Would Love Some Car Advice

[kelevraz]

Hi, im going to be buying my new car in the next month or so, but i havent decided which one i want to go for yet.

I currently have a 57 plate 5 door ford fiesta, im quite a big guy, and with the addition of my little one i feel like i need a bigger car, but i also want one with power, so i have narrowed my choices down to the following, ive got an 8-9 grand budget :

A ford focus ST - would have to be relatively old (5 years +), as the newer eco ones are veryyy much out of my budget

A VW GTI - same as the ST

Vauxhall 1.6 Turbo - ive put this in here because they seem remarkably cheep for what they offer, with my budget i could get something with around 20,000 miles, but they depreciate quite horrendously and aren't as 'fun' as the other two - atleast thats what ive understood from what ive heard so far

Would love some opinions/advice from previous and current owners and all that, the kind of things to look out for when buying, pro's / con's etc

BY THE WAY, because i know how some people get, ive already been through lots of reviews online, i just thought it would be nice to get some direct opinions, so no need to come in with any 'oh, you never heard of the internet?, cant do any research yourself?' or any of that tripe, thankyou, its a forum for a reason

[X5TUU]

ford and vx depreciate like a stone ... Id go VW but I'm biased having a small fleet of VAGs

[bockaaarck]

If you want something that will give you additional space with the little one (pram's, buggies, scooters etc. Plus something with a bit of go. I'd be very tempted by a Volvo V50 2.5 T5 R Design.

Enough space for a young family, Volvo comfort and plenty of go. They are quite rare, but the V50 2.5 T5 and 2.5 SE Sport are similar. All can be had for witching your budget, if you search a bit.

You don't mention any requirements in terms of mileage, space, petrol/diesel, saloon, hatch, estate etc. A bit more detail might help the search.

[sjc]

If you're buying it with a view to carry your little one , then the fact that the Astra isn't quite as much fun when you're "on it" isn't gonna matter one iota.
Just look at/ drive all three and see what gives you the best compromise .

[daveinhampshire]

If you're looking for room and comfort and you keep cars for a while look at the large cars. A8, 5/7 series, E class merc. Even the entry levels on most are pretty brisk.

[kelevraz]

Thankyou for replies so far

Generally, into the search filters on auto trader i search for:

black / silver
0-8 seconds acceleration
manual
petrol
5 door
up to 60,000 miles
hatchback

Those are the main things anyway, as for the 'fun ride', the thing is, my kid is hardly in my car as it is, her mum will be driving in the next few months and she will spend the majority of time in her car, at the MOMENT, on the odd occasion that they are both in my car, my other half always has to move her seat forwards, which isnt really a problem, but every time it happens i just think to myself that a car with a big more room would be 'nice'

So as much as it is because of my family, in reality its really more for me lol

[kelevraz]

daveinhampshire said:

If you're looking for room and comfort and you keep cars for a while look at the large cars. A8, 5/7 series, E class merc. Even the entry levels on most are pretty brisk.

will do this i guess, i haven't looked at any 'bigger' cars like that because i assume that nice ones will be wayyyyy out of my price range

[delboy735]

Seat Leon......FR diesel. I know, I know, the diesel haters will flame me, but......Enough ooomph for you, enough space for the family, enough fuel economy to look after your wallet......what more do you want ?

[bobbo89]

Purely because i've been perving on these myself recently..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-SUBARU-FORESTER-2-5...

Slightly more than your 60k mile limit but mileage means nothing and these (to me at least) seem like the do everything family car!

[lord trumpton]

Just buy a nice mk5 golf gti 5 door

[Jasandjules]

What about a Passat 170 Sport? I think not too slow compared to the Gti but with enough room for a good sized car seat in the rear along with room for the pram too...... And nice to potter along the motorway.

[lord trumpton]

bobbo89 said:

Purely because i've been perving on these myself recently..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-SUBARU-FORESTER-2-5...

Slightly more than your 60k mile limit but mileage means nothing and these (to me at least) seem like the do everything family car!

Roly poly petrol drinkers

[Blakewater]

Subaru Impreza?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

[Rjbell]

X5TUU said:

ford and vx depreciate like a stone ... Id go VW but I'm biased having a small fleet of VAGs

Biased and outdated. A ST doesn't depricate and worse than a golf gti. You've been obsessing over VAG too long get your blinkers off.

Edited by Rjbell on Monday 2nd May 19:50

[bobbo89]

lord trumpton said:

Roly poly petrol drinkers

Suspension is an easy change and I've never actually looked into what they do MPG, I like quick cars and to go quick you need to burn fuel!

[ZX10R NIN]

The world is your hot hatch oyster with that budget.

The ST's hold there money just as well as the VW considering the price difference from new, but if you want a hot hatch then the Megane is the best handling the Focus has the best engine the VW the best interior the Honda is a bit frantic the Seat will be a less nice Golf but with more power.

If you go for the Focus there are a few choice mods to consider, the intercooler is inefficient when it gets hot so changing it will make a difference as will a K&N panel filter & an exhaust to release that 5 cylinder noise.

2007 ST 500 36k Mileage £8750
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2008 Focus ST-3 50k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

08 ST-3 50k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

RENAULT

2008 Megane R26 44k £7600
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2010 Megane 250 RS 84k £7750
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2010 250 RS 77k (over budget but haggle) £9450
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

VAG: (I can't recommend the DSG as the repair bills for these are no joke)

2009 A3 S Line 58k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2009 A3 Black Edition 70k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2008 Seat Cupra 38k £8450
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2008 Cupra 79k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2007 Golf Edition 30 GTI 87k £8000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2008 Edition 30 72k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2009 GTI 67k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2005 Golf R32 75k £8250
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2007 R32 56k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2007 R32 70k £8860
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Honda some people find the ride a bit harsh.

2009 Honda Civic Type R 66k (Championship White) £8150
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2009 Type R 55k £8300
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2010 57k £8500
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2010 41k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Leftfield:

2010 Alfa Giulietta 67k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2010 Mazda 3 MPS 75k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2009 Astra VXR Nurburgring Edition 63k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2008 as above 57k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2010 VXR 50k £9000
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...


Yes I was bored book yourself some test drives to work out what suits you best, for me I'd take the Megane 250 it's really the best of the bunch if handling & fun are you're priority, if not then the Focus would be next with that engine edging out the Golf.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 4th May 09:27

[lord trumpton]

bobbo89 said:

lord trumpton said:

Roly poly petrol drinkers

Suspension is an easy change and I've never actually looked into what they do MPG, I like quick cars and to go quick you need to burn fuel!

Agreed, but poor efficiency in the use of the fuel by todays standards make them a juicy wallet hoover. I had one around 4 years ago and didn't keep it for too long

[Matt UK]

You could also consider a 6cyl BMW 3 series estate. RWD handling a bonus too.

[nickfrog]

X5TUU said:

ford and vx depreciate like a stone ... Id go VW but I'm biased having a small fleet of VAGs

Ford and Vauxhall sound like the ticket for the OP then if they have lost so much value so quickly, as he is buying second hand and the depreciation curves tend to converge after a few years.

[J4CKO]

Rjbell said:

X5TUU said:

ford and vx depreciate like a stone ... Id go VW but I'm biased having a small fleet of VAGs

Biased and outdated. A ST doesn't depricate and worse than a golf gti. You've been obsessing over VAG too long get your blinkers off.

Edited by Rjbell on Monday 2nd May 19:50

Yeah, the RS Stuff seems to do better than any VAG stuff, and even early Focus ST's are still strong money.