Help! I have to buy a car. Please tell me if you love / hate your car.

[Wasgijenaj]

Hi, my old car has finally gone to the junk yard in the sky & I have to replace it. I think I need to get an approved used car, but really not sure where to start.

Can anyone recommend their car make & model & let me know why they like it?

Alternatively has anyone bought a car they hate? Please share so I can avoid if appropriate.

I don’t really have a wish list for a new car but obviously reliability is v important. Thanks!

I love my Skoda Octavia estate automatic. Can get so much in it. Easy to drive. Lovely car

Well it might help if you are a bit clearer on what you need from it? Space or just a runaround? Diesel/petrol/electric? Approx budget.

I mean, I'd love an Aston but sadly my budget is more Ford Focus.

VW polo, absolutely love it!

I asked a few mechanics and they always suggested seats / Vw and we haven’t had any issues to date.

Love: any of the Toyotas or Fords I drove before I bought my latest Kia. The Fords' self-defrosting windscreen was amazing in the winter.

I now have a Kia. It took some getting used to but I love it now.

Hate: the stupid Mazda courtesy car with no door pillar I get given when the Kia goes in for a service. It works as long as you don't actually want to park in a car park ever. Then the doors won't let your back seat passengers out and they have to climb through the gap between the front seats like ninja yogis. Good luck if you need to unstrap a toddler or take out a baby seat!

If you live anywhere where the roads are anything other than a premium German superhighway (ie the average British country pothole held together with shards of tarmac road) DO NOT BUY ANYTHING LOW PROFILE OR WITH ALLOY WHEELS.

unless you've got so much money you can afford to constantly replace tyres and wheels. I will never, ever buy another low profile car. BMW and Mercedes are notorious for wheel issues, the tyre places must love it.

also avoid anything premium unless you've got a pile of money to sink into servicing and repairing faults which can almost always only be repaired by the main dealer as the fault can only be identified with their special reader at £250 a time before you've even paid for the work needed.. 😭 yes Mercedes I'm looking at you.

so basically buy an old, analogue car with nothing fancy or unique and make sure your local decent mechanic can fix the blasted thing.

I have a Skoda Kodiaq and I would not recommend a Skoda. It’s a bit shite. Dh and I are constantly joking that we just wish someone would steal it.

I used to have a crappy old Volvo v70 that I loved. It was ancient but really well made. If money was no object, I would absolutely buy another Volvo (unfortunately, it is, which is how I ended up with the Skoda 😂).

Thanks @greenwoodentablelegs & @WorriedMillie

@Ilovemyshed I know, you’re absolutely right but really I just want a reliable average sized car - although have also thought maybe I should go for a little Fiat / Smart car for cheap tax / insurance etc. So really unsure & would be interested to hear about any car that anyone really loves / hates 😊

Love my Tesla, they do so much more than any other car I’ve ever had. Go and test drive one, and get them to show all of the tech! I was blown away.

It also makes fart noises on demand or when you indicate which my boys find hilarious (you can choose to turn this on or off I should add).

I've never met a Renault that didn't have water ingress issues. From all directions, although not usually all at the same time.

Agreed about the Ford heated windscreen, that's great, but I imagine they're expensive to replace.

Apart from totally impractical Audi TTs and a Mazda MX5, my favourite car was a Skoda Karoq. Very comfortable, massive boot, nice high driving position, generally a well appointed car.

Didn't like the Nissan Qashqai, but that was a lot to do with the garage, who were poor. Not mad about the Mazda CX-30 either.

I have a Kia Sportage. I like it- they have a 7 year warranty which is handy. It's got a huge boot and loads of room in the back. Nice and high up with comfy suspension. It's a nice colour and easy to park.

I love my Toyota Aygo. Why? It's highlighter yellow, my fave colour. 5 years warranty, top of the range everything. Fully paid for ( 2016) free road tax, £179 to insure for the year. £40 ISH to fill up and never cost a penny in maintenance

Second hand Honda jazz. I had one for a few years. Economical in every way. They are seriously uncool in this country so cheap.

Had a Toyota Yaris in the past - lovely little car.

Currently gave a VW t-roc- feels well made and has a good viewing position.

I always want to ask yellow car owners whether they're sadists who like the thought of people punching eachother as they drive past.

VW Golf, current one is a mild hybrid automatic. I dislike driving anything else!

Honda Jazz here. It is cheap to run, easy to drive and park. It is the latest in a dynasty of long-lived and we’ll-loved Jazzes

I really like Honda. Jazz or if you want bigger, a CRV. Reliable, fuel efficient and comfortable. They're not the most exciting cars but I've driven both as pool cars and love them.

Small car wise I loved my Suzuki swift and I'm eyeing up one for my next car. Currently driving a Citroen Picasso- up to 120k miles and only major work has been a new clutch at 97k!

I wouldn't fancy a Smart car or suchlike due to safety. I imagine you'd come out of a front collision badly as the bonnets are so tiny.
I had a Fiat Punto years ago. Worst car ever. I also recently replaced a Focus heated windscreen, £120 .

Hondas. Jazzes never die. Not exactly cool but just keep going. I asked my garage which cars they never see and they said Hondas and Toyota Aygo and Yaris.

Why does the Tesla make a fart noise? Is that Musk's "sense of humour"?

I actually really liked the little Seat Mii I had before my current, expensive-to-repair but admittedly beautiful prima donna. Reliable, inexpensive and nippy plus easily and economically repaired.

and don't get a Mercedes CLA even if someone gives it to you, so far mine has cost £5k in repairs, wheels and tyres in 2 years not including servicing.

I have a Mini Cooper. Hands down best car I've ever driven ever. I love it!!

When I was just me and no need to carry much stuff, rarely had more than one passenger, I loved my little nippy Fiat 500. Easy to drive, easy to park.

Now I have a baby and all his accessories I have a Vauxhall Mokka and love that too. All the space we need and comfortable. My Grandad swore by Vauxhalls, never had another make of car that I remember. Coincidentally we found the one we bought when we had the baby on what would have been my Grandad's birthday. Serendipitous!