[Archived] New Car!

[Hannah]

I am currently running my Peugeot 206 into the ground. It is an 06 reg and I have done 82,000 miles (A combination of a long daily drive to work and lots of trips up the M6)After talking to a range of people I have realised that this next MOT is going to cost me a small fortune and the random noises that it is making isn't great! I don't want an unreliable car and I don't want to end up shelling more and more money patching it up so I have decided to get myself a new car (All the previous passage is actually probably irrelevant!) so I just wanted some advice!

I do roughly 30 miles a day combined with several 250 mile trips a month up north - Would this make it worthwhile me getting a diesel?

I want a small car - someone told me that getting a car with a larger engine would use less fuel as I go along motorways and duel carriage ways for most of my journeys - is this the case?

Currently I am looking at the vauxhall corsa, seat ibiza and the renault clio. I have to say I loved my first corsa and didn't have half the problems I have had with my 206!

Any advice would be appreciated!

[Cheeky Sidders]

Mrs Sidders has a Mazda 2 and she loves it. It's small but not tiny, not bad for fuel, looks pretty stylish and can go like a rocket on the motorway.

[Sandiway Blue]

I fully recommend the suzuki swift,ideal for what you need.easily get 60+ miles to the gallon,£35 a year road tax and cheap to insure.the engine performs at 94BHP and cruises at 90MPH on a motorway if needed,good road handling and very comfortable and nippy around town too.

I spent ages last year trawling internet sites like `what car` and in terms of everything we wanted out of a car,it wiped the floor with the opposition.If you haggle with the salesman you should easily get a SZ2 model for less than £10,000.

Good luck with your search!

[Paul]

Mrs Paul has a Fiat 500 Pop and loves it, the only car in 32 years which she has ever shown any interest in - apart from a very flash Saab we couldn't afford!!

It is a great little car, stylish, cheap to run, £35 tax, fun to drive, insurance is for nothing. Might not be too comfy on long motorway trips but work and round town would be excellent.

On the diesel question I think the savings are questionable. Diesel is about 5-6p more per litre and when you fill up is when you notice, not some theoretical calculation on MPG. I have a Peugeot 3008, 1.6 diesel, great car, which averages 47mpg if that helps on the bigger engine / less fuel thing. This is with a very modern diesel engine.

I looked at hybrids and was impressed by Toyota, not cheap to buy but the running costs were good.

BTW consider contract hire. Late last year Peugeot were offering deals so cheap we decided against buying and opted for contract hire. I got top of the range, 30,000 miles pa, full maintenance, tyres for under £390 pm. Granted it's business but we were only getting one vehicle.

[thenodrog]

VAG are usually the best cars. VW and Audi are a bit pricey so if you want cheap VAG look at the Skoda Fabia / Octavia. Silly fuel consumption figures of 83mpg for the Fabia Greenline with stop start technology (although these are done for all makes under special conditions on a rolling road). Not the most eye candy but significantly Skoda will pay the VAT until Mar 31.

Whichever car you choose do do as Paul suggests and consider contract hire. There are some amazing deals to be had.

BTW consider contract hire. Late last year Peugeot were offering deals so cheap we decided against buying and opted for contract hire. I got top of the range, 30,000 miles pa, full maintenance, tyres for under £390 pm. Granted it's business but we were only getting one vehicle.

My work colleague is taking delivery of a brand new 2.0 Audi Quattro for the same price in April Paul. (3 years / 28k) and no tyres included but it makes actually buying cars outright redundant.

[Ste B]

it makes actually buying cars outright redundant.

Not exactly, but certainly don't buy a brand new car from a dealer. Get a nearly new one from the likes of Motorpoint and save a hefty chunk.

Try looking at some of the cars that offer 5 year warranty and high mileage. I think the newer Corsas are covered.

[adopted scouser]

I got a Vectra from Arnold Clark's in Stretford for around £7k. Alloys, air con, cruise control, just two years old and still under warranty. Bargain. These days I'd rather have a big lump of engineering around me and mine than a little fiat or a Suzuki.

There are too many 'car movers' not drivers on the roads these days.

[DP]

Yep. Contract hire has its place but if you have the cash and don't need finance, a 1-2 year old 2nd hand motor will still be cheaper.

[thenodrog]

I got a Vectra from Arnold Clark's in Stretford for around £7k. Alloys, air con, cruise control, just two years old and still under warranty. Bargain. These days I'd rather have a big lump of engineering around me and mine than a little fiat or a Suzuki.

There are too many 'car movers' not drivers on the roads these days.

Me too Nick.... personally I think it's an age issue.

Yep. Contract hire has its place but if you have the cash and don't need finance, a 1-2 year old 2nd hand motor will still be cheaper.

Possibly but for a girl in a steady job the new car every 3/3 years, no MoT, no costly repairs and no worries of contract hire does suit. My daughter who couldn't even lift the bonnet is happily running a mid range iMusic Clio for less than £130 per month and no worries. Blokes often hold different viewpoints.

[Paul]

My work colleague is taking delivery of a brand new 2.0 Audi Quattro for the same price in April Paul. (3 years / 28k) and no tyres included but it makes actually buying cars outright redundant.

Problem I had there was Audi was better than my boss drives!

[gumboots]

I got a Citroen C1 in September and love it. It depends what you want but I paid no road tax this year and all services are included in what I pay. Good on fuel in a real situation i.e. driving to and from work - about 25 miles a day. So far it's caused me no problems.

[bazza]

I've had Honda and Toyota after years of Fords, Peugeot and the like.

Buy Japanese and the risk of breakdown and parts wearing out is drastically reduced. Toyota and Honda are unbelievably reliable.

Go on, Hannah.............get yourself a 12-month-old Yaris. Don't buy new!

[gumboots]

I've had Honda and Toyota after years of Fords, Peugeot and the like.

Buy Japanese and the risk of breakdown and parts wearing out is drastically reduced. Toyota and Honda are unbelievably reliable.

Go on, Hannah.............get yourself a 12-month-old Yaris. Don't buy new!

Bet yours didn't come in blue with white wing mirrors though - mine did!

[Hannah]

Thanks for all your advice! I know what everyone says about not buying new but I think what Paul and thenodrog said about the contract thing is what I did last time but I paid it off at the end!

I am a girly girl when it comes to cars and over past 2 years had nothing but trouble with garages when anything goes wrong! I dont have a clue what they are talking about and don't want the hassle! My dad has to fill windscreen washers up for me!!! So the idea of a new car every three years works for me!!!

I don't like the yaris! My friend has one and swears by it though! Like the look of the Mazda 2! Off to test drive my favorite looking ones at the weekend. The only thing I know for sure is that I want a red one!

What is VAG and why would you buy a car with no tyres?????

[Paul]

Hannah - VAG stands for Volkswagen Audi Group, they own / make Volkswagens, Audis, Skoda and Seat cars plus a host of others. These days Skoda, in particular, are basically cheap VWs and said to be very good if a bit basic.

When theno says no tyres he means the tyres are not included in the contract hire. My contract includes replacement tyres, his friend's doesn't. It's man stuff!!!!

[thenodrog]

Hannah - VAG stands for Volkswagen Audi Group, they own / make Volkswagens, Audis, Skoda and Seat cars plus a host of others. These days Skoda, in particular, are basically cheap VWs and said to be very good if a bit basic.

When theno says no tyres he means the tyres are not included in the contract hire. My contract includes replacement tyres, his friend's doesn't. It's man stuff!!!!

Very good explanation Paul. Thats the difference between you and I, I'd just have posted one of these....

[Al]

I've had Honda and Toyota after years of Fords, Peugeot and the like.

Buy Japanese and the risk of breakdown and parts wearing out is drastically reduced. Toyota and Honda are unbelievably reliable.

Go on, Hannah.............get yourself a 12-month-old Yaris. Don't buy new!

I have had two Toyotas and all I have paid for apart from services is new tyres and brake pads. They are fantastically reliable and the nearest to British made as you can get these days. Buy 'Japanese' and you won't go far wrong.

[Sparky Marky]

Thanks for all your advice! I know what everyone says about not buying new but I think what Paul and thenodrog said about the contract thing is what I did last time but I paid it off at the end!

I am a girly girl when it comes to cars and over past 2 years had nothing but trouble with garages when anything goes wrong! I dont have a clue what they are talking about and don't want the hassle! My dad has to fill windscreen washers up for me!!! So the idea of a new car every three years works for me!!!

I don't like the yaris! My friend has one and swears by it though! Like the look of the Mazda 2! Off to test drive my favorite looking ones at the weekend. The only thing I know for sure is that I want a red one!

What is VAG and why would you buy a car with no tyres?????

Hi Hannah...I am a car finance broker who specialises in leasing/contract hire etc....you can PM or email me at mark@lancashireleasing.co.uk. I'd be pleased to help.

[Ste B]

Thanks for all your advice! I know what everyone says about not buying new but I think what Paul and thenodrog said about the contract thing is what I did last time but I paid it off at the end!

I am a girly girl when it comes to cars and over past 2 years had nothing but trouble with garages when anything goes wrong! I dont have a clue what they are talking about and don't want the hassle! My dad has to fill windscreen washers up for me!!! So the idea of a new car every three years works for me!!!

I don't like the yaris! My friend has one and swears by it though! Like the look of the Mazda 2! Off to test drive my favorite looking ones at the weekend. The only thing I know for sure is that I want a red one!

What is VAG and why would you buy a car with no tyres?????

If you want advice on Girly cars I suggest you PM Ricky

[Hannah]

I can't have a skoda!!!!!

[thenodrog]

I can't have a skoda!!!!!

Hannah they are cool now on the 'drog scale' of coolness. I'd have had one in December except they had a 5 month waiting list! Ended up with a Subaru Outback instead..... I just hope nothing breaks for a while given the possible problems with spare parts.

Mercs, BMW's and Audi's are only desired by flash gits, pushy upwardly mobiles who know the cost of everything and the value of nowt and young taxi drivers who like to share car ownership between half a dozen of em. Uncool and turning to cold in this neck of the woods.

[Sparky Marky]

I think that an Audi A1 would suit you.... low insurance, great looks and the undoubted quality drive that you get with Audi.

[Hannah]

Tried the corsa today- hated it! Clio- was ok and the Mazda 2- Lurved it!!!!! Been offered really good deal which is significantly less than target price on what car on one of those finance deals that upgrades in 3 years! Going to

Check out another Mazda dealer tomorrow but thinking that's the car for me!!!!!! (oh and can't have it in red so thinking white!!!)

[Paul]

I test drove a Mazda 3 and while it wasn't the car for me it seemed very good value.

Yesterday's Guardian Money had an interesting item on the cost of car ownership. http://m.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/mar/26/motoring-driving-down-cost?cat=money&type=article

You may now buy a KIA cee'd

[92er]

It might be worth checking Perrys Mazda website for their Brownhill, Blackburn Garage.