Buying a car for the uni commute

I don't really know a great deal about cars but I need to buy something for the uni commute. It's a 45 min drive each way, three times a week on the motorway.

I've always driven big cars because I have children (grand scenic etc) but because this is just going to be *my* car, I want something a bit smaller.

I want a diesel (unless someone knows better ) and it needs to be less than £1000. Needs to be reliable and good on fuel. Insurance isn't a problem because of my age and my no claims.

I have been looking at Peugeot 206s, around 6-10 years old - good choice or not?

Any help appreciated! Thanks

My wife does her commute to uni in a diesel, a little further than you and it makes a lot of sense.

I probably won't allow her to drive a Peugeot or any french car and probably won't allow her to commute in a 10 year old car though, especially if it is usually on a motorway.

I'm guessing at £1000 and to get a diesel it's going to be either a 10 year old one or a 6 year old one with rather high mileage to it. Are you prepared to rectify any faults it may have as it would most likely be at the age where loads of things will need replacement.

Mondeo TDDI. Don't buy the TDCI at that price point as the early versions are prone to failure. The TDDI is older, more noisy and a bit slower but is more reliable.

There's also a ton of Mondeos around so you'll have plenty of choice. Test drive loads of them, as there's bound to be bad examples.

I know you want a smaller car but sometimes going for a big one is the best choice since there's plenty around and you'll get value for money.

You could try the Focus TDDI as well, but they are more popular and I doubt you'll find many.

Had a quick look on Auto Trader - the MPG on a focus is ~40 and the MPG on a 206 is ~50.
Anyone know any other car that is relatively good on the fuel? x

Hi, thanks.
Is a 10 year old reeeally that bad? I don't have the money really to repair it if *lots* of things go wrong, but I do have the money to pay for a few repairs now and then. Which is worse, a 10 year old car, or a 6 year old car with high mileage?
The 206s are preeettah cute.. :P



Yeh, lots of people have recommended Fords for what I what. maybe a focus is what I should be looking at.

Thanks everyone, I might post a few links up later (now my student finanace has arrived ) and if any of you can help, I'd really appreciate it!

EDIT: Also, what sort of engine size? Does that depend on the car? x

Between a 10 year old car with normal or low mileage vs 6 year old with high mileage, neither would be better than the other, it's best to go for one that is well maintained. Many parts do wear out with time rather than mileage, so it's something to take into account. Where someone who commutes a lot and does high mileage in a car, they are more likely to maintain and service it more often so it would mean that worn out parts would have been replaced...where as a 10 year old car with a low mileage owned by an OAP may have hardened bushings or seals and could have been used for very short journeys like maybe just a 5 minute journey each time to the village shop and back, hence a lot of components may not be at it's best state but it doesn't get replaced simply because the keeper is waiting on it to reach the recommended interval where it is supposed to be replaced.

As for which car to get at £1000 and diesel I'd probably go with :-

Mk1 Ford Focus, it was a good Ford, they spent a lot of money into it and they even built in Germany hoping to improve perception of the brand, it somewhat worked everywhere but in Germany. Overall a good car, at that price you're probably better off getting one with a 1.6l petrol engine. Fuel economy isn't bad, it doesn't look as dated as it's age.

Fiat Panda 1.2, probably be a bit over £1000 but you should be able to get a fairly good one. I had one before and it was a decent car, cheap parts, low fuel consumption and cute too. Only thing is I read you've got 4 kids, so it might be a problem as you won't have enough seatbelts for all of them.

The Pug 206 is fine too, I'd probably go with a fairly simple one at that price so if it does have problems it would be simple problems as well 1.4 or 1.6 HDI versions are very good engines, they are still in use today in a variety of cars, including Fords, Mazdas, Mini and PSA cars. The 1.6HDI is also used in a Mini One D, its sufficient and for the most part it does 70+ MPG on the motorway, can't complain My guess is a 206 with the 1.4HDI should get around the same mileage and very cheap annual road tax.

Engine size, depends on the car and the driver preference

Aw you're a star! The car is just for me though, no kids allowed! :P

(What's HDI? And what does it do/mean?)

I will definitely keep in mind all that you've suggested, I'm going to take my time looking too. I'm actually quite worried because this will be the first second hand car I've bought.

Also, where did you read I have 4 kids!? Stalkage.. :P jk

That only works in theory

I thought my car was going to be one where kids wasn't allowed in as well, except my little one already stained my floor mats with mud on the 2nd day I started driving it.

Thankfully the missus isn't insured to drive it.....or else... hah.




High pressure Direct Injection, the way diesel is sent from the fuel tank to the engine. The 206 engine designation would be either 1.4HDI or 1.6HDI the other ones were 1.9D or 2.0D these are normal diesel engines and aren't as powerful despite the larger size as the HDI engines and they would cost more to tax annually.



You can take your time with such cars, there are plenty of them about

Bought 4 second hand cars this year, it isn't as scary or worrying as it seems Just make sure you spot the faults and drive a hard bargain or away



I am a stalker Mature students on Freshers...... I LOLed at all the responses on that thread as it brought back some rather fond memories

Aha, little stalker! Yeh, that mature student thread was funny.

Ive seen this, whatdya think?
I can now stretch to over £1000 (maybe up to £2000.. but I'd rather not go that high).

Price wise it does seem around there, doesn't state if it has any good maintenance records, does it have any evidence of any parts which have been changed recently?

The 2 things I'm not too fond on this particular one :-
Non-standard wheel trims... usually means either 1 of 2 things :-

1) Original ones got stolen.
2) Original one had too many scuff marks because previous driver was careless.

The other is it doesn't have an air-conditioner as this was the bare-bones stripdown model. However if this doesn't bother you then by all means check the service history, it should have at least 1 per year and receipts to prove. If that is in order bring it to your own trusted mechanic and ask him for an opinion and to see what might be amiss with it, most important is to ensure it has a compression test.

If there is anything amiss with it your mechanic should be able to tell you how much it would be to fix it, if it isn't a lot or almost wearing out use it as a haggling point

Anyway these cars aren't expensive to fix, one thing to make sure is anything and everything electric on it works, else you might be in for some expensive wiring faults that can be a headache to fix.

You sure you want a 3dr car?

...i dunnoooo!! I dunnoo what i want! I hate this buying a car crap might just go on the train everyday..

Do a price-benefit analysis

You'll find that having that small car can be cheaper than taking the train

It will be about the same, but obvious benefits of the car are that it's way more flexible - no more waiting around for buses and trains.

I just don't know what to buy.. and i don't know anyone who is great with cars! nor do I have a 'trusted' mechanic..

You will find it important to have some elements of flexibility juggling between family and uni life Especially considering that you will be living rather far away from uni.

The trusted mechanic can be the same one you normally bring your car to for servicing or the one in the neighbourhood. Otherwise, ask around people you know, they would have one.

Alternatively RAC does have a car inspection service.