BWM 118d, Civic 2.2 CDTi or Kia Pro Cee'd - for £8k?
Discussion
Time to get real!
I'd love a 9-5 Aero or Mazda6 MPS but insurance and running costs (mainly fuel really) rule them out.
For the £8k I'm looking to spend and I could get a great example of each but I'm on a tight, tight budget and have to be realistic.
I'm doing about 250 miles a week and my current Astra is only getting about 35mpg.
I can't afford to be picky about the driving finesse of any particular model but have read particulary good reviews for the 118d and Civic. I'd love to spend a bit extra and get the '07 facelift version of the BMW and get its tax band C (£35) engine, but never mind.
I'd also keep any new purchase for quite some time - I've had my '02 Astra from new.
So I come to the age old argument of older quality machinery versus newer, shiney bargains.
I can pick up a 2006(06 reg) BMW 118d ES on Autotrader (privately) that's done 26k for just under £6495 which seems brilliant and would leave me some funds to keep for any future maintenance that may be needed. Buying from a dealer seems to push this up a grand or so and mileages tend to be anything from 40 - 140k!
Or a Honda Civic 2.2 CDTi?
2007 versions seem to all have around 50-60k miles and hover around the £8k mark.
But then there's the Kia Pro Cee'd!
There's a 2009 1.6 version available for £8000 - with only 4000 miles on it.
I suppose the question I'm asking is do I buy something a bit older but with better perceived quality and residuals OR (and this is where the wife chips in) get something much, much newer and covered by a massive warranty?
All views and comments appreciated.
I'd love a 9-5 Aero or Mazda6 MPS but insurance and running costs (mainly fuel really) rule them out.
For the £8k I'm looking to spend and I could get a great example of each but I'm on a tight, tight budget and have to be realistic.
I'm doing about 250 miles a week and my current Astra is only getting about 35mpg.
I can't afford to be picky about the driving finesse of any particular model but have read particulary good reviews for the 118d and Civic. I'd love to spend a bit extra and get the '07 facelift version of the BMW and get its tax band C (£35) engine, but never mind.
I'd also keep any new purchase for quite some time - I've had my '02 Astra from new.
So I come to the age old argument of older quality machinery versus newer, shiney bargains.
I can pick up a 2006(06 reg) BMW 118d ES on Autotrader (privately) that's done 26k for just under £6495 which seems brilliant and would leave me some funds to keep for any future maintenance that may be needed. Buying from a dealer seems to push this up a grand or so and mileages tend to be anything from 40 - 140k!
Or a Honda Civic 2.2 CDTi?
2007 versions seem to all have around 50-60k miles and hover around the £8k mark.
But then there's the Kia Pro Cee'd!
There's a 2009 1.6 version available for £8000 - with only 4000 miles on it.
I suppose the question I'm asking is do I buy something a bit older but with better perceived quality and residuals OR (and this is where the wife chips in) get something much, much newer and covered by a massive warranty?
All views and comments appreciated.
BMW is vastly better than the Civic but they do have sometimes serious problems - ECUs can go which costs a fortune. Also a few problems with traction control units going. Prices very sensitive with spec so make sure you get what you want. Also have a good look at the tyres, if they're Pirelli runflats then you need to budget replacing them all as they're awful.
I quite like the Kia, FWIW, very good and solid car but on the downside it's boring. Still, if you have economy in mind it'd be a good choice.
Can't imagine a £6.5k 118d will be anything other than broken in some way. Sounds too good to be true.
I quite like the Kia, FWIW, very good and solid car but on the downside it's boring. Still, if you have economy in mind it'd be a good choice.
Can't imagine a £6.5k 118d will be anything other than broken in some way. Sounds too good to be true.
BMW's here:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
I'm in the early stages of changing yet, so just gathering info.
That the downside of the BMW really - are parts prices that much different from, say the Civic?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
I'm in the early stages of changing yet, so just gathering info.
That the downside of the BMW really - are parts prices that much different from, say the Civic?
It'll be more expensive to service than a Civic, parts cost more and potentially consumables do too if you have runflats.
Edit: that looks like poverty spec to me. You really do need the sports seats at the least, standard ones are poo.
Edit: that looks like poverty spec to me. You really do need the sports seats at the least, standard ones are poo.
Edited by LongLiveTazio on Monday 25th October 12:35
I've been very happy with my Civic. It's chain-cam so no belts to change. Dealer servicing can be pricey (although there's fixed-price at Honda for things like new front pads/discs £245 fitted) but for an 07 car, no need to go to a dealer. Intervals are 12.5k, alternates major and minor services - the major ones have air, fuel and pollen filter replacement. Only things scheduled beyond that are coolant (62.5k miles / 5 years), and gearbox oil (75k / 8 years).
It's much more roomy and practical than the BMW too - rear passengers get a lot more space, boot is massive for the size of car, seats fold perfectly flat or flip up like cinema seats. It's better than a lot of estates in that regard. Looked at the 1-series but it felt tiny in comparison (transmission tunnel and room for diff eats the space) and I wouldn't want to be sat in the back for long.
It's much more roomy and practical than the BMW too - rear passengers get a lot more space, boot is massive for the size of car, seats fold perfectly flat or flip up like cinema seats. It's better than a lot of estates in that regard. Looked at the 1-series but it felt tiny in comparison (transmission tunnel and room for diff eats the space) and I wouldn't want to be sat in the back for long.
I Have driven a poverty spec 1 series diesel and it was less than fun. In fact I would rather AIDS than have one sat on my driveway.
The civic on the other hand is a decent car which is all too often overlooked.
One of the guys I lift share with has one so I do about 600 or so miles a month in one as a passenger and I love it. My only real gripe with it is the ride is far too hard for the class of vehicle. Its an executive model and has factory fit 18's - if you do end up getting a civic steer well clear of these wheels! also, the car is only four years old and the corossion on the wheels is terrible.
Other than that its a great car. The 2.2 litre engine is nice and torquey and with three of us in the car and the climiate control on constantly it returns nearly 52 MPG up and down the A14.
The civic on the other hand is a decent car which is all too often overlooked.
One of the guys I lift share with has one so I do about 600 or so miles a month in one as a passenger and I love it. My only real gripe with it is the ride is far too hard for the class of vehicle. Its an executive model and has factory fit 18's - if you do end up getting a civic steer well clear of these wheels! also, the car is only four years old and the corossion on the wheels is terrible.
Other than that its a great car. The 2.2 litre engine is nice and torquey and with three of us in the car and the climiate control on constantly it returns nearly 52 MPG up and down the A14.
Thanks lads, more than helpful.
I think if I ask myself properly, then its a Civic.
My Mums got one and loves it, yes totally different needs to mine but as mentioned its a decent size, never missed a beat in three years and and servicing is very reasonable - yes I'd use an Indy I think.
The only thing I've read about them that's a negative is the lack of a rear wiper!!
STG - how to find the performance. Its not the top of my selection criteria (or so the wife says...
) so it'd be a bit of a bonus. These don't a have a spare wheel too, do they not?
I think if I ask myself properly, then its a Civic.
My Mums got one and loves it, yes totally different needs to mine but as mentioned its a decent size, never missed a beat in three years and and servicing is very reasonable - yes I'd use an Indy I think.
The only thing I've read about them that's a negative is the lack of a rear wiper!!
STG - how to find the performance. Its not the top of my selection criteria (or so the wife says...
) so it'd be a bit of a bonus. These don't a have a spare wheel too, do they not?Performance is fine for what it is - a 140bhp diesel. It's more linear power delivery than the VAG diesels so you don't get quite such a shove in the back, it just delivers nicely from 1500 to 4500rpm. Had a 175bhp 5-cyl Alfa diesel before and it doesn't feel much slower (doesn't sound so nice though).
No spare wheel, just tyre foam. A dealer can supply a spare wheel kit including the fixings, luggage net, etc for just over £100 - but then you lose a chunk of that under-floor compartment.
No spare wheel, just tyre foam. A dealer can supply a spare wheel kit including the fixings, luggage net, etc for just over £100 - but then you lose a chunk of that under-floor compartment.
T84 said:
The Accord 2.2
adycav said:
What about one of those Fabia vRS things? I'm always hearing good things about them.
Both good calls, always liked the Accord.But I feel the Accord is too big and the Fabia/Fiesta too small for my usage. Yep 70% of the time I'm sat in on my own, but for family holidays and taking my lad and 3 others to Cricket/football matches, etc, I think a Fiesta would perhaps be too small. Whilst the Accord is too big for the majority of the time I need it.
... but saying all that, this looks very nice:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
I've got an Ibiza Cupra 1.9 TDI 160 PS - pulls like a steam train and will get you 50mpg on a steady run and 45 on an average commute with bits of fast and slow, town and country.
Highly recommended and certainly yours for under £8k!
Feel free to ask any questions if you need any further info.
If a 5 door is required, check out a 130 PS FR version - not loads around in 5 door guise but well worth a look.
Highly recommended and certainly yours for under £8k!
Feel free to ask any questions if you need any further info.
If a 5 door is required, check out a 130 PS FR version - not loads around in 5 door guise but well worth a look.
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