Agree on the housing front there's a new Estate near us just like that Shoddy build's a ton of social housing chucked in amongst the private houses & then a ton of Chav's imported from places like Reading in order reduce Reading's crime figures (Just Stuffs Eveyone else)
Anyway back to the car front
What do you actually get Mpg wise on the scoob ? compare this to what you'd realistically get with a runaround.
My commute to the office is 70mls each way & I return about 35mpg as long as I don't hoof it all of the time, that's doing between 65-85 on the Motorway (when not parked on the M25 ) & a lot of stop start stuff.
I live in Thatcham (Berks) & my office is Bounds Green (Nth London), although I'm in Milton Keynes on a regular basis as well.
Do the sums carefully before you take the plunge is my advice.
I know for sure I'd not be Happy in a little runabout & it wouldn't last long because I'd be revving the nuts off it all the time to get anywhere.
Obviously others on here may think differently but it works for me.