Another what car thread - 5 doors,Petrol £8-10k - Page 1 - Car Buying

Original Poster

1,391 posts

92 months

Friday 21st February 2020

Ive been planning to change my current shed for a while but due to budget constraints have held off so far( current - 16 yr old 3 door MK1 focus).
My wife and I have decided we will chop in both our cars and then buy one car which I will mainly be using wink

So here's the requirements/considerations:
Budget - £8-10k possibly slightly more
- I tend to hold onto my car's for a while so this will be for minimum 5/6 years. I've owned my current car over 10 years which wasn't the plan but it's been that good to drive/own so hard to let go!
- will most main dealers accept two cars towards p/X?
- petrol only as doing 4/5k annual miles
- 5 doors ideally as I want to future proof for kid/s when the time comes
- I have space constraints with regards to driveway parking, so nothing too wide or long as reversing out can be tricky and trying not to take the pi** with blocking neighbours access. That may or may not affect whether estates or SUV's are workable. I do a lot of short journeys in London and don't really want to struggle for parking constantly.
- Auto...I've been driving manuals for 15 years..I want a break now lol esp for visiting family in the sticks outside of London

Cars I like:
Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi /1.8 tfsi - seats don't look too comfy? Is the DSG reliable, heard mixed reviews
Volvo V40 - seats esp leather ones look fantastic and super comfy. Are the T2/T3's reliable long term and more importantly is there enough space in these..I think they look great, solid build and safety but practicality could be better. Is the autobox reliable..hoping it's not of the powershift type that have issues in Fords?
Octavia VRS - Slightly left field but this seems to tick a lot of boxes... practical, more than quick enough for me and look decent. Anything not to like?

Other suggestions welcome...A3,Golf, A class and 1 series spring to mind but not sure these are the best options from a practicality perspective.

I've always liked the older Volvo V50 (now discont) as it was an estate but a fairly medium sized one however would prefer a more modern car ( post 2012) so not considering them but maybe something with similar dimensions? I've left out the focus as while I like the look of the newer models I have a mistrust of anything with 'ecoboost' written on it...unfair possibly.

Edited by VR99 on Friday 21st February 10:18

Edited by VR99 on Friday 21st February 10:31

Edited by VR99 on Friday 21st February 11:08

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

Saturday 22nd February 2020

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 22 February 08:23

Original Poster

1,391 posts

92 months

Saturday 22nd February 2020

VR99 said:

Thanks ZX10R NIN...regarding the powershift how does one tell which models are "wet clutch"?
Also what's your opinion on the V40 and Leon? My only issue with the V40 is that they seem a bit cramped compared to the others.
Civic is v reliable but from a looks perspective...I just can't lol. Focus would be my pick overall I think.

Ideally I will be buying used approved from a main dealer/car supermarket e.g: Evans Halshaw/Arnold Clark/Car Giant etc
My thought process is: sell the Focus privately as it's a 16 yr old shed albeit with full service history and 10 years under my ownership with every single paper invoice for servicing and work done and all MOT certificates retained to back it up plus it's on low miles for age..75k. I doubt any main dealer will give anything close to private value whilst my wife's car which is less than 6 yrs old use as p/x + cash for new car. Does this seem like a sensible approach? I don't really want the hassle and time spent selling privately but would rather get something than nothing for the shed.

Edited by VR99 on Saturday 22 February 18:37

TurboBlue

686 posts

192 months

Saturday 22nd February 2020

BMW 1 series hatchback; we've had one ten years in the family. Done family camping trips and family airport runs. Been reliable save for the odd electrical mishap (often battery related) and bearing/abs rings. Gone from 11,000 miles to over 110,000. Ride is a bit hard but better on winters (which are obligatory in the winter). Here's an example of a nice looking one: https://www.drewsmotorco.co.uk/bmw-116i-1.6-t-petr...

Olas

911 posts

86 months

Saturday 22nd February 2020

Golf tdi DSG.

Original Poster

1,391 posts

92 months

Saturday 22nd February 2020

Only considering petrol guys as I do 4k per year..maybe 5k absolute max
Seat Leon 1.4 Eco TSI with DSG....tempting I must say
I briefly considered the 1 series...recall the older shape being a bit tight on space but will certainly look at the more recent shape...2011/12 onwards I think..Turboblue which engine/year 1 series are you running? Electrical gremlins and beemers seem to go hand in hand wink

Edited by VR99 on Saturday 22 February 20:04

TurboBlue

686 posts

192 months

Saturday 22nd February 2020

It is a first generation 56 plate/2006 BMW 116i Sport, manual. Yes, it is can be a tight fit, I'm 6ft and can just fit and be comfortable; any taller and you'd not fit but it was bought for my wife (who ran it for ten years) and is now our sons car. Failures have been abs rings on the rear axle which caused the TC to interrupt power and fuse board mishaps which stopped the fuel pump (tricky to diagnose) but other than that it has been reliable and it doesn't rust neither (unlike my E39 5-series).

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

Sunday 23rd February 2020

VR99 said:

Try them out for size as all will be similar in size to the Leon/V40 so I'd say try a few out (visiting a car supermarket is the easiest way to do this) for size also take a look at a Mondeo/Insignia as you may find they'll work for you.

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 23rd February 2020

Olas said:

Golf tdi DSG.

Ah yes, the petrol GTD - a great option for the OP biggrin

Olas

911 posts

86 months

Sunday 23rd February 2020

lord trumpton said:

Ah yes, the petrol GTD - a great option for the OP biggrin

The assumption was that I was replying to a different thread. My mistake.

With very little effort you can imagine the ‘D’is an ‘I’ and the response remains appropriate.

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 23rd February 2020

Olas said:

lord trumpton said:

Ah yes, the petrol GTD - a great option for the OP biggrin

The assumption was that I was replying to a different thread. My mistake.

With very little effort you can imagine the ‘D’is an ‘I’ and the response remains appropriate.

Or you could admit you didn't read the title properly and suggested the wrong car.

Sure the OP appreciates the sentiment all the same beer

Original Poster

1,391 posts

92 months

Monday 24th February 2020

I'm noticing that Skoda Octavias with the 1.4 TSI petrol engine fall within my budget. Always had a weird perception with the Skoda badge but I'm starting to think how can I disregard a car with 150bhp that's also practical and seems to be quite well received. Any thoughts on the Octavia.. I'm well aware the diesels can do galactic miles and make for solid workhorses. Anyone had one with the 1.4 TSI?

anonymous-user

83 months

Monday 24th February 2020

Th Octavia is a cracking vehicle

Just read up on the 1.4tsi and its issues - you will then avoid a minefield!

World of pain awaits

Original Poster

1,391 posts

92 months

Monday 24th February 2020

lord trumpton said:

Just read up on the 1.4tsi and its issues - you will then avoid a minefield!
World of pain awaits

Lol was hoping not hear about this..as was also considering the Leon with the 1.2/1.4 variants...I don't know what to think..I've seen a tonne of mainly positive comments about the Leon with the tsi engine but lot of negative about golfs with the same engine..so it's difficult to judge. In the same vein lot of woes about 1.0 ecoboost yet it appears the same issue didn't afflict the Volvo V40's with the 1.5l engines..unless I'm confusing the Ford/Volvo engines. Decisions decisions!

Edited by VR99 on Monday 24th February 19:51

kalniel

258 posts

149 months

Monday 24th February 2020

lord trumpton said:

Just read up on the 1.4tsi and its issues - you will then avoid a minefield!

World of pain awaits

What issues are they? The 1.4 to avoid is the old turbo/super charged monster with timing chain. They've not been that for a very long time, the 140/150ps TSI with cylinder deactivation seems to have a good reputation - uses normal cambelt that you change every 5 years/75,000 miles whether you need to or not like a lot of other cars.

I'd say any of the Golf/A3/Leon/Octavia with the 140/150 1.4tsi/tfsi ACT/COD are very practical and good for low mileage. 10k will probably get a 5-6yr old one with 50-60k miles on the clock. Budget for aforementioned cambelt change if it's not been done (~£500) rear shocks may start leaking soon (~£300) but quite likely to be covered by warranty if buying from a dealer or car supermarket.

Kinky

39,938 posts

298 months

Monday 24th February 2020

For me the choice would be pretty simple smile

As ZX10R suggests above (as one of his links), I'd consider an Alfa Giulietta, with the 170bhp 1.4 engine. For example:
https://www.alfaaid.co.uk/Car-Sales/Details/1270/G...
https://www.alfaaid.co.uk/Car-Sales/Details/247/Gi...

Mr Tidy

31,211 posts

156 months

Monday 24th February 2020

OP you mentioned the Octavia VRs, but said you had limited parking space. From what I have read they are a bit larger than the other VAG offerings.

If that appealed why not think about a Leon Cupra that is a bit smaller but has the same engine, rather than the 1.4 litre Leon. Or there are always the Golf GTi or Audi A3 alternatives.

Someone mentioned the 1 Series, which is definitely different as it is the only RWD option (depends whether you like that really). I had a 57 plate one (E87 model) for over 6 years but hardly ever had more than 1 passenger so it worked for me, although it was a bit cramped in the back. I had a couple of the later ones (F20 model) as courtesy cars and they just felt that bit more spacious, and I remember being pretty impressed by how the 118i Sport model I had drove. They came out in 2011 I think.

Original Poster

1,391 posts

92 months