Can it be done?

I'm looking to spend 3-3.5k on a low mileage, economical, fun car. When I say economical it needs to be doing around 40mpg..the Volvo does 26-27 and its killing me.

Any suggestions?

Fabia vRS!!

I can't get a Fab VRS for 3k with low mileage though lol. Or I would!

Polo GTi? My average MPG is just under 40 - usually 39.x if driven normally. Not great long distance though comfort wise, but round town it's fine

I think the SEAT Ibiza FR should be quite cheap - maybe the 1.8t version. . .

Golf mk4 GTi 1.8t? Or the GT TDi version?

Edited 11 July, 201114 yr by TriggerFish

Seat Ibiza/Cordoba 130 TDI?

Paid less than 3k for mine. Seen lower mileage ones for around 3.5K.

I can't get a Fab VRS for 3k with low mileage though lol. Or I would!

Nothing wrong with a high miler so long as it's been looked after and maintained properly

I love the way these threads are always self promotion too.

On that note, RX-8?

I do 20k a year and need the low mileage to begin with as it will soon rack up. I have been buying cars with 80+k on them and every time I seem to break them! Superb got to 130k before the turbo started falling apart and this Volvo engine gave up at 96k with a 3k bill!

I like the Polo GTi, and I also have a soft spot for the Lupo GTi having owned an Arosa previously. I;ve also seen the Vauxhall Astra convertibles can be had for sensible money too and they seem to be reliable enough.

Triggerfish, out of interest what sort pf MPG does your RX8 do? :p I'm guessing similar to my Volvo 26-27mpg?

I'd say not a Polo then at 20k a year. Mine leaves my ears ringing and my back dead after ~40minutes or so, hence the move to the Mazda.

I dream of 26mpg! Only been driving it two weeks, but so far I've done roughly 450 miles to 130 litres of petrol! Works out roughly to be 17mpg!

400 /(130/5)

Plenty of octavia VRS around with lower mileage for this sort of money now..mpg isn't too bad on mine around town I can get over 40 mpg comfortably

BMW 320d

Matt

I;ve also seen the Vauxhall Astra convertibles can be had for sensible money too and they seem to be reliable enough.

Is that the Mk4? Definitely worth a look, but I always found the seats quite uncomfortable for long distances...not sure I'd want to do 20k miles a year in one.

Yeah it is the mk4..looks a decent spec and overall car. I could always change the seats...not scared of a bit of modding

The 3 series has too high mileage I think, and I'd want a 5 series

The Octavia is an option.. I saw a White 1.8t hatch 4x4 for sale the otherday and started thinking of the possibilities of a 4x4 vrs

Mazda MX-5

Doesn't do 40mpg but fun is more or less guaranteed.

I do 20k a year and need the low mileage to begin with as it will soon rack up. I have been buying cars with 80+k on them and every time I seem to break them! Superb got to 130k before the turbo started falling apart and this Volvo engine gave up at 96k with a 3k bill!

I like the Polo GTi, and I also have a soft spot for the Lupo GTi having owned an Arosa previously. I;ve also seen the Vauxhall Astra convertibles can be had for sensible money too and they seem to be reliable enough.

Triggerfish, out of interest what sort pf MPG does your RX8 do? :p I'm guessing similar to my Volvo 26-27mpg?

So you spent 3-4k on a 80,000 car and it breaks with big bill after 2/3 years and all cost inbetween, wouldnt it be better to buy a new fabia diesel for 10k run it for 5 years, get great mpg and sell it at 5 years 100,000 miles , it still only cost you 2k a year for a car but no big bills for minimum 3 years

If you look hard, like i did last year, i got a mk1 Octavia 1.9tdi Ambiente est 90bhp on a 04 plate with less than 50000 on it with full history for less that 4k.

It's current mpg is in my sig.

If you look hard, like i did last year, i got a mk1 Octavia 1.9tdi Ambiente est 90bhp on a 04 plate with less than 50000 on it with full history for less that 4k.

It's current mpg is in my sig.

I'm fairly certain that the Octy estate TDi 90 did not come with 'fun' as standard though!

I'm fairly certain that the Octy estate TDi 90 did not come with 'fun' as standard though!

Depends how you class fun?

Because of it's lack of power and soft ride, you have to work harder to go fast cross country and plan ahead more. So after a good run it is quite rewarding and Fun.

Unlike my Sport which is very easy to cover ground fast, but to have fun you need to be going at a higher speed, which can sometimes detract from the enjoyment, unless it's on track.

Picked up my octy 1.8 4x4 for with 50k and a full service history with reciepts for sub 3k. 1 remap later and wow, great fun, cheap price and around 34mpg.

I used to have a volvo s40 2.0t and that used to do 26mpg and i used to do 20k a year, know what you mean cost a small fortune to run even when i work for volvo,

To get 40mpg it will prob have to be a diesel, but finding a fun diesel, what about a golf diesel something like a GT TDI, or something with a hdi engine in it as they are a cracking engine both the 1.6 and the 2.0 versions

I've come across the little Clio renaultsports...general consensus is you can get 35-40 depending how you drive it. Insurance isn't too bad either. I also like the Seat Arosa 1.4 Sport but seem to be pretty rare. Then there is the Octy which I also like!

Wildcard is something like an astra convertible but I'm not sure it would be right. I'd love it but then maybe I'd get bored....argh!!!

Ive driven a couple of 172 clio's and absolutly loved then, there so much fun to drive,

If i didnt have the need for a bigger car then i would have bought one