New Car Help

[anonymous-user]

Hi all,
i'm looking for a little help with a car purchase.

I've got a budget of £12K, and want a hatchback petrol engine, around 140-150BHP.

I'm currently doing around 8000 miles per year, roughly 5000 commuting on A roads, the other 3000 is generally motorway driving.

Preferably i'd like something hassle free, and as near to new as possible, as i know next to nothing about cars and have never bought a used car before.

I'm currently looking at the 2019 Astra Elite Nav, done around 16000 miles with almost 2 years left on the warranty. Ticks all the boxes for what i need.

Are there any options i might not have considered, and is there anything i need to look out for when buying a used car like this?
I would hope that nearly new, with some warranty left, can't be much to worry about, right?

[MorganP104]

Whilst the Astra is a perfectly worthy car, there are potentially better options out there. If you like Astra-sized cars, I would suggest looking at examples of the following:

- Skoda Fabia
- SEAT Leon
- VW Golf
- Ford Focus

It's a simple recommendation, but I'd suggest driving examples of all of the above (unless there are any you couldn't see yourself spending money on). Once you've had a drive in all of them, at least one will jump out as feeling like "your car".

There are Japanese options too, but they are so unutterably dull, I'd have to hand in my man card, were I to recommend any to you. However, a nearly new Japanese hatch will never go wrong, and never let you down. But by god, they are dull.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Astra Elite Nav 150 is a nice choice & you should get three years (2 years Manufacturer & an extra year from the main dealer selling the car) warranty on a 19 plate .

6K
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011105...

11k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009254...

There are some decent alternatives but you'll be hard pressed to beat the Astra in terms of VFM when you take age/spec/mileage into the equasion.

Here are the alternatives:

Personally I think the Megane is (you'll get the same 3 years of Warranty on the GT models) the better pick in either GT Line 140 spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010124...

Or top of the range Signature Nav 130 spec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009013...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010185...

Kia Ceed GT 200 with 5 Years worth of Manufacturers Warranty left

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

Focus Titanium X 180 1 years warranty

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012036...

308 GT 205 now you'll get a years warranty on this one, it's over your BHP but spec wise on par with the Astra.

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

Infiniti Q30 Premium 155 not quite as highly spec'd as the Astra but the fit & finish is a step above, no warranty the price reflects this & you can get this on a service plan from Nissan:

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

[VR99]

I would add the Volvo V40 (T3) to your list, 150 bhp petrol engine and nice seats for the motorway but less boot space than the Astra or Leon.
I have to say whilst I'm a bit of a badge snob, the Astra in Elite trim looks v good VFM..plenty in the £12k budget with reasonably low miles and from main dealers.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the suggestions and help from you all.

I ended up buying a 2019 fiesta ST-Line 125 with a really good spec and only 11K on the clock.

I pick the car up tomorrow, i'll post some pics if anyone is vaguely interested.

[ZX10R NIN]

Glad you got sorted OP.