20K a year, £7K budget - what car?
Discussion
I've managed to up my budget a bit and looking for a car for a 90 mile around trip commute each day.
Basically, it has to be comfortable, economical (50+ mpg without any trouble) and reliable. And I'd rather avoid Kia's and the like, despite them probably fitting the bill.
I don't know which route to go down...
Either something like a 3 year old Yarid D4D - lots of kit, 60+ mpg and will be reliable. It also has a reasonable amount of grunt for a small car. Or a 2013/14 Polo 1.2 TDI, but there's bugger all kit on a car at this price.
Or the alternative is something with a bit more prestigage, a little older with higher mileage. What would be your recommendation given the criteria?
Ideally I want a Euro 6 compliant car - the Polo and Yaris both meet the standards..
Thanks in advance.
Basically, it has to be comfortable, economical (50+ mpg without any trouble) and reliable. And I'd rather avoid Kia's and the like, despite them probably fitting the bill.
I don't know which route to go down...
Either something like a 3 year old Yarid D4D - lots of kit, 60+ mpg and will be reliable. It also has a reasonable amount of grunt for a small car. Or a 2013/14 Polo 1.2 TDI, but there's bugger all kit on a car at this price.
Or the alternative is something with a bit more prestigage, a little older with higher mileage. What would be your recommendation given the criteria?
Ideally I want a Euro 6 compliant car - the Polo and Yaris both meet the standards..
Thanks in advance.
thenortherner said:
Or the alternative is something with a bit more prestigage, a little older with higher mileage. What would be your recommendation given the criteria?
.
I'd get past your prejudice and look at something Korean (Ceed, i30 etc) , or a larger Japanese car than a yaris. I wouldn't fancy 20k miles a year in a supermini, unless you're only 5ft tall I guess. .
Older prestige cars (I guess you mean German?) will have a much higher odds of throwing you a huge bill or two, as you'll be buying older/high(er) miles from the start then banging 20k+ a year on. Chances are the older cars won't be E6 either.
thenortherner said:
I've managed to up my budget a bit and looking for a car for a 90 mile around trip commute each day.
Basically, it has to be comfortable, economical (50+ mpg without any trouble) and reliable. And I'd rather avoid Kia's and the like, despite them probably fitting the bill.
I don't know which route to go down...
Either something like a 3 year old Yarid D4D - lots of kit, 60+ mpg and will be reliable. It also has a reasonable amount of grunt for a small car. Or a 2013/14 Polo 1.2 TDI, but there's bugger all kit on a car at this price.
Or the alternative is something with a bit more prestigage, a little older with higher mileage. What would be your recommendation given the criteria?
Ideally I want a Euro 6 compliant car - the Polo and Yaris both meet the standards..
Thanks in advance.
You'd be willing to do 20k in a 1.2d Polo/Yaris etc which will be small & hardly what you'd call a comfortable place to spend 20k a year in.Basically, it has to be comfortable, economical (50+ mpg without any trouble) and reliable. And I'd rather avoid Kia's and the like, despite them probably fitting the bill.
I don't know which route to go down...
Either something like a 3 year old Yarid D4D - lots of kit, 60+ mpg and will be reliable. It also has a reasonable amount of grunt for a small car. Or a 2013/14 Polo 1.2 TDI, but there's bugger all kit on a car at this price.
Or the alternative is something with a bit more prestigage, a little older with higher mileage. What would be your recommendation given the criteria?
Ideally I want a Euro 6 compliant car - the Polo and Yaris both meet the standards..
Thanks in advance.
You need to get realistic the Kia is a much better car than either of the cars you listed above (& just as well built) to do the miles you're talking about:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
My commute is about the same as yours - Yaris size cars will be very noisy and annoying after a while, even most Focus sized cars are too noisy in my opinion, I imagine with that length of commute traffic/incidents will be regular so a auto is essential. Also seat comfort is hugely important
I switched cars about six months ago with a slightly smaller budget than yours, found there wasn't loads of choice that are: Not that old, cheap to repair, good mpg, decent to drive, automatic, reasonably refined
Considered a Volvo C30 D3/D4, nice cars but in my budget they were pretty shabby and not sure I could live with the boot. Went with an Astra GTC 2.0 CDTI Auto, it's not as nice a my previous few cars, but it's a decent all rounder - if I had to make the choice again now I can't think that it would be any different
I switched cars about six months ago with a slightly smaller budget than yours, found there wasn't loads of choice that are: Not that old, cheap to repair, good mpg, decent to drive, automatic, reasonably refined
Considered a Volvo C30 D3/D4, nice cars but in my budget they were pretty shabby and not sure I could live with the boot. Went with an Astra GTC 2.0 CDTI Auto, it's not as nice a my previous few cars, but it's a decent all rounder - if I had to make the choice again now I can't think that it would be any different
I'd forgotten what shopping for a car with this sort of budget was like. I've driven a good few hundred miles today to see cars which are in sh*t state. And traders pretending to be private sellers with the V5 not matching the address. Beyond frustrating.
I looked at a C30 which had only covered 40K and had 9 main dealer stamps, and hadn't failed an MOT yet. I drove over an hour to see it to find most panels had marks and dents on them. Why doesn't anyone look after anything any more!?
I found a Civic 1.6 but it had sold by the time I got to the dealer. He seemed a very honest sort and given my budget and requirements also recommended a the Civic 1.6. He reckons they're very hard to get hold of and have risen in value, with him paying £1K more on average than he did 4 months ago.
My journey to work will be 40 miles each way and mostly through faster flowing A/B roads rather than motorway. And I travel when the traffic's light. I was thinking about the Polo etc because of their tiny wheels and large sidewalls, so should be a fairly comfortable drive. And the 1.2 tdi is fairly refined compared to the older 1.6.
The search continues.
I looked at a C30 which had only covered 40K and had 9 main dealer stamps, and hadn't failed an MOT yet. I drove over an hour to see it to find most panels had marks and dents on them. Why doesn't anyone look after anything any more!?
I found a Civic 1.6 but it had sold by the time I got to the dealer. He seemed a very honest sort and given my budget and requirements also recommended a the Civic 1.6. He reckons they're very hard to get hold of and have risen in value, with him paying £1K more on average than he did 4 months ago.
My journey to work will be 40 miles each way and mostly through faster flowing A/B roads rather than motorway. And I travel when the traffic's light. I was thinking about the Polo etc because of their tiny wheels and large sidewalls, so should be a fairly comfortable drive. And the 1.2 tdi is fairly refined compared to the older 1.6.
The search continues.
Other half has a 1.2 TDi Polo, it will smash 50+mpg with no problem, she gets 60+ on a long run, and when I get hold of it and thrash it I still hit 50ish. Had a few niggles (engine cover cut through fuel pipe, goes through bulbs for fun) and my back doesn't like the seats much (no lumbar support). Only serious issue was a water pump that went at around 40k.
Must be nicer places to sit for 7k though, Golf?
Must be nicer places to sit for 7k though, Golf?
A Skoda Octavia - something like this? https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Another day of viewing dogs, many at main dealers.
The last car I viewed was a private car. It's the same model as the below, so tonnes of equipment:
https://www.ainsdaleprestige.co.uk/used-cars/volks...
It's covered 40K and has 3 main dealer stamps and an independent service 500 miles ago.
He'll take £7.9K. There's cosmetic marks and scratches, probably £300-£400 to sort and it'd be spot on.
What do you reckon?
The last car I viewed was a private car. It's the same model as the below, so tonnes of equipment:
https://www.ainsdaleprestige.co.uk/used-cars/volks...
It's covered 40K and has 3 main dealer stamps and an independent service 500 miles ago.
He'll take £7.9K. There's cosmetic marks and scratches, probably £300-£400 to sort and it'd be spot on.
What do you reckon?
I had a Passat as a courtesy car a few years ago, turned out I had it for about 5 months and stacked 15k on it while my insurers failed to find suspension parts for my car that had been t boned by a corporate wagon. God it was dull, still a much better place to sit than a Polo though.
They weren't happy with the mileage on the car, went to court for excessive costs.
They weren't happy with the mileage on the car, went to court for excessive costs.
Another vote for a cee'd here, they really have come a long way and, at this mileage, the running costs vs. retained value should be realistic considerations; you may even get some good use out of remaining warranty.
Alternative, how about a Mondeo? This one looks like there is potential for a good deal:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Slightly checkered MOT history - likely too tight to swap out tyres and some punishment going up and down that drive - but, combined with the fact it's a private sale, that could be enough leverage to get them down to about 7395; it's gonna be cheaper to run and fix than the VW.
Alternative, how about a Mondeo? This one looks like there is potential for a good deal:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Slightly checkered MOT history - likely too tight to swap out tyres and some punishment going up and down that drive - but, combined with the fact it's a private sale, that could be enough leverage to get them down to about 7395; it's gonna be cheaper to run and fix than the VW.
nobrakes said:
Toed64 said:
You could get a 2013/14 Insignia for your budget...much newer than the equivalent German or Japanese repmobile, but they are still comfortable, quiet and reasonably reliable.
Sound like sensible advice.On the subject of Korean cars, I've hired the Hyundai Golf-equivalent a number of times (i30?), and other than being utterly unmemorable, they have all been perfectly competent: refined, reliable, comfortable and economical.
I would imagine that the C'eed is similar.
I was in the same boat, needed something for work, site, chucking a Kayak on and a bike in. Bought a 3yr old kia ceed with heated leather, heated wheel, keyless and electric stuff, more toys than brothers year-younger Q5, and £30/yr tax. In 60k miles and 2.5 years I have paid for tyres, two services, and fuel at 50+mpg reliably. Everything else covered by warranty or not gone wrong (not even a bulb), flew through all MOTs. Insane vfm and reliability for relative peanuts.
As a usable car they are brilliant. But they are dull as s
t to look at, you will lose it in any car park, and the kia badge is as obvious on approach as Eddie the Eagles glasses. It is a big thing to overcome but if you ignore the badge then it's quite quietly impressive.
As a usable car they are brilliant. But they are dull as s
t to look at, you will lose it in any car park, and the kia badge is as obvious on approach as Eddie the Eagles glasses. It is a big thing to overcome but if you ignore the badge then it's quite quietly impressive. Just a courtesy update,
After viewing dog after dog of Civic and Passat, I bought privately a 2014 MINI Cooper D with a reasonable amount of kit on it. It's immaculate, other than some evidence of a smart repair on the rear bumper, and with FMDSH and still 1 service to reclaim. It'd done 37K miles when I bought it.
I'm just over 2 weeks and 1000 miles in and all's well. Great on the motorway, the seats feel fine and there's plenty of adjustment, and there's plenty of torque so it's happy in 6th gear accelerating from 50+ upwards.
And it's averaging 64 MPG without too much effort.
All the tyres have plenty of life left in them but as soon as the runflats are in need of replacement I'll go with normal tyres to help with the comfort.
It's the third MINI I've had. Just wish it had the pace of the F56 Cooper SD I had a year or so ago.
After viewing dog after dog of Civic and Passat, I bought privately a 2014 MINI Cooper D with a reasonable amount of kit on it. It's immaculate, other than some evidence of a smart repair on the rear bumper, and with FMDSH and still 1 service to reclaim. It'd done 37K miles when I bought it.
I'm just over 2 weeks and 1000 miles in and all's well. Great on the motorway, the seats feel fine and there's plenty of adjustment, and there's plenty of torque so it's happy in 6th gear accelerating from 50+ upwards.
And it's averaging 64 MPG without too much effort.
All the tyres have plenty of life left in them but as soon as the runflats are in need of replacement I'll go with normal tyres to help with the comfort.
It's the third MINI I've had. Just wish it had the pace of the F56 Cooper SD I had a year or so ago.
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