New car or second-hand car for same value - suggestions?!

[wittzi]

My wife and I have agreed we'll spend £20k on a car and are currently wondering whether to buy a brand new car, or buy a second hand one for the same value.

I currently have a C Class 230 Coupe Kompressor, but it's killing us on fuel costs and getting old.

The wife wants a new £20k 2011 Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 2 which I test drove and I didn't think that it was too bad. I was impressed that it genuinely gets 55mpg, had a decent specification and had a reasonable amount of poke for a 1.7 turbo diesel. If not the Kia, then any new car for around the same price (Seat, Ford, etc ...).

My question is whether people think that I should buy the Kia (or other new car for £20k) or maybe get a decent new(ish) VW Passat, C Class Merc, etc ... instead.

It's a difficult decision, as I'm amazed at the drive and build quality of the Kia (as well as getting a 7 year warranty and it gets great reviews), whereas an older car carries a few more risks.

I'd appreciate any feedback on whether the Kia (or similar new car) would be your preferred choice or whether you would choose a second-hand car (and if so what car that would be).

I'm primarily looking for the best economy, whilst ideally being able to open it upon country roads if I feel like it! I guess that combo probably doesn't really exist, but I'd appreciate any ideas that anyone has!!!

[marcosgt]

Have you just arrived from another planet?

You'll lose a shed load in depreciation on a Kia over 3 years.

Buy a quality 3 year old car and you'll probably see a large chunk of it back.

I suppose you might be tempted by servicing offers and extended warranties, but you're paying for those one way or another.

If you want a new Kia, buy a 3 year old Ford/Citroen/Renault/VW/etc/etc/etc and pocket £10K!

M.

[wittzi]

LOL - Immediate response and just what I thought it might be! Thanks for the input, I hope others will also do the same.

I just wonder whether or not the depreciation will be as bad with the 7 year / 100,000 warranty?

Either way, it will be useful to (hopefully) hear other people's feedback ... including yours so thanks a lot!

[anonymous-user]

hmmm kia thingiemajig

or this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

not good on fuel I know, but it shows the sort of metal that can be acquired for 20 large

[jsg612]

I'd go for the brand new one. No potential of dodgey history, warranty, somewhere to fall back onto with any problems, probably better looking, usually more flexible payment options. But this is PH where nobody buys new, and cars leave the factory second hand.

[adycav]

How many seats do you need?

Boot space?

If you have a C Class Coupe, I assume that you don't need loads of room.

And you say you want decent economy first and foremost.

Therefore, the answer is a used BMW 123d coupe or hatchback.

Or, if you can find one in budget, an Alpina D3 saloon.

[shalmaneser]

adycav said:

How many seats do you need?

Boot space?

If you have a C Class Coupe, I assume that you don't need loads of room.

And you say you want decent economy first and foremost.

Therefore, the answer is a used BMW 123d coupe or hatchback.

Or, if you can find one in budget, an Alpina D3 saloon.

+1 Alpina D3.

[adycav]

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/results/0,,1156_...

[wittzi]

Welllllllll ....

Kids <i>might</i> be on the cards in the next year or so, so ideally we'd be looking for a 4 door one.

Don't get me wrong, having seen this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I would LOVE to get involved, but ideally it would need to be semi-economical and have a fair bit of space. Having seen a few BMW suggestions here the 330d's seem pretty awesome!

[wittzi]

jsg612 said:

I'd go for the brand new one. No potential of dodgey history, warranty, somewhere to fall back onto with any problems, probably better looking, usually more flexible payment options. But this is PH where nobody buys new, and cars leave the factory second hand.

Thanks jsg612! I was hoping there would be at least one person in the Kia's corner and that was a very good appraisal of the situation!! Loved the PH comment too! :-)

[Jayho]

I'm actually on the Kia corner aswell. A friend's dad bought a brand new one, and I must admit, there's plenty of bang for buck (compared to your more similar luxurious cars) and the build quality and feel of the car in general is actually very good. I was thoroughly surprised. I also quite like the looks of the Kia Souls, but IDK what they are like in the flesh, just seen a couple of them kicking about looking very nice!

Have you looked in to Fiat 500's, I think even the Arbarth can return 40+MPH when driven carefully. TBH I really cant really imagine a 4x4 being amazing fun on the British B roads, unless its SWB (Shogun Evo, nom!).

[Deva Link]

marcosgt said:

You'll lose a shed load in depreciation on a Kia over 3 years.

...but what if he keeps it for 7 years?

marcosgt said:

Buy a quality 3 year old car and you'll probably see a large chunk of it back.

Depends on how long he keeps it. Plus you've got MOTs, service & maint, perhaps breakdown cover, maybe extended warranty etc etc.

OK, it is still probably cheaper, but I reckon the difference is often not that great. Some cars carry on depreciating from years 3 to 6 at not far off the same rate as from 0 to 3. And bear in mind that many people would have virtually no running costs over the first 3 years if they did normalish mileage, coupled with the lack of hassle, peace of mind, no wasting time trying to find a decent used car etc etc.

[Deva Link]

wittzi said:

I was impressed that it genuinely gets 55mpg,

When you say "genuinely", is that from your own test, or are there owners who are getting that?

Most of these cars achieve way off the official figures in normal use.

[va1o]

New is the easiest option if you can afford it. Buying second hand cars is stressful, I wouldn't do it for fun if a new car that I liked was within budget.

[andy43]

Well we have a budget, but nothing else.
C class coupe, soft roader, 4 door saloon?
Do you need a boot, 4wd, diesel, a good kicking for suggesting a Kia on PH, room for kids, manual/auto?

[wittzi]

andy43 said:

Well we have a budget, but nothing else.
C class coupe, soft roader, 4 door saloon?
Do you need a boot, 4wd, diesel, a good kicking for suggesting a Kia on PH, room for kids, manual/auto?

Yeah sorry, I should have given loads more detail sorry.

1. Kids planned in the next couple of years

2. Ideally want a car with a reasonable amount of space (enough say for a bike or a set of golf clubs)

3. 4/5 door is essential this time. I've had a couple of FTO's, an MR2, C Class Merc Coupe and now I need to consider other people getting in!

4. I'm used to around 200bhp, so a car that has anything near there but offers even half-decent mpg would be awesome. I accept that if I end up with the Kia it will NOT give me the enjoyment my other cars have.

5. LOL - I totally understand that I need a kicking for suggesting a Kia on a PH forum and ordinarily I'd have kicked the suggestion into touch, but (as I mentioned earlier) I was literally amazed at how well the bloody thing drove and also liked its looks which has left me utterly confused as I was all set for getting an '07 plate 330d M Sport - Random Korean cars had NEVER been on the radar before!!!!

Edited by wittzi on Thursday 19th May 22:51

[wittzi]

Deva Link said:

When you say "genuinely", is that from your own test, or are there owners who are getting that?

Most of these cars achieve way off the official figures in normal use.

On the test drive I did it was getting between 53 and 55 on a duel-carriageway. Of course, how accurate the onboard computer is I have no idea!

[Fox-]

I dont get this. If the fuel costs of a car with a reasonably small engine such as a C230k are 'killing you' then how can you afford £20k for a new car? I suspect the fuel costs are not 'killing you' at all - you just notice them more lately.

Fuel is not the bigget cost associated with owning a car, so don't blindly prioritise it above all else.

[wittzi]

Fox- said:

I dont get this. If the fuel costs of a car with a reasonably small engine such as a C230k are 'killing you' then how can you afford £20k for a new car? I suspect the fuel costs are not 'killing you' at all - you just notice them more lately.

Fuel is not the bigget cost associated with owning a car, so don't blindly prioritise it above all else.

Fair point, but like I said it's also the fact (and I probably should have said that it's the main fact) that the Merc is starting to cost a fair bit in servicing and repairs, isn't practical for us any more and, put simply, we want a new (different) car.

I also reckon there's an issue with it, as the garage reckon it's fine but it's only returning about 28mpg, even when I drive it sensibly.

[Deva Link]

wittzi said:

On the test drive I did it was getting between 53 and 55 on a duel-carriageway. Of course, how accurate the onboard computer is I have no idea!

My Merc C270CDi auto will do that too. But it does 30MPG around town. Diesels take a lot of warming up in cold weather too - you want to be doing a decent commute or it'll be cold all the time.