Looking for a newer car - does this look a good buy?

moggylover

We really do need a new/er car, my old one is definitely on it's last legs and we need something capable of carrying several large people and a pile of shopping or rugby kits and balls and so forth so really need it to be an estate.

My favourite is the Audi A4 (on looks alone I'm afraid:o) and I have found this one very locally, but do not even know if this is a good price for it or what I should offer for a cash purchase.
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/AUDI+A4/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-24-240-4294966549-4294966807/search.action?showMoreOptions=&formSearchParams=Ne%3D2%2B4%2B5%2B6%2B7%2B8%2B27%2B44%2B49%2B53%2B61%2B64%2B67%2B103%2B133%2B146%2B236%26N%3D24%2B240%2B4294966549%2B4294966807&make=AUDI&model=A4&min_pr=&max_pr=10000&referrer=quick&postcode=SA38+9ET&radius=40&e_min_pr=Ne%3D2%2B4%2B5%2B6%2B7%2B8%2B27%2B44%2B49%2B53%2B61%2B64%2B67%2B103%2B133%2B146%2B236%26N%3D240%2B4294966807%2B4294966549%2B24%2B15&ukcarsearch_full.x=23&ukcarsearch_full.y=9

Are there any problems I should be looking for on these, and is the rather high mileage going to be a downer?

Any advice would be gratefully received as I am not much of a car person and am out of touch with what is out there and the prices.:o

moggylover

Actually, I suppose a Glass's Guide price would be a lot of help if anyone has one?:D

aqueoushumour01

here's the glass valuation. I found it after I had paid to look up a car's value - oh well!

http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vaux/pages/global/valueMyCar/valueMyCarPopup.jsp

by the way - this will show the part ex value of the car

jeannieblue

How much do you have, roughly, to spend?

Personally I wouldn't go for the Audi. Something cheaper to maintain would be better.

moggylover

aqueoushumour01 wrote: »

here's the glass valuation. I found it after I had paid to look up a car's value - oh well!

http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vaux/pages/global/valueMyCar/valueMyCarPopup.jsp

by the way - this will show the part ex value of the car

Many thanks for that! Very helpful and they value this one at around £3,500.00 for part-exchange so will help if I decide it is the right car for us and want to bargain:D

moggylover

jeannieblue wrote: »

How much do you have, roughly, to spend?

Personally I wouldn't go for the Audi. Something cheaper to maintain would be better.

Hi jeannie, I have around £5K for the moment to spend unless it is something exceptional in which case I might go a little higher. Am in the process of either extending my house or moving and wanted to wait until all was finished and done but I don't think it is worth putting new tyres on mine and getting an MOT any longer as so many of the electrics are failing. Will not be considering a Citroen as my next car on the basis of how poor the ZX has been.

Have been thinking of going for scrappage and buying brand new - but am too mean to spend the sort of money that a brand new large car costs and a small car would struggle with (my kids) lifestyle:rolleyes:.

What would you suggest that is similar in looks/size to the Audi? I used to run the Renault Savannahs and loved them, but a friend has not had a good time with their Renault Laguna so not sure if I would want to go that route.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Ah Renault Savanna, one and only Renault i've owned....good car.

Audi's really are too expensive for what is basically the designer badged version of the VW/Skoda/Seat range.

If you want to stick with the Audi stable you could get a Skoda Octavia estate for much less, or indeed the Passat estate.

Other than those that are a few estate cars in that band with arguably more room.
Vectra (huge), Signum (slightly smaller), Mondeo, Avensis to name a few.

If you don't mind possibly expensive parts and maintenance then consider Volvo.
I haven't mentioned French as you presumably want long term reliability.

leveller2911

I would go for a Skoda Octavia Estate, well put together and all the bits are VW /AUDI , thats unless your a badge tart?

Im on my second Skoda Octavia and I can't fault them at all, guess thats why theyre always in the top 6 cars in the JD power survey...

Ever wondered why so many taxi,s and police cars are Skodas??
reliability , build quality and maintenance costs ...

Good luck

moggylover

Thanks G & S and Leveller, this is basically what I was beginning to think. I really like the look of the Audi but the more I look at prices the more I think I shall find something else:D

Not usually a badge tart (although it would have been nice to have been a bit posey for once:cool::rolleyes:) but I have to admit to flinching at the thought of a Skoda since I am old enough to remember the original ones:eek:. However, I shall keep an open mind and go and have a look at some.

Have been looking at the scrappage scheme deals and sort of rather like the Hyundai i30 or the Kia Ceed for looks (not as much as the Audi, but with my "sensible" head on:D) which I assume are about the same size as my current decrepit Citroen ZX? Don't know much about them, but they look okay (not keen on the interiors for looks but space remains more important really) so if anyone has one and wants to say good or bad then would love the input.

Seems awful to diss Citroen as I used to work for them and had my GS for 13 years from brand new and it was wonderful. However, the buy out with Peugeot did not do Citroen any favours imo, and the electrics are dreadful on my ZX and the build quality poor to carp. They also never seem to have solved the problem of the seat padding disintegrating over the years.:o

gilbert_and_sullivan

Well Moggylover you could do far worse than take advantage of the scrappage scheme to get a new Kia Ceed.
My sons best friend has 2, one they bought, a petrol hatch, one company diesel estate.
Both are trouble free and they are pleased with them.

I've delivered them by the truck load and they indeed very well put together, the underside is well protected and most things are sealed in, the brake and fuel pipework for example run inside a very robust plastic cage the whole length of the vehicle.

To be honest if you can afford to do so, that 7 year warranty is not to be sniffed at...no other maker has shown such faith in their own product so far.
(though do get quotes for servicing the thing over your ownership period to maintain that warranty, it may be more than you think)

If i liked mainstream cars which i personally don't (not ageing gracefully) then i'd already have a Ceed meself.

Of course if you are a high mileage driver then it could make sense to go for the Hyundai instead as its unlimited mileage 5 year warranty (same applies about servicing, but then it does apply to any make under warranty)

leveller2911

have to say I also like the kia pro ceed , but I think it only comes in a 3 door, no good with 2 children, spot on Gilbert the 7yr warranty mean they have faith in the product..