What car? - 8k miles a year

[kiethton]

Hi all, I'm banging my head trying to think of some suggestions so will open it up to the floor.

Currently looking at changing the GF's car and we're a little short of ideas. For some background the current car is a 2008 2.0 TSi Scirocco running c. 240bhp, just under 95k miles but is starting to show some issues. Requirements are:

Ideally no older than 2012 (will be run for 5 years)
No slower than the Scirocco, faster the better
Ideally 5 doors as little ones may be on the way toward the end of the ownership period...
Suitable for 8-10k miles a year (suburban mainly)
Fairly reliable and reasonable running costs - currently average low 20's mpg (beyond consumables and CV covers the rocco has been good although now has other issues)
Parked on the street outside work and regularly driven into when parked by people that traded a goat for a license in SE London
Manual/good auto fine

Banking on a trade value of around £5k for the current car. Main job is a short commute (2 miles each way) plus general household chores.

Thoughts are to try and approach dealers from December with the option to deal between Xmas and new year, hopefully getting a deal....

Will be an element of finance - dealership finance fine if they can work it into a deal to match or come close to what the banks offer (3% HP only, no PCP).

I run a commuter bike and an Exige, this is our "practical" car...

Current thoughts turn toward:

M135i
Audi S3
Golf R

Although all push the budget, ideally sub 70k miles, no write off's.

She is also a sucker for "look", Cupra/VRS have already been ruled out.

[Pica-Pica]

Golf maybe, never rated the scirocco, all show - no go, may as well be an equivalent Golf.

[smn159]

Something electric if it were me for that mileage / usage. I had Zoe on a lease for 2 years / 20k miles and it was brilliant.

Would have had another if I hadn't needed something bigger for the bike / dog so I bought a cheap V70 from eBay..

[kiethton]

We're stuck in a flat with no electricity in the garage or way of getting it down a floor and to the communal parking areas (never know where we'll end up parked) unfortunately

[ZX10R NIN]

Last of the line Megane 275 RS which was a car that beat all the cars you listed so maybe drop her into one of those:

RS Trophy

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If it has to be 5 doors then the RS3 is a good shout:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[VAGLover]

kiethton said:

Hi all, I'm banging my head trying to think of some suggestions so will open it up to the floor.

Currently looking at changing the GF's car and we're a little short of ideas. For some background the current car is a 2008 2.0 TSi Scirocco running c. 240bhp, just under 95k miles but is starting to show some issues. Requirements are:

Ideally no older than 2012 (will be run for 5 years)
No slower than the Scirocco, faster the better
Ideally 5 doors as little ones may be on the way toward the end of the ownership period...
Suitable for 8-10k miles a year (suburban mainly)
Fairly reliable and reasonable running costs - currently average low 20's mpg (beyond consumables and CV covers the rocco has been good although now has other issues)
Parked on the street outside work and regularly driven into when parked by people that traded a goat for a license in SE London
Manual/good auto fine

Banking on a trade value of around £5k for the current car. Main job is a short commute (2 miles each way) plus general household chores.

Thoughts are to try and approach dealers from December with the option to deal between Xmas and new year, hopefully getting a deal....

Will be an element of finance - dealership finance fine if they can work it into a deal to match or come close to what the banks offer (3% HP only, no PCP).

I run a commuter bike and an Exige, this is our "practical" car...

Current thoughts turn toward:

M135i
Audi S3
Golf R

Although all push the budget, ideally sub 70k miles, no write off's.

She is also a sucker for "look", Cupra/VRS have already been ruled out.

Buy my S3, 14 plate. 54k miles. Service pack and a warrenty until 1st March 2019.
£18k. 8k of options

[kiethton]

ZX10R NIN said:

Last of the line Megane 275 RS which was a car that beat all the cars you listed so maybe drop her into one of those:

RS Trophy

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If it has to be 5 doors then the RS3 is a good shout:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Thanks, Megan's is interesting although is it 3dr only?

RS3's still a little expensive, worth the +£5K premium to an S3?

[kiethton]

VAGLover said:

Buy my S3, 14 plate. 54k miles. Service pack and a warrenty until 1st March 2019.
£18k. 8k of options

That would fit the bill, although a few £k above our budget and would likely need trade in facilities etc (trying to sell her current Scirocco with all the chancers would be a nightmare!)

[ZX10R NIN]

kiethton said:

Thanks, Megan's is interesting although is it 3dr only?

RS3's still a little expensive, worth the +£5K premium to an S3?

In a word YES but that depends on your point of view, some will say a lower mileage/newer S3 with a map will be just as good, it won't that engine is a peach & adds measurably to the whole car (yes a Golf R is more playful but how much will you/your wife be flinging it around) also resale on the RS3 will always be strong especially as you'll be doing low miles while it's in your possession.

There's no wrong answer both are good cars it just depends what you want from it.

Yes the Megane is only a three door unfortunately but it's a great car.

[kiethton]

ZX10R NIN said:

kiethton said:

Thanks, Megan's is interesting although is it 3dr only?

RS3's still a little expensive, worth the +£5K premium to an S3?

In a word YES but that depends on your point of view, some will say a lower mileage/newer S3 with a map will be just as good, it won't that engine is a peach & adds measurably to the whole car (yes a Golf R is more playful but how much will you/your wife be flinging it around) also resale on the RS3 will always be strong especially as you'll be doing low miles while it's in your possession.

There's no wrong answer both are good cars it just depends what you want from it.

Yes the Megane is only a three door unfortunately but it's a great car.

Interesting, thanks

[kiethton]

Looking at numbers we may be able to consider stretching the budget, toward £20k, however this would then result in a PCP deal (to maintain the monthly payments at the desired level).

A quick look on capital car finance payments would work for an ~£18k car on a 3 year PCP, given where we would be following then I should have the cash to clear the balance/HP for the remainder - again only condition is that the car needs to be at least 2 years newer to justify this (owning the car for 2 years longer) so would be looking ideally at post 2014 cars. However, with these the end of lease deal cars don't seem to be flooding the market....yet....and both have been built in far higher numbers vs. prior generations (R32/130i) so doubt residuals will be quite as strong :/

It does however open up a few more options - Golf R's and M135i's now become affordable in decent spec (RS3's still look a little £££) although worry about the theft aspect of the faster VAG group cars - would being parked in a flats communal parking be a good thing? - where it detracts from EV's it's a lot harder for them to work out which flat is yours...

[RS Grant]

Just had the last 2.5 years or so in a Golf R and it'd do everything you wanted it to, plus the bonus of being tuneable if/when you start to get used to it and need a little extra. The 3dr are less attractive to scrotes who are looking for a fast car to get away in, with 5dr and Estate being more practical (obviously!) for them.. however I'd assume the chance of a break-in overnight is much less if you live in a block of flats?

[ZX10R NIN]

If your worried about theft then Golf R's M135i's should actually be off your list as they're both up there when it comes to the possibility of getting stolen, that Megane RS is looking even better

The best drivers hatch & a low possibility of theft, that's a win win.

[kiethton]

I know, I love them, but it's the number of doors....

We're in our late 20's/early 30's and this car will be kept for 5 years....it needs to have 5 doors, 5 seats and be practical if I want to keep my Exige!

[kieranblenk]

A few of my suggestions below..

How would one of these stack up; granted it's "only" got 180bhp but it looks striking (marmite potentially) but it's nigh on brand new even if it's top of your budget.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Also top end budget but distinctive with charisma,

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Cheaper option but might not fit the image,

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[kiethton]

Thanks, I'll put them to her - she was stunt driving a focus RS last weekend so will see what she says to the ST, already ruled out the CIvic though (doesn't like the dashboard/interior style/layout).

The Bini is interesting though

[gazza5]

Pug 308 GTI?

Well worth a shout, 5 doors, ok may not have the "badge" but a damn good car from reviews etc.

Only thing I can think of is tiny steering wheel and also the rpm tacho going the wrong way.

Other than that a very good car, depending what colour you want

stand out

https://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20...

or some are just plain black or red

https://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20...

I have dismissed the 250 bhp version as being too slow and not fitting the criteria.

[kiethton]

Just to close this off we left a deposit on this M135i yesterday afternoon. Finalising the finance today and hoping to collect next weekend.

2015 - 15
Auto
Harmon Kardon
Professional Nav
Black panel display
Split seats
Adaptive LED lights
Heated seats
Cruise Control
Adaptive suspension
Reverse camera & full PDC
Folding mirrors



Also I listed the Scirocco for sale on Thursday afternoon, and sold on Saturday morning for within 2% of asking price. Was a good car, possibly let it go too cheap! (still ~£2k more than the pre-haggle WBAC offer though...)

[ZX10R NIN]

Glad you got sorted OP.

[kiethton]

Thanks, took a good long look around a Megane (after the flying laps at Silverstone last week) but the lack of a 5 door version was the biggest issue.

Needless to say Cindy's over the moon and can't wait until collection on Thursday.

In the meantime she's putting her mum's car - Croyde's old Renault Clio auto which miraculously managed to pick up another MOT last week to good use. One way to really notice the change in power doing that!