Buying a car

[Moxcis]

I need to buy a safe, reliable 2wd estate or 2wd suv/mpv family car that should last for at leat 7/10 years. I mainly drive in town to work and rarely/randomly take long trips.

My budget if needs be(loan) is max £12000. I am happy to go for a cheap car but I've learned cheap is usually a money pit unless you can do the work yourself. Hence my previous post https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I know quite a bit about cars but I don't have the space nor time to fix/repair them. I am diy guy not a propper mechanic.

I did my search and am not sure which is the best car to get.

Any advice would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance.

[ZX10R NIN]

MPV Wise I'd say the Mazda5 in Sport Venture trim also being a 2.0 N/A engine means you really have no worries.

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

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

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

Estate wise there are some good options:

Mazda6 Sport Nav (again the 2.0 N/A make this a very good 10 year car) 165

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

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

1.4T Insignia Limited Edition 140

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

V60 T5 SE Lux

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

For me when you take into account running costs vs age spec etc the two Mazdas are the ones to go for.

[Moxcis]

Thanks ZX10R NIN,

I haven't seen that mazda before. It looks good. I did look at Insignia and I like Volvos from previous experiences.
I also looked at Mercs like this one https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-c...
and this one https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-b...

Insurance is steep though.

[Blanchimont]

If you plan on keeping it long term, and do mostly town work, don't bother with diesels. Seat leon Estate?

[ZX10R NIN]

Moxcis said:

Thanks ZX10R NIN,

I haven't seen that mazda before. It looks good. I did look at Insignia and I like Volvos from previous experiences.
I also looked at Mercs like this one https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-c...
and this one https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-b...

Insurance is steep though.

Firstly you shouldn't be looking at diesels when the majority of your annual mileage is city based, secondly if you're planning on keeping the car 7-10 that would make those Mercedes 20 years old I'd rather something newer which is more up to date emissions wise so you won't be penalised later on down the line as legislation changes, so personally I'd be making sure whatever I'm buying it would be a Euro6 compliant car.

If you want to spend around 5-8k then the Mazda5 Sport/Sport Nav is still the pick MPV 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...

Estate wise it's the Mondeo Titanium X/X Sport

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

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

or Mazda6 Sport

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

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 15th February 11:52

[Moxcis]

Blanchimont said:

If you plan on keeping it long term, and do mostly town work, don't bother with diesels. Seat leon Estate?

I am planning to keep it long term. I understand i'll have dpf issues as I'll be mostly drining in town. Thanks for reminding me of that.

There are more diesel cars than petrol, and they seem cheaper in the long run. As you pointed out, diesel are not an option now.

[Moxcis]

ZX10R NIN said:

Firstly you shouldn't be looking at diesels when the majority of your annual mileage is city based, secondly if you're planning on keeping the car 7-10 that would make those Mercedes 20 years old I'd rather something newer which is more up to date emissions wise so you won't be penalised later on down the line as legislation changes, so personally I'd be making sure whatever I'm buying it would be a Euro6 compliant car.

If you want to spend around 5-8k then the Mazda5 Sport/Sport Nav is still the pick MPV wise:

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 15th February 11:52

Thanks for the links, I need to do more research. Diesel is out. I am inclined to buy low mileage petrol, 5 year old max.

[GreatGranny]

I'm a big Volvo fan so that V60 would be on my list and they take the mileage very well.

Definitely go with petrol considering your mileage and how long you plan to keep the car.

[Moxcis]

GreatGranny said:

I'm a big Volvo fan so that V60 would be on my list and they take the mileage very well.

Definitely go with petrol considering your mileage and how long you plan to keep the car.

This would be the one but it's mad money.

https://www.arnoldclark.com/nearly-new-cars/volvo/...

[Jamescrs]

I'd also say go for a Volvo if you are wanting something to last a long time, they aren't particularly exciting to drive, and I say that as an owner myself of a V60 but they do feel like they will go on forever.

[Moxcis]

Jamescrs said:

I'd also say go for a Volvo if you are wanting something to last a long time, they aren't particularly exciting to drive, and I say that as an owner myself of a V60 but they do feel like they will go on forever.

I like the V60 but the good deals are mainly diesel like this one, Eurocap 5 though:
https://www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars/volvo/v60/d4...

Petrol

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

Great cars but quite expensive, cheaper ones have high mileage/age.

Would a monthly motorway run clear dpf or is it definitely a very bad idea to buy a diesel for town driving. I do no more than max 2000 miles a year for now.

[ZX10R NIN]

It would be a nightmare 2000 miles a year is not diesel territory, the Mazdas will last just as well as any of the Volvo's listed & they're more maintenance friendly because they're N/A for 2000 miles a year they would be getting my cash.

[Moxcis]

ZX10R NIN said:

It would be a nightmare 2000 miles a year is not diesel territory, the Mazdas will last just as well as any of the Volvo's listed & they're more maintenance friendly because they're N/A for 2000 miles a year they would be getting my cash.

Yes I knew it was a bad idea. I've been looking at Mazdas cx5 which are great but quite expensive and Mg ZS which sound reasonable.

Mazda : https://www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars/mazda/cx-5/2...

MG ZS : https://www.arnoldclark.com/nearly-new-cars/mg/zs/...

Family of 3 so the MG ZS looks promising. I plan to go and test drive one tomorrow and see.

I'll open a new topic about ZS to see what others think.

Thank you all for your help. I'll keep you updated.

[ZX10R NIN]

The MG is an okay car but the 1.5 is horrible & the car is underpowered I have to be honest I'd take an original CX-5 over the MG on the drivetrain alone & that's before we talk about the interior.

Try to seek out a Sport Nav model as they have a slightly nicer interior & are around the same money as the SE-L:

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

[Moxcis]

ZX10R NIN said:

The MG is an okay car but the 1.5 is horrible & the car is underpowered I have to be honest I'd take an original CX-5 over the MG on the drivetrain alone & that's before we talk about the interior.

Try to seek out a Sport Nav model as they have a slightly nicer interior & are around the same money as the SE-L:

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

I had a look at different cars today and I am even more confused. Most 12/14 K cars look more or less the same and have basic options. The mg zs looks good on pictures but having seen it, it's not for me now.

There are lots of deals for peugeot 2008 such as this https://www.arnoldclark.com/new-cars/peugeot/2008/....

I has a 2008 active 2 years ago, was good but on full lock turn the car judders/skids.

cx5 is a good car but expensive.

I plan to keep car for long term so I need a low mileage one.

[ZX10R NIN]

Moxcis said:

I had a look at different cars today and I am even more confused. Most 12/14 K cars look more or less the same and have basic options. The mg zs looks good on pictures but having seen it, it's not for me now.

There are lots of deals for peugeot 2008 such as this https://www.arnoldclark.com/new-cars/peugeot/2008/....

I has a 2008 active 2 years ago, was good but on full lock turn the car judders/skids.

CX-5 is a good car but expensive.

I plan to keep car for long term so I need a low mileage one.

The one I linked to had 22k on the clock which is very low considering the year & specification, a 2008 is a much smaller car.

CX-5

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

Also at the moment SUV type vehicles hold their money better than an MPV which is why I recommended the Mazda5 it ticks all your boxes & it'll be reliable for the next 10 years:

Mazda5 Sport Venture 14/15 20/35k respectively both within your 12k budget.

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

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

Or go for the Estate:

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

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

Also the CX-5 isn't expensive it's about on the money remember it's cost new & how much car you're getting for 12k, you have to be realistic about that then look at equivalent cars to the CX-5 such as the Kuga/Tucson/Sportage:

1.5T Kuga Titanium X 150

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

KX-2/3 Sportage 160

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

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

Tucson SE 130 it'll be a bit underpowered with the lack of torque from the 1.6 engine.

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...

If it's a reliable car that'll last you 10 years with minimal maintenance then you have the answers whether you want any of those is down to you, if you don't then adjust your brief.

[Moxcis]

ZX10R NIN said:

The one I linked to had 22k on the clock which is very low considering the year & specification, a 2008 is a much smaller car.

CX-5

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

Also at the moment SUV type vehicles hold their money better than an MPV which is why I recommended the Mazda5 it ticks all your boxes & it'll be reliable for the next 10 years:

Mazda5 Sport Venture 14/15 20/35k respectively both within your 12k budget.

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

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

Or go for the Estate:

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

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

Also the CX-5 isn't expensive it's about on the money remember it's cost new & how much car you're getting for 12k, you have to be realistic about that then look at equivalent cars to the CX-5 such as the Kuga/Tucson/Sportage:

1.5T Kuga Titanium X 150

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

KX-2/3 Sportage 160

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

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

Tucson SE 130 it'll be a bit underpowered with the lack of torque from the 1.6 engine.

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...

If it's a reliable car that'll last you 10 years with minimal maintenance then you have the answers whether you want any of those is down to you, if you don't then adjust your brief.

Many thanks for your help. Quiet alot to get through. Looked at all the ones you mentioned but as I said they all look more or less the same SUVs made by the same manufacturer.

I checked seat, skoda, vw and they also look more or less the same.

it seems the car market is lead by same few car makers with different brands.

[ZX10R NIN]

Moxcis said:

Many thanks for your help. Quiet alot to get through. Looked at all the ones you mentioned but as I said they all look more or less the same SUVs made by the same manufacturer.

I checked seat, skoda, vw and they also look more or less the same.

it seems the car market is lead by same few car makers with different brands.

This is more to do with the rules & regulations the world's Governments have imposed on car makers means that it's very hard to make a truly standout car these days.