Cars to consider for frequent distance driving.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Not a Reliant Robin.

[Knoxville]

Comfort and not fugly... Citroen C6? It would certainly have all the toys, as well as that lovely concave rear screen

I wouldn't listen to me though, I went on to autotrader looking for a little hatch with decent fuel economy and came home on leaf springs ;-)

[Flibb]

Just a heads up, I have had an Astra, Octavia and a Ceed either as company cars or owned outright over the last 10 ish years. I currently have an 08 Ceed that will be getting chopped in over the next couple of months. Heading back to a Skoda, out of the various makes I have driven and owned it impressed me the most for comfort and price/spec balance. Going to try a Fabia but might get another Octavia.

Might also be getting a LR Defender as the households other car or possible an old Discovery.

[Vini]

How do you find the Ceed Flibb? I imagine it to have a similar ride to the Focus, basing that purely on the fact its a hatch!

Of course, I appreciate describing the ride is tricky and an own view!


Whats folks thoughts on the Volvo S40... Driven past a nice one in metallic orange tonight and theres a guy opposite me with an R-Design...

I actually quite like the look, its spec and price also fall into budget...!

Gotta stop looking at autotrader, grrrr!

[DanceswithUnix]

S40 is same platform as a Focus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_C1_platform

Have driven the V50 estate version. It went around corners OK (well it is basically a Focus underneath, so it aught to) but otherwise I really didn't like the interior and the low tax 1.6 eco diesel engine was supposed to be 110bhp but felt really gutless.

[Knoxville]

Might also be getting a LR Defender as the households other car or possible an old Discovery.

Don't tease me ;-)

[Flibb]

On the Ceed front I like it as a daily drive, but on longer journeys (3hrs+) it can start to feel a bit cramped and tiring, definitely more so than the Octavia. Ours is late 2008 so its got the older suspension, the newer version is claimed to be better designed for UK roads. Going to drive a Fabia and Octavia at the weekend, local dealer has both with the TSI engines.


Knoxville.. Might go and tyre kick a few LRs on Sunday. I am pretty familiar with "characteristics" of defenders, but need to do find out where to look on Discos. If I go the Defender route will be looking for a 90 with the 300tdi, ideally on a galvanised chassis.

[Knoxville]

Knoxville.. Might go and tyre kick a few LRs on Sunday. I am pretty familiar with "characteristics" of defenders, but need to do find out where to look on Discos. If I go the Defender route will be looking for a 90 with the 300tdi, ideally on a galvanised chassis.

Niiiice

It might be worth considering the 200tdi depending on what you want from the motor bud, but the words galvanised chassis tell me you already know your apples from pears though so I'll hush up on that front, save hijacking a thread :-)

Disco's... Similar problem area's, same engines so there's no hassle there but there are a few things to look out for that are unique to the vehicle, we've had four Discovery 200/300tdi's in the family over the years, I can knock up a quick list later if you like... but you know you want a Ninety really ;-)

[Tumble]

I drive a Focus mk3 (Zetec) - had it from new in Feb and I've done just over 14k in it. No comfort issues whatsoever and everything works brilliantly in it. It hasn't got cruise control, but it's a small inconvenience. Team leaders all have Mondeo Titaniums - which are *really* nice places to be. They haven't got the spaceship dash like the Focus. I've had the pleasure of trying a Peugeot 407 (10 plate), a VW Passat (12 plate), a brace of Pug 308s (12 plates, horrid vehicles, avoid like the plague!!) and a 12 plate Kia C'eed. The Kia was good and powerful for a 1.6 Diesel, and it was stupidly efficient, but it was built cheaply and it was very noisy and the gadgets didn't work very reliably either. That may have changed with the facelift though. I didn't like any of the Peugeots. Too soft and gutless, and not that efficient either....

[Vini]

I drive a Focus mk3 (Zetec) - had it from new in Feb and I've done just over 14k in it. No comfort issues whatsoever and everything works brilliantly in it. It hasn't got cruise control, but it's a small inconvenience. Team leaders all have Mondeo Titaniums - which are *really* nice places to be. They haven't got the spaceship dash like the Focus. I've had the pleasure of trying a Peugeot 407 (10 plate), a VW Passat (12 plate), a brace of Pug 308s (12 plates, horrid vehicles, avoid like the plague!!) and a 12 plate Kia C'eed. The Kia was good and powerful for a 1.6 Diesel, and it was stupidly efficient, but it was built cheaply and it was very noisy and the gadgets didn't work very reliably either. That may have changed with the facelift though. I didn't like any of the Peugeots. Too soft and gutless, and not that efficient either....

I like the Focus, and have had a MK1 and MK2 myself. I don't really like the internal/external design of the MK3. But thats by the by. After a few years, they just seem to lose their ride comfort... Perhaps Sheffield just kills them, or perhaps it's me not looking after them, but the road noise just starts to creep in and every bump starts to feels like a crater... I'm after a car that has a bunch of workmen living inside, who are always a few miles ahead of you, who can fill in the bumps and make the ride a bit nicer!




I'm doing all this ahead of time, I'm waiting on a few things to fall in to place, before I know my exact budget and whether or not I can fully afford. But you know, assuming you're all blokes, that our urge and desire often increases and before you know it you've signed. Anyway, my "urge" has been increasing, so I went to a local dealer last night who has 320d's, S40's, Mondeo's, Octavia's and Insignia's.

I sat in an Insignia and an S40. The S40, was a let down, the boot incredibly tight. I play Ice Hockey and although the boot has some size, the actual door opening is small, and I'm not sure my kit would even go in! I read a review on the S40 that also confirmed what I currently get with the Focus, presumably as it's one and the same. That there's no foot rest to the side of the clutch, which means you plant it on the floor, or as I do, on the clutch!! This is a nightmare...

The Insignia is a car that I pass daily and think its ugly. However, its been growing on me, and sitting in one was nice. 6 Months ago I was considering a Vectra, because I liked the ride. If I can get my head around the sheer length that the Insignia appears to be (despite only being 40cm more than the Focus!) I could be interested!

Having slept on it. Despite all the above, I still quite like the S40 but may have talked myself out of needing the R-Design. The S40 1.6D SE would be enough, but I don't want those god awful alloys that most come with!

320d is a nice bit of kit, but in my price range, they tend to come with mega miles - though I'm guessing any modern-ish car should do 150000 without much trouble these days! I'll be going from 10000 a year to 20000 a year. So wouldn't want one to have more than 50k on it really.

Octavia, not sure about... I like the vRS, but the vRS goes against everything I would like (economy etc).

Mondeo, currently tar'd by the Focus brush. Might try one before ruling it out.

I need to listen to her unfortunately and put my search on hold until I find out the answers to what I'm waiting on....

[ehhhhhhh]

I would go with BMW 3 or 5 series. Best choice for long distance driving in my opinion.

[bytejunkie]

320d is a nice bit of kit, but in my price range, they tend to come with mega miles - though I'm guessing any modern-ish car should do 150000 without much trouble these days! I'll be going from 10000 a year to 20000 a year. So wouldn't want one to have more than 50k on it really.

why? these things are built for motorways and high mileage. its common in germany for rep mobiles to do 120 mph for hours on end and 40k a year.

so buy a 6 year old car with 90k on it and with your below average milage you soon bring the average milage down. and you'll save a good 1500 quid or 2k maybe.

i did and its been a great move. at 90k the 3 series still drives nice n tight.

[Vini]

why?

That's just it. It's the perception I've grown up with.

I come from a family that keeps a car for three years and swaps... Alarm bells ring if a car hits 50k.....

I guess it's just an old habit...

I'd be willing to consider 50/60k, but not much else......

Like this; http://www.quicks.co.uk/vehiclesearc...r-mf57loh.html

Shame it's auto!

[kalniel]

Wow.. I don't usually consider cars until they've done at least 40k. That way I know if they're 4-5 years old they've actually been used for decent journeys rather than shopping trips. The first car I bought had over 230k on the clock..

[Vini]

Wow.. I don't usually consider cars until they've done at least 40k. That way I know if they're 4-5 years old they've actually been used for decent journeys rather than shopping trips. The first car I bought had over 230k on the clock..

See thats probably a more sensible way of looking at it. I have no car knowledge, nor does my family.

I guess the fear of hitting 70k etc when the timing belts (ford) usually need doing is just a fear etc...... I think in this day and age its less of an issue and to be honest from my experience (with ford) repairs ain't that expensive...!

Maybe I need to open my eyes a little

[kalniel]

Timing belts usually need doing at 5 years regardless of mileage, so better to have one where the mileage and age sync up as it's clear that it will either have just been done, or needs doing soon, so you factor in the £350 into the cost of purchasing the car (ie it's a great reason to ask for a £350 discount ).