What car?

[Ramrod]

New gig starts in 2 weeks, will see me commuting Wolverhampton - Manchestah 3-4 days a week through to end of March (woohoo, banana etc)

I'll admit the rate isn't fantastic but I get paid more for an onsite day than a wfh day, so my plan is to buy a cheap workhorse of a car which I shall mercilessly thrash for the next 9 months then dispose of.

The vehicle will only be used for work (ie doesn't need to be a family wagon etc), I have no ego to satisfy and I'm looking to spend as little as possible - ideally around £1500. Reliable and cheap are the watchwords.



Over to you....

[BrilloPad]

The only cheap car I buy is for my butler.

How about an Aygo?

[DaveB]

New gig starts in 2 weeks, will see me commuting Wolverhampton - Manchestah 3-4 days a week through to end of March (woohoo, banana etc)

I'll admit the rate isn't fantastic but I get paid more for an onsite day than a wfh day, so my plan is to buy a cheap workhorse of a car which I shall mercilessly thrash for the next 9 months then dispose of.

The vehicle will only be used for work (ie doesn't need to be a family wagon etc), I have no ego to satisfy and I'm looking to spend as little as possible - ideally around £1500. Reliable and cheap are the watchwords.



Over to you....

At a minimum 2 hours each way I'd stop over in the week if at all possible. 4 hours driving every day is going to kill you.

If not, something comfortable (saloon), diesel. Saab 93, Ford Mondeo, VW Passat, Rover 75 etc. Your going to kill it anyway so you can pick up something sound but scruffy in your price range.

[filthy1980]

i would 2nd the shout for a ford mondeo

i killed two doing commutes and cars were reasonably reliable and comfortable

although i don't envy your journey up and down the M6 given the current roadworks

[Ramrod]

At a minimum 2 hours each way I'd stop over in the week if at all possible. 4 hours driving every day is going to kill you.

If not, something comfortable (saloon), diesel. Saab 93, Ford Mondeo, VW Passat, Rover 75 etc. Your going to kill it anyway so you can pick up something sound but scruffy in your price range.

Sound but scruffy seems to fit the bill nicely

I've thought about staying over, however the working day is short enough that I reckon the drive is do-able (early start, early finish) and the likelihood is that I would be on site Mon/Wed/Fri (with lunchtime finish on Friday) so it may only be the occasional 'sleepover'.

My gut feeling was that a diesel Mondeo would come up trumps - that may be the way I go

[VectraMan]

Get a GT86 and drive up the motorway sideways each day.

[SimonMac]

New gig starts in 2 weeks, will see me commuting Wolverhampton - Manchestah 3-4 days a week through to end of March (woohoo, banana etc)

I'll admit the rate isn't fantastic but I get paid more for an onsite day than a wfh day, so my plan is to buy a cheap workhorse of a car which I shall mercilessly thrash for the next 9 months then dispose of.

The vehicle will only be used for work (ie doesn't need to be a family wagon etc), I have no ego to satisfy and I'm looking to spend as little as possible - ideally around £1500. Reliable and cheap are the watchwords.



Over to you....

My 2007 Toyota Avensis 2.0D has done nearly 81,000 miles in a little over two and a half years, dull as dishwater to drive but eats the miles and is comfy.

One tip, don't scrip on the services, even if you plan to drive it until it dies, every 6 months without fail it goes in for the full service, touch wood had no mayjor problems except for needing a new battery (ironically yesterday)

[vwdan]

Avoid the Rover 75 at all costs - K Series engine and it'll probably screw you.

To be honest - for £1500 just find something that tickles your fancy and seems in good shape. At the age/mileage of car you're looking at it's a complete gamble and it'll either putter on for mile after mile or completely do you over. Just be prepared to accept that fact and get something else.

I'd be inclined to look at a Mondeo, but again, they can start throwing injectors and turbos at the 150k mark.

For absolute reliability, over all else, I think you need to be looking at low mileage, small petrol engine old common cars such as Astras, Focus etc. If you can get something with a chain instead of a cambelt you may avoid some drama there. It's probably not going to be huge amounts of fun to Manchester and back, though.

[VectraMan]

One tip, don't scrip on the services, even if you plan to drive it until it dies, every 6 months without fail it goes in for the full service, touch wood had no mayjor problems except for needing a new battery (ironically yesterday)

Why was yesterday ironic?

[GlenW]

If you can get something with a chain instead of a cambelt you may avoid some drama there.

+1 for that, I had on go on a Mondeo, totally fecked the engine.