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Higgers



Member Since: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 668
United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red
What's the best cheap commuting car?
Guys,

After a bit of advice. Next job is in Glasgow so need a cheap commuter able to do the weekly commute from Bala area to Glasgow. Cheap running costs and tax, plus not a money pit.

Was thinking £3k max.

Initial thoughts are Citroen C2 HDi VTS or a old school Fabia VRS. A little sporty I know, but I do enjoy driving and I may as well have a little fun whilst doing it Wink

All thoughts welcome..........this means I get to keep the Defender! Thumbs Up

Cheers

Ian Thumbs Up
Post #391190 21st Jan 2015 8:50pm
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borderterrier



Member Since: 09 Dec 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1677
United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Fly?
Post #391193 21st Jan 2015 8:53pm
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JAY BOY



Member Since: 04 May 2010
Location: Not here
Posts: 1706
Wales 
We have had a Suzuki swift in the past and they a great cheap car to run and not a lot of money now. Thumbs Up
Post #391194 21st Jan 2015 8:53pm
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louiskemp1



Member Since: 19 Mar 2013
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 55
United Kingdom 
I've always used Polo's in this sort of case. Cheap parts, very reliable and you can always make a £ or two on them if you have a good eye for them!
Post #391203 21st Jan 2015 8:59pm
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LRmud



Member Since: 22 Oct 2014
Location: IV12 Highland
Posts: 198
Scotland 1989 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Baltic Blue
How's about a bit of this...

Lexus IS 200 2.0 SE 4dr Auto £2695 34000 miles. Nice quality motor.

It's not mine, by the way! Rolling with laughter but saw it on Autot......

Or any Honda motor ever made.
Post #391218 21st Jan 2015 9:25pm
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Higgers



Member Since: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 668
United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red
borderterrier wrote:
Fly?


By the time I get to the airport, wait, fly, the wife drives 90 min to the airport then 90 mins back. It'll be quicker and cheaper to drive. Same goes for the train unfortunately!
Post #391265 21st Jan 2015 10:24pm
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borderterrier



Member Since: 09 Dec 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1677
United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
True enough. A nice Golf GTD would do the trick I reckon. Classless, quick (ish), good on fuel and well screwed together. Get a good one and it will last forever. Suffers high mileage well.
Post #391267 21st Jan 2015 10:29pm
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Venomator



Member Since: 25 Aug 2014
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 2087
United Kingdom 
^ ^ ^
Another Thumbs Up For Golf... Mr. Green

We have one, it is brilliant for short runs or long commutes and about twice the MPG of my 90... Whistle  Rog... Mr. Green
The GREEN One...

MY2016 Urban Truck Build Thread - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40548....al[/color]
Post #391286 21st Jan 2015 11:07pm
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Pam W



Member Since: 25 Oct 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1169
England 1998 Defender 90 Td5 SW Auto Oslo Blue
I'm mulling over a cheap commuting car at the moment too, for when I eventually go back to work! (Job hunting now!)

Problem is I've been driving Land Rovers (RR, Disco, Freelander, Defender) for around 25 years now and I hate been low down close to the ground in a 'car'. Driving a 2wd manual car just isn't a happy thought!

I'd like a FL2 but they are a bit out of our price range as a cheap commuter - £14K or so would pay for an awful lot of fuel in our very lovely to drive 4.0 Auto P38 RR!

So then got around to thinking maybe a diesel auto Suzuki Vitara might be an option. Never driven one but they can't be too bad, can they?? Confused Wink Our blog - http://landytravels.com/

Yorkshire Off Road Club - http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net
Post #391297 21st Jan 2015 11:50pm
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BigRuss



Member Since: 15 May 2010
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 2785
United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
I have a ford fiesta econetic 1.6 tdci I get a good 50mpg when hammering it and upwards of 60mpg when driving sensibly.

A guy I work with has a golf which does more mpg but when we looked at it the golf was cheaper to run day to day but cost mo to buy and service where as the fiesta was cheaper to buy and cheaper to service. Cheap enought to not Warrant the extra out lay for a golf. Russell
2011MY 110 XS USW Black
Post #391304 22nd Jan 2015 12:16am
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BigRuss



Member Since: 15 May 2010
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 2785
United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Pam W wrote:
I'm mulling over a cheap commuting car at the moment too, for when I eventually go back to work! (Job hunting now!)

Problem is I've been driving Land Rovers (RR, Disco, Freelander, Defender) for around 25 years now and I hate been low down close to the ground in a 'car'. Driving a 2wd manual car just isn't a happy thought!

I'd like a FL2 but they are a bit out of our price range as a cheap commuter - £14K or so would pay for an awful lot of fuel in our very lovely to drive 4.0 Auto P38 RR!

So then got around to thinking maybe a diesel auto Suzuki Vitara might be an option. Never driven one but they can't be too bad, can they?? Confused Wink


I know what you mean, I hate sitting low especially in traffic.

Whe we lived in Scotland we had a defender and a disco and didn't worry about a small car as it wouldn't cope with the winters. Russell
2011MY 110 XS USW Black
Post #391306 22nd Jan 2015 12:17am
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carrotbay



Member Since: 18 Aug 2013
Location: Northants, UK
Posts: 702
United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel XS CSW Auto Santorini Black
I'm using a Golf for most of my commuting. Had a problem this week that because of it being parked at the back and I know it's got no fuel in it, so I've taken the 110 for the last 3 days! .. Any excuse Whistle 2008 Defender 110 XS SW - M57N2 / 6HP28X
Post #391321 22nd Jan 2015 6:53am
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borderterrier



Member Since: 09 Dec 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1677
United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
BigRuss wrote:
I have a ford fiesta econetic 1.6 tdci I get a good 50mpg when hammering it and upwards of 60mpg when driving sensibly.

A guy I work with has a golf which does more mpg but when we looked at it the golf was cheaper to run day to day but cost mo to buy and service where as the fiesta was cheaper to buy and cheaper to service. Cheap enought to not Warrant the extra out lay for a golf.


Filters and a good quality oil are all that's needed to keep these things running. Normal wear items such as tyres, shocks etc are much of a muchness price wise. Europarts are a decent source of quality, reasonably priced bits.
Post #391331 22nd Jan 2015 7:55am
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6319
England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Citroën piccolo. Best car on the road. Obviously a diesel. They regularly do 200k + miles and the 110ps 1.6 I had did over 70mpg +. (got 800 miles on a tank)

50+k miles out of the tyres....and ran lovely on the bio diesel too.
Post #391334 22nd Jan 2015 8:03am
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couplands



Member Since: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Peak District & Cornwall
Posts: 1826
United Kingdom 2001 Defender 90 Td5 HT Oslo Blue
Given the amount of miles you'll be doing, I'd consider a bigger car for comfort & safety reasons.

Automatic is also a good option. I used to do a 400 mile round trip journey a few times a week and it was a mix of cross country and motorways, an auto was a god-send and a decent sized car felt a lot safer when dicing with 40 ton trucks.

Cheers

Simon
Post #391337 22nd Jan 2015 8:11am
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