£12k 5 door petrol hatch (auto)

[VR99]

As per title, looking to change cars soon and chop in my old but trusty MK1 focus and the wife's car for a single replacement as both are 3 door and we need 5 doors ideally.

Requirements: petrol, auto, 5 door hatch upto £12k budget.

My preferences: Golf TSI 1.4 DSG or a Volvo V40 T3 geartronic.

Golfs are plentiful, over 500 petrol auto 5 doors on auto trader within budget albeit priced at a premium and a bit bland maybe...

I really like the V40 for the seats and general looks but what were Volvo thinking with a 340 litre boot?! I can only find around 35-40 V40 petrol autos within £12k..annoyingly the diesels are plentiful but we do 5-8k max per year...I'd be nervous about dpf or injector issues..the torque of a D3/D4 would be nice though!

The V40 T3 is also a fair bit quicker than the Golf 1.4 TSI on paper at least.

Any other thoughts/suggestions? The car will be for long-term..we don't chop/change much.

Thanks

[MG511]

Vauxhalls don't get much love on here but I've had an Astra 1.4T 150 auto for 2 years and been very happy with it https://www.motorpoint.co.uk/vehicle-search/vauxha...
I did fancy a V40 but the real legroom is very poor and my kids are both lanky.

[Justin Case]

This Mazda 3 should tick all your boxes, I've sat in one and they are quite roomy. They should give a long and trouble free life with just routine servicing.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010195...

[DoubleD]

M135i would be my choice at that sort of money.

[VR99]

The Astra is a sensible choice however wife and in law's had vauxhalls for years and a lot of issues on all of them maybe just bad luck hence are not to keen to go there again..yes it's a bit unfair to tarnish them all though.

Mazda 3 - I only wish they had more 165 bhp versions available, not sure the 120 bhp mated with the auto box be enough.

I really like the look of the V40 but the room is a bit of a problem..I think further down the line will feel the squeeze a bit.

I considered Octavia Vrs but suspect wife won't like the size of it and they seem to get snapped up quick/aren't many petrol dsg's in budget.

M135i - lol that would be nice but coming from a 113 bhp 1.8 I will likely end up wrapping around a lamppost....

[DoubleD]

VR99 said:

M135i - lol that would be nice but coming from a 113 bhp 1.8 I will likely end up wrapping around a lamppost....

Im sure you would be quite capable of keeping it in a straight line.

[VR99]

DoubleD said:

VR99 said:

M135i - lol that would be nice but coming from a 113 bhp 1.8 I will likely end up wrapping around a lamppost....

Im sure you would be quite capable of keeping it in a straight line.

One would hope...on a serious note the 1 series in general are great drivers cars but lot of them about where near where I live and a certain image that comes with the territory. Same would apply to the A class...for that reason didn't include either. If I was going for a 1 series then would need to be as standard as possible and in a fairly low key colour...deffo not in white and no lairy alloys or tints..

[ZX10R NIN]

1.6T Megane GT Nav very good cars rare so you might have to travel to get one but they're a very smart choice especially when you consider age/spec/mileage:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011085...

V40 T5 R Design Lux Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008112...

Infiniti Q30 these used to be great value but now not so much

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010275...

Alfa Giulietta Super

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010175...

QV Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...

Kia Ceed 4 Tech

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010195...

1.4T Astra SRI VX Line Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010295...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007211...

Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008062...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010144...

Now the 1 series is a decent pick but in reality not the drivers car the marketing department would have you believe & in reality I'd go for the 3 series:

320i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007241...

125i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009173...

[VR99]

ZX10R NIN - Thanks for the suggestions, as always making our lives harder with even more options

If I had it my way the 3 series would be at the top but due to the hassle with reversing a long saloon or estate where we live I think leaning towards hatchback as wife finds it tricky with reversing..to be fair is a bit awkward as some t*ts choose to park their cars jutting out etc on the other hand I don't want a Nissan Juke or any other swb 'tall' SUV/car hybrid...I've fortunately been able to remove those from the hitlist.

I will look at a few options, likely December and see what's out there. Seat Leon 1.4 TSI/ecotsi was also on my list but again numbers seem low or they are being snapped up v quickly.

Would it likely be a bad idea to consider a V40 diesel variant due to both regular short journeys and general war against diesels? I only ask as been in a D2 auto variant and was fairly impressed..smooth and comfy.

[Terzo123]

The 1.4 ACT 150 engine in the Seat Leon is a peach. Not so sure about the newer 1.5 version.

Essentially the same car as the Golf, but you will get more toys for your cash with the Seat.

[Blanchimont]

What about a Clio 200? 1.6 turbo, EDC auto and surely in budget?

[ZX10R NIN]

VR99 said:

ZX10R NIN - Thanks for the suggestions, as always making our lives harder with even more options

If I had it my way the 3 series would be at the top but due to the hassle with reversing a long saloon or estate where we live I think leaning towards hatchback as wife finds it tricky with reversing..to be fair is a bit awkward as some t*ts choose to park their cars jutting out etc on the other hand I don't want a Nissan Juke or any other swb 'tall' SUV/car hybrid...I've fortunately been able to remove those from the hitlist.

I will look at a few options, likely December and see what's out there. Seat Leon 1.4 TSI/ecotsi was also on my list but again numbers seem low or they are being snapped up v quickly.

Would it likely be a bad idea to consider a V40 diesel variant due to both regular short journeys and general war against diesels? I only ask as been in a D2 auto variant and was fairly impressed..smooth and comfy.

The only reason I'd say no to a diesel is your annual mileage & type of journey, as I said the Megane is the GT Nav is the pick with it's slightly detuned Clio RS engine as well as spacious interior (& reverse cam) it really ticks the boxes.

Next would be a T4/5 V40 good solid cars that do the family thing with ease.

Now if you can find a good Q30 then (SE & above) then it would be level pegging with the V40 but the nice spec cars are holding their money well at the moment.

The Leon is okay but the cars above are imo better buys.

[DoubleD]

Blanchimont said:

What about a Clio 200? 1.6 turbo, EDC auto and surely in budget?

Yeah that could be a good option if the OP is after something fun.

[VR99]

Megane and Clio are both nice but look a bit too raw for what I need...Clio does look fun though

Not many V40 T4 autos in budget (all manuals) and the T5's in budget have higher miles....T3 seems to be a reasonable compromise with 150 bhp and better availability for autos in the 12-13k bracket.
Noted about the diesel and my journeys, will stick to petrol.

Mazda 3 was mentioned earlier...2.0 n/a and solid auto so a sensible choice but I find them slightly bland looking..saw one today in Tesco's carpark in a unique/rare colour, no idea what it was but it set the car off nicely.

[edc]

If you want a much bigger boot then a W246 Merc B Class. We have a B200 DCT. Much more spacious inside than the small SUV/crossovers and a decent sized boot.

[VR99]

Just to add something else to the mix...Alfa Giuletta...I know these aren't considered as v practical due to a sloping rear roof but in auto petrol surely one would be enough and to some extent 'family-proof' if say one child comes along?
I believe that the Giuletta is generally one of the more reliable Alfa's but anyone have experience with the auto transmission versions, just as reliable?

[ZX10R NIN]

VR99 said:

Megane and Clio are both nice but look a bit too raw for what I need...Clio does look fun though

Not many V40 T4 autos in budget (all manuals) and the T5's in budget have higher miles....T3 seems to be a reasonable compromise with 150 bhp and better availability for autos in the 12-13k bracket.
Noted about the diesel and my journeys, will stick to petrol.

Mazda 3 was mentioned earlier...2.0 n/a and solid auto so a sensible choice but I find them slightly bland looking..saw one today in Tesco's carpark in a unique/rare colour, no idea what it was but it set the car off nicely.

The thing is with your low annual mileage the mileage would come back to you on the T5 so I wouldn't count them out.

The Giulietta is a car I really like & those I've supplied them to have been very happy with them the TCT is reliable & well proven like all dual clutches they need to have their fluid & filter changes done on time.

With your budget you should be able to get a Quadrifoglio which is a nice bonus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008313...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010175...

Speciale

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...

QV Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...

[mdk1]

Skoda Fabia? Or a Skoda Scala? Both good cars with lots of kit.

[raspy]

VR99 said:

If I had it my way the 3 series would be at the top but due to the hassle with reversing a long saloon or estate where we live I think leaning towards hatchback as wife finds it tricky with reversing..to be fair is a bit awkward as some t*ts choose to park their cars jutting out etc on the other hand I don't want a Nissan Juke or any other swb 'tall' SUV/car hybrid...I've fortunately been able to remove those from the hitlist.

Choose a car with a 360 camera and rear cross traffic alert. Both features will make reversing out of a space significantly easier and safer!

[VR99]

Op here again, just to answer a couple of the questions/suggestions above..not keen on the Fabia, good cars but I think it's looks don't gel for me.
Regarding the camera, good shout and it seems to be a more common feature on recent cars.

So another car has come onto my radar and likely will risk the wrath of the PH crew here...Mini Cooper S auto (5 door) - what's people's thoughts on these for reliability and longer term ownership? The performance figures look decent for an auto...would a 1 series with the similar(same?) 187ish bhp engine be a better option?
I hate to admit this but I quite like the look of the Mini..my only exception is that garish creme/beige or in white..apart from those two colours anything else is fine...brooklands racing green even better!

The V40 T3 was my frontrunner but with each owner review I come across I am increasingly being put off by a theme of irate owners complaining about door issues or other dodgy electrics......maybe overthinking it or is there a general consensus of poor durability/quality under the Geely ownership?

Edited by VR99 on Sunday 29th November 11:43