED must cost more than insurance for some people? Wish I was one of those.

[arry]

[Polarbear]

[mentalboy]

[-]

[B5234FT]

[bacon]

I currently have a 2004 Audi A6 1.9tdi with the CVT (awful) gearbox.

At the time of purchase, I was travelling large mileages (contracting in Swindon from Portishead near Bristol), thought process at the time of buying it was; no dpf, no dmf, comfy, economic and reliable diesel.

I've since changed jobs etc, I've put 41k trouble free miles on the car in 2 years, all its needed in that time is a battery last winter (it was on the original), tyres and brakes.

Bought on 120k miles, now on 161k miles. Ok the gearbox is fucking terrible compared to my BMW autos I've owned in the past, quite jerky when cold, unresponsive in general, but it's been brilliantly reliable so far. With a longer term average mpg of 44 (actual mpg, computer over reads by 2). I plan to run it to death.

I'm not saying a diesel for 10k miles a year is a clever idea, as I probably wouldn't buy another now my work miles are down to 12k a year. But if you are set on a diesel, an auto 1.9tdi VAG motor is probably the best way to go.

That or a cheap 1.8/2.0 petrol focus would be my shout. Bit more poke than the 1.6

[Fizzoid]

[B5234FT]

my last car was a bora tdi which i ran to 208k miles and it was still going strong but it did have a clutch and flywheel in that time.

[DrDonnyBrago]

I've had 2 x 1.6 L and 1 x 1.8 L petrol focus.

The 100 bhp 1.6 is an awful engine. Very outdated and underpowered. Get a 1.8 or 2L. The mk1 1.8 I had was a nicer engine than either the mk2 or mk3 1.6.

[M.C]

[JonB]

I’ve got an Audi A4 2.0 TDI that’s only 4 years old and has just ticked over 54k miles.

Cam belt is due at next service £372 inc VAT water pump included.

My clutch is already on its way out (common problem). Looking at £980 inc VAT for clutch and dual mass flywheel.

These prices are Independent Audi specialists. Audi garage was looking at close to £4K...

My car allowance and mileage allowance covers this, so I’m not feeling too butthurt, but what I’m saying is that I have these expensive repairs on a car I paid £13k for, these problems are much more likely on a car that only costs £1k. So forget fuel, insurance and tax (my Audi is only £30/year to tax!) and concentrate on the condition of the vehicle.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[dodsi]