General Is a 500 Diesel the right car for me?

[gcpc1]

Hi All,

This is my first post on the site and hope I'm putting it in the right forum.

I'm after some advice please.

I've loved the 500 style and economy for several years but it's never been a suitable vehicle for my family (3 of us plus a usual lot of bags, pushchair, etc.) We're currently a one-car family.

My job situation has recently changed, which means I now work from home and make a 340-mile round trip for work, once a week, between my home in Bristol & my company's office in Sheffield (which is 99% motorway).

I currently hire a car for this trip to the office, which costs me approx. £85-£100 total (incl. fuel) per trip. My wife needs our car for childcare duties, etc.

I'm thinking of purchasing a car which will be used primarily for making this weekly trip to Sheffield, plus any other work-related trips I have to make (maybe 1 or 2 each month). I'm not a fast driver and average 60-70 mph. Going fast isn't a huge priority for me!

My company will pay me travel costs of 37p/mile, which is £125.80 for each 340-mile round trip I make to the office (maximum of 1 per week) plus any other work trips I make.

My priorities are cheap motoring (e.g. I'm looking for maximum mpg) and comfort (I'm 5' 11"/average build).

My question is - would a 500 Pop Diesel be the best vehicle for me? Or should I look at another Fiat vehicle, or another make altogether?

I have a budget of up to approx. £7,000.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated

Thanks in advance.

 

[306maxi]

A 1.2 will also be good as well The dieselshould also be suitable as well

 

[jrkitching]

You'd be better off with a 1.2 petrol. On that journey at those speeds, you'll see 50-55mpg.

Secondhand 500's are stupidly expensive; £7000 will get you a new 1.2 Panda pop with change.

 

[gcpc1]

Thanks for the replies so far

I should have added - because my annual mileage will be quite high with the regular trips I'll be making, how much mileage could I expect to get out of both a petrol and diesel engine before they pack up? I know diesels can last for a good 150,000 miles if serviced regularly and so I thought they would be a better buy than a petrol.

I want to keep the car for as long as possible, for as cheaply as possible.

Any thoughts appreciated

 

[scout]

It should be noted that the 500 does not come with cruise control, which I would find very useful on the sort of driving you'll be doing.

 

[gcpc1]

It should be noted that the 500 does not come with cruise control, which I would find very useful on the sort of driving you'll be doing.

For info - Can you recommend a suitable vehicle that does have cruise control? Thanks

 

[scout]

For info - Can you recommend a suitable vehicle that does have cruise control? Thanks

Sorry, but my criteria for a car was different so the 500 TA fitted the bill and cruise was not a requirement. You may need to look at slightly bigger cars.

 

[RobinPJ]

I'd look at a 4 year old 3 Series BMW. Reckon you'd get one in your budget and more suitable for young long cruises. Go for a base one but with cruise control. Not sure if they all have it.

 

[gcpc1]

I'd look at a 4 year old 3 Series BMW. Reckon you'd get one in your budget and more suitable for young long cruises. Go for a base one but with cruise control. Not sure if they all have it.

Would this type of car be more economical than a 500, taking into account mpg, servicing, etc? My main priority is cost.

 

[Zxbx16v]

I'd go for a Fiat bravo 1.9/2.0 multijet with cruise control if you wanted a Fiat , if your not bothered about what manufacturer a Renault Laguna 3 with the 150/175bhp Diesel engine , awesome value and a great motorway cruiser . I've got one myself and rate it very highly , infact a match for a boring Audi/BMW any day .

Mark

 

[Stu DemonD]

My company will pay me travel costs of 37p/mile, which is £125.80 for each 340-mile round trip I make to the office (maximum of 1 per week) plus any other work trips I make.

You can claim the extra 8p per mile, at your effective tax rate, either via your SA tax return or form P87 ...

Saying that, you are aware it is 45p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter, so you may have a taxable benefit based on a flat rate of 37p!!

 

[gcpc1]

I'd go for a Fiat bravo 1.9/2.0 multijet with cruise control if you wanted a Fiat , if your not bothered about what manufacturer a Renault Laguna 3 with the 150/175bhp Diesel engine , awesome value and a great motorway cruiser . I've got one myself and rate it very highly , infact a match for a boring Audi/BMW any day .

Mark

A quick look on the Autotrader website suggests the Laguna is at top end of my budget and also a high insurance group

Also, I'm a novice when it comes to claiming tax relief, etc....sounds like it may be best for me to keep schtum!

 

[UFI]

For info - Can you recommend a suitable vehicle that does have cruise control? Thanks

VW UP! has a cruise option.

 

[Panda9001100]

Why not buying a Fiat and build a LPG-installation in it? Cheaper driving than any diesel you can think of, well at least in the Netherlands. I don't know what the rules are in England for LPG. Fiats are well known that there engines are good for LPG. In general the valves are a weak point, but with flashlube and driving normally (engine not running higher then 4000tpm), then you should have a lot and long of fun with it.
But most important, find a good person to build it in.

And a VW-UP isn't a car with charisma, it's a boring VW :yuck: .




I love this pic, keeps me money in mine pocket .

 

[flashyphotos]

Would this type of car be more economical than a 500, taking into account mpg, servicing, etc? My main priority is cost.

I have a 500c TA and get an average of just under 60mpg on decent runs. (A Little more if you drive stupidly slow), I would imagine the Diesel 500 would equal that at least,

But I recently bought a 3 year old BMW 3 Series Estate for work trips, 318d on the same runs that the 500c TA returns 60mpg the BMW is returning 70mpg at at slightly higher cruising speeds (70 compared to 60 in the 500).

Plus it has cruise control as standard which has been noted is a very nice addition on long motorway runs.

Personally although I love my 500 to bits and it will be my main car for a long while, I do feel the 3 Series makes a Much better Motorway cruiser (And if you do have to use it for days out with the family everything will fit).

You should find a 3 year old example withing budget easily looking for the Saloon version or with a bit of hunting the Estate.

Cost Wise theyare both about the same, £30 PA Tax, Low Insurance Group, and the BMW has useage based servicingrather than fixed mileage so can be very frugal on servicing costs if driven sensibly.

 

[scout]

I have a 500c TA and get an average of just under 60mpg on decent runs. (A Little more if you drive stupidly slow), I would imagine the Diesel 500 would equal that at least,

But I recently bought a 3 year old BMW 3 Series Estate for work trips, 318d on the same runs that the 500c TA returns 60mpg the BMW is returning 70mpg at at slightly higher cruising speeds (70 compared to 60 in the 500).

Plus it has cruise control as standard which has been noted is a very nice addition on long motorway runs.

Personally although I love my 500 to bits and it will be my main car for a long while, I do feel the 3 Series makes a Much better Motorway cruiser (And if you do have to use it for days out with the family everything will fit).

You should find a 3 year old example withing budget easily looking for the Saloon version or with a bit of hunting the Estate.

Cost Wise theyare both about the same, £30 PA Tax, Low Insurance Group, and the BMW has useage based servicingrather than fixed mileage so can be very frugal on servicing costs if driven sensibly.

BMW's also last if looked after. A mate at work has a 2002 320d and its still returning in excess of 60 to the gallon with over 180,000 miles on the clock. He's owned it from three years old and 70,000 miles.

 

[UFI]

Mileage doesn't mean much really, any car with reasonable maintenance should go 300,000km with little drama. I was surprised when my boss told me his Nissan has over 480,000km on it, with no rebuild, and he tows a 8 metre boat all over the country with it! He only services every 20K (recommended interval is 10K) and only with mineral oil. Then there are taxis and commercials that make it to nearly 1 million km's travelled.

 

[Melanabb]

Not exactly a cruiser but Panda is cheap to run and tax. Probably doesn't have cruise control, so BMW might be a better bet... Or Skoda...

 

[scout]

My sister has had a Citroen DS3 (diesel) for the last 8 months and is very impressed with the performance and economy, that has cruise control - but is French

 

[gcpc1]

Thanks all for the comments folks - appreciate it. Given me food for thought