I'm after some buying advice on 306 diesels.
Basically looking for something half-decent for the school run, as I'm seriously considering spunking cash on an M3 now. It's a 30mile round trip (twice a day so 60miles) and includes M4 & A4. My 1.4 306 isn't really up to it anymore and need something else. Golfs and BMW 320ds seem to hold their price even for intersteller mileage but there are a couple of 306s on AT. A '98 90k 306 Series 2 DTurbo for £500 with fresh MOT on, or a series 3 2000 90bhp HDi for a grand.
The car ideally needs decent mpg (50 would be nice) but I had an 307 90hp HDi some years, and it was slow and never achieved 50mpg (more high 30's). Is it realistic to expect 50mpg from a 306 DT or HDi, or am I better of shelling out £1800 on a 90k Gold 1.9TDi which will?