Need more advice re: trading in. Used car isn't great.

ailuro2

A skoda octavia will give you 6.1 litres per km, a Ford Mondeo 2 litres diesel will do 7.2litres per km.

I got those figures from here-

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/209791/top_100_most_fuelefficient_cars.html

Doing 30,000 km per year, calling it a pound a litre (won't be far off that up north) first fuel bill is £4918, the Skoda would cost £4166, so a saving of £752.:D
Now I know why taxi drivers drive new Skodas round here!

Keep the old car, it's value may go up if the govt brings in the £2k cashback on new vehicles in April. The bike will sell better once the nicer weather is here.

If it was me, I'd drive down to central belt/west coast and save a packet - a travelodge overnight will soon pay for itself;), or if you can't face the drive, then Arnold Clark is in Aberdeen, Elgin, Peterhead and Inverness and their prices tend to be a bit cheaper imho in this bracket.

fwiw we drive an 03 Mondeo LX, had it since 6,000 on the clock at a year old, it has had a few problems with it's rear brakes, costing hundreds of pounds each time, Ford refused to acknowledge it was a design problem, so I am going back to JApanese but built in Britain cars next time - that's what I always had before, and never had a problem - Nissan, Toyota, might get a Honda next time, if the pennies are there!

ailuro2

ps How big are the five folk?

We had a Kia Picanto as a courtesy car once, and they are surprisingly roomy inside, could seat 5 no problem as long as it wasn't for hours at a time, it also does over 44 miles to the gallon, and is cheaper than your budget to buy brand new.

http://www.autofindersbakewell.co.uk/car_detail.php?openID=8&uniqueID=5064 is one example that lets you buy new and also part exchange - don't let your locaiton make you pay over the odds!;)

kiddy_guy

Just to add - regarding Skoda's - I've had a skoda estelle, and a skoda superb. If you're looking for a big car with diesel economy, I'll give a shout out for the superb - their residuals aren't perhaps as good - which is good news for you. I only didn't mention it because they aren't a "good marque".

I appreciate buying in the Highlands is difficult, but you might just have to spend a day going far to see some cars. I went 350 miles to get my Toledo because the price was right for the car.

Just regarding economy, diesels are better. If I hammer mine I get 45mpg. If I drive at the speed limit 50mpg. On a trip on the motorways, driving at 67mph, I can get 60mpg+.

aliasojo

ailuro2 wrote: »

ps How big are the five folk?

Big.

Youngest is only little but lads are just under 6' and 6' exactly.

Edit: I should also maybe point out that OH drives for a living and he has a bit of a 'thing' about what he will drive and what he wont. It wouldn't matter if the car was the most economical thing going, if it doesn't fit with his 'acceptable' list then .

He doesn't want 'an old man's car', a 'woman's' car or a 'low powered' car. :rolleyes: We're in the process of 'discussing' what is practical v's what is desired. It's becoming obvious the middle ground is hard to find. :rolleyes: Especially at our budget.

I'm losing the will to live.

harveybobbles

kiddy_guy wrote: »

No, I bought a Toledo because I couldn't afford a decent mileage Volvo V50. Audi's are good cars by all means but it wasn't what I required. Seat's have a pretty decent image, primarily thanks to the sportiness of the Leon and due the Altea now being the choice of school mums. I think for £5k, finding a car with 45k on the clock and under three years old, Toledo's lose a lot of value due to not being a full people carrier, but not having the cuteness of the Altea. Why waste money in this climate when you can get VW mechanics for Kia prices? By the time I bought it, it had lost over 13k, and I could sell it today, a year after I purchased it, for only £300 less than I paid, based on average values currently. I've taken the depreciation on my car - and whilst it will lose some more, this will be down to the miles I put on it.

As regards the Mondeo, I must have missed the OP saying the car was a diesel?

And the Saab - well bit like saying that a Skoda is an Audi because they are made by the same bunch with similar parts. Factually correct, but everyone would rather have an Audi. But can you get a Vauxhall for that price with that spec - again who wouldn't take the Saab over the Vauxhall?

You'd be surprised at what Vauxhalls you can get with huge spec for not much money.
The reason why people don't like the Toledo as it's as useful as a chocolate tea pot. I have only ever stocked 4 Toledo's in the 12 years I've been in the motor trade due to them being totally unwanted. The same for the Altea - I've had two and both were failures, so I've stopped stocking them. I stick to Leon's, Gol's and the A3's which sell like hot cakes. Or Easter Eggs...

kiddy_guy

True - but you're selling.

If you're buying one, then they're fab. They lose most of their value within 3 years, then they're fine. I got a full size bath in the back of mine! I'm not sure what you mean by them not being useful? Are you talking new or old shape? I could imagine they're not popular - but if you but the popular cars, you end up paying over the odds to a degree. I'd rather have the "unloved" cars, which give me better value for money. I had a Volvo S80 before the Toledo - big old barges which aren't particularly favoured unless you have the D5 - the spec you get for the money, given they'll go for 200k miles without a problem is amazing. Same with the Toledo really - the Altea's seem to go for more money - but given the extra space of the Toledo, it's madness - perhaps as I said, they don't look as cute - but I'd rather have the value.

As regards Vauxhall's - they're fine - rather bland but fine. I'd rather have a car that not everyone on my street has though.

harveybobbles

S80's are fine motors and they sell all day long. the Altea's are going down the same road af the stupid Golf Plus. Unloved but extreemly cheap for that reason.

kiddy_guy

If you can find me a cheap diesel one Harvey, I'll be knocking at your door!

harveybobbles

S80? 5995 love...! 55 plate

Hintza

OP get serious and travel south even if it's only Glasgow and you will get a better deal. My brother in law tended to go to London 15 years ago to buy his cars. You will always pay a premium up north.