Cheap reliable commuter car?

Feckoffcup · 01-11-2017 01:11PM #1

Currently driving a Peugeot 308 but looking to sell as I don't trust it to last to any decent high mileage. I'm traveling about 70 miles a day so fuel efficiency and reliability are priority. Budget £3-5k.

colm_mcm · 01-11-2017 01:24PM

Kia Ceed/Hyundai i30

kerten · 01-11-2017 01:43PM

Unless you want to get rid of 308 for existing problems/boredom, I wouldn't change it based on trust to brand and long journeys. Any car you will buy at that price bracket comes with a history and risk associated with it regardless how reliable the model was.

Feckoffcup · 03-11-2017 08:36AM

Peugeot generally won't do the same mileage as Volkswagen. Sell before it gives bother.

Shefwedfan · 03-11-2017 08:42AM

Feckoffcup wrote: »

Currently driving a Peugeot 308 but looking to sell as I don't trust it to last to any decent high mileage. I'm traveling about 70 miles a day so fuel efficiency and reliability are priority. Budget £3-5k.

For the money you are looking at I would run the Peugeot into the ground and then buy something with the money you saved.

bring to decent garage and get them to give once over just to check if anything is about to go on it....if not then drive drive drive and get it serviced regular.....

ba_barabus · 03-11-2017 11:39AM

Feckoffcup wrote: »

Peugeot generally won't do the same mileage as Volkswagen. Sell before it gives bother.

Why do Peugeot programme their cars to fall apart at a certain mileage and VW don't?

OP unless there is something wrong with your 308 or it's getting very expensive to run just keep driving it and doing proper maintenance.

Now if you fancy a change that's different but don't change just in case.

maidhc · 03-11-2017 12:46PM

Feckoffcup wrote: »

Peugeot generally won't do the same mileage as Volkswagen. Sell before it gives bother.

That is just made up, isn’t it.

Agree with others. Drive the pug until it becomes unbearable.

Dravokivich · 03-11-2017 01:42PM

Feckoffcup wrote: »

Peugeot generally won't do the same mileage as Volkswagen. Sell before it gives bother.

Why is Volkswagen the benchmark? There was a Volvo that ticked over 1 million miles.

colm_mcm · 03-11-2017 03:29PM

Feckoffcup wrote: »

Peugeot generally won't do the same mileage as Volkswagen. Sell before it gives bother.

Are you giving advice to yourself? I’m confused

Richard_parker · 03-11-2017 03:49PM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

For the money you are looking at I would run the Peugeot into the ground and then buy something with the money you saved.

bring to decent garage and get them to give once over just to check if anything is about to go on it....if not then drive drive drive and get it serviced regular.....

No garage can/will check if something is to go on it, they arent going to start disassembling components and measure for wear.

Feckoffcup what is the mileage on your car? That budget you stated is sterling? euro?
Toyota corolla 1.4 diesel or verso 2.2 diesel? Honda civic hybrid(as long as you know the state of batteries, expensive to replace) Would you consider petrol engine with lpg? LPG is the way to go in my opinion, cheaper to run than diesel costs less to maintain than diesel.

road_high · 03-11-2017 08:43PM

Feckoffcup wrote: »

Peugeot generally won't do the same mileage as Volkswagen. Sell before it gives bother.

The legions of ancient 206s and 307s I see on the roads are testament to that

road_high · 03-11-2017 08:45PM

Feckoffcup wrote: »

Currently driving a Peugeot 308 but looking to sell as I don't trust it to last to any decent high mileage. I'm traveling about 70 miles a day so fuel efficiency and reliability are priority. Budget £3-5k.

But is the 308 giving bother? My friend had one and it was one of the most surprisingly comfortable and refined cars I'd sat in for a long journey.
They're also solid and safe cars.

road_high · 03-11-2017 08:47PM

Feckoffcup wrote: »

Peugeot generally won't do the same mileage as Volkswagen. Sell before it gives bother.

Have you actually owned a VW? Had a few in the family and definitely not a conclusion we came to though the Bora was a good car.
Diesel Golf 2010 was a bit of a lemon and shifted on before it became too bad. With your budget you're looking at even worse than that potentially.

Arthur Daley · 04-11-2017 10:05AM

road_high wrote: »

it was one of the most surprisingly comfortable and refined cars I'd sat in for a long journey.
They're also solid and safe cars.

Yes 308 seats I found very comfy on a drive. Wasn't expecting to be impressed by 308 but was. Assuming it's a diesel it could go on and on and just sip fuel. I'd keep motoring in it, and not be constantly afraid it's going to sit down on the road just because of perceptions of the French brands.

road_high · 04-11-2017 02:20PM

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Yes 308 seats I found very comfy on a drive. Wasn't expecting to be impressed by 308 but was. Assuming it's a diesel it could go on and on and just sip fuel. I'd keep motoring in it, and not be constantly afraid it's going to sit down on the road just because of perceptions of the French brands.

I was driving a new Insignia at the time and was secretly thinking this felt like a far better car to travel in! I didn't drive it but it didn't have a bother cruising along at and above the motorway speed limit with the best of them. Certainty much better than equivalent Focus and Golfs I'd driven and been in.
The 308 is reliable, most of the mad stuff that went on with the 307 which I still see tons of on the roads) had been solved and ironed out. I like Peugeot as a brand, you get far more for your money than the equivalent VW, Ford or Toyota.

Richard_parker · 04-11-2017 10:04PM

road_high wrote: »

I like Peugeot as a brand, you get far more for your money than the equivalent VW, Ford or Toyota.

You get basic transport and there is nothing wrong with that, but I wouldnt compare Pug to Toyota or any other jap in that class, there is a reason why these cars cost more, drive better,dont cost a lot to own, look nicer etc... By that logic you get far more for your money with 50cc scooter than a Peugeot.
I am also of the opinion that vw(especially golfs) and Fords are overrated, Fords shouldnt cost more than Peugeot as they have their fair share of problems, most ridiculous problems you can come across actually. And lets not turn this topic into another vw vs world debate.

road_high wrote: »

The legions of ancient 206s and 307s I see on the roads are testament to that

What legions, where are they? Even if that was true (and it isnt) is that because they are such a quality car? Has their price got anything to do with that? And who buys those old cheap Peugeot and why? And I dont know when was the last time I saw 307 on the road, 206 yes but far cry from your "legions" . Again I am not VW of Ford fan but I see far more mk4/5 golfs and mk2 focus than 307's. And I definitely see more fiestas than 206 pugs on the road. I would rather be seeing 206 than fiesta but that just isn't the case. 307 and quality on the other hand should not be mentioned in the same sentence, possibly one of the worst cars ever made in that era. Actually come to think of it, most second hand/older cars I see in that class are vw, fords or japs.

road_high · 04-11-2017 11:27PM

Richard_parker wrote: »

What legions, where are they? Even if that was true (and it isnt) is that because they are such a quality car? Has their price got anything to do with that? And who buys those old cheap Peugeot and why? And I dont know when was the last time I saw 307 on the road, 206 yes but far cry from your "legions" . Again I am not VW of Ford fan but I see far more mk4/5 golfs and mk2 focus than 307's. And I definitely see more fiestas than 206 pugs on the road. I would rather be seeing 206 than fiesta but that just isn't the case. 307 and quality on the other hand should not be mentioned in the same sentence, possibly one of the worst cars ever made in that era. Actually come to think of it, most second hand/older cars I see in that class are vw, fords or japs.

Old 206's are everywhere. Very popular as a cheap starter car. Right back to 99 I see them daily. I see 307s constantly/daily. Maybe it's because they were more popular in the part of the country I'm in but they are very common cars for cars with such a bad alleged reputation.

Arthur Daley · 04-11-2017 11:36PM

I do see a lot of 206 and 307 also. 307 was a dog, but it's still likely the 2000s electrics that will cause the problems, rather then mechanicals.

407 was a right mutt also. But I think 308 has generally been a bit of an under rated car by most people anyway.

Richard_parker · 06-11-2017 04:04PM

road_high wrote: »

Maybe it's because they were more popular in the part of the country I'm in but they are very common cars for cars with such a bad alleged reputation.

Possible, they do seem to be more popular everywhere else but here, I swear I cant remember when was the last time I saw 307.
How interesting, my neighbor bought 206 gti yesterday as his second car, 2005 lovely looking machine looks brand new all original bits on it. Timeless design like eg civic, Pinifarina sure did a fine job designing those.

Arthur Daley wrote: »

I do see a lot of 206 and 307 also. 307 was a dog, but it's still likely the 2000s electrics that will cause the problems, rather then mechanicals.

407 was a right mutt also. But I think 308 has generally been a bit of an under rated car by most people anyway.

I agree with everything you said there. Electrical problems were common across all french medium class cars as they share a lot of the stuff like indicator stalks, same part used on citroen, reno, pug and still used on new dacias. Ecu problems due to water leaking behind the aerial right down to ecu etc... 307 also had a number of mechanical problems (steering racks, altrenator bearings, head gaskets-water pump related on 1.4 and weak gearboxed/difs, used to eat rear bushings, leaking rear drum brake cylinders even from new etc).
Dont know much about 2gen 308 except that I dont like its headlights at all :pac:

Cheap reliable commuter car?

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