What car? £7k budget new ish diesel

[peterh2]

I'm currently driving a v8 e38 7 series but the monthly fuel cost is starting to get a bit silly at around £250 to £300 per month.

Fancy something a bit newer and was initially looking to spend £5-6k.

I was almost ready to buy http://www.autoquake.com/used-volkswagen-golf/1.9-... but then saw http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

I currently drive an automatic and as my commute normally involves sitting in traffic jams an automatic does appeal.

Doing a but more browsing I've also come across http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010... which is significantly more powerful and seems to have a nicer interior. Down side is it's 2 years older than the Golfs.

I've also been looking at a totally left of field suggestion of http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp... which is both cheaper, newer and has less miles.

The main motivation of changing cars is that I can get into a newer car for the next 3-4 years that hopefully shouldn't cost me anything more than running my current car for the next 3-4 years due to the lower fuel costs.

I'm finding the decision quite difficult and seem to keep changing my mind. My heart wants the Audi but my head is saying the golfs / focus would be a more sensible choice?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Roan]

peterh2 said:

I've also been looking at a totally left of field suggestion of http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp... which is both cheaper, newer and has less miles.

The 1.8 TDCI in the Focus is the old Lynx engine (derived from the 1.8 TDI used in the Mk3 Fiesta about 20 years ago). Avoid it at all costs.

What you really want is this:

Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI PD Elegance DSG

Newish, comfortable, practical, reliable, automatic, powerful enough, good spec. Plenty of them about too, some cheaper than this...

Edited by Roan on Wednesday 19th May 14:48

[briSk]

one of these:
http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1688075.htm
____
focus good handling but better off with slower but much nicer 1.6.

if you can get a mk2 a3 140 bhp then they're nice enough.

[anonymous-user]

Fiat Grande Punto Sporting 1.9jtd! though I am biased!

[Prince Rupert]

^^^ Civic ad doesn't mention mileage. I would suggest at that price it may be rather high. Really all depends on how important the badge is to you. If your main motivation is a newer car clearly the Focus makes more sense because it is newer, but if you're desperate for an aspirational badge (Audi/BM, sort of VW) then you will end up with a slightly older car but the badge you always desired! FWIW I would prob get and Astra CDTI 150 SRI. Or check what you can get from Skoda / Seat for your money in comparison to the VW/Audi offerings.

[peterh2]

The Octavia's a little too big. I'm trying to downsize as 99% of the time it's just me in the car.

[Beefmeister]

Personally i'd be going for something like this:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...



330d M Sport Auto, 85,000 miles, nice colour, full leather, £5,990.

[peterh2]

Beefmeister said:

Personally i'd be going for something like this:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...

330d M Sport Auto, 85,000 miles, nice colour, full leather, £5,990.

I like it but it's just a little too old. My current car's a 1997 model and its needed a few things doing at every service / MOT. I was hoping with a newer car that I'd also save on this expense.

[Beefmeister]

I see your thinking, but the Beemer would just sway me with the looks, handling, performance, economy and quality....

But given what you've said, how about this?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SAAB...

[Roan]

peterh2 said:

Beefmeister said:

Personally i'd be going for something like this:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...

330d M Sport Auto, 85,000 miles, nice colour, full leather, £5,990.

I like it but it's just a little too old. My current car's a 1997 model and its needed a few things doing at every service / MOT. I was hoping with a newer car that I'd also save on this expense.

I understand why you would think like this, but in fact it's inaccurate to suggest that as a car gets older, it needs more money spent on it. It's all about how well the car has been looked after from day one and what has been replaced on it already which won't need doing again for x miles/x years. With a newer car the owner(s) won't necessarily have looked after it better than an older car.

I was hearing this morning that 1 in every 5 cars on the road is running below the minimum oil level and 1 in 10 haven't been serviced for over 2 years!

[300bhp/ton]

peterh2 said:

The Octavia's a little too big. I'm trying to downsize as 99% of the time it's just me in the car.

Do you need more than 2 seats? I've got a smart Roadster as my "economical" car. This week it's been managing 52mpg and is as comfy as most smaller hatchbacks.

[peterh2]

300bhp/ton said:

peterh2 said:

The Octavia's a little too big. I'm trying to downsize as 99% of the time it's just me in the car.

Do you need more than 2 seats? I've got a smart Roadster as my "economical" car. This week it's been managing 52mpg and is as comfy as most smaller hatchbacks.

2 seats should be fine. Ideally I'm looking for 45+mpg, automatic and 05 or newer!

[peterh2]

Roan said:

I understand why you would think like this, but in fact it's inaccurate to suggest that as a car gets older, it needs more money spent on it. It's all about how well the car has been looked after from day one and what has been replaced on it already which won't need doing again for x miles/x years. With a newer car the owner(s) won't necessarily have looked after it better than an older car.

I was hearing this morning that 1 in every 5 cars on the road is running below the minimum oil level and 1 in 10 haven't been serviced for over 2 years!

I'd only consider a car with a full service history. My current car does have a full service history but I think some parts just begin to perish with age etc.

[Beefmeister]

Did you see the Saab? ^^^^^^^

[peterh2]

Beefmeister said:

Did you see the Saab? ^^^^^^^

Beefmeister: I like it but I'm concerned that it's a little too big for what I need. The MPG also isn't great compared to the golf, focus or a3...

[300bhp/ton]

peterh2 said:

300bhp/ton said:

peterh2 said:

The Octavia's a little too big. I'm trying to downsize as 99% of the time it's just me in the car.

Do you need more than 2 seats? I've got a smart Roadster as my "economical" car. This week it's been managing 52mpg and is as comfy as most smaller hatchbacks.

2 seats should be fine. Ideally I'm looking for 45+mpg, automatic and 05 or newer!

Mines on a 54 plate, although you can get them up to 57 plate.

The lowest I've had was 38mpg, but that was flat out caning it chasing a well driven Porsche 968. Normally I get about 48mpg pottering about and spirited driving.

They have 6 gears, its a manual but with an electronic clutch. So it has a full auto mode (not quite as smooth as a proper auto, but not much worse than any other small engined auto IMO).

Or you can shift manually by pushing or pulling the shift lever. There's no clutch pedal.

They aren't fast (10.6 sec to 60mph) although a remamp will get them sub 9 sec to 60mph. But they feel faster than they are and are a lot of fun. Probably the closest thing to an Elise without being an Elise, also a lot easier to get in and out of.

That said, it is a proper sports car, so would be very different from a BMW V8 to drive.

This is mine:



£7k would get you a minter, last of the line Finale or probably a Brabus.

[Beefmeister]

peterh2 said:

Beefmeister said:

Did you see the Saab? ^^^^^^^

Beefmeister: I like it but I'm concerned that it's a little too big for what I need. The MPG also isn't great compared to the golf, focus or a3...

The 9-3 is barely bigger than a Golf in reality. More like a booted Golf/A3 (Jetta?) really. Also, they do a reported 45-48mpg which is pretty good.

Of course, by going for an auto you'll be knocking 4 or 5 mpg off...

How many miles do you do per year? I can't imagine if i'm doing lots of motorway stuff i'd want to be in something as low as the Smart Roadster.

Don't get me wrong, i love the Smarts, especially the Roadster Coupe, i'm just not sure it's workable as a high-miler. I could be (and frequently am) wrong though!

[briSk]

actually that's a good point. what about a very very late plate seat toledo diseasel. it's the old 1.9 but then so are most of the other cars you're looking at. you'd save tonnes of money too. better car than a mk4 golf (if not a mk5!).

[DavidY]

2 months ago, I bought a Saab 9-3SS 1.9TiD (150bhp) Auto with full leather, etc, etc. (55 Reg Car, 78k miles)Sticker price was £5.5K, got it for £4.5K plus the trade in of a 221k mile Saab 9-5, so I'm sure there was cash negotiation available on the Sticker price. On my current tank of fuel I've done 528 miles so far with 130 mile range left to go averaging approx 55mpg. I don't think that is at all bad for a diesel auto.

[300bhp/ton]

Beefmeister said:

peterh2 said:

Beefmeister said:

Did you see the Saab? ^^^^^^^

Beefmeister: I like it but I'm concerned that it's a little too big for what I need. The MPG also isn't great compared to the golf, focus or a3...

How many miles do you do per year? I can't imagine if i'm doing lots of motorway stuff i'd want to be in something as low as the Smart Roadster.

Don't get me wrong, i love the Smarts, especially the Roadster Coupe, i'm just not sure it's workable as a high-miler. I could be (and frequently am) wrong though!

I think its a valid point. While the Roadster rides well (as in composed) it is still a firm ride and you do sit low.

I personally would rate it as being as comfy as most small hatchbacks. This I personally don't have a problem with as I used to use a Pug 106 for 110 miles a day commute and the Roadster is much, much nicer place to be.

But something like a big Saab would be quite a different kettle of fish...