Best value new family car under £20k?

[white_goodman]

Time was when you could get something quite special like a mid-size hot hatch (Golf GTI/Astra VXR/Focus ST) for less than £20k but now even a mid-spec Golf is more than £20k. I like the idea of having a new car (reliability, cheap running costs, comprehensive warranty)but £20k is a bit of a psychological barrier and leaves more money over to spend on something fun. There are plenty of small car bargains around but what if you want something bigger? So what new family car offers the best value? It must have 4 or 5 doors, be Focus-sized or bigger, not too basic and reasonably pleasant to drive.

Ford, Vauxhall and the French manufacturers used to offer quite good value but now list prices (although I appreciate these may not be what you pay) are higher than more prestigious marques such as VW. Even Skodas don't seem that cheap anymore (I remember when a new Octavia vRS was only £15000, now you would pay more than that for a Fabia vRS). The only reasonably-specced cars that I can think of at the moment that have any appeal are:

Kia Cee'd (I believe they are doing zero VAT) or the
Hyundai i40 Tourer

Are either of these any good? Anything else that I have overlooked?

[Globs]

Get a cheap Kia with a huge warranty, then invest the change in booze and hookers.

I can guarantee you'll enjoy that more than any other option.

[anonymous-user]

They are both very good! Only badge snobs would disagree

[daemon]

Octavia VRS can easily be got for around £17K.

Please please dont buy a new 'family' car. The depreciation on the run of the mill stuff is just horrendous.

If you really must buy a eurobox, get one at a few months old from a car supermarket or auction.

[daemon]

MonkeyMatt said:

They are both very good! Only badge snobs would disagree

Mondeo is a better car than the i40 though - and within budget.

[EV11NED]

Skoda still doing VAT-free deals so an Octavia vRS will be comfortably under £20k.

[Ali2202]

A large part of VFM in this sector is re-sale value I think.

Skoda Yeti chum!

[daemon]

Ali2202 said:

A large part of VFM in this sector is re-sale value I think.

Skoda Yeti chum!

A large part of costs in this sector is depreciation....

[billzeebub]

I don't understand some peoples obsession with buying new..

[anonymous-user]

Skoda Superb hatch or estate with a diesel engine can be had for that.

Serious deals to be had at the moment on Drive the Deal, you can get over 4K off a Superb. I am just about to order one!

[white_goodman]

If I had £20k cash, yes, I would definitely buy nearly new but low rate finance on new cars usually makes new cheaper than nearly new. I forgot to mention, I am probably looking at diesel, as anything petrol-powered probably wouldn't be that interesting at this budget (however a VAT-free Octavia vRS sounds like a more interesting proposition)!

[Ali2202]

billzeebub said:

I don't understand some peoples obsession with buying new..

This I completely agree with. 1.5 year old Yeti.

[SeventyThree]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

185hp, thousands off, £18k, low rate finance available, brand new, delivery miles, decent sized family car, a bit different, reliable.

What more do you want?

Edited by SeventyThree on Monday 14th November 21:02

[LuS1fer]

In 2009 I bought a Mondeo 2.0 Edge brand new and unregistered for £12k AND got a good px AND £2k scrappage. It was so cheap I'd have been stupid to leave it there. the only downside was that I don't like the colour (Chill metallic)but the colour I wanted would have cost at least £4k more. I'm not saying they have these deals all the time and I couldn't even find this deal at any local Ford dealer save Fordthorne Cardiff so you just have to shop around.

[5lab]

you could have 2 runout astra hatch 1.6's for that from various sources

essentially, in this market, pre-reg is your best bet. there's stonking deals to be had at supermarkets

[12gauge]

Bit boring but a base Insignia can be had for a little over £12k on Broadspeed (List nearly £18k)

http://www.broadspeed.com/new_cars/Vauxhall/Insign...

discounts on VW etc nothing like as generous.

[12gauge]

ie base passat attracts only £1k discount, insignia £5.5k discount

http://www.broadspeed.com/new_cars/Volkswagen-VW/P...

[12gauge]

or If you dont mind driving a SAAB you could get a big 9-5 for under £19k (i rather like them)

http://www.pentagon-group.co.uk/new-cars/saab/9-5

or a 60mpg+ volvo s80

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/deals/?cat=New&dea...


a4/3 series from £18.5k
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/deals/?cat=New&dea...
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/deals/?cat=New&dea...

[daemon]

white_goodman said:

If I had £20k cash, yes, I would definitely buy nearly new but low rate finance on new cars usually makes new cheaper than nearly new. I forgot to mention, I am probably looking at diesel, as anything petrol-powered probably wouldn't be that interesting at this budget (however a VAT-free Octavia vRS sounds like a more interesting proposition)!

Have to agree RE: low rate finance situation.

I'll stick with my initial thoughts then Octavia VRS 2.0TD then

[daytona365]

Why on earth spend £20,000 plus on a new rotbox, when you can buy a really cool car just a few years old, and get change ?