Car buying advice needed

[Apollo440]

Hi,

I'm looking for a reliable and relatively economical SUV with an automatic gearbox and a petrol engine. Are any of these any good, do they have any known problems with automatic gearbox or other issues etc?

1. Suzuki SX4 2013; 1.6 SZ4 5DR AUTO
2. Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 2013; 1.6 SZ5 SUV CVT ALLGRIP
2. Ford Ecosport 2015 rok; 1.5 Titanium 5Dr Powershift
3. Peugeot 2008, 2014 rok; 1.2 e-VTi
4. Vauxhall Mokka 2014;1.4T Auto
5. Subaru XV 2014 1.6i Lineartronic
6. Renault Captur 2013; 1.2 TCe Dynamique S EDC

Best Regards,
Tom

[jaydeeuk1]

Gun to my head I'd go for the suzuki sx4. Parents had the auto on motability, and it was alright, did what they expected of it and was reliable. Before that they had the ecosport auto which they didn't particularly like, dad used to call it powerst, and most recent was a vauxhall crossland which they hated even more, not sure how it compares to the mokka.

What's your budget, I'm sure there's less depressing choices out there.

[robemcdonald]

MX5?

Just kidding…

Suzuki from that list.

[ZX10R NIN]

From that list it would be the Mokka or Ecosport.

[macbook]

My budget would be around 10k, but can stretch a little bit above. First I thought to buy Honda CR-V 2.0 I-Vtec. I have spoke with the Honda Service Manager, and I have been told that the petrol version is very reliable, no problems with them, have the classic 5-auto gearbox.

The only problem is for 10k, i can get the car model 2012-2013 up to 60k miles (which I think is max to be able to change the gear oil before any damage happen), and my wife is not happy with 10 year old car. She wants to buy newer 2015 and above. Other cons of CR-V is quiet expensive car insurance for me (1k a year), road tax and fuel economy urban around 30 mpg.

Hence I decided to forget about CR-V and I start looking for something newer (2015-), with mileage up to 60k, and SUV, as I have been driving Mazda 6 before, and I have back problem issue, when sitting in standard car. I have got a few test drives of CR-V and Ford Kuga and I very like the higher sitting position. Also we found, that we carry a lot of times something bulky in our old Mazda 6, so the bigger boot would be very practical.

I driving about 3-5 tys miles a year, so not much, mainly on short distances of few miles go and back.

I would be able to find Suzuki SX4 S-Cross around for around 10k, year 2015-2016,millage under 60k.

What kind of automatic gearbox is in the SX4- S-Cross 1.6 SZ-T ?

Is this would be the best reliable car (engine and gearbox) meeting the mentioned criteria and budget, or maybe you have other suggestions to buy other car and pay a little extra?

For example, it would be worth to pay extra for Subaru XV 2016 2.0i SE Petrol Lineartronic or Suzuki SX4 S-Cross
2017 1.0 Boosterjet Auto Euro 6 ? Is 1.0 engine in this car would not be too weak ?

Thanks,

Edited by macbook on Wednesday 17th August 19:04

[Silvanus]

Was looking at similar cars, albeit not auto. Worth adding the Dacia Duster to that list, I'd have one over all those.

[paddy1970]

Mazda cx3 2.0 auto

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022070876...

£12k will get you a 17 plate

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022051757...

[imck]

Had a similar age Mokka as a hire for a couple of weeks.
1.4T with manual box. Was fairly decent to drive for what it is. I believe the auto is a torque converter.

Pre 2015 2008 usually have an automated manual best avoided. Newer ones a TC box

No experience of the other models

Would also consider the Dacia but auto only available in diesel around your budget

[macbook]

Is the Mazda CX-3 have a better auto gearbox than Suzuki SX-4 and an overall better reliability car?

[sheffieldjosh123]

paddy1970 said:

Mazda cx3 2.0 auto

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022070876...

£12k will get you a 17 plate

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022051757...

Boots on the CX3’s are so small

[macbook]

Which car in your opinion is better with the similar millage, a newer car (2016 - ) but with worse reliability (like Suzuki), or older car (2010-2013) but knows for better reliability like Toyota or Honda?

I tried to explain for my wife that the older Honda or Toyota might serve longer than a newer Suzuki, but she thinks that the newer car is better, as if we want buy a car for a next x years (like 10 years we have Mazda 6 2009), it will be becoming older and older, becoming finally 20 years old if we want keep it for the next 10 years?

I also find interesting Toyota car, which I did not see before (Toyota Verso 1.8 V-Matic or 1.33 M-Drive). It has good mpg, low insurance, low tax, should be comfy for my back problems, but the only downside is the 7 Speed M-Drive Auto, which I believe is CVT, so wondering if as used car might be a risky to buy, as this transmission might not last next x years. There is a quiet few of them on auto-trader, models from 2010-2016.

What do you think, is the Toyota Verso would be better choice than Suzuki S-Cross or Honda CR-V ?
Can you please have a look on autotrader, which year and millage to consider for Toyota Verso, of course if they are good car ?

The cheapest Toyota Verso 2012 (62 reg) VVT-I T SPIRIT 1.3 with 90tys miles on the clock, can get for only £5,790 ?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208158...

I'm feel very confused, how I should decide which offer is the best, as some cars have lower millage and are older, other newer have higher millage, and when it's worth to pay extra for selected car with lower millage or newer model. How do you deal with this, when you buy a car?

Is any of them could be a good choice ?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201221...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208118...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207258...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208068...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112170...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208168...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206026...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208138...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208078...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208128...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202092...

[troika]

I like Subaru but unless you need the permanent (and very good) 4WD system you’ll pay a fuel penalty over a 2wd. I’d stick to Japanese so would look for a Toyota RAV.

[macbook]

Firstly I was thinking to buy the RAV-4 (2013- ), until I found out, that the petrol version has CVT, and the recommended one is the hybrid version after 2016, with e-CTV, which is much better, but also quite expensive, as they cost over 16k. Hence I then switch to CR-V petrol, as they have 5 auto transmissions, the only problem is the 2016 model after a facelift is the recommended one, and they cost around 15k. So then start considering Suzuki, and finally Toyota Verso. What do you think guys, which of these 4 cars (SX4-Cross, Verso, CR-V, RAV-4) would be the best bet for my needs??