Used car - no more than 3 yrs old, no more than £11k - Page 1 - Car Buying

Original Poster

2,346 posts

230 months

Monday 20th August 2018

I'm going to be looking for a new car very soon. I currently lease an m140i and whilst it has been fun driving it around financial sense is intervening.

My wife isnt currently working and we have two cars both of which I am financially responsible for. My grand plan for replacing my car is to borrow £11k over 3 years to buy something. Then when I've cleared that debt borrow another £11k to replace my wife's car over three years. Then repeat the cycle again...

So the oldest any of our cars would be is 9 years old which in my experience should hopefully avoid the worst of the mechanical disasters (other than replacement of consumable parts like cam belts).

The car for me doesn't need to be particularly big, but it does need five doors. I'd consider almost anything but I'm not looking to go below £11k to save money - I'd rather have the nicest/best car I can afford with the criteria above

No more than 3 years old, no more than £11k and mileage around 30k or less.

Pistonheader101

2,206 posts

127 months

Monday 20th August 2018

So some form of a 5dr hot hatch?

kieranblenk

865 posts

154 months

Monday 20th August 2018

This screams Vauxhall Astra 1.4T SRI Nav or Elite new shape. 0-60 in under 8 seconds, 40mpg, cheap to run and cheap parts. Go for the Elite and you get luxury car spec.

mikey P 500

1,242 posts

207 months

Monday 20th August 2018

Most cars at 3yrs old are worth about 50% of cost new with that sort of mileage so set you sights at anything that has RRP of about £25k or less when new.

29,757 posts

145 months

Monday 20th August 2018

SCEtoAUX

4,119 posts

101 months

Monday 20th August 2018

Surely the oldest car will be six years old when you borrow to replace it? Or will you have three cars? Or will there be three years after the second loan is paid when you don't replace the first one?

joropug

2,956 posts

209 months

Monday 20th August 2018

I bought my F30 320d SE on 43k at 3.5 years old , for 11.5k.

Coming out of a BMW , it could be a good option. There are loads of SE with 60k post lease. If you're after some particular spec it narrows down a lot though .

All of the Vauxhall's etc are worth peanuts later in life, suspect my BMW may depreciate 1k per year if I look after it.

29,757 posts

145 months

Monday 20th August 2018

joropug said:

The cheapest 3 series within the OP's criteria is 2.3k over budget :

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

1 Series wise it's these & all will depreciate (they've already depreciated a fair bit) as fast as the Vauxhall (they're also as basic as it gets inside) which in this case makes the Ford/Vauxhall etc the better cars for the OP's requirements.

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

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

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

Original Poster

2,346 posts

230 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018

Thanks for the replies. The Astra is definitely worth looking at. I always find the various spec levels really confusing. Obviously I'd rather have the nicest one I can afford.

Following my plan the cars will be 9 years old when of get rid of them having been 3 when I buy them.

Terzo123

4,622 posts

228 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018

I bought a 2.5 year old Seat Leon 1.4 FR for 11k last year. The car had the balance of manufactures warranty and only 15k miles.

The 1.8 is similar in price.

They're decent little cars with loads of kit.

29,757 posts

145 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018

PeteinSQ said:

The top spec's on the Ford Vauxhall & Cee'd are Titanium X Elite & 4 I hope this helps.

There is one Kia I forgot about that could tick a fair few of your boxes & it's the Cee'd/Pro Cee'd GT, it's not an out & out hot hatch but definitely a warm one on par with any GT/FR/ST Line/VX Line etc from other manufacturers & you'll have a few more ponies as well as 4 years worth or warranty & load more kit too.

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

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

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

Number 97

84 posts

127 months

Thursday 23rd August 2018

Have a look at the Mazda 3, good economical petrol engines and you get a decent spec from them as well.

Shiv_P

2,981 posts

125 months

Thursday 23rd August 2018

I wouldn't look at the 1 series, it's a compromised car and IMO the only ones worth looking at are M135/M140. Otherwise you get poor rear space, a miserable cabin and an unnecessarily hard ride

Original Poster

2,346 posts

230 months

Thursday 6th September 2018

Another car I was thinking of was the Golf Match 1.4tsi. I had an old Golf several years ago that I quite liked.

Anyone got an opinion on this model?

29,757 posts

145 months

Thursday 6th September 2018

PeteinSQ said:

Another car I was thinking of was the Golf Match 1.4tsi. I had an old Golf several years ago that I quite liked.

Anyone got an opinion on this model?

It's an okay car but the Kia cee'd GT is a better car in every way & will have warranty to give you peace of mind, have you been for any test drives yet?

Terzo123

4,622 posts

228 months

Thursday 6th September 2018

PeteinSQ said:

Another car I was thinking of was the Golf Match 1.4tsi. I had an old Golf several years ago that I quite liked.

Anyone got an opinion on this model?

You'll get the more up to date 1.4 engine with 150 bhp and active cylinder technology with a seat Leon and you'll also get far more spec for your money.

Original Poster

2,346 posts

230 months

Thursday 6th September 2018

Good information on the Seat. Thanks.

lornemalvo

3,675 posts

88 months

Thursday 6th September 2018

I rate the skoda octavia as a family car, same applies with the 1.4 engine, you'll get 148 bhp as opposed to the 125bhp in the golf. The octavia boot is vast. I think it's the perfect sized car, spacious yet relatively compact, pretty comfortable and with a good rep for reliability

Original Poster

2,346 posts

230 months