Nearly new Juke Tekna vs Arona FR vs 2008 GT
Discussion
We had a look at some potential new (to her) cars for my wife at the weekend and we think that we have narrowed it down to a nearly new example of one of the above. By nearly new, I mean up to 4 years old but sub 20k miles (our other vehicle is 10 years old, so that's new to us)! We'll probably go down the used PCP route and put in around 3k deposit on a 15-16k car. We did look at a couple of cheaper options on cars that we could buy outright but none of them really appealed and were older/higher mileage cars. This would be our main family car, we have 2 children (13 and 11) and our other car is a 2015 Clio but the parking is a little restricted where we live, so we want something practical but not too big.
We looked at some other small crossovers too (Vauxhall Mokka, which I thought looked quite funky in the green and a Renault Captur as we like the Clio) but we both preferred the 3 above. We have only had a look at them so far, not driven any of them.
The Juke we looked at was a 2022 car in Tekna spec with the 1.0 turbo petrol and manual transmission (red with black roof). My wife really likes the look of these but then we looked at a mk1 Juke when we got the Clio and she really liked that too. I wasn't so sure and had read that the 1.2 turbo petrol in the 1st gen cars had some reliability issues. I do actually quite like the styling of the 2nd gen Juke though and it seems a lot roomier/more practical than the first gen.
The next was a 2024 SEAT Arona FR with the 1.0 TSI engine and manual transmission. I think that I preferred this to the Juke personally, it was in a bright metallic blue with black roof and looked quite sporty but I wouldn't say that it was much roomier than the current Ibiza (which we also looked at) but does have a larger boot I think and a flatter load area (false floor). I quite like the current Ibiza too and they're quite roomy for a small car compared to our Clio for example but they are relatively expensive and I think that for not much more, the Arona does offer more value and a bit more practicality.
The 2008, we just looked at a new one in our local Peugeot dealership showroom but there is one in the spec that we are interested in within budget at one of their other dealerships (a manual diesel in GT spec in orange with black roof). Peugeot haven't been on my radar for a while but I was impressed. It's quite a stylish car and looks bigger/feels roomier than the Juke/Arona. We also looked at a 208 in the showroom and the 2008 was significantly roomier. It felt quite premium actually and I know the dash layout in the newer Peugeots is a bit "marmite" but we both liked it. I'm just wary of the 1.2 Puretech petrol engine in the Peugeots/Vauxhalls, as I've only read bad things about them for reliability and my parents have had one in a Citroen and had a few issues with it, hence why I would prefer the diesel (even though the petrol versions are by far more common).
So, has anyone owned any of the above and if so, have you been pleased with them, did you consider any of the others as options, why did you go with that option in the end and are any of these options best avoided?
We looked at some other small crossovers too (Vauxhall Mokka, which I thought looked quite funky in the green and a Renault Captur as we like the Clio) but we both preferred the 3 above. We have only had a look at them so far, not driven any of them.
The Juke we looked at was a 2022 car in Tekna spec with the 1.0 turbo petrol and manual transmission (red with black roof). My wife really likes the look of these but then we looked at a mk1 Juke when we got the Clio and she really liked that too. I wasn't so sure and had read that the 1.2 turbo petrol in the 1st gen cars had some reliability issues. I do actually quite like the styling of the 2nd gen Juke though and it seems a lot roomier/more practical than the first gen.
The next was a 2024 SEAT Arona FR with the 1.0 TSI engine and manual transmission. I think that I preferred this to the Juke personally, it was in a bright metallic blue with black roof and looked quite sporty but I wouldn't say that it was much roomier than the current Ibiza (which we also looked at) but does have a larger boot I think and a flatter load area (false floor). I quite like the current Ibiza too and they're quite roomy for a small car compared to our Clio for example but they are relatively expensive and I think that for not much more, the Arona does offer more value and a bit more practicality.
The 2008, we just looked at a new one in our local Peugeot dealership showroom but there is one in the spec that we are interested in within budget at one of their other dealerships (a manual diesel in GT spec in orange with black roof). Peugeot haven't been on my radar for a while but I was impressed. It's quite a stylish car and looks bigger/feels roomier than the Juke/Arona. We also looked at a 208 in the showroom and the 2008 was significantly roomier. It felt quite premium actually and I know the dash layout in the newer Peugeots is a bit "marmite" but we both liked it. I'm just wary of the 1.2 Puretech petrol engine in the Peugeots/Vauxhalls, as I've only read bad things about them for reliability and my parents have had one in a Citroen and had a few issues with it, hence why I would prefer the diesel (even though the petrol versions are by far more common).
So, has anyone owned any of the above and if so, have you been pleased with them, did you consider any of the others as options, why did you go with that option in the end and are any of these options best avoided?
Edited by Starsky80 on Tuesday 10th February 09:29
If you are looking at getting a PCP on a used car be careful of the interest rates as they won't be manufacturer backed and will probably be into double figures.
Compare the overall cost with a bank loan, you'll also own the vehicle at the end of the bank loan rather than have the 'balloon' to pay.
My preference for those would be the Arona FR, my mate has one that he uses along with his 18 year old son, which they both enjoy.
Good luck!
Compare the overall cost with a bank loan, you'll also own the vehicle at the end of the bank loan rather than have the 'balloon' to pay.
My preference for those would be the Arona FR, my mate has one that he uses along with his 18 year old son, which they both enjoy.
Good luck!
Had an Arona as a hire car recently, only a basic one not an FR, and I thought it was a pretty decent drive. Shares platform and lot of bits with Ibiza/Polo and feels a bit better quality than a lot of little cars. Certainly preferable to drive compared to a Juke. I've not driven a 2008 to compare.
66HFM said:
If you are looking at getting a PCP on a used car be careful of the interest rates as they won't be manufacturer backed and will probably be into double figures.
Compare the overall cost with a bank loan, you'll also own the vehicle at the end of the bank loan rather than have the 'balloon' to pay.
My preference for those would be the Arona FR, my mate has one that he uses along with his 18 year old son, which they both enjoy.
Good luck!
Fair point. The used rate on the PCP was slightly subsidised certainly on the SEAT. Not as low as new but not terrible. The key was that you needed to put about 8k deposit down on a new 30k one, which I don't have. This seems like an option into getting into a newer car vs. buying an older, higher mileage car outright with a reasonable monthly payment. Compare the overall cost with a bank loan, you'll also own the vehicle at the end of the bank loan rather than have the 'balloon' to pay.
My preference for those would be the Arona FR, my mate has one that he uses along with his 18 year old son, which they both enjoy.
Good luck!
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