Wife needs a new car - opinions on our short list

Wife needs a new car - opinions on our short list

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smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

159 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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She's owned VW's for over 15yrs and she currently drives a mk5 1.6 FSi Match. It's done 90k miles and it needs replacing. We have a budget of circa £13k, she wants petrol (hates the smell of diesel) and the short list is as follows.

1. VW Golf MK7 1.4 Match Edition 122hp 2014 -14 plate - 15k miles
2. Seat Leon FR 1.4 150hp - 2015 - 15 plate - 10k miles
3. Vauxhall Astra 1.4 SRi Nav 150hp - 2016 - 66 plate - 3k miles
4. Mini Clubman Cooper S 190hp - 2013 - 13 plate - 20k miles
5. VW Beetle 1.4 TSi Sport 140hp - 2013 - 20k miles

She will be keeping it for 4 - 5 years and she does approx 15k miles a year


zedx19

2,979 posts

155 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Take her to test drive each, let her decide? If you convince her to get anything other then a Golf, she'll only whinge at you whenever it doesn't do something as well as the Golf, or uses more fuel, or costs more for tyres etc etc etc. Obvious choice, get a Golf.

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

159 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Hmmmm - good point

halo34

2,890 posts

214 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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New golf facelift is out April - so taking some time and waiting for the "adjustment" in prices might play well for you?

coldsnap

867 posts

174 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Consider a Mini Cooper 1.5 3 cylinder.

It's reasonably nippy (7.9s) economical and sounds great, really it does. You could for that budget of 13k perhaps get a 2015 with low miles and reasonably specced up. My OH drives one and it really is a great car, worth taking one out for test.

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

159 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
You mean wait until the facelift is out and then the pre facelift cars will fall in value?

halo34

2,890 posts

214 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
smiffy555 said:
You mean wait until the facelift is out and then the pre facelift cars will fall in value?
Potentially yes - or at least there might be more options around that time. Not sure what SEAT are doing but VW and Skoda are refreshing the octavia and golf with new tech inside with some styling tweaks.

I am not a market expert though and you might find more choice rather than lower prices if you know what I mean.

Personally I didn't get on with the Leon inside, I just felt it was behind both skoda and VW. In the price range I was looking at meant you could be in a golf for similar money.

It is absolutely personal taste on the Leon, it did however drive sharper than the golf IMHO and felt more keen.

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

159 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
coldsnap said:
Consider a Mini Cooper 1.5 3 cylinder.

It's reasonably nippy (7.9s) economical and sounds great, really it does. You could for that budget of 13k perhaps get a 2015 with low miles and reasonably specced up. My OH drives one and it really is a great car, worth taking one out for test.
That's not a bad shout, BUT, she needs a boot. I had a R56 JCW 5 yrs ago and we found the boot 'limiting'. The rear seats were permanently down.

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

159 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
Does anyone one have any thoughts on the new Astra 1.4 Turbo SRi?

It's extremely well specc'd and the 2nd hand values, for what you get, are incredible.

nickfrog

22,855 posts

232 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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I wouldn't expect any FL induced drop in Golf residuals. If anything a FL puts the word Golf in the limelight for second hand cars too.

strain

419 posts

116 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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I've had an Astra J for the last 2 years albeit the 160bhp diesel. Also had a 1.4 H in the past.

The J (10-16) is a huge step up in interior quality, in just over 2 years I'd replaced a glow plug beyond basic maintenance, it clocked 60k yesterday.

The 1.4's and turbo's aren't really that good for fuel economy, the 1.6 is better but if you're wanting economy then you wouldn't be looking at petrols.

We looked at focus's and golfs of the same age and the astra just offered so much more, we have the SE with half leather and bluetooth, got it 1k cheaper than a basic model petrol golf.

In terms of the H we had, it done 130k, we put 60k on it and it only needed the oil pickup pipe cleaning

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

159 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
strain said:
I've had an Astra J for the last 2 years albeit the 160bhp diesel. Also had a 1.4 H in the past.

The J (10-16) is a huge step up in interior quality, in just over 2 years I'd replaced a glow plug beyond basic maintenance, it clocked 60k yesterday.

The 1.4's and turbo's aren't really that good for fuel economy, the 1.6 is better but if you're wanting economy then you wouldn't be looking at petrols.

We looked at focus's and golfs of the same age and the astra just offered so much more, we have the SE with half leather and bluetooth, got it 1k cheaper than a basic model petrol golf.

In terms of the H we had, it done 130k, we put 60k on it and it only needed the oil pickup pipe cleaning
Thanks for that glowing report on the Astra. I think the one we will be looking at is the new shape, K, I think it is

steve-5snwi

9,475 posts

108 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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The boot on the clubman is more useful than the hatch. It's also 80mm longer in the wheelbase and rides bumps much better.

Out of that list it would be the Leon, however have you considered the Focus ? We have just sold a Zetec S 1.0 125ps with the upgraded wheels, it was a 2013 car and went for £7999. It was a very nice car, drives better than the golfs although the plastics are not of the same quality.

andy101093

296 posts

103 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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I would go for one of the VAG petrols with Active Cylinder Technology, especially if those miles are at 60/70mph.

familyguy1

785 posts

147 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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how far does she drive ? what about and EV ? leaf/zoe/ionic/soul

Davel

8,982 posts

273 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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She really should test drive some and then decide.

Do not advise her as it's a trap!

If she decides that she hates it - it's then your fault!

I've learnt from by experience....

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

159 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
familyguy1 said:
how far does she drive ? what about and EV ? leaf/zoe/ionic/soul
No!

She does about 15 - 17k a year, split evenly between city and motorway. An Electric car, she would not consider.

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

159 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
Davel said:
She really should test drive some and then decide.

Do not advise her as it's a trap!

If she decides that she hates it - it's then your fault!

I've learnt from by experience....
Agree.