My car (14 year old Golf) has done me proud but is now starting to cost me more than I ever paid for it. I don't have the cash sitting there to buy another one outright either. I do need a car but don't actually drive much (think less than 3000 miles a year). I have been looking at the options of HP/ Leasing and am finding it a bit of a minefield. I need a bigger car than the smallest and cheapest ones out there as I know there are some very good deals out there. Part of me wants to just get a nice compact SUV - mainly because in my 30 years of driving I have never come close to owning a remotely new or nice car and I like them - however this isn't essential. Can anyone who knows about this kind of thing advise my on the pros and cons or either leasing or getting car finance ? 
I can afford a £500-1000 (max) deposit and can afford about £200 a month. Any ideas gratefully received.