Prices

[rsbmw]

Need to sort a new car for Mum, her 56 plate Astra has developed a gearbox problem and frankly isn't worth repairing.

Only requirements really are auto box, possibly parking sensors, and not too big. Wider requirements are that I don't want her having to deal with garanges constantly, not having confidence in the car and/or having to swap it again in a couple of years.

Finding it difficult to look past a new Kia Picanto, using their scrappage scheme it's a brand new car for £12k, 7 years warranty etc - should last 10 years easily with her low mileage with minimal hassle. Very appealing, but also pretty small, slow and crap.

Alternatives that are a bit bigger, faster and better in the £10-12k range seem to be ~5 years or more old with ~50k on the clock. Is that just a symptom of the current market? I have no idea what these types of cars would have cost 2 years ago, or what that £10-12k would have bought, but a 5-6 year old focus with 50k on the clock for £12k doesn't seem a very good deal. I appreciate in this class auto box limits the selection and pushes the prices up, but how much higher is the price to buy now vs 'normal' price?

What would you do with the same budget/criteria?

[Jamescrs]

Let her buy the Kia if she's happy with it, years of trouble free motoring to be had there.

Your mum doesn't have the luxury of waiting for any market crash or correction which may or may not come as her current car is knackered.

A 5-6 year old car may still go on for another 5-6 years without any issues or it may not but if you want assurance the Kia is the way to go.

[trevalvole]

I had a look at a Picanto a few years ago. I thought the seats were quite firm and I recall they have rear disc brakes, which sounds like a good idea, but with gentle usage corrosion can be a problem. Do they still have torque converter autos or are they now dual-clutch? Either way they are probably better than most of their city car competition with automated manuals.

[vikingaero]

I test drive cars for my family and I have to discard the PH hat and put myself in their shoes. Whilst cars may be crap in PH terms, they are often perfect for their market. A couple of instances:

(1) I test drove a Merc A Class Avantgarde for my Dad and it had very direct steering and sports suspension.Hit a bump and it was all over the place. So he ordered the Elegance with the softer springs and less direct steering - perfect car for him.

(2) I've often derided the Mitsubishi Mirage automatic as the worst car on sale in the UK after having one as a loan car. It's good Japanese quality, brilliant aftercare, but very very average in most areas. It's not a car I want to own, but in hindsight, it's the perfect car for Mrs V. if we change her car - small, automatic, reliable, not exciting, conservative styling etc.

[ZX10R NIN]

Spec also dictates prices auto box reverse camera & parking sensors all add to the price.

2019 Kia Rio 2 same car as the i20 below you'll get one with less than 15k on the clock plus the balance of the warranty & a decent spec too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112270...

2018 Rio 3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...

2019 1.4i Hyundai i20 SE 100

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111249...

2018 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...

Vauxhall Adam

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109026...

[rsbmw]

ZX10R NIN said:

Spec also dictates prices auto box reverse camera & parking sensors all add to the price.

2019 Kia Rio 2 same car as the i20 below you'll get one with less than 15k on the clock plus the balance of the warranty & a decent spec too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112270...

2018 Rio 3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...

2019 1.4i Hyundai i20 SE 100

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111249...

2018 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...

Vauxhall Adam

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109026...

As someone who pays attention to such things, how far would you say these are off historical averages?

[ZX10R NIN]

rsbmw said:

As someone who pays attention to such things, how far would you say these are off historical averages?

It depends on the car but 10-20% but don't expect prices to drop massively anytime soon I'd expect a slow drop but I don't expect price to go back to pre pandemic levels at all.

I'll be honest I don't worry about what prices were as it's irrelevant, deal with the here & now, I always work on the best deal at the time of buying & that's it.

Also remember new car prices are actually high once you look past /Discounts/Lease/PCP/PCH & look at the actual OTR price, you'll see that new cars are high too.

[Zwei Bier bitte]

rsbmw said:

As someone who pays attention to such things, how far would you say these are off historical averages?

Before this madness hit pre used zero mileage, minimal spec i20's could be had for £9k. They couldn't give them away.

If its a keeper and your mum just needs a car long term I'd go with an Aygo. Lightly used autos are coming in within that budget. Bombproof and you will always move it on. Obviously its not a great time to buy.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111139...

[Twig62]

trevalvole said:

I had a look at a Picanto a few years ago. I thought the seats were quite firm and I recall they have rear disc brakes, which sounds like a good idea, but with gentle usage corrosion can be a problem. Do they still have torque converter autos or are they now dual-clutch? Either way they are probably better than most of their city car competition with automated manuals.

I think that the Picanto like the Hyundai i10 has gone from a very smooth TC auto to an automated manual. I have driven an i10 fitted with one and it is horrid.