Cheapest 2nd hand car to run big distance

[AussieCJ7]

In a situation where might have to be driving over 1000klm per week most of it freeway with up to 4 hour sints behind the wheel largely Hume and pacific highway

instead of killing any of my current cars contemplating buying something sub $20k that will be comfortable, safe and reliable but cheapest overall running cost.


Thinking an FG XR6 or commodore v6 would have to be up there ? might be slighty more on fuel but less on servicing and parts.


I have a terriotry turbo that has 180,000klms on the clock i was going to use but started to look closely at what is or will needing to be done maint wise due to age (no major defects owned since new and well maintained). so contenplating off loading it and getting something cheaper to run

[Yellow_Festiva]

Fiesta Econetic?

[frankie86]

Falcon/commodore would be a good choice, always get awesome economy from them on freeways (thats where they shine) but doing those kinda kays every week as much as I'm not a fan of diesels in passenger cars, diesel might be the most economical..... ecoboost g6e even???

[dcstraight]

EcoLPi - comfortable large size car with cheap fill-ups...pretty hard pressed to find similar sized car with lower running costs IMHO.

[barra240t]

Mondeo TDCI

[davenl5l]

Duel fuel xr6 with injected lpg . My ba gets around 460 klm for $38 of gas

[AussieCJ7]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Fiesta Econetic?

Not sure of you country driving experience but not a fan of small cars for big distances outside of the city

[AussieCJ7]

Originally Posted by dcstraight

EcoLPi - comfortable large size car with cheap fill-ups...pretty hard pressed to find similar sized car with lower running costs IMHO.

How does serving costs compare on lpg ? The 4.0 is renowned for running forever does the ecolpi reduce that ?

[AussieCJ7]

Originally Posted by frankie86

ecoboost g6e even???

Also just found a few ecolpi G6E looks like a comfy option

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by AussieCJ7

Also just found a few ecolpi G6E looks like a comfy option

Monster highway kays, I'd be swayed more towards a 4l. I have both an ecoboost g6 and a 4l fairmont ghia. Having the addition of a turbo on the ecoboost it adds an extra thing that can go wrong. Day to day driving and the odd long trip the ecoboost is great. Goes equally as well as the 6. It does horrible things to the oil in it when serviced at the same interval as the 6. I think it's all due to the added heat of the turbo oil feed, so on that basis, I'd be swayed towards a 4L 6.

[Polyal]

LPG supply an issue these days doing rural work? The LPI seemed to have some head gasket issues aswell?

[.:4:.]

I forgot to add. We got the 2012 ecoboost g6 in 2014 with 23 thousand on the clock for 20k. A deal like that may sway your choice if it comes up.

[M&Ms]

Add another 3 or 4k to your budget and buy a 2015 FGX XR6 with 10,000 - 20,000km on it. Trouble free motoring.

[Sabantien]

My G6E was pretty comfy when I did about 2,400km in a weekend. I was shifting a bit in my seat by the end, I have to admit.

If you're looking for comfortable size and reasonable power (makes sense. My gfs hatch uses less fuel on the highway, but it also revs a lot higher, while the barra just cruises along quietly), other options may be a euro sedan. Might have a bit more of that nice stuff in the cabin to make it even more comfortable. I hired a Mercedes to drive about 400km each way in the states, and it was super quiet, super comfortable, and was a pleasure to drive.

[GTMOND]

When you can get oil filters ect for under $10 for a falcon or commodore ,it's hard to go past them for high klm work.
Also as mentioned, highway klms is the bread and butter for Falcons and Commodores IMO.
LPi falcon would be my pick.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by AussieCJ7

Not sure of you country driving experience but not a fan of small cars for big distances outside of the city

Not a problem. Perhaps specify next time a size preference then?

Unless you are going out bush bashing I don't get the whole 'small cars ain't good out of town' mentality to be honest?

3.2l per 100 in the freeway and most for sale are under $10k.

[Cav]

Don't rule out the mighty AU Fairmont or Fairlane.

Four hours a day in comfort, who really cares if it costs $6 more every refill?

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by Cav

Don't rule out the mighty AU Fairmont or Fairlane.

Four hours a day in comfort, who really cares if it costs $6 more every refill?

Yep, decent AU on gas and the damn thing will run forever. If your feeling rich/generous, give it an oil change once every blue moon.

I just can't think of anything that would be cheaper motoring for this.

[mike_nofx]

Cheapest overall running cost?

Au to BF wagon straight LPG, has the larger tank size. Will run forever, cost $5k or less so you don't lose resale value compared with a $20k car which eats into overall running cost.

[Junkyard-Dog]

I would definitely go for an AU on gas.

[Brazen]

Camry Hybrid

[dirty hands]

just you in the car

if cruz and air con needed camry V6 wagon


tough guy

a mini moke
vw bettle ( can buy a bolt in air cooled engine that runs any % ethanol )

[Bushbasher]

Go find yourself a dual fuel BF, Fairmont ghia or Fairlane if you can find one, then you'll have the best of both worlds and cheap as chit to maintain. Change the oil every 10k or so and plugs and leads as required and it'll just keep going.

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Not a problem. Perhaps specify next time a size preference then?

Unless you are going out bush bashing I don't get the whole 'small cars ain't good out of town' mentality to be honest?

3.2l per 100 in the freeway and most for sale are under $10k.

It's not that they're not capable, but it's not the most comfortable.

How high does the Fiesta rev at 110?

I know my gf's hatch has a 7 or 8 speed gearbox and it still revs at over 2k while my Falcon is at 1.5k.

One car is designed for long distance cruising, one is designed for zipping around town. Both can do either, one is just far more comfortable to be in while out on the highway. Personally I also find small cars too cramped.

[GO FURTHER]

I think another important criteria if you are mainly doing 1000Kms plus a week and in rural areas is to stick with any of the AU, BA & BF Falcons.

Most older mechanics in these rural towns "cut their teeth" on older Fords and Holdens and will be able to fix them if you break down, plus parts will be easier to source than a Euro.

Auto stores are more likely to carry parts and lots of country Ford dealers too.

I've heard horror stories from people with BMWs and Audis breaking down in small country towns, and having to get the car towed back to a larger regional or metro city to be fixed.

[Lugh]

If you want cheap and comfy, one of the best cars I ever had was a 1996 AE112 Corolla. It was the 1.8 Conquest so electric everything and a surprising amount of get up and go.
I paid $3300 for it and drove it about 1000km a week for a couple of years. On 98 I got 7l/100 town or highway and an oil and filter change cost $20 every 10,000k's.
It uses a little oil, but otherwise nothing ever went wrong. I used to thrash the damn thing too.
I gave it to a mate of mine when I got the Falcon ute and his Mrs uses it as her daily. The thing just won't die.

EDIT - For those saying that small cars are no good in the country - I grew up in the bush, I live on a mountain now, and most of the corolla's work was country roads into the city and back out again.

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by dcstraight

EcoLPi - comfortable large size car with cheap fill-ups...pretty hard pressed to find similar sized car with lower running costs IMHO.

This!

Originally Posted by Polyal

LPG supply an issue these days doing rural work? The LPI seemed to have some head gasket issues aswell?

Early ones had head/bolt issues. Mine had 3 heads in under 50K, but they got it sorted out quick. Not a problem after about 9 months, and all the faulty ones were recalled (mine was also re-re-called, because the first and 2nd replacement heads were done before the fix came on-stream. Slight inconvenience having to drive a loaner home overnight, but I have nothing negative to say about the LPi.


However, it all comes down to budget.

If you're looking at $3K, then you're best off getting an AU on gas (preferably the factory system).
You may get a BA for that money, but it's probably been a cab.

If you can stretch to $5K, you'll get a decent BA or maybe even a BF factory gas.

Cheapest LPi FG I've seen recently was $11K for an XT ex-fleet.


For long distance running, you just can't beat a large car - Falcon/Commodore have loads of comfort.

As much as I'm a Holden man, I'm not biased - the AU is a good long distance car (I used to do country runs in the early 2000s in mine) - but the BA seats are a lot better for long drives.

I've done many long interstate runs in the FG, and it's been THE most comfortable long-distance car I've ever owned. Even my weekly commute is >660km, and it laps it up. Almost 200,000km on it now.

I do like the comment above about the simplicity of the AU - the live axle is certainly more durable & gives a much longer time between repairs than the BA-FG IRS, and the trade-off in comfort isn't that bad.


No problems getting gas on any of the main highways and larger country centres either.

[AussieCJ7]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

It's not that they're not capable, but it's not the most comfortable.

How high does the Fiesta rev at 110?

I know my gf's hatch has a 7 or 8 speed gearbox and it still revs at over 2k while my Falcon is at 1.5k.

One car is designed for long distance cruising, one is designed for zipping around town. Both can do either, one is just far more comfortable to be in while out on the highway. Personally I also find small cars too cramped.

Yes comfort is prob the biggest factor but also the longer wider wheelbase means less impact from cross winds or drafts from trucks and also have extra torque in reserve to accelerate promptly when needed, most of the small cars hit a wall for roll on acceleration or you need to get them right up in rev range before you start getting response. So this all adds up to a more safe secure feeling real or perceived

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by AussieCJ7

Yes comfort is prob the biggest factor but also the longer wider wheelbase means less impact from cross winds or drafts from trucks and also have extra torque in reserve to accelerate promptly when needed, most of the small cars hit a wall for roll on acceleration or you need to get them right up in rev range before you start getting response. So this all adds up to a more safe secure feeling real or perceived

Don't worry mate, I know exactly how you feel. I do a 200km return trip to work in a BF wagon alone. Sure a small buzz box can do the same trip, and be cheaper to run too. But it's just not comfortable. It doesn't feel right.

You don't need to explain yourself. Just specify in requirements "man sized car is a must"

[Bushbasher]

A quick look on Carsales will bring up 60-odd low km ecoLPI falcons in your price bracket from XT all the way to G6E and everything in between. It all comes down to how much you want to spend.