craig1410
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| posted on 24/5/08 at 10:00 PM |
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Cheapest Commuter Car?
Hi guys,
With the current cost of motoring just going up and up I'm seriously considering selling my Leon Cupra R and buying a cheap little car with
which to travel my 40 miles each day to work and back at the lowest possible cost. My wife has a Seat Altea so we are covered in terms of a
"family car".
I've worked out that I can probably save in the region of 260 quid per month taking account of all the main running costs. My Locost is nearly
finished so I have the "fun car" covered as well and the Cupra, although great fun, is probably not going to be able to compete with the
Locost in that department.
So - what are my options and what are your recommendations?
My first thought is the Toyota Aygo 1.0 Vvti petrol.
Comments/advice welcome as always!
Cheers,
Craig.
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Miks15
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| posted on 24/5/08 at 10:04 PM |
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Gwiz?
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coozer
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| posted on 24/5/08 at 10:12 PM |
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Diesel Saxo, light weight and strip the lintier.. cheap as chips...
Then, stick a tirbo 2L engine in it and WHOOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHH PSST
Seriously. for me 6 miles away from work I've bought a 100cc Speedfight scooter, ring ring ring
[Edited on 24/5/08 by coozer]
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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Hellfire
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| posted on 24/5/08 at 10:16 PM |
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Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion will return 74.3mpg
Phil
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Mr G
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| posted on 24/5/08 at 10:24 PM |
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Just pick up an old shonky diesel and run it on 50% diesel and 50% used cooking oil
Cheap as chips (pun intended )
Helps if you know someone who has used oil though - I know a place that give it away 
Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a
car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes
and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.
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craig1410
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| posted on 24/5/08 at 10:53 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
It takes a long long time to recover the cost of buying a new car.
I know, that isn't news.
Something diesel and cheap is probably the answer.
Or LPG, but I would say that...
My current sensible choice is a 306 HDI for under a grand. Don't actually have one, but if I needed something right now, that would be my
choice.
[Edited on 24/5/08 by zilspeed]
I'm not intending to buy this as a second car, I will sell the Cupra and whatever I buy must not cost more than the proceeds. In fact I
don't intend to spend more than £8k.
I'm not convinced that diesel is the answer given the current disparity between petrol and diesel costs and for a small car I don't
believe that diesel makes as much sense or drive as well as with a larger, heavier car. I find the Aygo attractive because of the excellent little 3
cylinder 1 litre petrol engine which apparently is the lightest production car engine at 60 odd KG's.
I'm also not keen on buying some old piece of junk although that may well be the very cheapest option. I'm keen to have a car covered by
manufacturer's warranty again now that my Cupra has passed 3 years.
The numbers go like this per annum for the Cupra versus Aygo for Depreciation, Fuel, Insurance, Servicing, MOT, Tyres, Road Tax: (Fuel is
£1.15/litre)
Cupra:
£2000 + £2238 (28 MPG * 12000miles) + £380 + £350 + £50 + £280 + £300 = £5598
Aygo:
£1000 + £1010 (62MPG * 12000miles) + £120 + £120 + £0 + £100 + £35 = £2385
Saving = £3213 = £268pm
As you can see I'm looking at the whole cost of ownership not just MPG.
Am I crazy giving up my Cupra for an Aygo??? Speak freely... 
Cheers for all your replies,
Craig.
[Edited on 24/5/2008 by craig1410]
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UncleFista
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| posted on 24/5/08 at 11:14 PM |
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Depreciation is almost as much as your fuel costs, I know where I'd be looking to save cash.
If it was me, every time I filled the tank I'd be thinking of the equal amount of money going down the drain, it'd kill me
Another vote for a shite-old-diesel from me.
[Edited on 24/5/08 by UncleFista]
Tony Bond / UncleFista
Love is like a snowmobile, speeding across the frozen tundra.
Which suddenly flips, pinning you underneath.
At night the ice-weasels come...
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craig1410
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| posted on 24/5/08 at 11:34 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by UncleFista
Depreciation is almost as much as your fuel costs, I know where I'd be looking to save cash.
If it was me, every time I filled the tank I'd be thinking of the equal amount of money going down the drain, it'd kill me
Another vote for a shite-old-diesel from me.
[Edited on 24/5/08 by UncleFista]
Yeah I know what you're saying but I suppose there is a limit as to how far I'm prepared to go with this. I still want a car that is
comfortable and enjoyable to drive and has a few creature comforts. I also want a car which is reliable as I have enough trouble finding time to work
on my Locost never mind my daily commuting car...
To to sum up, it needs to be:
1. Cheap to buy (ie.Less than 8k)
2. Cheap to run (MPG, insurance, VED, service, depreciation)
3. Under warranty (ie. New or nearly new)
4. Enjoyable to drive
5. Pleasant to look at (ie not ugly or too camp...)
I'm finding this discussion helpful as it is making me think about what is important to me. I don't mean to sound like my mind is already
made up...
Cheers,
Craig.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 05:51 AM |
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Buy a 1500 quid Fiesta and stick the money in the bank
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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Howlor
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 06:51 AM |
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As mentioned previously Lupo 1.4 TDI or Polo 14.TDI , my bro has a Polo and it goes well, nice to drive but hits 65mpg no probs even when driven hard
at times.
Steve
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Guinness
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 06:53 AM |
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Not a car, but pretty cheap to run!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzi4tL3QMWk
Quitgas, a guy takes a bike motorbike with a blown engine, sticks a set of batteries in it and an electric motor and builds himself a commuter
bike!
Obviously it'd be better if you could charge it up at work (on their electricity bill) or use solar panels to charge it up!
Mike
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Worzey
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 07:38 AM |
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I've had the exact same thoughts recently..........
I'm running an Audi A3 TDi S-Line Sportback and I'm getting 50+ mpg on my daily commute.
I've had it almost three years and its first MOT is due soon and the cost are likely to start going up once out of warranty.
The difference between diesel and petrol is huge at the moment so an ecomonic petrol may be cheaper to run.
I've been considering a new Fiat 500 - small, funky, fun and cheap. And you can spec it any way yo want!
Caterham R400
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JoaoCaldeira
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 07:39 AM |
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Buy a bike!
I've done that on 2001 and never looked back. Quicker (while in traffic) and, contrary to the common sense, you can get totally dry at pretty
much anywhere - if you use the correct vest. Also you can park anywhere, if that's an issue.
Think about a maxi scooter (like the Suzuki Burgman 400 or any other in this class) Plenty of engine, lots of lugguge space (you can leave the helment
and jacket, for example)
Saying that, I've shifted to a Yamaha Royal Star Venture - purely for the looks - a couple years ago bur I recogniz<e the the Burgman was
way more fitr to the job of commuting...
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Danozeman
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 08:16 AM |
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As another option. My mum has a w reg 1 litre yaris vvti. Had it from new. Its done over 100k and iv never done a thing to it apart from a water
pump a few months ago cos the brgs broke up and service items. Its still on the original brakes too! Iv seviced it from 30k. Costs at the most 30
quid for a full service.
My mum never gets less than 50mpg from it. Youl get one cheap. 1 litre so lower tax. They go like hell for a 1 litre. Pocket the rest. Theyr not
bad to drive.
Id get a cheap car and put the rest in an isa or something rather than a new car under warranty. Warrantys count for nothing. Cars rarely go wrong
until its up anyway. If they do they come up with some reason why its your fault especially ford.
[Edited on 25/5/08 by Danozeman]
Dan
Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!
http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 08:17 AM |
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Go for a 1-year-old low-mileage car - let someone else take the first depreciation hit, and you'll still have 2 years warranty.
I'd recommend Toyota - they'll go on forever, as long as you keep them properly serviced (whether at the main stealer or an independent
garage).
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Peteff
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 08:30 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by coozer
Seriously. for me 6 miles away from work I've bought a 100cc Speedfight scooter, ring ring ring
Did you buy it from new? They are sods for seizing after a a couple of thousand miles if you don't warm them up before setting off.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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smart51
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 09:24 AM |
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I have a peugeot 107. Officially 61 MPG, I average 54 which isn't bad. Cheap road tax too. The down side is that it is hard on tyres.
My wife has a citroen C3 diesel. It too is good on fuel, but the fuel is more expensive. As is the road tax an the premium of buying a diesel. It
has a little more umph than the 107 but only when the turbo is in the zone.
The polo blue motion is't suppoesed to match its claims of MPG as well as other cars.
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 09:41 AM |
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Second the C3 diesel , wife has one , lively performance and good on fuel (even at £1.31 per lt) Find it comfortable to drive as well Most modern cars
tend to be reliable so I wouldn't worry to much about the warranty, says me with my £350 banger I got 11 years ago
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craig1410
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 10:22 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by chris mason
i'd forget about diesel being slightly more expensive at the pumps, if you work on diesel being £1.25 per litre or £5.68 a gallon, in a 70mpg
tdi, that makes your fuel consumption 8p a mile
now take a petrol car that gives you 50mpg (if your lucky), unleaded at £1.12 per litre or £5.08 a gallon, that would give you fuel consumption of 10p
a mile.
then there's the fact diesels tend to hold there money better, i've got a mk4 golf tdi and it's thrashed to within an inch of
it's life and yet still returns 47-50mpg.
Go diesel it's the future
Chris
Hi Chris,
I'm not a big fan of diesel to be honest - I have mild asthma which doesn't cause me any problems generally. However, if I'm behind
a diesel and the driver is gunning it hard with the ensuing black smoke as it hits peak revs I can feel it irritating my airways big time. I
personally blame diesel cars for the increase in asthma.
Also, I know someone who drives an Aygo who gets close to 80MPG in the 1.0 petrol. It depends on the type of journey and the driving style for sure
but 50MPG is pessimistic I think. My journey consists of 50% motorway and 50% of 40MPH outer-urban driving. I can get 37MPG in my Cupra to I'd
be surprised if I can't get 60MPG in an Aygo.
Bikes are out of the question because I get a car allowance from my employer. This is worth £6000pa but I need to provide a car which can carry more
than two people and equipment. Two seaters are not allowed nor are bikes.
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, there are some good ones in there which I'll be looking into further. I'm going to test drive an
Aygo today if possible to see if it is something I could live with...
Cheers,
Craig.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 12:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion will return 74.3mpg
Phil
Every review I have read on the Bluemotions says that VAG's claims are very optimistic. The review in Auto Express showed that the 1.4 TDI SE
was far better equipped, costs £1128 less and the impact on fuel economy is only 4mpg.
Somewhat stupidly the bluemotion Polo is so close to the emissions limits for the tax free band, that adding air conditioning puts it up into the next
tax band!
The Citroen C1 came top of their tests:
Citroen C1
BMW MINI Cooper D
Fiat Panda 1.3 Mulitjet
VW Polo Bluemotion
Toyota Prius
Renault Clio 1.5dCi
The Panda is also the least expensive to buy, followed by the Citroen.
Auto Express Review
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MikeLR
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 01:51 PM |
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The Aygo,107 and C1 are all the same.
Dont let the Toyota dealer tell you differently !
We have a 107 purchased at 1 year old from a Car Supermarket, cant fault it. Re front tyres ours needed changing at 22K not too bad ,cost just over
£80 for two.
Regards
Mike
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smart51
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 02:25 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by MikeLR
We have a 107 ... Re front tyres ours needed changing at 22K
Mt 107 is 23 months old, with 18,000 miles and the second set of tyres doesn't have long for this world. I don't drive particularly hard
in it. None of my previous cars have worn their tyres out nearly as quick.
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craig1410
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 05:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by MikeLR
The Aygo,107 and C1 are all the same.
Dont let the Toyota dealer tell you differently !
We have a 107 purchased at 1 year old from a Car Supermarket, cant fault it. Re front tyres ours needed changing at 22K not too bad ,cost just over
£80 for two.
Regards
Mike
Hi Mike,
Yes I know but to be honest I don't like the look of the 107 or the C1. Each to their own but the 107 reminds me of a cod fish and the C1 is a
bit bug-eyed. Sorry - don't mean to upset anyone...
I'm just back from a test drive in an Aygo Platinum and it seems like a decent enough car. As expected they didn't want to give me enough
for my own car as a trade in so I'll just sell it privately instead. There should be a few takers for a 3 year old Silver Cupra R with FDSH and
in excellent condition.
Still finding it hard to actually make the decision to sell the Cupra - bloody good car to drive it is... 
Thanks again to all who have responded.
Craig.
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Simon
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 07:33 PM |
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Hi Craig,
How about a Rover 25 TD (I saw you comments about asthma, but hey you'll always be driving away from it)
Apparently they did over 70mpg, 60 in about 9 sec. I nearly bought one for the wife for about £500. Bought her a ZR160 instead
ATB
Simon
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Peteff
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| posted on 25/5/08 at 08:07 PM |
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My friend has a C2 diesel and it's a little belter of a car. It has blown a couple of injector seals but apart from that it's been good
and the road tax is only something like £35 a year + about 55mpg.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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