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

moggylover

Well, here is a surprise! I have just been off to our (very) local Skoda dealer and we test drove the Fabia Estate in the 1.4 diesel turbo version. About the same size as my current ZX, but with the estate version and a HUGE boot space for a supermini!!!

Have to be honest that the interiors are rather drab and uninspiring (to say the least:D) but the overall exterior look is quite nice and the price for a brand new car on the road was impressive even before I start looking on-line for even better deals.

Not a car I had even really thought of: was going for a really big estate because my current saloon is often not big enough, but this is somewhere in-between.

Jeannie, if it were not for the scrappage scheme I suspect that I would not be thinking of brand new myself, but the prices on the newies at the moment make them very tempting for some truly reliable motoring for a change and that is what has swayed me and is especially worth considering if you look at the superminis, which the Fabia is. However, having had a look on the forecourt, I suspect that if I was going to go second-hand then the Skodas are not a bad bet and there were certainly some nice ones to be had with very little mileage on them.

Have kind of come to the conclusion that this £35 a year car tax type of vehicle has a lot going for it so that I have time to make my mind up whether I am moving/extending my own house/building a new house, etc., and know where I am at financially. Don't want to end up having to take a mortgage out because I got a car too soon - but anything under £10K sounds pretty spendable to me.

moggylover

Inactive wrote: »

I had a Kia Ceed out on a 3 day trial offer a couple of years ago, I was very impressed with it, build quality seemed very good to me, the doors closed like an old Rolls Royce.;)


Skoda are also very good cars, so you will not go far wrong with whichever you choose.

I loved the Ceed - but am now quite taken with the Fabia which makes quite a lot of financial sense! I knew I shouldn't have confused myself by looking at more than one car:o:rotfl:

jeannieblue

The Fabia's only £35 a year to tax? That is brilliant! Very MSE!!

Meanwhile, on to the important part......... what colours did you like? :D:D

jeannieblue

This may help...

http://www.carquake.co.uk/new-Skoda-Fabia/Estate_5_Door

jeannieblue

Oooh - on here they say that you won't be known as a 'ditsy head' or 'fashion led' if you buy one of these......... :D

http://www.topgear.com/uk/skoda/fabia

Inactive

jeannieblue wrote: »

The Fabia's only £35 a year to tax? That is brilliant! Very MSE!!

Meanwhile, on to the important part......... what colours did you like? :D:D

Road tax is only a very small percentage of the total running cost of any car, I wouldn't stitch myself in to a car just because of the £35 road tax factor, and in any case, as soon as there are enough cars at that road tax price point, the government will only increase it.

Colour?. any as long as it ain't black for me.:D

jeannieblue

Inactive wrote: »

Road tax is only a very small percentage of the total running cost of any car, I wouldn't stitch myself in to a car just because of the £35 road tax factor, and in any case, as soon as there are enough cars at that road tax price point, the government will only increase it.

Colour?. any as long as it ain't black for me.:D

Aw c'mon Inactive - be a girl and get excited over the colours ..

MrsE_2

moggylover wrote: »

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:.

PMed YOU!!!!

Back on topic
Thats what I would do.
Whats the biggest car you can get for 5k with scrapage?

MrsE_2

moggylover wrote: »

I loved the Ceed - but am now quite taken with the Fabia which makes quite a lot of financial sense! I knew I shouldn't have confused myself by looking at more than one car:o:rotfl:

MY DH cabbed a Octavia, done 150K (ish) miles in four years. Apart from servicing & maintenance, nothing went on it. Cheapest car he ever kept on the road.

I drove his Galaxy Ghia on Sunday (from Silverston to Bicester), I felt like I was driving a bus. He says its about the same width as mine, but it felt wider.
Very easy to drive though, practically drives itself! Started raining & it turns the wipers on:rolleyes: Didn't use the cruise control, I've never used that before, but I must try it.

MrsE_2

jeannieblue wrote: »

If you fancy a Ford - this place is brilliant - but sadly a bit of a distance from you.... it's where I got mine from. They have lots of ex lease cars - mine had only 2k on it when I bought it - it was just over a year old.

Blinding deal!!

http://www.copthornemotorcompany.co.uk/

Passed that the other day Jeannie & thought of you:D