Help picking a hatchback, £17k - Page 1 - Car Buying

Tuesday 29th August 2023

Recently bought a V40 from a dealer 150 miles away and unfortunately I've had to reject the vehicle after numerous issues within the first few days of owning it.

Me and my girlfriend are now 'car less' and are urgently trying to find a suitable car. I'm trying to not rush into it for the sake of getting a car and then regretting it.

I went to view a Ford Focus ST Line X edition at a local dealer that was up for 17,790 but there are two rather large imperfections on the car which the dealer doesn't want to smart repair as the colour match wont be right due to it being on the arch and them needing to blend into the plastic bumper. I understand a used car has marks, but any major things will trigger my OCD.

I have a budget of 18k and ideally I'd like the following:

- Apple car play
- Front and rear sensors. Rear cam would be nice.
- Heated seats
- LED lights
- Ideally manufacturer warranty

I've mainly been looking at Focus' but open to any other suggestions for a car of similar size.

Cheers

3,245 posts

51 months

Tuesday 29th August 2023

Cash or monthly payments?

P4D

Original Poster

257 posts

125 months

Tuesday 29th August 2023

BenS94 said:

Cash or monthly payments?

Ideally cash, sorry I forgot to mention that. Although the v40 I took on HP as there were incentives, and I was planning to settle it after the first month.

3,245 posts

51 months

Tuesday 29th August 2023

P4D said:

BenS94 said:

Cash or monthly payments?

Ideally cash, sorry I forgot to mention that. Although the v40 I took on HP as there were incentives, and I was planning to settle it after the first month.

Best advice from me here - see what's out there new requiring deposit, then put the rest in savings. BMW 118i M Sport brand new is where I'd be going. 4.9% APR and your money would almost gain exactly that in a good savings account.

jaydeeuk1

797 posts

87 months

Tuesday 29th August 2023

Dacia Jogger extreme Se has all that, more practical than the stepway and better equipped (eg electronic handbrake)

Will have at least 2 years of warranty left, and can be extended cheaply.

No it won't make the neighbours all moist as it isn't a 320d, but it matches your criteria.

imck

811 posts

134 months

Tuesday 29th August 2023

Corolla ticks all of the boxes and 10 Year/100K warranty.
Software might need an upgrade to get Apple.
2.0 much better than 1.8 engine wise. 2.0 does have a pretty small boot due to battery in the back.
CVT box is a bit unusual but not as drony as some CVT can be
Getting high 50s mpg out of mine with no effort.

Or something Kia with 7 Year/100K?

ZX10R NIN

30,389 posts

152 months

Tuesday 29th August 2023

P4D said:

Recently bought a V40 from a dealer 150 miles away and unfortunately I've had to reject the vehicle after numerous issues within the first few days of owning it.

Me and my girlfriend are now 'car less' and are urgently trying to find a suitable car. I'm trying to not rush into it for the sake of getting a car and then regretting it.

I went to view a Ford Focus ST Line X edition at a local dealer that was up for 17,790 but there are two rather large imperfections on the car which the dealer doesn't want to smart repair as the colour match wont be right due to it being on the arch and them needing to blend into the plastic bumper. I understand a used car has marks, but any major things will trigger my OCD.

I have a budget of 18k and ideally I'd like the following:

- Apple car play
- Front and rear sensors. Rear cam would be nice.
- Heated seats
- LED lights
- Ideally manufacturer warranty

I've mainly been looking at Focus' but open to any other suggestions for a car of similar size.

Cheers

3,245 posts

51 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023

ZX10R NIN said:

P4D said:

Recently bought a V40 from a dealer 150 miles away and unfortunately I've had to reject the vehicle after numerous issues within the first few days of owning it.

Me and my girlfriend are now 'car less' and are urgently trying to find a suitable car. I'm trying to not rush into it for the sake of getting a car and then regretting it.

I went to view a Ford Focus ST Line X edition at a local dealer that was up for 17,790 but there are two rather large imperfections on the car which the dealer doesn't want to smart repair as the colour match wont be right due to it being on the arch and them needing to blend into the plastic bumper. I understand a used car has marks, but any major things will trigger my OCD.

I have a budget of 18k and ideally I'd like the following:

- Apple car play
- Front and rear sensors. Rear cam would be nice.
- Heated seats
- LED lights
- Ideally manufacturer warranty

I've mainly been looking at Focus' but open to any other suggestions for a car of similar size.

Cheers

For the love of all things reliable. Avoid the 1.2T and 1.4T Astras. Big question mark over 1.5T EcoBoom reliability too. Also to add - taking finance does make the whole rejection thing so much easier, should you buy any car that ends up troublesome.

ZX10R NIN

30,389 posts

152 months

Thursday 31st August 2023

Supplied a lot of 1.4T Astra's with only a small percentage having any issues & even less so with the 1.5T Fords.

3,245 posts

51 months

Friday 1st September 2023

ZX10R NIN said:

Supplied a lot of 1.4T Astra's with only a small percentage having any issues & even less so with the 1.5T Fords.

Of course, I've worked off "it won't happen to me" before though... and it did. Best avoided.

Whataguy

1,127 posts

107 months

Friday 1st September 2023

I previously owned a V40 for a year, I'm currently in a 2020 Mk7.5 Golf 1.5Tsi Match Edition.

You should be able to pick one up from a min dealer for around budget.

They have all the tech you are looking for, apart from the reversing camera.

I had the camera fitted to mine after purchase, there are plenty of specialists that can do it for you.

Approved used VW's come with a 2 year warranty.

The 150hp one is the best one, the 130hp's have an economy stop/start system that can't be disabled - it shuts down the engine while coasting rather than the 150hp which goes to idle (or can be switched off completely by using sport mode.)

Edited by Whataguy on Friday 1st September 12:57

Mark V GTD

3,119 posts

151 months