Help me choose a car!

[Siddalee]

In a few months time. I start a new job! Its a big step up in terms of responsibility and salary but also in terms of travel.

I currently work just 4 miles away from where I live but this new job is going to mean travelling between 40-80 miles per day (dependent upon which office I'm in) mainly on the motorway

I currently drive a small '04 diesel car and get through just one tank of fuel per month. I'd like to get a newer car which will be comfortable for longer journeys but want to keep an eye on travel cost

I'm ashamed to say that at the age of 50+, having driven since the age of 17, I've never chosen a car before! My husband has a particular manufacturer he likes, so we've always bought from their range, buying something nearly new and then driving it until we scrap it and then getting another.

But I've put my foot down- I'm having the car I want! However, I'm getting more and more confused the more I look- so please help me out!

Would a fully electric car be a good choice?
Would I be better with a hybrid car? If so what type of hybrid?

What models can you recommend?

I would strongly consider a Mazda CX-5

Right now realistically you are either ordering a new one and waiting a year or more or you are going to the dealerships and choosing from what they have second hand so they're might be little point deciding on a specific car bit instead seeing what there is and choosing between them.

My dh had a CX5, it was awful for sucking fuel. It took by surprise. The previous company car was a Mitsubishi Outlander which wasn’t bad on fuel.

Agreed but not within OPs budget.

Thanks for the replies everyone! Lots to look into there!

I think you're right about not getting from new due to time/delays- but that's why I want an idea of different models.

I know I now sound like my mother - but it's all different now these days 😂Looking on line, it seems if I can choose any car and have it delivered. But its not like shopping for clothes online- where (thanks to klarna and clearpay) I send for about about three different outfits in two different sizes to try before I buy!

This search is also making reflect on the changes in my life.

When I first got married, my husband earned almost three times what I did. He was the one driving up and down the country whilst I was the one driving no more than 5 miles to work.

2 children, 30+ years and an almost breakdown due to stress for my husband- he now works less than a mile from where we live and I earn almost four times his wage (after I start this job it'll be 6 times 😳). Its funny how life pans out isn't it!

Mind, he still tries to choose the car! Not tonight Satan, not tonight!

I strongly think that had mumsnet been around in the early days of our marriage, my foot might have been up my husbands a*se down more often than not.

However, 30 years and a massive growth in confidence for me, means I found my back bone before I found mumsnet! But I still don't know much about cars!

We do have a drive and live in a very quite dead-end road. So charging wouldn't be a problem, except for the inconvenience of having to actually plug it in

I have a Toyota Yaris hybrid and love it.

I've been doing 100 mile daily round trip in my tesla model 3, haven't regretted a single second of it.

In summer it'll do 3 round trips at a push, in winter it'll do 2 with ample to spare. Ignore the comments about having to plug it in every 48 hours... If you get a home charger it becomes second nature to plug in when you get home, a bit like moving from the old Nokia that lasted a week to an iPhone that gets charged every night.

Id definitely go EV, 2 years ago the model 3 was a no brainer, nothing matched it for range or performance and few things did for price. Now the price has increased and there's much more competition. The model 3 and model y lr are both £55k, the ev6 and e Niro are both a bit cheaper, and the BMW i40, volvo xc40 and polestar 2 are similarly priced.

EV database UK has real world mileage and efficiency comparisons, BMW in particular massively overstate the range on the i40.

You sound ace, I love that you're getting a great career and the confidence of being the breadwinner now. Your budget is a lot more than mine, however the things I love about my car are the comfy heated seats, heated steering wheel, quick clear windows and everything at a voice command. It's made my travels so much more comfortable. Go and test drive lots of cars, it may tick all the boxes but has a weird blind spot for your height/doesn't have comfy seats/isn't fast enough (that may be just me!). Good luck with the hunt and your new job.

Thanks for that- especially the bit about regular charging

For a regular commute I'd look at the Renault Zoe - an electric but you'd have to get a charging point installed at home and chasing that up is currently sometimes a problem.

Thanks

If you need more space than a Zoe - which is about the same size as a Ford Fiesta - Renault has a new all-electric Megane coming out in June. It's quite a bit bigger than the Zoe and will do 200 to 300-odd miles on a charge, depending on version.

Personally I'd still be going with diesel in your shoes but since you seem keen on electric and have the facility to install home charging I think EVs could be well worth serious consideration too.

Tesla, loads of miles per charge, lovely and comfortable, loads of gizmos on it. About the top end of your budget.

Thankyou

TBH, I'm not sure if I'm set on an electric. From my very limited understanding, they'd appear to be the more economical option in terms of running costs. But I've only just started thinking about it- that's why I'm after some advice.

Because we usually buy cars and run them into the ground rather than part exchanging, I've also got one eye on the long term plans to phase out diesel/petrol cars.

Cars have always just been something I point in the right direction and hope get me there on a reliable basis. My sons are constantly mocking my car and saying that even in my current job I should have something more "befitting my status" But I've never felt the need or wanted to spend that type of money on a car on a monthly basis, when I could spend it on a holiday save it instead

But, as well as the travelling, this job does bring with it a six figure salary and I suppose I am worrying about whether it'll bring a certain level of judgment regarding my car!

The job was a surprise to me- I love where I am and saw myself staying till I retired. But every now and then an offer comes along which is too good to ignore. I'm now really excited about it and the different demands/experiences it will bring. And because I'm on final salary pension, it'll transform my retirement too!

I just need to sort out the car!

Thanks

For reliability, comfort and space I would highly recommend a VW Tiguan R Line. I am in love with mine, and I'm thinking my next car will just be a newer version.

There is nothing I'd change about it, well if it came with free fuel I'd be happier (diesel, around 50mpg on the motorway)

I smile every time I get in, and I never tire of driving in it. Had various other cars before (Citreon, Peugeot, Fords, Vauxhall) and always felt fatigued after a long journey, but I could drive this one forever.

Is it five days a week or not? If you are only travelling two or three, makes a difference I think, because a few minutes longer journey with a car with less acceleration than others is no hardship.

Toyota hybrids I suggest incidentally.

Anything decent that you can afford but don't let it be more stress than it's worth. Don't give yourself a headache over it and dont beat yourself up over getting the best car you just need to get from point a to point b safely and comfortably

I've recently got a new 22 plate Kia Sportage Hybrid. Costs the lower end of your budget. Can't fault it at all.

I'm expecting it to be 5 days per week, with some flexibility.

Thanks

I guess I just want to prove I can pick a car by myself IFYSIM