New Car Help

[marknotgeorge]

I'm very fond of my Skoda Fabia VRS estate. Octavia might be better size wise

I've had three adults, a roadbike and luggage in mine going a couple of hundred miles

My Renault Clio estate is of similar size, and I'm happy with it. Mine's a 1.5 dCi - similar to FabFoodie's Dacia. Will happily cruise at 70 all day, has plenty of low end grunt for urban driving and averages over 50mpg workout trying.

 

[vickster]

My Skoda is a 1.4 petrol with turbo and supercharger....it's quick and surprisingly economical

 

[swee'pea99]

I'm sure it's been said (haven't read the whole thread) but 'treating yourself to a new car' is bonkers. Six weeks after you've bought it, it will no longer be a new car, but a newish car that's worth £4000 less than you paid for it. Depreciation for new cars is jaw-dropping. If you want to treat yourself, why not? But treat yourself to something two years old, then for the next five years you'll have a car that's no 'older' than the new one you'd otherwise have bought (in any meaningful sense). The only difference will be that it will be a much better car. For years and years after that 'new car smell' has become but a distant memory, you'll know you could have spent all those years driving a Golf rather than a Polo, or a Passat rather than a Golf. Or a VW rather than a Hyundai. Oh, and I'm sure it's been mentioned, but whatever you decide to do, HonestJohn is your friend.

 

[vickster]

I'm sure it's been said (haven't read the whole thread) but 'treating yourself to a new car' is bonkers. Six weeks after you've bought it, it will no longer be a new car, but a newish car that's worth £4000 less than you paid for it. Depreciation for new cars is jaw-dropping. If you want to treat yourself, why not? But treat yourself to something two years old, then for the next five years you'll have a car that's no 'older' than the new one you'd otherwise have bought (in any meaningful sense). The only difference will be that it will be a much better car. For years and years after that 'new car smell' has become but a distant memory, you'll know you could have spent all those years driving a Golf rather than a Polo, or a Passat rather than a Golf. Or a VW rather than a Hyundai. Oh, and I'm sure it's been mentioned, but whatever you decide to do, HonestJohn is your friend.

Mine was an ex Skoda manager car, it was under a year old with under 4K on the clock, list was around 18k, I paid around 12k! 2.5 years on, now around 14k on the clock, similar advertised on auto trader around 10k

I don't think the op will get many or any of the cars suggested new for their budget of 10k, few decent sized new cars are under that nowadays

 

[Profpointy]

I wouldn't worry unduly about the exact make / model, but go for whatever's available & good value meeting your needs.

Best value in my opinion are older "executive" cars - in my case a 10 year old Saab for a princely £2500. I've done 50,000 miles in it in 5 years of ownership. No doubt the original 2 or 3 owners dropped £30k depreciation between them for the first 70,000 miles.

I value "nice to drive" as one of the most important characteristics of a car - obviously it has to be basically reliable, and there's a value / running costs question too. This isn't the same as comfort or poshness, but does included handling and steering precision and the like. Some quite ordinary cars are "nice to drive" by my criterion - my Saab 95 (quite posh) but also Pug 205 or my mate's mum's 1970s Simca. Conversly I thought a (then brand new) BMW 3 series was quite poor to drive.

Modern diesels, though good in many ways, can end up with big bills - so unless you are doing a big mileage may not be a good thing, especially as they are dearer and typically higher mileage in the first place.

Cars packed with gadgets can be dodgy, unless Japanese and (just maybe) German - conversely of course, older executive Citroens or Pugs can be the price of a meal out - so not a disaster if they pack in.

Anyhow - do a bit of a read up to avoid obvious duds, then buy whatever is good value and good nick on the day rather than be after a specif model

 

[Drago]

I'm with Pointy. I'm quite happy to.spend £2k on Fourbies that cost up to £30k new run them 3-5 year and move on. I get the leather, proper four wheel drive, all the toys, but some other bugger gets to pay the biggest bill. Unless I was obscenely rich I would never pay more than £2500 for a mere car.

 

[Bromptonaut]

HAs anybody suggested a Citroen Berlingo or Peugeot Partner yet?

 

[Drago]

Only Postman Pat.

 

[Julia9054]

I'm sure it's been said (haven't read the whole thread) but 'treating yourself to a new car' is bonkers. Six weeks after you've bought it, it will no longer be a new car, but a newish car that's worth £4000 less than you paid for it. Depreciation for new cars is jaw-dropping. If you want to treat yourself, why not? But treat yourself to something two years old, then for the next five years you'll have a car that's no 'older' than the new one you'd otherwise have bought (in any meaningful sense). The only difference will be that it will be a much better car. For years and years after that 'new car smell' has become but a distant memory, you'll know you could have spent all those years driving a Golf rather than a Polo, or a Passat rather than a Golf. Or a VW rather than a Hyundai. Oh, and I'm sure it's been mentioned, but whatever you decide to do, HonestJohn is your friend.

Everything you say is true but my husband has just bought a brand new golf - never had a new car before. The dealership were applying so many discounts to it that is was the same price as the 2 year old version on his forecourt. Still not quite sure whether he has got a good deal or has been had!
Before this car, we have had a couple high mileage Passat estates. Real work horses and there is nothing you cannot get in the back. With the boys leaving/having left home, no need for the giant family car any more.
Currently researching the best way to transport bikes on the new golf if anyone has any ideas.

 

[swee'pea99]

Everything you say is true but my husband has just bought a brand new golf - never had a new car before. The dealership were applying so many discounts to it that is was the same price as the 2 year old version on his forecourt. Still not quite sure whether he has got a good deal or has been had!
Before this car, we have had a couple high mileage Passat estates. Real work horses and there is nothing you cannot get in the back. With the boys leaving/having left home, no need for the giant family car any more.
Currently researching the best way to transport bikes on the new golf if anyone has any ideas.

There's probably never been a better time to buy a new VW!

 

[mybike]

Of course, silly me.

It's a pride of sheep.

Sheep are well known for their pride.

Just a thought. You love your Focus, it's served you well and continues to do so, it meets your needs.... then perhaps a new Focus will do exactly the same for the next 15 years for you. Its a very nice car by any measure.

Or a bigger Focus - C Max etc.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Skoda octavia estate. Reliable, strong, we fit 4 greyhounds in the boot with the seats out no problem. Also I rigged up a roof rack bike holder onto a couple of bits of wood and the bike sits in the boot solid as a rock rather than having it exposed and unlocked on the outside

Yes, plus 1, for an Octavia estate
I've got a ('11 plate') 1.6Tdi, bought it at 7 months old (March 2012), with roughly 7,000 miles showing (& roughly £6,800 off new price)
Now it's on 92,500miles & going great guns!

Mine its day of purchase


Its usual 'colour'



Average MPG, on a trip to East Midlands Airport!!!





Would I buy another one???
Well, I'd be standing at the main-dealers, waiting for them to open in the morning, if SWMBO said "Yes"
However, next time I want the 2.0Tdi (140BHP/6-speed 'box) 4x4 derivative

Juke and Kumquash are lifestyle statements. You need a practical estate. The Skoda is an excellent suggestion because it's just a less pricey VW in a different body. My cycling buddy has a Superb estate and in the back seat you need a loud-hailer to talk to the people in the front, they are so far away.

Yes, one of our Consultants has a Superb estate, he's 6'5" & can easily sit in the rear-seat, with leg-room, with the drivers seat set for him

A colleague of mine has an Insignia Estate and is a keen cyclist also, he loves his!
Thanks again

An appalling boot-size, for an estate though, & rear visibility is atrocious
We looked at one before buying the Octavia

 

[Matt1705]

I haven't read all 6 pages of the thread but I can recommend an octavia estate. Probably my favourite car I've owned, practical and surprisingly economical for a big car .

 

[bozmandb9]

Skids Yeti. End of.

 

[Drago]

I towed a stuck Yeti out of the mud a few weeks back.