What car? 13k - Page 1 - Car Buying

Monday 7th September 2020

Currently driving a 2010 Mazda 3, and am looking to get a newer car post 2013-ish with sub 50k miles.

I have an approximate budget of £13k, the car won't be used for commuting. And will be mostly used for camping/climbing/weekend trips to Peak District, Lake district, Snowdonia, Scotland etc (from Manchester) so needs to be of reasonable size to be able to carry 4 adults plus all our equipment. My current Mazda 3 can fit us all in at a push so other decent sized hatchbacks would be ok.

To be honest I'm not sure what I want at the moment, I'm not completely set on hatchbacks but at this price they seem to stand out like the Seat Leon, Golf etc, but with most the miles being motorway should I be considering something else? Any recommendations?

Rob8980

44 posts

83 months

Monday 7th September 2020

Think I’d be tempted to look at estate versions of the Octavia, focus and golf. All should be available within budget and give you more room than the Mazda.

ZX10R NIN

30,505 posts

154 months

Monday 7th September 2020

1,146 posts

114 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

Noticed you've quoted Lexus Hybrids quite a lot when these threads come up. Im interested in your thoughts/experience here as il have this budget this time next year and im very tempted to look at the IS Range of the Lexus.
£13k no more than 5 years old, IS 300 F Sport seems very appealing, looks, kit, interior a tad dated but that can be upgraded/modified cheaply.
Would you recommend the hybrid over the petrol and how much of an increase on the MPG is there in real world terms? Battery have a long life?

Sorry for a small hijack to this thread

1,146 posts

114 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

Noticed you've quoted Lexus Hybrids quite a lot when these threads come up. Im interested in your thoughts/experience here as il have this budget this time next year and im very tempted to look at the IS Range of the Lexus.
£13k no more than 5 years old, IS 300 F Sport seems very appealing, looks, kit, interior a tad dated but that can be upgraded/modified cheaply.
Would you recommend the hybrid over the petrol and how much of an increase on the MPG is there in real world terms? Battery have a long life?

Sorry for a small hijack to this thread

ZX10R NIN

30,505 posts

154 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020

Kingdom35 said:

Noticed you've quoted Lexus Hybrids quite a lot when these threads come up. Im interested in your thoughts/experience here as il have this budget this time next year and im very tempted to look at the IS Range of the Lexus.
£13k no more than 5 years old, IS 300 F Sport seems very appealing, looks, kit, interior a tad dated but that can be upgraded/modified cheaply.
Would you recommend the hybrid over the petrol and how much of an increase on the MPG is there in real world terms? Battery have a long life?

Sorry for a small hijack to this thread

They're good cars real world MPG of 40- 50 on a run. Look for ones with the Premium Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008262...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008152...

Standard F Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007080...

Batteries haven't proved to be an issue so far, servicing is sensible for main dealers just look at the tables of the IS300 F Sport vs the IS250 F Sport below to see the fuel difference:

IS250 F Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007151...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008252...

In all honesty I'd buy a Q50h over the IS300 but they're so thin on the ground I can understand why you'd pick the Lexus.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007181...

1,146 posts

114 months

Wednesday 9th September 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

Kingdom35 said:

Noticed you've quoted Lexus Hybrids quite a lot when these threads come up. Im interested in your thoughts/experience here as il have this budget this time next year and im very tempted to look at the IS Range of the Lexus.
£13k no more than 5 years old, IS 300 F Sport seems very appealing, looks, kit, interior a tad dated but that can be upgraded/modified cheaply.
Would you recommend the hybrid over the petrol and how much of an increase on the MPG is there in real world terms? Battery have a long life?

Sorry for a small hijack to this thread

They're good cars real world MPG of 40- 50 on a run. Look for ones with the Premium Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008262...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008152...

Standard F Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007080...

Batteries haven't proved to be an issue so far, servicing is sensible for main dealers just look at the tables of the IS300 F Sport vs the IS250 F Sport below to see the fuel difference:

IS250 F Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007151...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008252...

In all honesty I'd buy a Q50h over the IS300 but they're so thin on the ground I can understand why you'd pick the Lexus.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007181...

Thanks, that's what ive been going back and forth looking at. Fuel difference seems around 20mpg between the IS350 F Sport Hybrid and the IS250. 0-60 only around 0.5seconds so nothing really.
Id love the F Sport trim to be honest.

Inifiniti il take a look at as well but it doesn't appeal looks wise as much as the Lexus. I did look at the Merc C350e as I do like a Merc but the plug in aspect put me off, the fact that the fall back on a long run would be it seems an underpowered engine for the size of the car = low mpg. It kind of swayed me to Hybrid rather than Plug in Hybrid

Mr Tidy

31,171 posts

156 months

Wednesday 9th September 2020

Kingdom35 said:

Thanks, that's what ive been going back and forth looking at. Fuel difference seems around 20mpg between the IS350 F Sport Hybrid and the IS250. 0-60 only around 0.5seconds so nothing really.
Id love the F Sport trim to be honest.

A 0.5 second difference in 0-60 time is massive in a reasonably quick car!

If you try both you'll really feel the difference, although it depends how much that matters to you.

1,146 posts

114 months

Thursday 10th September 2020

Probably a good idea to test both.

Also looking at the Merc C200 AMG Line now that’s caught my eye. Mind that’s high 30mpg according to Honest John and 0-60 7.3.

I currently have an old Civic Diesel and that’s 0-60 8.3 ( although probably not anymore).

I just don’t fancy paying out that amount of money when the performance is near on the same.

I need to find the balance between mpg and performance. Plus value for money/status.

I had been looking at Clio 197/Guiletta’s for around £7k. But I think for the extra cash it’s well worth moving up to a different class of car

GreatGranny

9,519 posts

255 months

Thursday 10th September 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

Great choice of cars

OP, you're spoilt for choice at the price point TBH.

I can vouch for the Mondeo for a great drive considering it's a big Ford.
It's also a bargain at only a few years old.

Likewise the Insignia but running costs will obviously be pretty high compared to the other choices.

The Infinitis look very nice and seem decent quality.

samoht

7,201 posts

175 months