9K To Spend Which Car ?

9K To Spend Which Car ?

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rockhopper

Original Poster:

10 posts

160 months

Friday 10th February 2012
quotequote all
Hope you can help me to make a decision on my next car, I'm having a nightmare trying to decide what to go for, I do approx 18,000 miles a year and so have decided to go for a diesel but hopefully something that will be a little entertaining to drive whilst being fairly frugal and with decent load carrying ability.

After looking around for ages the 3 cars I've come up with are the Octavia VRS, BMW 320d Touring and a Honda Civic ( all diesels ), these all seem to have fairly good fuel economy whilst being decent drives as well, I'd ideally like the Octy with the new common rail engine be think this may be outside the budget other than a high miler.

Any thoughts appreciated and other recommendations I may of somehow overlooked.

Cheers Andy

rockhopper

Original Poster:

10 posts

160 months

Friday 10th February 2012
quotequote all
Anyone care to offer any advise ?

rockhopper

Original Poster:

10 posts

160 months

Friday 10th February 2012
quotequote all
PaperCut said:
How about a SEAT Exeo ST - i think you could get one within budget, or perhaps adding a little to it - it's essentially an Audi A4, but has had a few tweeks in the suspension & steering so handles better than the Audi. Plus it has the Common Rail VAG 2.0 TDi in 143/168bhp guises. Perhaps not as big as an Octavia, but on par with the BMW.
Only seen saloons in my price range and no good for the load carrying.


Mr Roper said:
Alfa 159 Sport Wagon.

Never driven one but I imagine it's pretty quick and handles well. I'd happily do 18,000 miles sat in that car

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3610380.htm
This was my original no.1 choice but it appears in the real world even the 1.9 jtdm struggles to get beyound 40 mpg....shame !


Sub5s said:
I've test driven the VRS Facelift with the DSG box and it's a fun car.
Bit of an anecdote:
I was having a stroll in Marbella and came across the Skoda showroom, with a black VRS sitting on the forecourt.
Always fancied a go in these, so asked for a test drive.
The sales guy handed the keys to me, I started the engine, let it idle a bit and asked him if it was the petrol version. I was in for a surprise!
I couldn't believe that I was sitting in an oil burner, the new engines seem to be so much more cultivated and refined than the "old" PD Diesels!!

Certainly ticked the right boxes and I was seriously tempted. But I ultimately prefer Petrol engines.

The facelift's probably out of budged. But I can imagine that the older model delivers the same sporty-but-still-saving-on-the-petrol package. With a bit of added Diesel rattle in the mornings! wink

I'd say go for the VRS.

Edited by Sub5s on Friday 10th February 15:14
The VRS is the one that seems to tick most of the boxes but again I really want one with the new CR engine, I've seen the odd one for sale but higher mileage.




frosted said:
You don't have to buy the VRS for the fast diesel , most Audis and some passats have the 170 engine.

Somehow it seems the BMW diesel get better mpg , I find that hard to believe but many owners on here are saying 60mpg. My 170 tdi estate can get 50mpg @ 80 mph
The ones in my budget appear to be the older PD engines though which seem a bit agricultural.



MonkeyMatt said:
Mazda 3 or 6 2.2d Sport
Don't reckon the 3 would have enough boot space, the 6 I had considered but only in the 2.2d Sport guise and they are a bit too much dosh !

rockhopper

Original Poster:

10 posts

160 months

Friday 10th February 2012
quotequote all
Any more thoughts ?

rockhopper

Original Poster:

10 posts

160 months

Friday 10th February 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replys, I actually really like the Alfa 159 but as I mentioned previously the mpg isn't great otherwise I wouldn't hesitate and what ever I get It will be looked after and certainly not treated as a hack !

Frosted, how do you find the PD engine, not to clattery or difficult to drive in traffic as I've heard the turbo suddenly kicks in where as the CR is a lot smoother.

Mate at work has Volvo V50 which he likes, the 2.4, reckon the V70 would be bigger than I'd need, not considered the C6 so I'll take a look, does no one rate the Civic as this was near the top of my list ?


rockhopper

Original Poster:

10 posts

160 months

Saturday 11th February 2012
quotequote all
antspants said:
If you're talking about the civic 2.2 cdti then I can wholeheartedly recommend you to avoid it like the plague if you take any pleasure in driving.
I'm using one on a hopefully short term basis until I order my next company car, and it is dreadful.
A completely souless car that I can find nothing good to say about it, however it is so dreary that it doesn't even have any faults that could make it quirky. Oh apart from a pointy dashboard that is systematically trying to destroy my left kneecap every time I get in the car!
Awful, dreary, boring, sucks the very joy from driving!
Well thats certainly a decisive no vote for the civic then, what is it you have had or driven peviously that has given you this impression of it, I'm intrigued ?