Advice needed - daily driver

[300bhp per ton]

Alrighty, here's the dilema.

I currently dirve 110 miles a day back and forth to work (will not be moving closer or swapping jobs anytime soon).

And the time has come to replace my current daily driver. At the present the role is filled by a 1999 Peugeot 106 1.5 straight diesel.

The only good thing I can say about it is, it is economical. 60mpg is common and have clocked it at a max of 66mpg.

The rest of the car is pretty crap though.

Now the replacement needs to be reliable, comfortable and where possible fun or different.

Sadly I don't earn a fortune so running cost mean that 40-50mpg is going to be needed. However with the possibility of LPG conversions it dose open up the avenue to more options which would still be affordable on a weekly basis.

So I'm looking for suggestions. Budget is from as cheap as possible (£1000) to £4500 if it seems interesting enough (including the cost of any conversions or importing).


Current thoughts:


-Subaru Justy 1.3

Pros:
Cheap to buy
Reliable
Economical
4wd
A tad different from other hatches

Cons:
Boring
Dull
Boring
and of course Dull


-Ford Thunderbird 4.6 LX (1997 model)

Pros:
Very cool and nice looking
Fast
V8
American
Individual
Comfy
Auto

Cons:
Finding a low milage one
Would have to be imported and SVA'd
Cost of LPG conversion

- my current Camaro z/28

Pros:
Already own it
Fast, good looking, comfy, etc.

Cons:
Cost of LPG conversion
Putting lots of miles on my "best" car
Limiting furture mods due to running LPG
Small range if small LPG tanks used


Anyone got some decent suggestions???

[Roadkill]

I'm in a similar boat, Mate.

I can do 1000 miles a week sometimes but hate my Escort . . .

[Titsy]

Quoting: 300bhp per ton

Anyone got some decent suggestions???

How about something on 2 wheels?

Fast and ecomonical...

[F Body]

Quoting: Titsy

How about something on 2 wheels?

Fast and ecomonical..

£600 Chinese special like mine

Edit : OK so it's not fast but i did beat a RAV 4 this morning

[Titsy]

Would you want to ride it 110 miles a day though...

[F Body]

Quoting: Titsy

Would you want to ride it 110 miles a day though...

Fair point not on the Chinese Death Slider Knobbly tryes and that's in the dry

[Titsy]

Quoting: F Body

Death Slider

That phrase never gets old...

[Rocky]

Same here i just got rid of the fiesta and got a Honda aerodeck (american import) Its a lovely car but a bit juicy so may have to sell it soon.

[philoldsmobile]

TBH i dont think a yank would be suitable for this role, yanks never quite got the idea of small cars..

my pick?

i reckon you cant go too far wrong with a focus TDCi - easily available for £4500 - fun too, decent turn of speed and ace handling, its a superb car.

[Rocky]

I thought being a jap car it would be good on fuel its only a 2.0i but it does about 27 mpg.

[Motorama]

As Phil says just buy yourself a diesel estate car and keep your Z28 for best. We just bought a 53 plate Mondeo Ghia TDCI Estate for £5k, does 48mpg, loads of room, comfy and fast. Has a timing chain too so no poncing about with cam belts every year.

[300bhp per ton]

Quoting: Titsy

How about something on 2 wheels?  

Fast and ecomonical...

Don't have a bike licence, and in all honesty I'm not keen on bikes and certainly wouldn't want to commute a potential 3 hours a day on one and then work in an offce in between.

[300bhp per ton]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

TBH i dont think a yank would be suitable for this role, yanks never quite got the idea of small cars..

my pick?

i reckon you cant go too far wrong with a focus TDCi - easily available for £4500 - fun too, decent turn of speed and ace handling, its a superb car.

Yeah I had considered a Focus, it's a shame it such a "so so" type of car. Far too many parked in the work car park.

Damn, wish I was rich then it would just be fun selecting a vehicle for the daily commute.

[Fieldy]

Focus' is A superb decision as the upkeep for parts is nothing....That would be my choice personally

[Giblets]

Focus TDCi would be a good bet, but also have you considered:

Skoda Octavia TDi ?

Basically a cut price Passat with a bulletproof engine and hard wearing interior, plus Skoda are currently the top manufacturer in the Consumer Surveys. Loads going for £2 - £4k on ebay and the like.

And if needs be it would make a better load lugger than the Focus.

Or you could do what I did and start off thinking Octavia TDi and gradually convince yourself that a BMW 328i Touring is the more practical answer!

So far 31mpg isn't proving too bad for a car packing almost 200bhp.

On the fast roads up to Cambridge you might even better that!

[Fieldy]

any luck with this?

[HardRockCamaro]

I would also vote for the Focus (or Mondeo).

You won't get the wonderful TDCi for your budget though, only a TDI.
A shame as the TDCi engine is wonderfuly powerful.

But the car handles well and is frankly one of the nicest driving cars ever.

Yes there's a lot of them, but that's why you casn get such a good car relatively cheap.

[FUBAR]

My step dad is selling his S reg 1.8l GS Toyota Avensis sometime soon...

[Incursus]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

A shame as the TDCi engine is wonderfuly powerful.

Yeah just took one of our new S-MAX thingys out today, quite impressive compared to the old Galaxy we had.

[HardRockCamaro]

Quoting: FUBAR

My step dad is selling his S reg 1.8l GS Toyota Avensis sometime soon...

Toyota Avensis?
Is he a mini-cab driver?


I'm pretty sure you had to be a minicab driver to buy one...