£300 Car Allowance - help me spend it leasing or buying
Discussion
First thread here, think I've bored people in the leasing thread enough so have spun off. Really don't want to get into a Lease vs Buy argument, partly because I keep flip-flopping myself on which I prefer, lets just say I'm open to both.
Not bought a car since about 2010 and that was a Seat Ibiza... I've grown up a bit since, had company cars for years, now get a car allowance, and am currently leasing a diesel hatch Octavia VRS DSG which ends in Feb andcosts £260 a month (no upfront) for 12k miles.
Looked at the current leasing deals available and I'm underwhelmed. Another Octy would cost me £40 more a month, the next best deals are the Santander V60 T5 Momentum ones at £273 for 10k miles, but I test drove it and the boot felt less useful than the VRS hatch, and whilst I only test drove a diesel, it felt lethargic and boaty compared to my VRS. Which is annoying because it's a great deal.
So I'm also looking at purchasing, probably £13-14k as a soft maximum.
Car needs to be reliable as a first thing, I know no-one does, but the faff of costly repairs particularly depresses me. Also need it to be fairly spacious as I've got a 14month old and spend every other weekend carting her, the wife and paraphernalia around to family who all live miles away, an estate would be nice. Warmer the better too: the Octy is about right, I wouldn't want to go slower if I could help it. Needs to be auto, modern and comfortable with a nice cabin and seat because I commute in city traffic for 40-60mins each way for work.
TL:DR - Auto Warm Family car with big boot for <£300pm or £14k purchase.
Not bought a car since about 2010 and that was a Seat Ibiza... I've grown up a bit since, had company cars for years, now get a car allowance, and am currently leasing a diesel hatch Octavia VRS DSG which ends in Feb andcosts £260 a month (no upfront) for 12k miles.
Looked at the current leasing deals available and I'm underwhelmed. Another Octy would cost me £40 more a month, the next best deals are the Santander V60 T5 Momentum ones at £273 for 10k miles, but I test drove it and the boot felt less useful than the VRS hatch, and whilst I only test drove a diesel, it felt lethargic and boaty compared to my VRS. Which is annoying because it's a great deal.
So I'm also looking at purchasing, probably £13-14k as a soft maximum.
Car needs to be reliable as a first thing, I know no-one does, but the faff of costly repairs particularly depresses me. Also need it to be fairly spacious as I've got a 14month old and spend every other weekend carting her, the wife and paraphernalia around to family who all live miles away, an estate would be nice. Warmer the better too: the Octy is about right, I wouldn't want to go slower if I could help it. Needs to be auto, modern and comfortable with a nice cabin and seat because I commute in city traffic for 40-60mins each way for work.
TL:DR - Auto Warm Family car with big boot for <£300pm or £14k purchase.
I'd buy either of these:
210 Mondeo Titanium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
180
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
165 508SW
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The VFM option is the Insignia:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
195bhp
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
But I think my pick would be the Jaguar XF unfortunately it won't be the 3.0d but you can get a nicely loaded one for your budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
If you don't mind stretching the budget:
2.2d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
3.0d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
210 Mondeo Titanium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
180
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
165 508SW
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The VFM option is the Insignia:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
195bhp
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
But I think my pick would be the Jaguar XF unfortunately it won't be the 3.0d but you can get a nicely loaded one for your budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
If you don't mind stretching the budget:
2.2d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
3.0d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
No you're not but if you don't mind a hatchback then you can definitely land a sporty looking car with the Mondeo's you need to find one with the X Pack fitted which gives it the more (bigger alloys Leather interior etc) sporty look.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
190 Passat R Line
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Don't be afraid of the Peugeot that drivetrain is in a fair few cars, reliability wise it's no worse than the Passat above:
200 508 GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Now here's a cake & eat it car, (3.0d 235bhp so a smoother quieter car) sporty looking loaded with kit & fast:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I'd forgotten about the above but the more I look at it the more it ticks the boxes but they're hard to find.
Or here's the model that replaced it (no 3.0d though) but it's still a good option maybe a bit light bhp wise.
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...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
190 Passat R Line
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Don't be afraid of the Peugeot that drivetrain is in a fair few cars, reliability wise it's no worse than the Passat above:
200 508 GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Now here's a cake & eat it car, (3.0d 235bhp so a smoother quieter car) sporty looking loaded with kit & fast:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I'd forgotten about the above but the more I look at it the more it ticks the boxes but they're hard to find.
Or here's the model that replaced it (no 3.0d though) but it's still a good option maybe a bit light bhp wise.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Definitely not stuck on an estate as long as the boot and back seats are still decent.
Like the look of this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Like the look of this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Edited by darrenham on Thursday 23 August 16:10
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