AIBU to buy a 'cheap' make of car?

[Newcarwhatcar]

I have about £10k to spend on a new/ nearly new car. I currently drive a tiny old banger but want to replace it with something newer and bigger which can do longer journeys, we can take on holiday etc.

My plan is to buy a Dacia Stepway, or something similar. However everyone I know is telling me I will regret this, and that I should buy a smaller car, some are saying I should go for either a Ford or Vauxhall as repairs are cheap, generally reliable etc. Others are telling me to go for a BMW or Audi. However any of those makes (esp the prestige ones) I'd have to get a car that was years old to get in my price range which isn't what I want.

So If you were in my position what would you do? Go for a new cheap car, or not?

I'm looking at buying at the moment too. Upgrading from my 4 seat Aygo before baby arrives!

My list to test drive has Dacia Duster, Kia Stonic, Vauxhall Mokka, Vauxhall Crossland X and Ford Ecosport.

I have been very pleased with my last 7 years of Japanese cars so suspect I'll probably go for the Stonic!

Don't buy BMW, audis etc as the repair, servicing tyres etc are expensive. My friend just spent £300 on a tyre.

It depends where you go though! I recently spent 160 for new tyres all round !!

I had an ex demo Sandero - it was fab!!! Years of stress free car ownership!

Labour and parts for Audi, BMW, Jaguar - unaffordable for us.

Another vote for Hyundai - personal preference when test driving between that and a Kia. Bought when 2 years old so 3 years left of the warranty never had any issues.

Big fan of Hyundai here, have had 3 from brand new. 5 year warranty, cheaper servicing.
Really reliable.

We have an 20yo Mercedes that we paid 7k for about 13 years ago. The bodywork isn't brilliant but it drives like a new car still. If we had spent that money on a newer cheaper car we probably wouldnt still have it. I bloody love our car.

Oh and the servicing is surprisingly reasonable. Far cheaper than we expected.

Just to add, I had to call the RAC the other day as I had a fault in my Kia's throttle. The guy who came out was amazed I needed anything other than petrol or tyre change - he said they never get called out to Kia's at all for anything else, and would recommend them to everyone. Kia have been incredible with the fault and their customer service is brilliant.

Kia! I got a 2 year old one, so still 5 years on the warranty. And I’m delighted with it, best car I’ve ever bought.

People above mentioned a Kia. I have one I bought new 3 1/2years ago. I bought it because it was very reasonably priced, but largely because its driver's seat will easily raise to a good height, as I have very bad knees. I want my hips to be higher than my knees.

I am very pleased with it. Runs wells, easy to drive (my very first automatic - LOVE that- also have bad hands) and an excellent warranty - eight years. Also free road side assistance for the life of the warranty if you get it serviced with them, which I do, as their services are very reasonably priced, performed very quickly in in a pleasant setting - I wait while it's done, and it's been a maximum, I think of about 2 hours.

I love my Hyundai

I've got an ex demo stepway which is amazing, so reliable and economical- love driving it! I do more or less the same commute as you (9 miles/45milrs) and it's perfect. We got it using the Dacia finance then paid it off straight away (you can do that) so we got an extended 5 year warranty. Perfect!
I love knowing the parts/tyres wont be expensive at service, no MOT cost etc

I’d go for a Dacia without a hesitation. It’s part of the Renault / Nissan group.

It’s interesting what people think as cheap I run a Skoda and it cost £30k

I don’t get the “prestigious brands” thing. Audi/VW/Seat/Skoda - basically the same car.

Had the option of a BMW 3 series estate this time but it’s driven by cocks and preferred the spec of the Skoda. And because the way leasing works it would have cost me the same money even though the BM had a list price of £38k.

The great thing about the cheaper brands is we have so many snobs in this world who would by on brand and not on how good value for money the car is.

Dacia all the way. We've had our Dacia Duster four years now, from new. Not one problem. Very cheap to run and totally reliable. We do a monthly service plan and the servicing is incredible affordable. I think Dacia are for people who are'nt worried about being different!!

I've always had BMWs, Volvos and the odd Vauxhall. Nice cars but expensive to run.

I've now got a Dacia. It's bloody fantastic, the difference in fuel is immense, it's just as lovely to drive, it's more comfortable, it's incredibly reliable, parts are cheap not that I've needed anything, it has all the features I wanted (air con, touch screen, Bluetooth, cruise control and much more) and is much more spacious than even my huge BMW was.

They're brilliant, OP.

Kias and Hyundais are two of the most reliable makes on the market at present; neither have had any safety recalls, and both come with full sized spare tyres and 7 year unlimited km warranties.

No chance I'd buy a 15 year old European car (BMW, Merc, and especially not a VW or Audi) when you can buy a brand new, notoriously reliable car with a warranty for the same price.

I have a Kia. Couldn't be happier with it.

YADNBU!

I have a Dacia sandero stepway and I bloody love it!! Mine has just turned 3 and sailed through its MOT.

My only bugbears are the sat nav really doesn't always take you the best route, the parcel shelf was pants (I broke 2 and then gave up with them!) and you can only open the boot with the boot release by the drivers side or by using the key.

BUT for the amount of can that I have for the money I'm more than happy to put up with that. They've probably tweaked the design a bit since mine anyway. Do it! You won't regret it

Kia Ceed here - diesel, I bought it when it was about 5 years old, now done 120,000 miles . I've had to replace a clutch, brake pads/ things and tyres but that's it. Nicer to drive than old Fiesta. And good leg room in back.

Think about Mazda you have to take them apart to stop them working

There was a thread on here not long ago saying that Audi were awful and to steer clear.

You do know the Dacia step way is just the same size as the sandero I don’t you? It’s exactly the same car on a higher wheel base with bigger wheels do if it’s a big car you’re looking for.
Having said that I loved my Dacia. I had the normal sandero was a great wee car. Only got rid of it because we were moving to only having one car as dh has a work vehicle and we needed something to fit us and the kids in.

We've had a stepway for 5 years now and it's been great. It's been used and abused; lots of miles one year down to pottering round town the next and hasn't faltered. I will need a new car in the next year or so (currently have a 13 yr old punto) and have told DH I'd rather buy another 'new' family car and have the stepway passed down than get my own.

I have a Suzuki cross×4 it's fantastic. Have to say it's not the most exciting drive but us reliable sturdy and the low prices means plenty of spare cash to go out and have fun in it.

When I tell people I have a Suzuki everyone says they know someone who bought one and will not drive anything else now.

We have a fiesta. Minimal petrol consumption and no road tax. Had a Focus before, lovely car but gave that to grandson as it was in perfect nick after ten years. The Fiesta has the new type engine. Bought it three years ago.

“Even a Vauxhall or Ford it would probably be 5+ years and it's such a lottery when it comes to older cars.”

For 10k? More like 2 years old...

I mean yanbu to buy whatever you want, but you’d not need to be looking at cars that old.