What car?

Ivyleaf_2

Hello all, our '97 Megane is on the way out, so we're going to be looking for a new car soon. We were thinking of getting one from a dealer with a warranty so that we don't have to worry so much about it going wrong, appreciate it will cost more short term, but do people think it's worth it? Is there anything we should watch out for?

Also, it's been a while since we looked for a car, we're looking for something reliable, cheap to fix/ run and preferably a 1.4 or less, does anyone have any suggestions or advice on what to avoid? I quite like Fords as the two that we've had seemed to have fewer problems than the other cars we've owned.

Anyway, any advice would be appreciated, many thanks.

Thunderbird_2

Hi,

Ford Feista should be ok. New or nearly new for about £6000. It comes in 1.4 and 1.25 engines. 5 doors version will be practical.

Ford Focus is another ( bigger ) option. The diesel ones are good, so is petrol, but watch for the road tax change in 2009 and 2010.

You dont mention anything about your budget, how many miles per year you are likely to do ( helps in recommending diesel or petrol) 5 doors or 3 doors. These things will help others ( me included) suggest something that could suitable.

AdrianHi

Your best bet is to find something nearly new or pre-registered with something like 25% or better off original list price and then since your happy doing this, keeping it 10 years or until it becomes troublesome.
If your keeping a car that long it's worth getting it young so that you always know the history of the car.
Looking at the long term, the only way to get the use of a car cheaper is to buy it 6 or 7 years old when depreciation is very slow, but then your not so sure of the cars history.

refused

I always go for cars which are up to 12ish months old. That way, someone else has taken the biggest hit with the depreciation, and you still get 2 years warranty on most makes....

Plus, it should still have that new car smell!:j

I've got a 207 and do 30k miles a year, and it has been brilliant.

beetplek

Dont know how big you need it to be, but my Ford Ka has never had a thing go wrong. Its going in for its first MOT this week but I cant see their being any costly problems. Its small, cost are low for insurance and petrol so depends what your looking for realy.

ArsenalFC

As suggested the pre-register and 1 year old car buying are good options if you want a nearly new car without paying the new price as well as having warranty.

I have heard good things for the ford fiesta, also consider the toyota yaris and honda yazz as these are very good reliable cars, although these latter 2 will cost more than the fiesta.

Ivyleaf_2

Hello all! Thanks for the advice. We don't do many miles, fewer than 8000 a year, the only thing is that we need a long enough boot/ read seat space to get two bikes in (one's a folding type, the other just has a quick-release from wheel). So we really need a hatchback so that both bikes can be put in through the boot with the back seats down. £6000-£7000 is do-able.

Thanks again all :-)

Idiophreak

Ivyleaf wrote: »

Hello all! Thanks for the advice. We don't do many miles, fewer than 8000 a year, the only thing is that we need a long enough boot/ read seat space to get two bikes in (one's a folding type, the other just has a quick-release from wheel). So we really need a hatchback so that both bikes can be put in through the boot with the back seats down. £6000-£7000 is do-able.

Thanks again all :-)

Sounds like you just need something cheap and economical then really...

I have an astra, which I take my bike out in no probs...and is fairly economical...and you could probably get one a year or two old (within warranty) for your kind of money....But is it overkill?

Could you get away with a smaller car, then just stick a bike rack on the back?

Ivyleaf_2

Hello, just got back from holiday (car surviving so far...)

A bike rack's a bit impractical as we have no garage and need to store the bikes in the car, except when at work.

We might look for something fiesta-ey, then.