What Car - for my mate?

[C.A.R.]

Yep, it's one of those threads. Everyone has an opinion so share yours!

He currently drives a shit old Micra 1.0, but is starting a new job in 2 weeks which will require him doing 70 miles a day. It will be mainly on single-carriageway A-roads so something with good roadholding is a plus, but he drives like Miss Daisy anyway.

He thinks a diesel is his best bet and I'm inclined to agree.

He has a £3,000 budget but for this he wants to get insurance too. He has 3 years NCB and no points so he can get pretty cheap policies, nevertheless I have limited my search to cars around the £2,000 mark.

So far -
Ford Focus TDCi 1.8 - He actually liked my old one, but these struggle to see over 45mpg and I think that's unacceptable, given the level of performance and the fecking awful driving position, I couldn't do a 35 mile drive in one first thing in the morning!

Golf TDi - He wants to look at one as he isn't convinced, but he is scared by mileage and the only options in his budget are around or above 100,000 miles. Should this put him off massively? Similarly a Bora would work.

Peuegot 206 HDi 2.0 - Same engine as my Pug and pretty reliable, pressumably a lighter car than a 306? So 55+ mpg should be attainable? As it's a commuter car the size is not an issue, but I think he would prefer something more grown up than his Micra and the 206 is kind of in the same league.

I have already recommended him a 306 - he likes them but says they're old now. A good HDi would be in his budget but finding one is getting harder as the weeks go by...