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Next car help - automatic petrol

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Sue_b

Original Poster

3 posts

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Thursday

I currently have a 2013 Audi A1 S Line 1.4 , had it for 2 years now but want to upgrade.

want something bigger in size and a bit of a smoother ride, the S line is a bit bumpy and i feel it!!

was thinking along the lines of VW Golf or Ford Focus(seems to fit what i want) Audi A3 is out as spent a fotrtune on audi parts, looked at yaris but think it looks quite small and everyone keeps warning me off vauxhall!

Automatic
Petrol
Engine size 1.4 -1.6
Insurance group - up to 20
must be 4 doors
roomy - bigger than the my A1
better than 53 mpg(what i get at the moment)
Something sleek/stylish
reliable
cheaper to maintain(parts)

please help

paul_c123

756 posts

7 months

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Thursday

If you are happy to move up to a bigger engined VW Golf (or Audi A3), it will have the DQ250 DSG transmission (6 speed) which has wet clutches, rather than the DQ200 (7 speed). This one has dry clutches, and seems to have many more issues than the DQ250 which is much more reliable auto. Having said that, they can still have issues.

Ford - avoid a "powershift" at all costs.

ETA Make sure the DQ250 has had its transmission oil changed regularly - at least every 40,000 miles. And, the Golf and Audi A3 are VERY similar cars, if you have had a bad experience with the Audi it will be the same for a VW.

Edited by paul_c123 on Thursday 26th June 18:59

Sue_b

Original Poster

3 posts

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Thursday

Thanks for the advice on the Ford

would 2017/2018 have the DSG DQ250? as that roughly the year i am looked at to buy

Audi- found it quite costly for parts, much more than VW(few relatives have VW's)

paul_c123

756 posts

7 months

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Thursday

Sue_b said:

2017 is the changeover year. The DQ250 (6 speed) was replaced by the DQ381 (7 speed). So its easy to tell - except of course, both DQ200 and DQ381 are 7 speeds, the 381 being used for larger engines. I don't know enough about that gearbox specifically, to judge its reliability.

Basically, if you want that economy, AND the better gearbox, you're looking at a 2.0TDI. (I think, not sure, the 1.6TDI auto has a DQ200).

Ezra

727 posts

41 months

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Friday

What's your budget?

omniflow

3,171 posts

165 months

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Friday

paul_c123 said:

Ford - avoid a "powershift" at all costs.

Edited by paul_c123 on Thursday 26th June 18:59

There are at least two types of Ford auto gearbox that are branded powershift. One of them will give you zero issues, the other one has some well documented reliability issues.

andy43

11,485 posts

268 months

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Friday

Ezra said:

What's your budget?

That s the big question.
Stuff the Europeans, stuff diesel, go for a Toyota (10yr wty) or Hyundai/Kia (5/7yrs). Something like a Yaris or Corolla hybrid would be all the car you d need.
If the insurance is a wee bit higher and the mpg isn t quite as good the reliability and residuals will offset it.

Edited by andy43 on Friday 27th June 09:12

ZX10R NIN

29,152 posts

139 months

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Friday

The Ford Powershifts are (on the bigger engines) decent, to get better than 53mpg you'll need a diesel or plug in hybrid.

What's your budget?

That's the thing that will dictate where & what to look at.

Sue_b

Original Poster

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My budget is 12k, realizing might be pushing it for 2017/2018 golf

paul_c123

756 posts

7 months

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Have you considered a Golf GTE?

ConnectionError

2,076 posts

83 months

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Lexus IS300h

jam_up

168 posts

88 months

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Sue_b said:

My budget is 12k, realizing might be pushing it for 2017/2018 golf

Equivalent Leon perhaps?

Mondeo could also be a shout but obviously a lot bigger! A car I m considering myself tbh with a similar budget. The petrols come with conventional autos so they should be more reliable. You ll have to sacrifice economy though - hitting 53mpg with a bigger car is hybrid/diesel territory!

ZX10R NIN

29,152 posts

139 months

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Friday