New [used] car for the OH? - Page 1 - Car Buying

Original Poster

2,514 posts

246 months

Friday 4th December 2020

Hi,

In the new year, my OH will be in need of a new [used] car to replace her F20 1-Series 118i. The new car will have quite a specific list of boxes to tick - I've thought of the obvious but thought it was worth posting on here to see what you guys can come up with!

- The most important box to tick is the interior and exterior dimensions of the car. We're hoping to find something that has a chunk more rear-passenger and boot space than the F20 but is roughly the same size on the outside [I figure this will be doable due to the 1er being RWD].

- 4 or 5-doors are a definite.

- Must have rear parking sensors. Parking at our house demands a bit of skill and parking sensors are a great help smile

- Budget, up to £10k [bonus points if your suggestion is a few grand less than £10k].

- Age and miles isn't super important but under 50k and under 10 years old would probably please Mrs BUG4LIFE.

- I'd prefer it if the new car had performance that at least matched her 2016 118i.

- More bonus points if your suggestion is readily available as an auto. A manual will be fine if all the other boxes are ticked, but an auto would be useful.

I think that's it! My top choice at the moment is a Kia Ceed GT, as I think these can be bought for under £10k privately [doesn't come as an auto but has more performance than her 1er].

Cheers smile

Jamescrs

6,309 posts

93 months

Friday 4th December 2020

My thought is that if you want more boot space and rear leg room without going bigger on the overall footprint then you probaby need to go upwards so a small SUV type car? For example my wifes Mini Countryman Cooper S is probably the same overall footprint as the 1 series whereas due to the style and layout of the car it has significantly better interior space.

If you prefer to keep the hatch style car then probably a Seat Leon or Golf with DSG would fit the bill? I imaging boot and rear space would be better than the one series

Edited by Jamescrs on Friday 4th December 11:11

Pablo16v

2,877 posts

225 months

Friday 4th December 2020

It’s possibly a touch too small but I always thought my sister-in-law’s Fabia VRS estate was quite roomy inside for its size, but just not sure how it compares to a 1 series though as I’ve never been in one. Quite nippy as well.

Original Poster

2,514 posts

246 months

Friday 4th December 2020

Jamescrs said:

Edited by Jamescrs on Friday 4th December 11:11

I did think of the Countryman but with a budget of under £10k, which would mean a mk1, isn't the boot even smaller than an F20 1er?

I think at the end of the day, a Golf/Leon could be the way to go...just need rear sensors and a bit of poke [so not base engine].

Original Poster

2,514 posts

246 months

Friday 4th December 2020

Pablo16v said:

I will look into the Fabia estate. It may be a tad too small for rear passengers but the estate version may at least have a good size boot [I'll Google the stats].

durbster

12,014 posts

250 months

Friday 4th December 2020

There's this Forester XT:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010124...

I had one with the 2.5 engine and it was amusingly ridiculous smile

Original Poster

2,514 posts

246 months

Friday 4th December 2020

durbster said:

There's this Forester XT:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010124...

I had one with the 2.5 engine and it was amusingly ridiculous smile

Mate, yes, having recently sold my SG9 STi, I'd love a Forester back in my life. However, my OH hated the way it looked and no rear sensors of course frown

ZX10R NIN

30,484 posts

153 months

Friday 4th December 2020

Original Poster

2,514 posts

246 months

Saturday 5th December 2020

Some good suggestions there. As you mention, the Kia Ceed GT I’d definitely high up the list. I’ll look into the Hyundai i30 too, just in case there is a few more about.

Astra could be a good choice (even though it is an Astra...if that makes sense) and I know the Pug 308 is good for interior and boot space. I’ll have to look at the interior space of the Civic, as for some reason I imagine it to be a bit small.

Unfortunately I’ve knocked the Alfa off the list as I’m sure I read rear passenger space is a tad tight (maybe no better than the BM). It’s a pity as I think the Alfa is a great looking car. Also the Volvo has apparently got a small boot.

Ta.

ZX10R NIN

30,484 posts

153 months

Saturday 5th December 2020

I know what you mean about the Astra & peoples preconceived ideas about them but they are good cars, well spec'd too that first one even has heated rear seats.

Original Poster

2,514 posts

246 months

Monday 11th January 2021

Hmm, I've been wondering if a small SUV is the answer to question.

Would a VW Tiguan offer more rear and boot space but only a small increase in external dimensions? The only issue being more of these kind of vehicles are bought as diesels...so maybe I need to open up to the idea of a dirty diesel [I doubt my OH would care]?!

Ford Kuga is another maybe, though these could be a bit too big? I may float the idea of a Mercedes B-Class. Not exactly a great looking car, and certainly not fun, but they seem to offer quite a bit of internal space without being much bigger than a 1-Series?!

jwilco

335 posts

76 months

Monday 11th January 2021

The Tiguan is a similar size to the Kuga, so not sure you can rule out one based on that fact. The new, "small SUV" types haven't been around that long, so you won't find a VW T-Roc in budget (for example). I'd still be sticking with a decent hatchback at that price point.

CrippsCorner

3,370 posts

209 months

Monday 11th January 2021

I'm in a similar predicament you, albeit with a smaller budget!

My favourite cars for this job are estates, I'm mainly considering a 3 Series Touring or A4 Avant. I am also looking at BMW X3 though; I even managed to find a manual M Sport the other day yikes

A few other non massive cars on my current saved list!

Mazda3 Fastback
Mazda6 MPS
Mondeo ST
Vectra VXR
A3 Sportback
Astra SRi
C Class C250 Sport
Laguna GT
Leon FR
308 GT

Mammasaid

5,502 posts

125 months