GarethP
Prominent Member
Well, I lost the race to find a new car so SWMBO now has a shiny new BMW Mini convertible parked on the drive and I'm stuck getting the practical family motor!
Background
I have 2 teenage kids, 2 dogs and camping stuff and 2 x field hockey goalie kits to lug about so am probably looking for a large hatchback but more likely an estate or 4x4 shaped thing.
I cover approx 40k miles a year with work and personal. 90% will be motorways.
I live in the foothills of the Derbyshire peaks so 4x4 would be nice but we've managed with front wheel drive for the last few bad winters so not essential.
You'll notice the abundance of Vauxhalls, especially in my private history!! Reason - I had a mate who worked for a Vauxhall dealership and got me cracking prices and mates rates of finance and superb customer service - too good to miss - example the VX Zafira - 1 year old, 1,200 miles, £10k. My mate no longer works in the car trade so I'm a bit stuck looking at all the options as it's been ages since I really had to think about what car to get/strike a good deal!
Past Cars - Company
Past Cars - Private (after changing employer)
Looking at traditional HP as 40k miles a year seems to rule out PCP type deals as the excess mileage charge is a killer from what I've seen - unless someone knows otherwise?
Requirements
So the options as I see them;
New
Would probably be looking at something like a Hyundai i30 or i40 estate. 5 year unlimited warranty, 20k miles service interval. Am I likely to be bored of it before 4 years is up? are they likely to hold up to 160k miles? I know it'll be worth next to nothing when I'm done...
Used
Something like a 2 year old Octavia/Superb/Yeti, Mondeo/Focus estate with 20k miles on it. Probably finance £15k over 3 years - need to watch service intervals - I liked the look of a Mitubishi ASX until I found out it had a 7.5k mile service interval - it'd be back for a service every other month!
Premium Used
3 or 4 year old BMW, C-Class Merc, Audi A4/A6 with probably 30-50k. As used, probably £15k over 3 years. Emissions and therefore road tax likely an issue? Out of warranty so can use local, reliable garage for servicing. Need to budget for unexpected repairs
The options make my head hurt!
Can anyone help? Give some advice?
Cheers
Background
I have 2 teenage kids, 2 dogs and camping stuff and 2 x field hockey goalie kits to lug about so am probably looking for a large hatchback but more likely an estate or 4x4 shaped thing.
I cover approx 40k miles a year with work and personal. 90% will be motorways.
I live in the foothills of the Derbyshire peaks so 4x4 would be nice but we've managed with front wheel drive for the last few bad winters so not essential.
You'll notice the abundance of Vauxhalls, especially in my private history!! Reason - I had a mate who worked for a Vauxhall dealership and got me cracking prices and mates rates of finance and superb customer service - too good to miss - example the VX Zafira - 1 year old, 1,200 miles, £10k. My mate no longer works in the car trade so I'm a bit stuck looking at all the options as it's been ages since I really had to think about what car to get/strike a good deal!
Past Cars - Company
- 1998 VX Astra 1.8 Petrol sport (company car) - OK nothing special
- 2002 MG ZS 120+ Petrol h/b (company car) - lovely car to drive - just fell to bits!
Past Cars - Private (after changing employer)
- 2003 (used) VX Signum 2.2 Diesel Elite Auto - Best car I've had so far - loved the toys and flexibility of load and passenger area - just a shame it was a 'Friday afternoon' car - started having repeated failure after it had come out of warrenty - I'd have another one today if they still made them
- 2006 (new) VX Vectra Estate 1.8 Petrol SRi - Loved the size - this swallowed up anything you put in it - didn't like the petrol engine and subsequent rubbish fuel economy
- 2007 (used) VX Zafira 1.8 Petrol Design - Loved the flexibility of space (and the price/value! at the time) but hated the driving position and 34mpg I used to get on the motorway
- 2009 (used) VX Insignia 1.9 Estate CDTI SRi - biggest mistake I ever made - was expecting a nice fuel efficient version of the Vectra I had before - but got average fuel economy, rubbish load space, ate tyres...
- 2011 (new) VX Astra 1.7 CDTi Excite h/b - OK. that's it - OK. kinda does what it says - 50+mpg 65k miles of complete uneventfullness... £30 road tax - I like that!!
Looking at traditional HP as 40k miles a year seems to rule out PCP type deals as the excess mileage charge is a killer from what I've seen - unless someone knows otherwise?
Requirements
- Load lugging ability so Estate, 4x4 shape or large H/B
- Diesel
- I'd like to keep the road tax down (kinda got used to paying £30 per year!)
- Would Like Bluetooth for phone
- SatNav not important (use Brodit car clip and phone)
- Finance - £20k new over 4 years or £15k used over 3
- I've had enough Vauxhalls now I think!
So the options as I see them;
New
Would probably be looking at something like a Hyundai i30 or i40 estate. 5 year unlimited warranty, 20k miles service interval. Am I likely to be bored of it before 4 years is up? are they likely to hold up to 160k miles? I know it'll be worth next to nothing when I'm done...
Used
Something like a 2 year old Octavia/Superb/Yeti, Mondeo/Focus estate with 20k miles on it. Probably finance £15k over 3 years - need to watch service intervals - I liked the look of a Mitubishi ASX until I found out it had a 7.5k mile service interval - it'd be back for a service every other month!
Premium Used
3 or 4 year old BMW, C-Class Merc, Audi A4/A6 with probably 30-50k. As used, probably £15k over 3 years. Emissions and therefore road tax likely an issue? Out of warranty so can use local, reliable garage for servicing. Need to budget for unexpected repairs
The options make my head hurt!
Can anyone help? Give some advice?
Cheers