Help me choose a new car

Katie-Kat-Kins

Hi folks,

My car is likely to become an insurance write off (I'm just waiting to hear), and I need to start looking for a replacement, and I thought I'd look on here for some ideas.

My old one was a Renault Clio 15DCi 106bhp.

I'm looking for something less than three years old but not brand new (the depreciation would make me cry!).

I do a lot of motorway miles so don't want anything tiny or too basic but want something fairly efficient. The clio gave an official combined figure of 61.4mpg, and typically I'd average just under 50mpg, but could do better if I tried. I'd like something equally fuel efficient, if not better as fuel is my main expense.

I'm prepared to compromise a bit on performance but the clio was giving 106bhp, 0-60mph in 11.1 seconds with 177lbs of torque and a top speed of 118mph. As I said I do a high motorway mileage so performance is more important to me than it would be if I was nipping round city streets.

Current insurance is group 4 and I don't want to go higher than this as this claim is likely to hike it :eek:

So any suggestions or recommendations for me to look into?

I could go for the same again, but figure I would be as well to check out my options before I commit.

Thanks

Kat

atrixblue.-MFR-.

KatP wrote: »

Hi folks,

My car is likely to become an insurance write off (I'm just waiting to hear), and I need to start looking for a replacement, and I thought I'd look on here for some ideas.

My old one was a Renault Clio 15DCi 106bhp.

I'm looking for something less than three years old but not brand new (the depreciation would make me cry!).

I do a lot of motorway miles so don't want anything tiny or too basic but want something fairly efficient. The clio gave an official combined figure of 61.4mpg, and typically I'd average just under 50mpg, but could do better if I tried. I'd like something equally fuel efficient, if not better as fuel is my main expense.

I'm prepared to compromise a bit on performance but the clio was giving 106bhp, 0-60mph in 11.1 seconds with 177lbs of torque and a top speed of 118mph. As I said I do a high motorway mileage so performance is more important to me than it would be if I was nipping round city streets.

Current insurance is group 4 and I don't want to go higher than this as this claim is likely to hike it :eek:

So any suggestions or recommendations for me to look into?

I could go for the same again, but figure I would be as well to check out my options before I commit.

Thanks

Kat

that renault would of been a nightmare come to a timing belt change!!
1.5 dci under a certain engine code cant remeber code longtime since worked in motor factors (5years) those timing belt kits were £279.00+VAT to the public just over 200+vat to trade as they have to have the cam pully's changed (as some parts of the pully is made of rubber) as well as tensioners come timing belt change would of been costly to you in region of 500+vat.
youll save money if you went to petrol engine, wont find much in performance wise if you stuck to group 4 insurance your looking at 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.4 engines. my suggestion would be to look at a number of cars get different quotes decide from there you want a car for motor way use mostley so you should look for compfort,engine,size.

v.w golf 1.4 1.6 for example. my bro in laws 2.0 G.T.I on a Y plate does 39.mpg around town 49.6 mpg MOTORWAY compfortable reliable roomy good performance, torque, under those stats on a 2.0 you can only expect better on a 1.4 to 1.6 in mpg and good performance.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Thanks for your comments but given my mileage I think a Diesel will be more economical. I do about 500 miles a week. My 1.6 petrol engine used to cost me about £80 a week, the diesel is about £60.

Good to know that there is an upside to getting shot of the Renault!

I quite liked the car, seemed to be a nice mix of reasonable performance, economy, and was nice and comfy to drive too, whilst still being fun for the non-motorway stuff!

wuckfit

Not sure what group the Skoda Fabia is, but the diesel will be quite economical I'd have thought. maybe worth a look. been happy with my Octavia 2.0

gel773

go for anything japaneese - toyota, honda etc if you want reliabilty.

pinkneonmartini

Toyota Yaris D4d

Mark_Hewitt

KatP wrote: »

Thanks for your comments but given my mileage I think a Diesel will be more economical. I do about 500 miles a week. My 1.6 petrol engine used to cost me about £80 a week, the diesel is about £60.

Good to know that there is an upside to getting shot of the Renault!

I quite liked the car, seemed to be a nice mix of reasonable performance, economy, and was nice and comfy to drive too, whilst still being fun for the non-motorway stuff!

Sounds familiar I do similar milages myself. What I can say is that the new Fiesta diesels aren't very economical! Although the gadgets and cruise control is very nice.

Economy wise I do hear good things about VAG diesel engines.

Personally I would start my search on looking up which models fall into tax band A (£35 a year this year, £20 next) and go from there!

LandyAndy

I have a new shape Mazda2 1,3 (85bhp) petrol. I get 50 mpg in mostly local driving. It will cruise happily at 80 mph for long distances on the motorway. All the Mazdas I've had have been ultra reliable. We are a family of 4 adult sized people and it hauls us around with no problem and with plenty of room in the back for DS at 6'3".

I went for the petrol because the diesel was just too much more expensive for the additional economy.

It's insurance group 4 but RFL isn't the cheapest at £120.

Alias_Omega

Hi KatP,

I clearly recommend one of these after 3 years of ownership, only to get rid due to family increase.

Only downfall is the 34-38mpg, but this is replaced by large smiles and lots of acceleration.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Alias, would love the fun and smiles, but that mpg would cripple me with my commute - hence the six speed DCI as my last car!

Katie-Kat-Kins

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

Sounds familiar I do similar milages myself. What I can say is that the new Fiesta diesels aren't very economical! Although the gadgets and cruise control is very nice.

Economy wise I do hear good things about VAG diesel engines.

Personally I would start my search on looking up which models fall into tax band A (£35 a year this year, £20 next) and go from there!

Have heard bad reports of the fiesta before. Had completely discounted all fords. Have never heard a good report of one and the fiesta diesal I had as a rental once made your average double decker sound quiet - did my head in!

Would happily go for japanese, have had a nissan and a mazda in the past and had no complaints.