Hate hate hate looking for a new car

[2026namechange]

It is both boring and stressful at the same time. I don’t know what I’m talking about and I also don’t care to learn, I find it tedious.

People seem to have such strong and specific opposing opinions about stuff that I have no idea if it’s relevant at all.

AIBU to think you should be able to pay someone to find you a car that meets your budget and requirements and isn’t a lemon?

If this service exists please could someone point me in the right direction? Bonus points to not have to engage in any conversations that involve car terminology at all.

I am not looking forward to the day my Kia Venga (bus) finally snuffs it. I love sitting higher up, I love the small dinky front of it that slopes down, and means I can nip it into a space with minimal faff. I love that it's a decent size in the inside (tardis car) too.

Stupid Kia got rid of that to make way for the frankly shitty Stonic.

I've sat in a few cars that look similar on the outside and they're so bloody low, or too small inside! I'm only 5"2, I need the height! I can get the height but on fucking behemoths that I have no interest in.

@oldtiredcyclist Love affair with cars? You have a couple of old bangers! Sorry. A Merc with a high mileage is still a high mileage car! Merc are not special.

The best way to shortlist a car is to read reviews in magazines. They have used car reviews too. Many cars quoted here are no better than 3 star. There really are better buys and it’s easy to form a short list. Many people here don’t care about how a car drives or build quality. They just want auto defrosting! It’s bizarre that people cannot shortlist on a sensible set of criteria.

No idea but Hyundai’s are lovely cars. We’ve had an i20 and a Tuscon. Both were fabulous cars.

With all due respect, I have been around cars for over forty years. I have restored and renovated them. I have reconditioned engines. To say that I have a couple of old bangers is insulting to say the least. I would trust the Alfa far more than most cars, to take me on a 2,000 mile road trip of Europe. The least reliable car we have had, was a two and a half year old Mazda 3 bought from the main dealer. It had various electrical problems, an inlet manifold leak which the dealer refused to fix and an appalling paint finish.

I’m 70 and I’ve been around cars for longer than you. Most owners are not going to renovate cars. I have a 35 year old Merc SL. No, we don’t use it all the time but it’s still better built than an Alfa. A modern Merc isn’t the same! So when advising on new cars, what you renovate is besides the point. And even if your Alfa is lovely, hardly anyone in the uk buys one now. They are not seen much. So maybe engage in Korean or Japanese or even Chinese cars? Not that they float my boat.

We have 2 Porches as well as a Discovery, a BMW IX3 and the Merc. Mostly German cars here. I have had minis, various JLR cars, BMWs, Porsche and Mercs over nearly 50 years. Yes, we can afford quality but plenty of other makes offer very decent cars for less money. Buying a diesel continues pollution unless it’s a very modern one. Our old Porsche Macan diesel was the best at controlling emissions. So not advocating one but looking at emissions matters. So does build quality and service history.

You obviously have some knowledge of cars but the point of this thread is that most people don't. There's a feeling when you buy a car that you are doing it blindfold.
I don't love cars but I have learned that a "better" car can be more pleasant to drive and the bells and whistles matter to me. I hate driving but it's a necessity and heated seats make the experience much nicer.
What would you suggest for a budget of around £20k? Petrol, automatic, hatchback, bit of oomph? I have a Volvo V40 but it's starting to cost me money so it has to go.

So, by your standards your Merc SL is an old banger?

@oldtiredcyclist Well it’s not in the first flush of youth. Nor is it worth much. If left to its own devices, yes, an old banger. We maintain it well but it’s really well built. One of the last well built Mercs. It was £50,000 new in 1990, and that’s still a fair whack for a car, even now.

I will HAPPILY help someone search for their ideal car? I’m off work at the moment and adore cars! Pm me if you’d like me to help. No charge :)

The new KIA Sportage is fantastic, I had one for 3 years (got it just as the newest shape came out). Fabulously sturdy, well built vehicle with plenty of space, tech features, comfy & a boot big enough for not just my mobility scooter but also a hoist to lift it in! I miss it so much.
Whilst it was being serviced I had an MG HS courtesy car (just don’t! Utterly appalling build quality, had AA out twice in 3 days due to major electrical faults) and when I got back into the Sportage, the quality difference was so obvious! They’re built like VW/Audis now.
Oh and it had a button on the key fob where you could have it move backwards/forwards with nobody in it and no engine on! Was great for tight parking spaces.

@LemaxObsessive so like the Kia Sportage but smaller? It looks like a tank to me and my DC have left home. I only need a car big enough for a couple of suitcases.

Have you looked at the KIA Niro? Very similar just not quite as high.
Brand new, nearly new or used? Are you happy with electric or want petrol/diesel? Do you need the car to be slightly higher up or are you not fussed?

I love it but my exh wouldn’t let me choose my own cars (v abusive) so the first one I bought after I left him was a 3.0 convertible and I LOVED it so much!!!

Our Micra is now 25 years old and might get few more years as had welding last mot but runs well, if it goes then will just get another newer micra as so reliable and cant be bothered with flash cars with computers that all go wrong and cost loads to fix.

This is kind of me except that I now have a preferred make - let’s be honest all car manufacturers have their faults and I’ve figured mine out and have come to terms with them. I know what weird quirks I’m likely to run into and just roll with it.

I did get into an hour plus discussion with the dealer the last time I bought a vehicle about the difference between 4 wheel drive and all wheel drive. I will never get that time back in my life. And for the record I was asking detailed questions and he was giving fluff answers. At one point my DH started laughing and wandered away because the salesman was a fucking idiot.

I will drive a vehicle into the ground just to avoid having to buy a new one… my current one is 10+ years old over 100K miles and is in great condition.

my DH is the ‘car guy’ who likes to research and change vehicles regularly. I don’t get involved as long as no car payments are necessary although he has learned to bring me along to the negotiations since I’m better than he is 😁

When my old car died, my partner did some research and decided a KA would be perfect for me so we went to a garage, test drove two (the first one made funny noises), bought the second and that was it. I really didn’t care what I have - I use it purely to get to work and back.

I am very much aware that there's a post about people using ChatGPT, but it really helped me out here. I typed in the features I wanted in a car, and asked it to provide a list of makes / models that had the specifications I wanted that were also in line with my budget. I was able to narrow down my search to a list of 5 options, which I was able to easily find and test drive. I am now really pleased with the model I bought (one that was included on the list)

I despise it, especially the way women are treated by garages. I was even ripped off by a Ford dealership a few years ago and had to take them to court after being sold a lemon. It was only a couple of years old.

I now buy new every three years. The peace of mind is worth it to me. I'm not a big spender and can't holiday abroad, so I see it as my one luxury. I have an automatic Volvo and love it. I'm on my second and will replace it again next year.

@LemaxObsessiveif your offer still stands, I am looking for a replacement for my Hyundai ix20. I like a smallish car, but one that sits high on the road. My previous car was a Hyundai Matrix. Must be an automatic. Thanks.