Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a new car for my everyday comute to work, Its 26miles each way.
I don't know if I should just get a little diesel which will be more economical, but it wont take long to pi$$ me off, or if I should spend a bit more and geting something I will enjoy.
The £15 a day in petrol is a bit much at the moment, but thats not the reson I need to change its just i've clocked up too many miles, and it just seems like there something new needing replacing everyday.

If I get a little diesel I could still keep my scoob for weekends.

 

A 1.0l Nissan Micra is very economical.

 

I did the same, my commute is 45 miles each way, mostly busy motorway. I bought a Citroen C4 1.6 HDI a couple of years ago and I've averaged 47mpg over 23,500 miles - and well over 50mpg on the commute itself. The other benefit is that it is rated at 120g/km, so only £35 a year tax. Insurance is pretty cheap as well. It has an electronic gearbox so can be driven as an automatic (which is great for the commute) but also has flappy paddles and a sequential shifter for a bit more fun. I've kept the Scooby for weekends.

I'm in the process of trading the Citroen in for a Bluemotion Golf (with the seven speed DSG gearbox) which should be even higher mpg and is 109g/km so still £35 tax.

 

Do your sums first.

If you buy something decent (like scud8), you may find that the cost of tax, insurance, servicing and especially depreciation (at least £1k/yr on a newish car) will be more than you will save in fuel.

The cheaper option of buying a banger will eliminate the depreciation costs, but you will need something reliable for a 50+mile round trip or you will be constantly repairing it.

I do 26 miles each way, too, so bought a bike that does 55mpg a couple of years ago. Not sure if it has saved any money, but it has kept the miles down on the Scoob.

 

it wouldn't take me long to break a 1.0 micra.


surley i can get something half decient for around £2500.(which is how much cash I have).
then I can wait a few months and get a newer scoob too.
if I get a newer comuting car on fianance, I'll be spread quite thin as far as geting a new scoob goes. and I want a new scoob, a blob eye wrx wagon, or a new wrx.

 

But how long before your petrol savings pays for the new runabout? Considering extra insurance, tax, servicing etc for having a second car, is it really a saving you're making?

I commute daily, 12 miles each way and I just use the scoob. Although if it was over 20 then a small runabout is something I'd at least consider. Have to weigh up the costs though.