What boring car out of these you would recommend?

[Fade_Away]

Hi PHERs another boring what car question. Budget is around 10K

1- SEAT Leon
2- Mazda 3
3- Toyota Auris,

Which is more comfortable and better to drive along with good reliability. In addition, in Toyota would you recommend 1.2 Turbo or 1.6 NA engine. I am looking for decent fuel economy as well.

[Heaveho]

I can only reply with any direct knowledge of the Toyota. It'll be reliable, almost certainly more so than the other two.

[SwanJack]

Heaveho said:

I can only reply with any direct knowledge of the Toyota. It'll be reliable, almost certainly more so than the other two.

How can you say that with only direct knowledge of one of the three.......

[ChrisH72]

I don't think they're boring cars (well not all of them).

Without having driven them, but having read plenty of reviews, I'd say the Toyota will almost certainly be the most boring of them to drive and own. The Seat and Mazda seem like great cars and if you're looking at petrol it possibly comes down to whether you prefer turbo or NA power delivery.

The Leon 1.4 tsi FR was always said to be a great car to drive.

The Mazda 3 2.0 sky active also receives a lot of praise.

Of the two I'd probably go for the Leon as its a sharp looking thing.

[stevemcs]

They are all dull, so on that basis go for the one that will cost the least amount to run. That will be the Toyota

[Terzo123]

My wife has been running a Seat Leon Fr with the 1.4 ACT engine for the past 5 or 6 years.

20 or 30 quid a year to tax, 150 bhp, Good fuel economy, especially on a run. Id happily recommend one.

[Glosphil]

I've owned a 2018 Leon 1.4TSi (150) DSG for 4 years. I like it. Adequate performance, particularly the low down torque, & averaging 45+mpg with lots of short journeys. 52mpg on longer motorway or A road runs.

Interior trim not up to Audi or VW standard but adequate & minor controls are same as Audi. I prefer the Leon's styling to both.

[Aunty Pasty]

The Toyota will be double boring. It'll probably have a CVT gearbox but will be reliable.
The Seat will be a good bet. If it's a DSG auto you'll probably need to service it every 40k at about £200 a time given the probably vintage that you're looking at.
The Mazda will probably also be a good bet. I think Mazda car driving dynamics are generally pretty good from my previous experience. However their paint isn't the best and easily chipped if you care about that sort of thing.

[Truckosaurus]

ChrisH72 said:

...

The Mazda 3 2.0 sky active also receives a lot of praise....

Also, they can be un-detuned to the 160bhp that the MX5 and later model of 3 have quite easily.

Plus Carplay/AndroidAuto can be retrofitted cheaply.

[Fade_Away]

Thanks all for all useful feedback

My understanding from above is reliability wise

1- Toyota Auris
2- Mazda 3
3- SEAT Leon

For fun and styling its Leon or Mazda 3.

Can you please share their experience/feedback with Leon and Mazda 3, which is cheap to maintain and availability of parts ?

Thanks

Edited by Fade_Away on Monday 4th September 19:14

[stevemcs]

Aunty Pasty said:

The Toyota will be double boring. It'll probably have a CVT gearbox but will be reliable.
The Seat will be a good bet. If it's a DSG auto you'll probably need to service it every 40k at about £200 a time given the probably vintage that you're looking at.
The Mazda will probably also be a good bet. I think Mazda car driving dynamics are generally pretty good from my previous experience. However their paint isn't the best and easily chipped if you care about that sort of thing.

I thought it was the dry clutch box in these so no oil changes, just the wait for it to mess itself.

[Pica-Pica]

Fade_Away said:

Thanks all for all useful feedback

My understand from above is reliability wise

1- Toyota Auris
2- Mazda 3
3- SEAT Leon

For Fun and styling its Leon and Mazda 3.

Can any share their experience/feedback with Leon and Mazda 3, which is cheap to maintain and availability of parts ?

Thanks

For easy availability of parts, I would say the Seat.

[Terzo123]

Ours is a manual Leon.

Been cheap as chips to run over the past 6 years.

Same 1.4 ACT engine thats used in various car, such as Golf, A3 and various Skodas.

No issues that im aware of. Timing belt doesnt need changed for till well over 100k or 10 years.

Ours is on 60k