Why is it so hard to choose a car?

Guapa1

After my last thread, I decided to go for a motability vehicle. I have test driven the Honda Jazz, Ford Fusion and Hyundai i10 (all autos). and am waiting to try the nissan note.

I like them all in different ways!

The honda wasn't as high as I thought it would be, but was a very smooth ride. I do understand what reviewers say now when they say it's firm. Going over speed bumps was harder than in my car, but was otherwise a nice car.

The Ford was huge! It didn't look that big in the pictures. There isn't a 3 door option, and I really need all that space. It was very high which was good, but I wanted to keep changing the gear as the engine was very loud.

Now the i10 was lovely. It was really nippy and was a good height. I was really comfortable, and when I accidentally jammed the brakes looking for a non-existent clutch (:o), I was impressed by how quickly it stopped. The only thing wrong with it is that it's really small. I was only in it with the dealer and I felt like he was too close.

Am I just being a fussy cow?

Inactive

There is a brand new Hyundai i20 that is a bit bigger than the i10, take a look.

http://www.hyundai.co.uk/

Mobeer

You are not alone. I tried 11 models when last buying a new car

Ford Mondeo - big and difficult for me to park
Ford Focus - only liked the saloon, couldn't justify the trim level for this
Toyota Corolla - didn't like the styling or engine choice
Peugot 307 - didn't like the styling
Vauxhall Astra - put off Vauxhall by friends experiences
Chevrolet Lacetti - abysmal on corners
Audi A3 - too expensive
Citroen C4 - dealer not willing to haggle and or give a test drive
Seat Leon - liked the new diesel, couldn't justify the trim level for this, 3rd ranked
Honda Civic - didn't like driving, especially the steering, 2nd ranked
BMW 1 - my choice at a very nice discount for the old model

At least that time around I stuck to similar looking cars. Previously I looked at saloon cars and ended up with a roadster.

Just to confuse your choice further, what about a Fiesta?

jeannieblue

Hyundai parts can be stupidly expensive...

I personally, would not buy french or Fiat...

But really it boils down to what you like and feel comfortable driiving - and if it is motability, then you would only keep it for 3 years and trade it in.

It might be worthwhile looking at what vehicles end up having problems in the first three years of their lives. Last thing you want is to buy something that ends up spending more time back at the dealership than with youl.

Inactive

jeannieblue wrote: »

Hyundai parts can be stupidly expensive...

.

5 year warranty that even covers things like the exhaust system.;)

cyclonebri1

Absolutely pointless asking for advice if you are able to discern the differences/benefits/downsides for yourself. It's going to be your car, not anyone elses, get what you want.

That isn't intended to be offensive, but you obviously know what you don't want, as you've listed those, try as many as you want.

The question is asked time and time again and the same answers are always given.

Such as;

German cars are too expensive
French cars are always unreliable
Hondas and Toyotas are plain boring
Vauxhall/Ford are too common

and it goes on and on. We are all predjudiced in one aspect or another.

There are few badly designed/built cars out there, but you'll find poor examples from every stable.

If there was a definable best car we'd all be driving it

hewhoisnotintheknow

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

German cars are too expensive
French cars are always unreliable
Hondas and Toyotas are plain boring
Vauxhall/Ford are too common

http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/top10.html?apc=3128339010848601
and
http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/top10_worst.html?apc=3128339010848601

makes interesting reading

Mobeer

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/top10.html?apc=3128339010848601
and
http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/top10_worst.html?apc=3128339010848601

makes interesting reading

Interesting but also rather old. The site lacks details for cars that went on sale in the last couple of years. It also promises quarterly updates, the most recent of which is dated 8 March 2005.

Hintza

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

what you don't want, as you've listed those, try as many as you want.

The question is asked time and time again and the same answers are always given.

Such as;

German cars are too expensive
French cars are always unreliable
Hondas and Toyotas are plain boring
Vauxhall/Ford are too common

and it goes on and on. We are all predjudiced in one aspect or another.

There are few badly designed/built cars out there, but you'll find poor examples from every stable.

If there was a definable best car we'd all be driving it

I don't even take a test drive anymore. Do a bit of research narrow the field down to 2-3 cars and just get the one on which I reckon has the best deal around at the time. Then order online and await delivery.;)

There are a few lemons out there but hopefully initial research will have weeded them out and then not being Jackie Stewart or planning the next Paris - Dakaar there is not much difference.

bambinaUK

I just bought the New Fiat Panda Eco. Mainly because its quite a high car and easy to get out of. I don't need a motability vehicle, just something that is easily accessible. Initially I didn't like the look of the car and thought it would be tiny inside, but a test drive proved this to be an inaccurate assumption. Also because I bought the Eco model, the road tax is only £35 a year.