“New” car help needed

[Emmyjo]

For most I expect this will be very boring ,as I’m not looking to buy anything fancy but budget/circumstances won’t allow that ??

I will have something impractical one day

My 07 Megane is dying so need a replacement ASAP
Budget 4K, maybe can stretch to just over this for the right car
Reliability is my highest priority as I’m a community healthcare ( I know no make can guarantee this)
Needs to have a decent boot for a Labrador, happy to have an estate
I’ve heard conflicting things regards petrol/diesel so looking for long term overall cost to run, not just high mpg/low tax iykwim??
I’ve driven loads, from a Kia Rio to a Ssangyong Rodius, but the only make I hated was Peugeot so prefer not to go for one of them.

My current short list is

https://www.williamsmotor-company.co.uk/used-cars/...

https://www.dandccarsales.co.uk/vehicle/vauxhall-insignia-16v-se-in-crewe-cheshire-0a0943e9-b796-490a-b0fb-acc401091f43

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102209...

https://ecomotors.co.uk/vehicle/name/toyota-avensi...

Are any of these a good choice? Any other recommendations?

Edited by Emmyjo on Thursday 22 April 17:36

[Roboticarm]

On first look I was going to say the Vectra (insignia) as it's the only petrol on your list, however the 1.8 doesn't suit the car...feels very under powered

[Mammasaid]

What mileage do you do a year, and is it loads of short journeys or more longer ones?

If you're doing over 12/15k a diesel wouldn't be out of the question.

[Emmyjo]

Mammasaid said:

What mileage do you do a year, and is it loads of short journeys or more longer ones?

If you're doing over 12/15k a diesel wouldn't be out of the question.

Probably 15k a year, maybe a little more

Went to look round the garages and found this. Would it be worth finding the extra? It sounded perfect, but you have convinced me it isn’t

https://www.dandccarsales.co.uk/vehicle/bmw-320d-se-business-edition-touring-in-crewe-cheshire-d862f16e-4462-45b7-8a28-aced012703bb

Edited by Emmyjo on Thursday 22 April 17:42

[Emmyjo]

Roboticarm said:

On first look I was going to say the Vectra (insignia) as it's the only petrol on your list, however the 1.8 doesn't suit the car...feels very under powered

Brilliant, thanks for the advice.

I’ve now seen this, is it worth stretching the budget?

https://www.dandccarsales.co.uk/vehicle/bmw-320d-s...

[Mammasaid]

For 15k, you'll be ok with diesel, how about another Mégane, it's half the age of the BMW, zero road tax and up to 70mpg

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102259...

Edited by Mammasaid on Wednesday 21st April 20:34

[ZX10R NIN]

Firstly if you want a reliable diesel don't go for the BMW as that engine has a deserved reputation for timing chain issues.

Now with all diesels I'd be sticking to servicing them every 10k & do an oil flush every third service it'll help keeping the car running for longer.

I'd say the Vauxhall's are a good pick you'll get a newish car with sensible miles:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103240...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...

SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104131...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102269...

If you're happy to go to 5k then the Insignia is the better buy in terms what you get for your money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104010...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101117...

The other good buy is the DS5 is a great option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102289...

If you want to stay closer to your 4k budget then the DS4 is a good alternative to the Astra:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...

[ChrisH72]

I'd add the Toyota Avensis 2.0 diesel estate to the list.

Pretty solid and reliable.

[Emmyjo]

ZX10R NIN said:

Firstly if you want a reliable diesel don't go for the BMW as that engine has a deserved reputation for timing chain issues.

Now with all diesels I'd be sticking to servicing them every 10k & do an oil flush every third service it'll help keeping the car running for longer.

I'd say the Vauxhall's are a good pick you'll get a newish car with sensible miles:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103240...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...

SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104131...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102269...

If you're happy to go to 5k then the Insignia is the better buy in terms what you get for your money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104010...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101117...

The other good buy is the DS5 is a great option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102289...

If you want to stay closer to your 4k budget then the DS4 is a good alternative to the Astra:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...

Some nice options, thank you. My problem is I want something fast with all the gadgets, but that’s reliable and cheap.
I quite like something quirky ( I drove a rodius ) so the DS5 is very appealing. But some of the Vauxhall’s appeal too.

[Joebristolgym]

I had a DS5 a few years back - a 2 litre diesel with DSport spec I think it was. It’s a really nice comfortable car to drive and the 2 litre diesel was quiet and smooth (I’d had a pd engined Seat Leon before which was clattery and I’ve got a Jaguar XE 2 litre diesel currently and that’s also noisier than the DS5 was) and it was reasonably brisk to drive. The chassis isn’t hugely involving but it’s competent I’d say. The Jag is way better when you want to enjoy some enthusiastic driving.

If they’d done the 1.6 turbo petrol with an auto gearbox I’d probably consider another DS5 again.

Just make sure you check all the electrics if you go DS5 - especially the door handles. I found a couple of mine went on the blink but were luckily covered by warranty.

[Fore Left]

Emmyjo said:

Some nice options, thank you. My problem is I want something fast with all the gadgets, but that’s reliable and cheap.
I quite like something quirky ( I drove a rodius ) so the DS5 is very appealing. But some of the Vauxhall’s appeal too.

Fast / Reliable / Cheap - pick any two of the three

[Emmyjo]

Joebristolgym said:

I had a DS5 a few years back - a 2 litre diesel with DSport spec I think it was. It’s a really nice comfortable car to drive and the 2 litre diesel was quiet and smooth (I’d had a pd engined Seat Leon before which was clattery and I’ve got a Jaguar XE 2 litre diesel currently and that’s also noisier than the DS5 was) and it was reasonably brisk to drive. The chassis isn’t hugely involving but it’s competent I’d say. The Jag is way better when you want to enjoy some enthusiastic driving.

If they’d done the 1.6 turbo petrol with an auto gearbox I’d probably consider another DS5 again.

Just make sure you check all the electrics if you go DS5 - especially the door handles. I found a couple of mine went on the blink but were luckily covered by warranty.

The DS5 linked above is a 2litre diesel automatic, does that make a difference?
Are the french not good with electrics?

[Emmyjo]

Fore Left said:

Fast / Reliable / Cheap - pick any two of the three

Now you’ve spoilt a women’s fun

[RizzoTheRat]

You say 15k miles, but also community healthcare. Does that mean you're doing a lot of short journeys rather than a couple of longer ones per day?

A 30 mile commute each way is ideal diesel territory. But spending all day driving for 10 minutes and stopping for half an hour would mean you're spending more time with a cold engine that a hot one, so petrol would likely be a lot better.

[Joebristolgym]

I think the automatic in the ds5 is quite old school in operation - it’ll be fine - but it’s not going to shift like say the 8 speed zf in the Jag or like the dual clutch gearboxes in the VAG cars (VW / Audi / Skoda / Seat).

Probably worth test driving - I love the auto in my car - wouldn’t want to go back to manual unless I could have a play car for the weekend or something.

With the diesels with dpfs on them you do need to have a fairly regular long run for the system to clear itself out. Normally would happen on a motorway or longer a road run.

[Emmyjo]

RizzoTheRat said:

You say 15k miles, but also community healthcare. Does that mean you're doing a lot of short journeys rather than a couple of longer ones per day?

A 30 mile commute each way is ideal diesel territory. But spending all day driving for 10 minutes and stopping for half an hour would mean you're spending more time with a cold engine that a hot one, so petrol would likely be a lot better.

I do approx 15 miles to work, about 15 miles (10 mins ish journeys between visits) during the day, then another 15 miles.

Would a blast up and down the motorway at the weekend be ok?

[RizzoTheRat]

A diesel would be fine doing that, you wouldn't get DPF issues but you also won't get the published mpg figures. I spent a few years doing 9 miles each way (about half and half 30 limits and dual carriageway). My Octavia averaged mid 40's doing that compared to 50ish when I was doing a longer motorway commute.

[Emmyjo]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Definitely not for me then