Cheap, Reliable Commuter Car

[sleepyhead]

So the MX5 is due some good TLC and the Fen roads have battered my poor car to submission. I could take it down to a garage and get someone else to do it but I'd rather try and repair the car myself and save labour costs.

So this has led me down the path of looking for an alternative vehicle.

What the car will be used for: Commuting to and from work. Commuting 180 miles each way to visit family. Any and all non-fun travelling.

What the car might do: Tow/trailer the MX5 to track days (incase I break her which I have done at least twice now). NO LONGER REQUIREDCarry around spare tyres for the MX5 and/or mates cars.

Budget: No more than £2k

Must be: Cheap to insure/tax and requires little looking after (funds are purely for the MX5).

So far I've had a look at cheap diesels and there are alot on the market. Average mileage a year would be 15k hence my thinking behind diesel but I could be wrong.

Is a Ford Focus Diesel any good? Trying to avoid french/italian cars (due to the stigma of randomly breaking down). Absolutely CLUELESS on Japanese diesels...

A few work colleagues are suggesting Diesel Modeos but they are on the large side (parking in London will be difficult) and over budget.

[Zak33]

Mitsubishi Charisma

all day long and well into the night

[sleepyhead]

Oh they are cheap!!!!

What kind of things should I be aware of? These cars are unchartered territory for me.

Autos look appealing (for commuter travel )

Also, 1.8GDi Equippe? Sounds good?

<---clueless

Still, £1,495 for a 77k "R" reg car....auto....

[Behemoth]

I'm going to say Nissan Almera, used to have one before the Vectra. Never let me down, the only thing you have to watch is rust thats what kills them in the end, ahh wait I see your looking at not buying a shed, so that gets you the newer shape one.

[360bhp]

Anything Honda

[sleepyhead]

Just realised it's also got to be comfortable. My mum has bad arthritus and I have taken her from bournemouth to london and back (in the noisy bumpy mx5)....suffice to say she needed quite a few stop offs.

You say "anything honda" 360bhp but there must be things to look out for? Of course it can't be too much fun to drive...that is what the MX5 is for.

[Butuz]

Mazda 323. Mines 10 years and 100k miles of hard use. It's been years since the last time the oil was changed and it still won't die! In 10 years it has never not started, infact I only had to change the exhaust a few months ago - it was on its original exhaust untill 9+ years/99000 miles

Frankly can't see how a car could me more reliable than this!

All I would say it - just make sure it's jap and you should be good to go!

Butuz

[Howard]

Mitsubishi Charisma

all day long and well into the night

Yeah, great..


An Accord, Mondeo etc will all be far better cars, and you'll pick up a fairly recent, loaded Mondeo for 2k these days, too.


edit:
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...0&max_mileage=

Diesel is unnecessary unless you're doing mega miles, it'll be costlier to buy and maintain, too

[kalniel]

But diesel is so nice for towing..

[Howard]

So is any reasonable petrol engine

[sleepyhead]

ARGH! Too many choices out there. lol. There is a garage up here that gets in quite a few trade-ins and I been told, if you got a good eye, you can pick up a real bargain. Just need to drag along a good mechanic mate as they will be Vauxhalls (in 90&#37; of the cases). There is also an Audi A4 for sale up here for just over &#163;2k and I've asked an ex audi guy if he can check on the car.

Hmm Howard, what would you term "mega miles" then for a diesel?

[Howard]

20-25k

[jonskyline]

Mondeo or Focus would probably be your best bet.

[idimmu]

bmw 320d? they go forever, and you might get lucky and find a good one for 2k. can look quite "sporty" too, if you would ever care about that.

[Howard]

bmw 320d? they go forever, and you might get lucky and find a good one for 2k..

No you won't.

[idimmu]

No you won't.

ok, well maybe one that would fit the criteria?

my mate has a pug306tdi for commuting etc, was a bargain... but i understand that hexus is a bit of a 306 graveyard so i didnt want to recommend that!