Hicky

What about a diesel? Good for cruising, long time between fill ups and plenty of go in the mid-range. Ideal for motorways.

Forgot to add VW/Focus/Mondeo

[Edited by Hicky - 7/2/2003 12:09:01 PM]

NotoriousREV

I'm looking at getting a Skyline in September so will also be looking for a cheap commuter car.

I do 45 miles each way to work which is mainly motorway/dual carriageway. The car needs to be fast enough to cruise at 85 - 90 comfortably, be able to nip into gaps, comfy for sitting in traffic jams and not be sh*t.

It must be reasonably cheap to run and cost less than £1000 (£500 would be better) to buy and be DIY maintainable with cheap parts.

Any ideas?

class_A

got to be a mondeo! must be plenty around at £995 or ex fleets through the auctions, some with service history.

big, comfy, made to eat miles, the car that rescued ford.

there's a truckload on autotrader.

NotoriousREV

Had a Mondeo before, I wanted to beat it Basil Fawlty style with a tree branch because it was so bland. It is a bloody good suggestion though, but I'm not sure I could endure the bordom of owning another.

MooseRacer

Saab 9000? Volvo something or other?

jjones

nissan primera

Raks

second the Primera. Nice handling which is surprising and the 2.0's have plenty of pick up and go

Could you get a 2.0e for that much though? I think thats the 150Bhp one. Well..... I could be wrong!?!?!

Reffro

Vauxhall Carlton, cheap as chips to buy, mechanically about as simple as they come, plenty to choose from, very comfortable, 35mpg from the 2.0i on the motorway in my old one. Just watch out for differential whine and the sills are prone to rust, most are scrapped because the sills fail the MOT.

polarbearit

I'd say primera...

I used to have one which took all my abuse, hardly ever cost anything and went for ages. Handling is excellent and MPG pretty good. Mine needed a new clutch but little else! Also fairly sensible on insurance (which is a definite consideration with it being a second car)!

But why do you need a second car to the skyline? I've done 29k in mine over the last year

M8TT J

What about an old E30 BMW saloon...320, 325.

Rear wheel drive as well :-)

323GTR

Pug 405 / 406, or the Primera, possibly Rover 218 / 418 / 420 etc. I would suggest a Cavalier too, but it would make the Mundaneo look interesting Will be getting something similar soon myself to replace my current tool shed on wheels. Definitely recommend Diesels for running costs, and the sweet smell of chip oil...

David_Dickson

Cavalier V6 - very long gearing so they love the motorway. Looks a bit bland but thats good in a "sleeper" kind of way as they do shift a bit once on the move.

P 1 TUD

cavalier v6 here too, amazingly deceptive car, fast and smooth, good mpg also.

worley

I have a Cav V6 - bought it between cars. 145 mph 0-60 sub 7 sec in manual form, Selling it next month!!

Throttle response is slow, but from a standing start or once on the move in the right gear it beats most rep-mobiles.