"New" car needed - advice please

DavidHM

If you want to get a good deal, try here:

Motorpoint (Derby, Burnley, Newport and Glasgow I think)

Trade Sales (Slough)

Motorhouse 2000 (Staffordshire)

or Fords of Winsford (Cheshire) - but these seem slightly more expensive.

vansboy

Before you choose the Focus - have a GOOD test drive AGAIN!!

Can you REALLY get in a comfortable driving position???

I'll agree the car itself, is pretty much a 'sensible' choice, but I know I'm not the only one that can't get comfy in them!!

& also take a look at Astra - plenty new shape coming on to the used market, just now - new 'new' shape, is also hitting the showrooms, too!!

VB

huggermugger

Righto, will keep looking.. thanks for all the info.

Van boy - I took the Focus out for about 3/4 of an hour, town driving, country lanes & a blast up the A34. I did really like it, it was a firm but comfortable drive. I really was prepared not to like it as I had driven Fords in the past & hated them. It didn't actually feel like a sensible car at all...

I will have a look at the Astra tho once again I have a prejudice as I drove a brand new one for three weeks about 6 years ago & didn't like it at all. However, I am learning that cars change (and maybe I do too) so I'll have a go.

huggermugger

any thoughts on the diesel v petrol debate?

peterg1965

How many miles will you do? If you are only doing a modest mileage it may not be worth paying extra for a diesel.

vansboy

Pretty much accepted the 'breakeven' point for a diesel is 15000miles/year, then it DOES start to make sense, for the added diesel costs. all round.

Plenty will have personal diesel v petrol views on driving styles, but the £$£$ don't really stack in diesel favour, below 300miles/week!

& you'll CERTAINLY notice how different a new Astra is to the one you drove!!

VB

huggermugger

Have averaged just under 10,000 miles a year over the last 3 years but will add at least another 4,000 to that over the next year, possibly more. Haven't driven diesels much in the past (I guess Landrovers don't count..); salesman told me that I "wouldn't notice any difference" between the two engines - is this true? Didn't have a diesel for me to try. I know Ford diesels didn't have best reputation in the past.

vansboy

Foolish salesman - he's not doing his product justice - neither is he helping his customer!!

Diesels DO drive differently & if he can't find one for you to try, I'd get to another dealer quick!!

The BEST way to really test, would be the same model & spec & price bracket, back to back petrol V diesel, to obtain a true comparisson.

& yes, the Land Rover is perhaps a li'l different to the ones you're thinking of LOL!!

VB

before_hollywood

plane_boy2000 wrote:

Also telling you 2 year old cars are ex demo is a lie. Garages only run demonstrators for about 3 - 6 months not 2 years!!!!!

ahem, i beg to differ, with all due respect 2 and a half years ago, i bought a 2 year old ex demo car, through a trade contact who obtained it from a franchised dealer, and to prove it the 1 registered previous owner was the manufacturer (registered to the manufacturers corporate address down south).

whether it was still being taken out as a demo car is debateable, but it had 23k on the clock then (and has 34k on now)

before_hollywood

by the way, i may be the only one that thinks a focus is expensive second hand for what it is, have you not considered a golf or a skoda octavia?

or perhaps a fiat stilo???