Chevy Cruze - how bad is it, really

[CYMR0]

A friend of mine has a fairly disastrous car history but (now) a reasonable amount of cash.

He's looking for something to keep for five years and 60k miles, with a reasonable amount of poke (compared to a 1.9d 206) and good reliability. He won't spend on maintenance beyond an annual service and MoT, so anything that might bite you - will bite him.

Budget is £9k and the last word in handling isn't essential, but good acceleration is, so a minimum of 130bhp is needed, and probably diesel (because he's got used to the economy of the 206).

Also, he has very short legs and a not very long body - so big cars aren't really an option. Before now he's turned down a free rental upgrade from an old Astra to a new Avensis because he can't get a good driving position.

So those are a pretty tough set of requirements and distilling them all, the need for the car to be alive in 5 years' time, a long warranty and reasonable poke, the most risk averse option for everything except depreciation seems to be a Chevy Cruze. For that money, it's a year old, it has 163 bhp, is a diesel, and is based on the Astra platform so should be okay for driving position.

Is there anything less awful, but not significantly slower, thirstier or more expensive, with a comparable amount of warranty?

[340600]

Golf Mk5 2.0 TDI?

[CYMR0]

340600 said:

Golf Mk5 2.0 TDI?

Fine now, but will it be so after five years, out of warranty, at 8 years/140k miles? It's not the kind of cash he can throw away and start again with until the five years are up.

For £15k I'd say that would be perfect but as it is, I can't help thinking he'd do better spending £2k and starting again after each MoT.

[SystemParanoia]

whatever he buys, ket us kniw the reg so none of us end up with this potential moneypit if a car thats gone 5 years without been looked after properly!

[CYMR0]

SystemParanoia said:

whatever he buys, ket us kniw the reg so none of us end up with this potential moneypit if a car thats gone 5 years without been looked after properly!

To be fair, I think it will get a Halfords £129 service and MoT once a year ... but possibly not much else. Like most Mumsnetters do.

[em177]

CYMR0 said:

To be fair, I think it will get a Halfords £129 service and MoT once a year ... but possibly not much else. Like most Mumsnetters do.

Nice profile pic

[Wigeon Incognito]

Surely this is what the Kia Ceed was invented for, having looked in the classifieds the budget can get you a car of similar age and that seven year warranty has to be attractive.

I have a friend who has one and it's a very good car!

[V88Dicky]

If he's only doing 12k miles per year, he'd be as well going for a petrol financially.


How about an almost new Suzuki Swift Sport?

Or a Focus, Mazda 3, Yaris SR, BMW 1 series, etc?

[SSBB]

CYMR0 said:

Also, he has very short legs and a not very long body - so big cars aren't really an option.

So, in short, he's short

[CYMR0]

Wigeon Incognito said:

Surely this is what the Kia Ceed was invented for, having looked in the classifieds the budget can get you a car of similar age and that seven year warranty has to be attractive.

I have a friend who has one and it's a very good car!

Probably not got the shove needed ... otherwise, definitely would be on the list. I've driven a couple as rentals and quite like them.

[CYMR0]

V88Dicky said:

If he's only doing 12k miles per year, he'd be as well going for a petrol financially.


How about an almost new Suzuki Swift Sport?

Or a Focus, Mazda 3, Yaris SR, BMW 1 series, etc?

It'd make it easier, wouldn't it - but I think he has the Mumsnet diesel disease.

And yes, he is short (but also a powerfully built, former company director)... point is that he's extra short in the legs so it's not the kind of short where seeing over the steering wheel is an issue so much as reaching the pedals.

[tinkertaylor]

CYMR0 said:

It'd make it easier, wouldn't it - but I think he has the Mumsnet diesel disease.

And yes, he is short (but also a powerfully built, former company director)... point is that he's extra short in the legs so it's not the kind of short where seeing over the steering wheel is an issue so much as reaching the pedals.

Can't he wear some platform shoes when driving and buy something bigger?

[KardioKate]

Gotta be something with a 7 year warranty then?

Surely Kias are made for this guy.

[V88Dicky]

CYMR0 said:

V88Dicky said:

If he's only doing 12k miles per year, he'd be as well going for a petrol financially.


How about an almost new Suzuki Swift Sport?

Or a Focus, Mazda 3, Yaris SR, BMW 1 series, etc?

It'd make it easier, wouldn't it - but I think he has the Mumsnet diesel disease.

And yes, he is short (but also a powerfully built, former company director)... point is that he's extra short in the legs so it's not the kind of short where seeing over the steering wheel is an issue so much as reaching the pedals.

Fair enough. If he wants to spunk more money than he needs to on a rattlebox, he can be my guest.

But.........it is your duty as a PHer to convince him otherwise

[dxg]

I was dumped with a Cruze for a short while through work.

It was alright. As a hire car. Nothing more.

A big wobbly thing, as I recall.

Think of it as a low-rent Insignia (as the part-sharing is really obvious once you're inside it) and you'll get the right idea.

[*Al*]

SSBB said:

CYMR0 said:

Also, he has very short legs and a not very long body - so big cars aren't really an option.

So, in short, he's short

Does he also dress in orange and work for a Mr W. Wonker by any chance?

[SirSamuelBuca]

I see no alternative to a golf tdi he's out of range of a good BMW diesel :/

Can u get a mini cooper sd for that good bet or an s :-)

[V8Triumph]

Not being funny but how short is he? I'm a tiny 5'2" girl and the only car I've ever had trouble reaching the pedals on was a TVR Chimaera but even then it was not undriveable, slightly uncomfortable however.

Spending £9k on a stbox is only going to mean he loses the money that you say he won't have again. He'd be much better off spending his money on a car that is depreciation free.

[*Al*]

V8Triumph said:

Not being funny but how short is he? I'm a tiny 5'2" girl and the only car I've ever had trouble reaching the pedals on was a TVR Chimaera but even then it was not undriveable, slightly uncomfortable however.

Spending £9k on a stbox is only going to mean he loses the money that you say he won't have again. He'd be much better off spending his money on a car that is depreciation free.

To be fair, i agree. £9K to spend will get you a nice car.

[Pints]

I'd not want to be giving this chap car buying advice.
He's not making the best decisions from a financial perspective, and if something goes pear-shaped and it costs him a bit of money I reckon he'll be playing the blame game for advising him on the wrong car.