Sub £10k, reliable, cheap to run (tax/MPG/parts etc)....
Discussion
...for family duties so safe/practical too.
I am trying to think of two options here for me:
1) Something preferably half that budget so that I can save for a TVR S to compliment it; or
2) Something up to that budget but as my only car and therefore needs to be good to drive.
For the first option, I was thinking some sort of mid-petrol engined Focus? Boring and s
t I know, but ticks all the boxes?
For second option, perhaps Seat Leon FR? Parts / Servicing expensive on these?
Obviously diesel would assist MPG but do less than 10k miles a year at the moment so probably not worth the premium.
I am trying to think of two options here for me:
1) Something preferably half that budget so that I can save for a TVR S to compliment it; or
2) Something up to that budget but as my only car and therefore needs to be good to drive.
For the first option, I was thinking some sort of mid-petrol engined Focus? Boring and s
t I know, but ticks all the boxes?For second option, perhaps Seat Leon FR? Parts / Servicing expensive on these?
Obviously diesel would assist MPG but do less than 10k miles a year at the moment so probably not worth the premium.
Depnds on what you class as cheap tax, insurance etc?
What about an Audi TT? Get one for £6k and should do 30-35mpg?
Or a Golf GT TDi 130BHP?
Depends on how new you want it as well, could get a nice 320D, but it would be older?
New cars a Panda 100HP? Or a 207 GTi (Shameless as I am selling one atm)
Really depends on how cheap and cheerful you want? Worth remembering that a mid range bland box will lose more money than something a bit better over a timw period
What about an Audi TT? Get one for £6k and should do 30-35mpg?
Or a Golf GT TDi 130BHP?
Depends on how new you want it as well, could get a nice 320D, but it would be older?
New cars a Panda 100HP? Or a 207 GTi (Shameless as I am selling one atm)
Really depends on how cheap and cheerful you want? Worth remembering that a mid range bland box will lose more money than something a bit better over a timw period
Cheers, well I don't want anything brand new as I want to avoid the depreciation hit.
I guess I was hoping tax would be less than £150? Low insurance would be good too, basically just slightly above cheap as chips...
...so Audi TT is probably out the question. Golf - expensive parts / servicing?
Mazda 6 is a thought?
I guess I was hoping tax would be less than £150? Low insurance would be good too, basically just slightly above cheap as chips...
...so Audi TT is probably out the question. Golf - expensive parts / servicing?
Mazda 6 is a thought?
My BMW 320d just cost me not much more than that. It's 3 years old, averages about 43mpg, tops around 50-55, plus it handles beautifully, drives nicely, rides well (on 16s with fat profile tyres at least...) and whilst it's not fast, 163bhp and under 1500kg is adequate if you're patient enough and relaxed when driving it. It also has the quietest cabin at 70mph of any car in its class (i.e. A4, C Class etc), and great practicality with a nice low roof for roof rack access, a push button tow bar and other nifty features. It just seems immensley capable at everything I've thrown at it so far, from long distance trips across the country, where it's big and quiet enough to be a very relaxing place to be; to quick trips in the local area, where it's small enough to be easy to manouvre and park, whilst roomy enough inside for everything I've thrown at it so far. My Dad was the car's first owner, and he's not had any bills or warranty recalls at all - I have heard of turbo problems though, so maybe he's just been lucky? Other than the M3, it's my favourite 3 series of the range (and I've driven pretty much all of them), and dare I say it, my favourite four seater currently on sale, bar the M3 that is, or possibly at a stretch the 130i.
I meant newer cars, around the 2007 / 08 mark, A Panda 100HP would be around £5k a 207 GTi around £6k at this age. Tax on both around the £150 mark.
I know a few people with Golf's some very good, some very bad and always in the garage.
Mazda 6 will be a good choice, but will keep losing money and (unless you get one of the powerful ones) just as bland as a Focus?
How big did you need?
BIG: Mondeo ST TDCi?
Medium: Golf GT TDi / 207 GTi / Integra Type R
Small: Mini Cooper S / 100HP
All between £10k and £5k with good residuals
I know a few people with Golf's some very good, some very bad and always in the garage.
Mazda 6 will be a good choice, but will keep losing money and (unless you get one of the powerful ones) just as bland as a Focus?
How big did you need?
BIG: Mondeo ST TDCi?
Medium: Golf GT TDi / 207 GTi / Integra Type R
Small: Mini Cooper S / 100HP
All between £10k and £5k with good residuals
Legend83 said:
...for family duties so safe/practical too.
I am trying to think of two options here for me:
1) Something preferably half that budget so that I can save for a TVR S to compliment it; or
2) Something up to that budget but as my only car and therefore needs to be good to drive.
For the first option, I was thinking some sort of mid-petrol engined Focus? Boring and st I know, but ticks all the boxes?
For second option, perhaps Seat Leon FR? Parts / Servicing expensive on these?
Obviously diesel would assist MPG but do less than 10k miles a year at the moment so probably not worth the premium.
Must the car be recent? If you're not bothered by exciting then how a W124 Merc. Parts are pretty cheap, wheels are modest so tyres are cheap too. If you bought a decent one with the 2.2 petrol you'd see 30mpg+. If you want more economy you could get a diesel.I am trying to think of two options here for me:
1) Something preferably half that budget so that I can save for a TVR S to compliment it; or
2) Something up to that budget but as my only car and therefore needs to be good to drive.
For the first option, I was thinking some sort of mid-petrol engined Focus? Boring and s
t I know, but ticks all the boxes?For second option, perhaps Seat Leon FR? Parts / Servicing expensive on these?
Obviously diesel would assist MPG but do less than 10k miles a year at the moment so probably not worth the premium.
If you're less bothered about mpg get one of the straight sixes. This one is at the upper end of the market http://pistonheads.com/sales/2355685.htm
If you can convince yourself that money saved on the purchase price can go towards petrol costs then this would be on my list for a nice family car - http://pistonheads.com/sales/2436477.htm. More gadgets that you really need. Brilliant engine. Little chance of it breaking. etc
If the running costs are a worry then how about an LPG car? Something like this - http://pistonheads.com/sales/2433828.htm. Find a decent independent garage and even if you spent £1k getting the niggles fixed it'd only owe you £2,500...
Legend83 said:
Hmm, keep going back to BMWs.
Like the idea of a 320d but is it going to cope with short journeys over it's lifetime?
120d also a possibility.
Size needs to be medium to big really.
Mondeo ST220 has also been considered if I could set aside fuel costs as a criteria!
The 1 and 3 series really are in a different league of driving capability and enjoyment to most of the other FWD offerings mentioned here. All I can tell you about the 320d is that mine's at 59,000 miles, and my Dad bought it from new, from which point it's been faultless. I can't speak for all of them. I would have thought it'd be more reliable than a Ford though, most things are Like the idea of a 320d but is it going to cope with short journeys over it's lifetime?
120d also a possibility.
Size needs to be medium to big really.
Mondeo ST220 has also been considered if I could set aside fuel costs as a criteria!
Mind you, a Ford would be cheaper to fix..RobM77 said:
I would have thought it'd be more reliable than a Ford though, most things are
Of course.
In your shoes I would want to get any given focus/leon/octavia and TVR S.
However real world I would probably end up with a 330d. Probably not as much fun as a TVR S but the six is one sweet (ahem, diesel) engine.
330i has a glorious engine also, and will be cheaper to purchase although use more fuel.
If those are too big I look at a 120d.
However real world I would probably end up with a 330d. Probably not as much fun as a TVR S but the six is one sweet (ahem, diesel) engine.
330i has a glorious engine also, and will be cheaper to purchase although use more fuel.
If those are too big I look at a 120d.
frontbum said:
RobM77 said:
I would have thought it'd be more reliable than a Ford though, most things are
Of course.Also, the index takes into account cost of repair. As I said in my post (the bit you cut out...), Fords are cheap to repair when they do go wrong. This is why Porsche are nearly last. Porsches do not go wrong more often than Renaults, Citroens, Fords, Alfa and Rovers - they just don't! They score badly because repairs are very expensive. If a car was unreliable but cheap to repair, it would do just as well as a car that was reliable but expensive to repair, in fact in the case of Porsche vs Ford, cost of repair is obviously worth more!
Edited by RobM77 on Friday 28th January 15:58
Legend83 said:
...for family duties so safe/practical too.
I am trying to think of two options here for me:
1) Something preferably half that budget so that I can save for a TVR S to compliment it; or
2) Something up to that budget but as my only car and therefore needs to be good to drive.
For the first option, I was thinking some sort of mid-petrol engined Focus? Boring and st I know, but ticks all the boxes?
For second option, perhaps Seat Leon FR? Parts / Servicing expensive on these?
Obviously diesel would assist MPG but do less than 10k miles a year at the moment so probably not worth the premium.
Do cost is an issue yet you want to spend £10k????I am trying to think of two options here for me:
1) Something preferably half that budget so that I can save for a TVR S to compliment it; or
2) Something up to that budget but as my only car and therefore needs to be good to drive.
For the first option, I was thinking some sort of mid-petrol engined Focus? Boring and s
t I know, but ticks all the boxes?For second option, perhaps Seat Leon FR? Parts / Servicing expensive on these?
Obviously diesel would assist MPG but do less than 10k miles a year at the moment so probably not worth the premium.
How about spending £1500-2500 on a used Mondeo/Vectra/Golf/ZT/insert any car make Has to be a cheaper option than almost any £10k family car.
300bhp/ton said:
Do cost is an issue yet you want to spend £10k????
How about spending £1500-2500 on a used Mondeo/Vectra/Golf/ZT/insert any car make Has to be a cheaper option than almost any £10k family car.
Sub, Matt. Sub!How about spending £1500-2500 on a used Mondeo/Vectra/Golf/ZT/insert any car make Has to be a cheaper option than almost any £10k family car.
I am very open to spending as little as possible BUT I want something that is a good drive.
The TVR plan is a bit pie in the sky as I need to secure a garage before I can do anything about it! There are some rentals down the road from me but can't quite justify it at the moment as using all spare cash to pay down the mortgage.
Legend83 said:
Sub, Matt. Sub!
I am very open to spending as little as possible BUT I want something that is a good drive.
The TVR plan is a bit pie in the sky as I need to secure a garage before I can do anything about it! There are some rentals down the road from me but can't quite justify it at the moment as using all spare cash to pay down the mortgage.
A good drive can be had for anything above £1500 to £2000; what you get by paying more is a newer car that will cost you less to run and is perhaps quieter. If you want a good drive, by all means test the Focuses, Mondeos, Vectras and Golfs being suggested here, but I really don't think they'll offer what you're after.I am very open to spending as little as possible BUT I want something that is a good drive.
The TVR plan is a bit pie in the sky as I need to secure a garage before I can do anything about it! There are some rentals down the road from me but can't quite justify it at the moment as using all spare cash to pay down the mortgage.
Legend83 said:
Sub, Matt. Sub!
I am very open to spending as little as possible BUT I want something that is a good drive.
The TVR plan is a bit pie in the sky as I need to secure a garage before I can do anything about it! There are some rentals down the road from me but can't quite justify it at the moment as using all spare cash to pay down the mortgage.
How about a £2-3 Subaru, either a 2.0 Wagon, Forrester or Legacy. All good hacks and handle as well as the turbo variants, but a bit lighter on the wallet and you'll get a tidy car for the money.I am very open to spending as little as possible BUT I want something that is a good drive.
The TVR plan is a bit pie in the sky as I need to secure a garage before I can do anything about it! There are some rentals down the road from me but can't quite justify it at the moment as using all spare cash to pay down the mortgage.
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