New Car time - opinions please
New Car time - opinions please
Author
Discussion

bigdavy

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

238 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Time for a new car here, small family type with a hint of sportyness.

Current favourites are;
Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.2tsi (vrs lookalike for those that don't know)

Seat Ibiza FR 1.2tsi (similar idea, looks with cheaper running costs)

Abarth 500 - Standard but obviously a bit 'hotter' than first two.

So, I'd like any opinions / experience of any of the above, or any suggestions of similar. However we have already discounted ford, vhall, renault,peugoet, citroen or the budget brands kia etc.

Also, what's the thoughts on these websites that offer deals on new cars either by direct sales or putting you in touch with a dealer to match the given price? Too good to be true?
I'd rather try and buy locally but have seen some cracking deals online.

Thanks in advance smile

Deerfoot

5,255 posts

215 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Out of your trio I'd take the Abarth 500.

It's not usually something I'd go for but every time I see one on the road they just look so right.

northandy

3,540 posts

252 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
bigdavy said:
Time for a new car here, small family type with a hint of sportyness.

Current favourites are;
Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.2tsi (vrs lookalike for those that don't know)

Seat Ibiza FR 1.2tsi (similar idea, looks with cheaper running costs)

Abarth 500 - Standard but obviously a bit 'hotter' than first two.

So, I'd like any opinions / experience of any of the above, or any suggestions of similar. However we have already discounted ford, vhall, renault,peugoet, citroen or the budget brands kia etc.

Also, what's the thoughts on these websites that offer deals on new cars either by direct sales or putting you in touch with a dealer to match the given price? Too good to be true?
I'd rather try and buy locally but have seen some cracking deals online.

Thanks in advance smile
I like the seat of those 3, the 500 always seems very small.

As for the brokers online, get the best quote you can find and then take it into your local dealer, ive done this before and the dealer matched the broker discount.

talksthetorque

10,821 posts

166 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
MX-5 or remapped 535d surely. (just getting in first)

Does it have to be brand new?

Do you want to go faster, with the faster version of the same car, just 18 months old?

Of these three I'd take the Fiat, just cos it looks better.



scorcher

4,129 posts

265 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Fabia's are VAT free quite regularly offering a good saving. Missus has a 105bhp 1.2tsi that's done 18000 miles as a driving school car since May with no problems.

NadiR

1,071 posts

178 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
I'd take the Fiat out of those 3, have you considered a Twingo 133 or a Swift Sport?

bigdavy

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

238 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Thanks guys, the ph in me says Abarth Abarth Abarth, I've wanted one since they were launched.
However, this will become our only car for a while and the 500 is on the small side for family use and one of the other 2 would be far more sensible as an all rounder.
Also both the skoda & seat have low finance, free servicing, low road tax and good economy with the 1.2tsi engine.
Moving up to the likes of a vrs more or less cancels all this out. Add to the mix that there seems to be some really strong deals for both vag cars right now. The abarth is bigger road tax (175 against 30!) less economy, more expensive to buy, but damn its fun and looks sooo good.

I'm happy to look at up to 1 yr old, ex demo or pre reg. Basically best deal once we decided.

bigdavy

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

238 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
NadiR said:
I'd take the Fiat out of those 3, have you considered a Twingo 133 or a Swift Sport?
Just looked at Twingo & Swift, interesting, both look really nice but I don't think I could buy another Renault after a bad experience previously. Swift looks quite nice but I think the vag cars look a better deal.
Did I mention how good the abarth looks hehe

TwigtheWonderkid

49,228 posts

181 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Those Fabia Monte Carlo models look fantastic.

bigdavy

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

238 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
As we would spec them






2.5pi

1,091 posts

213 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Fiat looks the business to me but maybe reconsider the iconic baby blue as that works better on the non arbarth models to me?

I'd also agree the Swift is a strong shout smile

aarondbs

883 posts

177 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
What about the perfect little pocket rocket which is the Suzuki Swift Sport. My wife went from an Alfa 156 V6 to the SSS and absolutely loves it. As I do when I'm allowed ti drive it. Cheap insurance, na performance, great economy and fantastic handling..... Give one a go...

bigdavy

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

238 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
We love the Legends Blue, looks brilliant in the metal, otherwise its probably white (wife's fav colour) which is common. I quite like both the grey & red abarth as well but nobody else does.

Had a closer look at swift, really think we'd prefer one of the 3 we've short-listed tbh. One of the biggest negatives of the 500 is the 3 doors, swift would be the same.

Deerfoot

5,255 posts

215 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
bigdavy said:
One of the biggest negatives of the 500 is the 3 doors, swift would be the same.
The Swift Sport is now available as a five door.

LuS1fer

43,558 posts

276 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Funnily enough, I was in the Skoda dealers today north of Cardiff and they had a flat grey (when I say flat, I mean gloss but non-metallic) Monte Carlo with black wheels. I'm not a huge fan of the Fabia but I would have bought this one on the spot. Lovely smell of leather inside too. There was a red one outside which looked too tarty - the grey is definitely the colour to have.

bigdavy

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

238 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Deerfoot said:
The Swift Sport is now available as a five door.
Glad you're paying attention Deerfoot, I didn't see the 5dr option when I was on the Suzuki site. Definitely worth a look then cheers smile

bigdavy

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

238 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
Funnily enough, I was in the Skoda dealers today north of Cardiff and they had a flat grey (when I say flat, I mean gloss but non-metallic) Monte Carlo with black wheels. I'm not a huge fan of the Fabia but I would have bought this one on the spot. Lovely smell of leather inside too. There was a red one outside which looked too tarty - the grey is definitely the colour to have.
Probably as you were typing I was just admiring a grey one on autotrader!
The Fabia is definitely looking favourite I think, and that grey is certainly in the running. smile

bigdavy

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

238 months

Sunday 8th September 2013
quotequote all
Evening PH, well been out trying cars today with mixed results.

Short version - Seat & Abarth out. Skoda Fabia was a very close second, a very nice car that drove well and impressed us.
However what impressed us more was this;







Skoda Citigo sport.

An absolutely cracking little car, a real surprise to drive. The 1.0 (3 cylinder) engine is really lively and a surprisingly good driver. Sounds a lot different to normal 4cyl, a bit buzzy especially in the sport smile It is obviously a small car but comparing to many other superminis / citycars it is very roomy especially in 5 door. I'm 6ft and can sit comfortably in the back, more importantly my 5'8 daughter can sit comfortably behind me when driving. We had an extended test drive with 4 adults in the car and performance was still surprisingly lively both on motorway and country roads and was real fun round town. I couldn't help but compare to the Abarth, this feels just as much a point and squirt car but a damn sight more comfortable! Obviously it's not as quick as the abarth but it feels a lot quicker than the 60hp suggests.
The online reviews are some of the best i've read, even what car give it 5 stars and car of the year. There is also a great video on youtube where cardealer magazine drive it from the factory across europe to London doing over 1200 miles in 4 days including cruising the autobahn at 100mph comfortably! They rated it very highly and found very little to criticise. Well worth viewing it if you're interested.

Numbers - 1.0ltr MPi 3 cylinder 60bhp/ 90nm torque, over 60mpg combined. zero road tx yr 1, £20 a year thereafter.
Available now with 0% finance and includes 3yrs servicing.
We love it and once i've searched for the best deal we'll be ordering yes


David87

7,043 posts

243 months

Sunday 8th September 2013
quotequote all
Have you considered a MINI? I've owned some of the most highly regarded hot hatches of recent years and yet I really enjoy driving my current little runabout, which is an R56 Cooper S.

bigdavy

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

238 months

Sunday 8th September 2013
quotequote all
David87 said:
Have you considered a MINI? I've owned some of the most highly regarded hot hatches of recent years and yet I really enjoy driving my current little runabout, which is an R56 Cooper S.
Didn't want a 3 door and tbh we don't really like minis.The difference in price to the likes of a cooper is also huge. Should have said this retails at £10,290 3dr and another 400 for the 5dr. Compare that to the cooper @ £14,900. For this same reason we disregarded the swift sport at £14,600 (5dr)

Even with the Fabia which we really liked, it came down to cold hard cash and was the Fabia worth over £2k more? No quite simply.

Edited by bigdavy on Sunday 8th September 21:16