Family and work duties, have I missed anything?
Discussion
I was pushing for a company car but the BIK means it's only a way to have an 18 plate car on the drive, getting 45p a mile for all my business use at 10-12k a year it makes more sense to buy. Commute to the office is a and b roads on the way in and motorway on the way back, regular client meetings tend to be longer round trips and doing 300+ miles in a day is pretty common. I'm looking for an all rounder that will cover family duties, personal and business mileage for 3 years.
5 doors a must, budget of about £7.5k, decent mpg on a run, comfortable for long motorway journeys and reliability are key, something with an element of fun is needed if I'm to keep it for 3 years. DAB, car kit would also be preferred.
My business mileage can be a bit variable so I'm unsure whether a diesel is the right move, a decent petrol would probably be the most sensible choice. Thoughts have been;
Focus Titanium X scti 1.6
Golf gt tdi 140
Leon FR 140 or 170
Octavia vrs
I'm leaning towards the 150ps focus at the moment, I have a meeting in St Helens on Wednesday and will be stopping on the way home to look at one. It's well specced and reasonably priced, only concern is the recall to do with coolant issues.
Are there more to consider? I would prefer something from 2010 on and a mildly entertaining drive.
5 doors a must, budget of about £7.5k, decent mpg on a run, comfortable for long motorway journeys and reliability are key, something with an element of fun is needed if I'm to keep it for 3 years. DAB, car kit would also be preferred.
My business mileage can be a bit variable so I'm unsure whether a diesel is the right move, a decent petrol would probably be the most sensible choice. Thoughts have been;
Focus Titanium X scti 1.6
Golf gt tdi 140
Leon FR 140 or 170
Octavia vrs
I'm leaning towards the 150ps focus at the moment, I have a meeting in St Helens on Wednesday and will be stopping on the way home to look at one. It's well specced and reasonably priced, only concern is the recall to do with coolant issues.
Are there more to consider? I would prefer something from 2010 on and a mildly entertaining drive.
Edited by Pete-mojsh on Saturday 12th May 14:42
I took the car allowance back in 2008 (nothing I liked was in the company car budget) and I bought a pre-registered 57 plate BMW 123d.
By 2014 I was no longer getting the allowance or doing business miles so I sold it after 81K miles and 6 and a half years for £6,600.
It was a great car. Having the twin-turbo version of the 120d engine it had 201 bhp, so enough for some fun and being RWD scope for entertainment! But although it had 5 doors the back wasn't too spacious.
Still it did average almost 49 mpg so pretty economical.
One of the main factors in my decision to sell it was reading about BMW N47 cam-chain issues. But then a year or so later BMW started addressing them under warranty!
So if you found a later one that had received the "Quality Enhancement" as BMW called it that might work for you, even if it is a diesel.
If I still needed that sort of car I'd still consider one, or the next generation 125d.
By 2014 I was no longer getting the allowance or doing business miles so I sold it after 81K miles and 6 and a half years for £6,600.
It was a great car. Having the twin-turbo version of the 120d engine it had 201 bhp, so enough for some fun and being RWD scope for entertainment! But although it had 5 doors the back wasn't too spacious.
Still it did average almost 49 mpg so pretty economical. One of the main factors in my decision to sell it was reading about BMW N47 cam-chain issues. But then a year or so later BMW started addressing them under warranty!
So if you found a later one that had received the "Quality Enhancement" as BMW called it that might work for you, even if it is a diesel.
If I still needed that sort of car I'd still consider one, or the next generation 125d.
I'd say the Vauxhall Astra in Elite form would be a good choice:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Pete-mojsh said:
Although probably a decent car I've never gelled with Vauxhall, I've had a couple of Astra's as hire cars and found it to be a functional but pretty joyless experience. Not sure I would want to commit to one.
I know what you mean, when I had that job I used plenty of rentals in that category and didn't care for the Astra. The Focus was the best driving experience, but a Hyundai i30 was the best overall experience - well, until I got back to my 1 Series. 
Pete-mojsh said:
Although probably a decent car I've never gelled with Vauxhall, I've had a couple of Astra's as hire cars and found it to be a functional but pretty joyless experience. Not sure I would want to commit to one.
Well it sounds like you need to opt for the Focus Titanium X in either 1.6T or 2.0d form.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Or the Giulietta in Veloce/Sportiva form.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Petrol:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Anything if note to look for with the Alfa? I've read a few multi-air horror stories and the usual electrical grumbles, I would lean towards the 170bhp diesels but I think I would enjoy the petrol more.
I'll try to get a look at one in the week, ideally before I see the focus for a decent comparison.
I'll try to get a look at one in the week, ideally before I see the focus for a decent comparison.
I've just parted ways with my 2015 Giulietta partly because it wasn't very practical for family duties. We have a 7 month old and was finding we were using my wife's Nissan Note a lot more than the Alfa.
I had no issues with the engine (1.4 Multi Air) but the car was on it's third head unit by the time it went back to the finance company.
I had no issues with the engine (1.4 Multi Air) but the car was on it's third head unit by the time it went back to the finance company.
I've seen a 1.4 tb about 30 miles away that's taken my eye, granted there's a bit of budget creep but that's ok, 2012 veloce in white. I'm sold on the looks but will need a drive to see if it's for me. My daughter is 18 months now so less stuff to cart around, more the nursery run and daily commute for that. As long as it can cope with longer journeys for work in comfort and minimal fuss it will work.
You can probably get into to an early mk3 Leon for that budget (2013 onwards), more modern car and well equipped. The 150bhp diesel and 1.4 petrols with 140/150bhp are pretty reliable I believe. SE spec might save a bit over FR, but look for the technology pack to get LED lights and DAB etc. Decent cars to drive.
Looking at a focus 1.6 ecoboost titanium X and an Alfa giulietta 1.4 tb veloce tomorrow, slightly more left field with masses of budget creep is a 16 plate focus 1.5 ecoboost zetec s on Thursday.
Sense says 1.6, by looks alone it's the Alfa, unnecessary expenditure for a nearly new car says 1.5. I'll see how the test drives go, expectation is that I'll love the Alfa.
Sense says 1.6, by looks alone it's the Alfa, unnecessary expenditure for a nearly new car says 1.5. I'll see how the test drives go, expectation is that I'll love the Alfa.
The focus wasn't great, salesman was crap, didn't even bother driving it, as I got so bored of waiting for the salesman to join me for the test drive I turned it over and multiple warning lights were on. The Alfa was beautiful inside and out but the usual trim niggles, brakes didn't feel sharp at all, didn't feel it would stand up to the use I need it for.
On a whim I decided to go and see a Leon FR diesel after the focus, surprisingly I really liked it. The 150 bhp engine was decent, handled quite nicely, well specced.
I'm going to test drive the newer 1.5 ecoboost tomorrow but unless I'm really taken with it I think I'm going to go for the Leon.
On a whim I decided to go and see a Leon FR diesel after the focus, surprisingly I really liked it. The 150 bhp engine was decent, handled quite nicely, well specced.
I'm going to test drive the newer 1.5 ecoboost tomorrow but unless I'm really taken with it I think I'm going to go for the Leon.
Unimpressed with the focus, the engine was fine but something felt off with the handling, not sharp on any way and just felt understeer at low speeds where I would expect it to have plenty of grip. I kind of think something must have been wrong with it as I've driven that year if focus before without that feeling. Unsure whether to try another one elsewhere.
Test drive of a 1.4 Leon FR act tomorrow and another slightly better specced one on Monday, will see how it compares with the diesel, on paper it's possibly a better fit for my needs. Unfortunately I will be dropping in for the Monday test drive on my way back from a client visit, I have a 350 mile round trip in a Renault kaptur. I can't stand them, hateful car. My last hire car was an e class so perhaps my luck is evening out.
Test drive of a 1.4 Leon FR act tomorrow and another slightly better specced one on Monday, will see how it compares with the diesel, on paper it's possibly a better fit for my needs. Unfortunately I will be dropping in for the Monday test drive on my way back from a client visit, I have a 350 mile round trip in a Renault kaptur. I can't stand them, hateful car. My last hire car was an e class so perhaps my luck is evening out.
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