Unsure about next car purchase. Advice needed.

[anonymous-user]

So I planned on keeping my Mini but due to issues and parts and labour costs, it is not worth me keeping. So I have sold it to a dealer. Now I am looking for my next car, but I am unsure of what would be best. As I want to keep the car for 5 years. I do around 5000 miles a year. I am wanting something for the daily commute, that will cover the following basis:

30+ MPG achievable without too much trouble
Ideally a petrol due to the mileage
Reliable and cheap to maintain
Ideally, something that I can park easily
Automatic if possible
Decent amount of kit
It doesn't have to be a big car, a supermini or small hatch is fine

Any recommendations?

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 2nd May 08:58

[Jag_NE]

its pretty hard to recommend anything based upon how you have laid your OP out.

mx5

[Flumpo]

Ok, so based on the Lexus or focus options you have given, you are looking for a car somewhere between:

£8-£14k, you would consider nearly new or used up to 7 years (based on Lexus price), automatic or manual, 1.4-2.5 engine, mass produced or premium, hatchback or saloon.

That’s quite a wide range, what narrowed it down to those?

[anonymous-user]

Jag_NE said:

its pretty hard to recommend anything based upon how you have laid your OP out.

mx5

Right okay, well what I guess I am trying to say is would I be better with buying the Lexus, or something newer like a Ford Focus?

[anonymous-user]

Flumpo said:

Ok, so based on the Lexus or focus options you have given, you are looking for a car somewhere between:

£8-£14k, you would consider nearly new or used up to 7 years (based on Lexus price), automatic or manual, 1.4-2.5 engine, mass produced or premium, hatchback or saloon.

That’s quite a wide range, what narrowed it down to those?

To answer that originally I was looking for and still am a nice medium sized car. I wanted something that above all else was reliable, so someone recommended Lexus specifically a IS250 in an SE-L spec. Now I am still considering this as an option. However, I have a dilemma which is would I be better spending double that and getting something nearly new, but then take the hit on depreciation, or buy the Lexus and buy a warranty and suffer some depreciation?

[Flumpo]

if you are only considering the focus for reliability, I wouldn’t worry about putting 5k miles a year on a Lexus.

There’s probably only one way to find out, drive both. Whichever one makes you feel special buy.

[InitialDave]

rdb85 said:

PCP - now I have no experience of PCP so I am unsure how it works.

It's pretty logical - 3 components for financing. You have an initial payment, a monthly payment over a given term, and then an optional payment at the end to buy the car.

They generally set things so that the final payment is based on the estimated value at that point in time, usually referred to as guaranteed future value.

Obviously subject to things like mileage limits, the interest rate on the finance agreement, what kind of deals the manufacturer or dealer has going on etc etc.

It's kind of like hire purchase, except they stick about half of what you're paying on the end as a lump sum rather than spread over the term.

[anonymous-user]

Flumpo said:

if you are only considering the focus for reliability, I wouldn’t worry about putting 5k miles a year on a Lexus.

There’s probably only one way to find out, drive both. Whichever one makes you feel special buy.

That's true, I was considering the Lexus for reliability, I was looking at the Focus just as another option. But then I was thinking in terms of depreciation which would make more sense to buy, and keep over a period of 5 years. I am also open to other cars really.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 28th April 23:10

[Deerfoot]

^ Civic 1.8 EX? Something like this...

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

Heated leather, zenons, Nav, panoramic roof etc...

Edited by Deerfoot on Sunday 29th April 08:18

[Evanivitch]

From what you describe. Toyota Auris.

Didn't think I'd ever say that on PistonHeads.

rdb85 said:

Some criteria for the car

Not German - fancy a change from the usual.

Have a guess where the Ford Focus is designed and manufactured?

[alorotom]

Are you planning on routine maintenance as you posts seem hung up on reliability - or are you going to do the absolute minimum (ie no servicing and only addressing issues at MOT failure)?

[markirl]

If you like the IS250, go for it. I've never ever heard an owner say a bad thing about them. They were on my list for a long time but I felt that the engine could have done with a bit more fizz.

I don't see the need to spend £8k, especially when nice examples like this are available for £4k:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Also, I personally wouldn't bother with the warranty. IS250 issues are few and far between and certainly well documented at this stage so easy &cheap to fix.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for that, Honda Civic and Toyota Auris are nice i will have a look. I dont plan on doing maintanace myself just yet. I would rather want the warranty for piece of mind.

[anonymous-user]

Ive found a AURIS and a CIVIC

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

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

[anonymous-user]

This is the Lexus I have seen: https://www.bmcspecialistcars.co.uk/used-cars/lexu...

Now if you where me which would you put your money on, bearing in mind I am looking to keep the car for 5 years, also hoping to keep the depreciation to a minimum.

[Evanivitch]

rdb85 said:

This is the Lexus I have seen: https://www.bmcspecialistcars.co.uk/used-cars/lexu...

Now if you where me which would you put your money on, bearing in mind I am looking to keep the car for 5 years, also hoping to keep the depreciation to a minimum.

I'll probably be worth £2-3k in 5 years time.

That's proportionally a big loss but isn't really when compared to a new car.

[anonymous-user]

Evanivitch said:

I'll probably be worth £2-3k in 5 years time.

That's proportionally a big loss but isn't really when compared to a new car.

That is true compared to a new car. So what do you think I would be better with the Lexus or Toyota? I can get an extended warranty on either.

[Evanivitch]

rdb85 said:

That is true compared to a new car. So what do you think I would be better with the Lexus or Toyota? I can get an extended warranty on either.

I'd get the Lexus if you want a car that you enjoy somewhat.

I wouldn't bother with the warranty. A car that age is inevitably going to be a struggle against any claim because of age and wear and tear.

[anonymous-user]

Evanivitch said:

I'd get the Lexus if you want a car that you enjoy somewhat.

I wouldn't bother with the warranty. A car that age is inevitably going to be a struggle against any claim because of age and wear and tear.

What I am planning to do, as the Toyota is local I am going to have a look at that, test drive it and see then go look at the Lexus which is around 3 hours away. Then I will see which I like.

But I am still open to what others think, and would like to hear from people who have owned either car.

[Deerfoot]

Worth noting that the Lexus costs £315 per annum to tax, the Auris and Civic are half that..