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Original poster

Suggest a car for me?

34 replies

skuali66 · 11/09/2020 18:19

I've had the same car (corsa) for a decade, time for an upgrade.

My commute is variable - from 20-75mins each way. Generally just me in the car. Occasional longer trips (100mile each way to visit family/friends).

Thoughts on Audi A3 & BMW 1 series?
Other ideas?

I like the idea of heated seats and assistance with parking.

OP posts:
Tigger03 · 11/09/2020 18:23

I’ve had the BMW 1 series and the Mercedes A class - prefer the Mercedes (and it has heated seats).

Also take a look at the Ford Fiesta, my favourite! Really nippy and had all the fun add ons like parking sensors, apple play etc.

RandomMess · 11/09/2020 18:37

Have driven both, BMW any day of the week!!!

Does your company get involved with the salary sacrifice scheme for electric cars???

Elai1978 · 13/09/2020 07:36

Take a look at the Honda Civic and Lexus CT200h. Both are much higher quality than the BMW and Audi.

mumofpickles · 13/09/2020 07:38

I have a mini countryman and it's brilliant. similar size to the 1 series but somehow feels roomier inside with a good boot, I love driving it!

FartingInTheFence · 13/09/2020 10:26

@Elai1978

Take a look at the Honda Civic and Lexus CT200h. Both are much higher quality than the BMW and Audi.
....and infinitely more reliable as well being bigger (Civic).
Burnthurst187 · 13/09/2020 10:43

If you buy a BMW, Merc or Audi you're paying extra for the badge. It depends how materialistic you are?

You could get a much higher spec car for less money but it will be a less "desirable" brand

What is your budget?

Original poster
skuali66 · 13/09/2020 12:07

@Burnthurst187

If you buy a BMW, Merc or Audi you're paying extra for the badge. It depends how materialistic you are?

You could get a much higher spec car for less money but it will be a less "desirable" brand

What is your budget?

Less "desirable" brand is not a problem (i have driven a corsa for a decade) I looked at the ford fiesta and golf briefly but they were 22k+ if i remember correctly.

Given that the prices of these cars from less desirable brands were similar to the premium brands I thought it was worth considering the audi a3 and bmw 1 series.

Lexus cth (recommended by @Elai1978) looks good too but is £26275 and honda civic starting at 22k.

Seems like a lot has changed in 10 years! Feels like theyre all 22k+

OP posts:
Lonelycrab · 13/09/2020 12:35

Well personally I think buying new is really bad vfm, just driving for a year will take a serious chunk out of its value. Fiesta is 22k these days?Shock

If it was me I’d be looking at something a few years old, you could get an awful lot of car for 20k like this. FWIW I have a 7yo Civic, purchased for 8k 2 years ago. Has been absolutely faultless, nippy enough, big enough and I can see it going for a long, long time.

Itllbeaninterestingchristmas · 13/09/2020 12:38

Honda Jazz, not cool but very very reliable you could get a 2 or 3 year old one with very low mileage quite cheaply. They are mainly owned by older ladies who don’t drive far.
A Skoda Fabia or a golf or polo? Not as good value as a jazz though

Baaaahhhhh · 13/09/2020 12:40

Get an ex-demo mini. I got a fully loaded/spec Mini Cooper on March 31st ie: end of financial year, 10 mths old, 5K on clock, for £13.5k. New it would have been £22k.

Five years on, no problems, just annual maintenance, which came free with the car too.

Hazelnutlatteplease · 13/09/2020 12:40

Honda Jazz is a truly beautiful car.

AgeLikeWine · 13/09/2020 12:54

The A3 is getting on a bit now, but the current Golf & 1 Series are brand new and come with all the latest tech. The Mercedes A class is also quite new. Most pundits seem to agree that the Golf is probably the pick of the bunch, if you can find one in your budget.

In normal circumstances, I would suggest booking some test drives so you can make up your own mind on which car you prefer, but that may not work at the moment.

RandomMess · 13/09/2020 13:12

Honest John Car Reviews

Brilliant website.

FartingInTheFence · 13/09/2020 13:42

You can find 67-plate onwards Honda Civic Prestige models, with more kit than you can think of, from 17k, depending on mileage.

Obviously if you are buying brand new, stands to reason prices will be higher. Plenty of Civic's out there to be had 👍

catsarebetterthandogs9 · 13/09/2020 13:48

I had a 1.25 fiesta (2011 plate) and it was sooooo sluggish. Also can't believe how much they are now compared to then!
Was loaned a Seat Ibiza and couldn't believe how much nippier it was, that might be worth looking at? I really like Seat's.
Have a BMW 3 series now it's lovely to drive. (Am not a car snob, it was just the best I could get for my money at the time!)

catsarebetterthandogs9 · 13/09/2020 13:49

Also, I'd never buy a brand new car. I've bought from Motorpoint (1 year old) and BMW approved used (1.5 years old) and have saved ££££'s off the new price

Metallicalover · 13/09/2020 13:57

BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda and SEAT all have VW engines. The likes of BMW and Audi your paying more for the badge. If you look across these car models they all have the same kind of car just different names. Have a look and see what style you want and look at the other brand alternative for prices etc!
Personally I'm a Toyota fan!

Metallicalover · 13/09/2020 13:58

Also Lexus is a more expensive kind of Toyota x

LilyLongJohn · 13/09/2020 13:59

I've just gone from a Mercedes to a mini and I much prefer the mini. It has heated leather seats and all the gizmos at a fraction of the price.

whatisthislifesofullofcare · 13/09/2020 14:02

I went from Evoque to a Mini, love it. But for my eldest we are considering a Toyota Yaris

Baaaahhhhh · 13/09/2020 15:12

Yeah, further to my post above, I went from a 2l Golf to a 1.5l mini. The mini is waaaayyyyyy more fun to drive, and much, much, more comfortable and solid.

Didn't like the Volvo C30, too cramped, and the Honda Civic was just boring, too old person (sorry).

WitchAgainstThePatriachy · 13/09/2020 15:16

Alfa Romeo guilietta - looks great and super fun to drive! I love mine

BertieBotts · 13/09/2020 15:29

If you're buying I'd look at cars which are 2-5 years old. You don't lose the value on a new car but you'll still get something more up to date than your current car. If you definitely want a brand new car it can make more sense to lease, even if you lease for 2/3 years and then buy at the end of the lease period you save money over buying new.

I think you're right things have defo changed a lot in the last decade.

We have had a Suzuki we've been super pleased with for the last 5 years and just changed to a Peugeot. The brand new Peugeots (2018+) are completely different to the older ones and we really like ours. We also test drove a Hyundai and were all geared up to get one until our finances changed. So I'd look at those three brands. We are not car people so we always prioritise reliablity.

RandomMess · 13/09/2020 15:31

I test drove a mini last week and hated it Confused

Fabia and Ibiza always get great reviews, then non-hybrid Suzuki Swift too, probably selling of non-hybrid ones super cheap.

Chanel05 · 13/09/2020 15:40

I'm going for a Kia Pro Ceed GT Line S (highest spec).
My specifications are: heated seats, self park, parking cameras and sensors, lane change warning, all of which this includes. You can get a 19/20 plate with very low mileage for around 20k.

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