AIBU to want a decent car to drive? (what do you drive?)

[Honeybooboo123]

so, my old car is getting a bit knackered and it's a three door which has always been a bit of a hassle with 2 kids.

We have a estate as well, which either DH drives or I drive on my day off as bigger for shopping etc. We also have a sports car which is DH's and not practical for more than a handbag and wedging kids in the tiny back seats. I haven't driven it yet.

Anyway, I think I need a new car. I don't want anything big, but 5 doors, can handle a motorway and a little bit zippy.

Any recommendations? Budget - not huge, maybe up to £10-12k, used fine.

DH thinks I should keep driving the old banger, but the seats don't even go forwards or back anymore...

Get a fast Focus. Great fun and exactly what you're after. Much better than VAG alternatives on the whole and especially within your budget.

YANBU OP - I'm in a similar situation. My 2004 Ford Focus is battered (we've had a succession of au pairs who are responsible for the vast majority of dents and divots) but DH refuses to consider getting a new one until our business turns around, and I don't have the money myself to do it.

I'm intrigued by the comments comparing Skoda to VW. Will bear it in mind when/if my time to look for new cars comes.

Volvo v60 - V40 if you wanted something smaller.

Brilliant drive, fast, roomy lots of little extras which you wouldn’t think about but now don’t know what I’d do without

Second hand low mileage Skodas are amazing value. If you look at mileage not year you can often find ones that have been gently used by older or retired people. I bought a Fabia for DS from a chap going into a care home, 7 year old car but low mileage and well maintained. He just had to get past the lovely metallic beige paint.Fabias are economical, Yetis are an acquired taste, I like them, lots don’t and Octavias offer a huge choice. If you find a cheap Superb estate it is like a limo inside in terms of room, enormous and rather nice.

Nissan Qashqai or Nissan Juke, both great cars, reliable and come with lots of extras as standard. Plus a great elevated driving position. If you don't need anything too big what about a Fiat 500L?

Meant to say, second hand Fabia was half the cost of the equivalent Polo.

I've got a Mazda 3 sport. It's 5 doors and can easily fit both kids in car seats. Liads of room in boot for shopping etc. Nice on motorway too and fast enough to pull in/out when busy. It's a good spec and you get quite a bit for your money. Only downside is it's not very economical on fuel.

I have a Skoda yeti and it's brilliant. Highly recommended.

Came on to say Toyota Aygo but saw you've already mentioned it! I love mine, it's small but not tiny! I have a 5 door can comfortably fit 4 adults, or 3 adults a car seat and a buggy!

We have a Renault kadjar,very pleased with it so far.

My VW Golf, bought in similar circs, is lovely!

Mazda 3 (1.6) 2008. Looks great and drives great as well. Much nicer than any French car or Vauxhall.

am tempted by a Mazda. Had a Fiat 500 on holiday once and it was broken into within seconds, which rather put me off... cute looking cars though

Not sure about Skodas, used to have a lada once!!!

I have a BMW. If you can find a relatively low mileage one in your budget that's what I would go for. Mine is ancient but still feels like a new car to drive. Otherwise, a VW Golf would be a good option.

We have a skoda yeti and before this had a skoda roomster. Good value and reliable and plenty of boot space

Aygos are Teeny tiny!

Another vote for a used golf! We have a 2.0L diesel, it’s very economical and has plenty of power.

Stay away from French cars!

Skoda Yetis are great 👍🏻 but check the MPG, we have a 1.4 petrol and the MPG is terrible but I imagine the diesel models will be a lot better?

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201712071882272?advertising-location=at_cars&advertising-location=at_cars&price-to=13000&postcode=g336px&model=YETI&page=1&price-from=10000&radius=30&make=SKODA&fuel-type=Diesel&onesearchad=Used

I have a quashqai and I can't recommend it enough!

The VW/Audi group own Seat and Skoda. So all 4 brands have the same engines, although not all engines are available in all models. Probably because I’m a man, my starting point is the engine, so if you want a particular VW engine - for example the 1.4 litre turbo petrol (which has enough zip for most people) - you can get it in a Golf, a Polo, a Tiguan, an A1, an A3, an A4, a Q3, a Skoda Karoq, a Fabia, a Seat Leon, a Seat Ibiza, a Seat Ateca and possibly one or two others that I can’t think of right now. Most of those models would be available pre-owned within your budget and you’d be getting a well-proven engine with the example I gave.

He is happy for his wife and children to drive an old banger while a sports car sits in the drive? Really? We had to buy a second car as we've moved out of the city. The new car is a banger. There was never even a discussion about who would drive the new car. If he would rather you with the children were broken down at the roadside than him, you have an asshole for a husband.

Yeah our skoda yeti is a diesel and gets great mpg

Mazda 3 seconded! The single most comfortable car I’ve ever driven, and the petrols are fairly nippy and fun to drive, if uneconomical.

I had a Golf, and loved it, but they are being stolen so regularly around here (GTIs, GTDs and Rs are stolen to order apparently ) I can’t be arsed with the risk.

Maybe worth thinking about fuel too? I think diesels will continue us to become more expensive to own/drive.
Some good advice on ignoring the badge above - vw, Audi, seat, Skoda are basically the same. Often you get more kit as standard on the lesser brands as they look to improve the perception of them. I previously had a seat Leon which was good, now moved onto another flavour estate for the bigger capacity.

curious I’m jealous! I love my Yeti but every time the petrol light comes on (every other day after I put £20 of fuel in it) I just want to cry.

It’s only leased though so will go back to Skoda in a year, and we did get a great deal on it so can’t complain too much!