Which Car To Buy! Need Help and advice!

crusty_toenail

Hi everyone!:j

I really need help, I know nothing about cars and want to choose the best one for me, my hubby and 2 small kids - this is what you have to work with:

1. Price - Between 6-9k

2. Running Costs - as cheap as possible, we do about 12-15k miles a year, but want a good mpg vehicle.

3. Interior - lots of boot room (for tent), 5 doors, 5 seats.

4. Last long time - we are planning to keep this car until it dies, so something with durability and good bodywork (as it never stops raining in NI and my cars seem to fail thel MOT due to rust in the end.

Anyone have any ideas, your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also - no French/Italian cars, bad experiences with electrics. I prefer Japanese - better body work????

Thank you in advance,

Crusty:A

Lithian

The distance you are covering is a bit troublesome, if you were doing 20k + then a diesel would be a no brainer (nearly) if you were doing less then a petrol would make sense.

At 15k if you are unlucky with a diesel you won't have saved any money, have been driving a slower car and have to spend time with a garage to fix it. This point moves about depending on the car obviously, older mondeos got a bit of a reputation for diesel bills but i'm not sure if that applies to the mk4 (which your budget should open up?)

How cheap are we talking about running cost wise? At the top end of your budget depreciation could be more of the cost than fuel, you could just buy something fun for £4k and spend the extra on fuel

How big are we talking? a focus/civic sized car should cover a camping trip for 4 but a mondeo estate could probably fit the tent assembled

and also the NI car market is a bit different from the mainland one so i'm not really sure what £6-9k will get you

forgotmyname

Mondeo, Mondeo or Mondeo's. Too big? Focus or Fiesta.

Why waste £9000 then worry if it does 40 or 45mpg?

£9000 is a LOT of fuel.

£3000 can get you a car under 5 years old. With enough life for another 10 years if looked after.

cyclonebri1

Forget the myth about 12/15k being too low to by a diesel, it isn't.
The servicing costs are similar and often no more frequent.

The key is simply to buy at the right price after the initial diesel premium has worn off, ie, in the price bracket you are looking at.:money::money::money: You will save on fuel and at 15k miles it will be significant

getmore4less

Skoda Octavia 1.9pd best you can find

massive boot

estate has a more practical boot but not a lot bigger than the hatch.

None of the diesel dpf issues cheap(ish) solid flywheel conversion if needed, mega MPG if driven like you have no brakes.

Have a look at http://www.briskoda.net

worried_jim

I would just hit the mainland and buy a late 90's Audi A4 diesel. No dpf to worry about and 1990's German engineering. £2k should secure a reliable, comfortable car that should last for years and get 50ish mpg. Simples.

Here's a good one for £900-
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201216464067103/sort/default/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/model/a4/make/audi/postcode/dg98el/page/1/radius/100?logcode=p

1999 Audi A4 1.9 TDi 110 SE 5dr Diesel Avant
Car is in almost mint condition. MOT'd till February 2013, taxed till July 2012. Nice to drive, and has excellent fuel economy.. £895

crusty_toenail

Thanks for taking the time and linking other pages to help me peeps. I have had a look at those links. Very interesting!

Was having a look through autotrader last night and hubby really likes Seat Ibizas but Im not sure if there will be enough room in the back for the kids legs and boot room.
I am thinking of mondeo, octavia or mazda 6. Anyone see any good deals on these cars?????

thanks in advance,

crusty

getmore4less

crusty_toenail wrote: »

Thanks for taking the time and linking other pages to help me peeps. I have had a look at those links. Very interesting!

Was having a look through autotrader last night and hubby really likes Seat Ibizas but Im not sure if there will be enough room in the back for the kids legs and boot room.
I am thinking of mondeo, octavia or mazda 6. Anyone see any good deals on these cars?????

thanks in advance,

crusty

agree from first post longevity is a criteria.

so small kids become big kids

zeon999

I would have to agree with the idea of an Octavia great car an your going to get alot for your money.

Some exmaples in your price range.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/skoda/octavia/postcode/st161py/radius/1500/maximum-age/up_to_5_years_old/body-type/estate/price-to/9000/price-from/6000/fuel-type/diesel/maximum-mileage/up_to_40000_miles/sort/default

cyclonebri1

I was going for an Octavia estate for the next change.

Fancied the 4x4 one, , but are they expensive, and the same goes for the rest of the range.

Maybe the tardie Skoda badge that used to be a disease akin to leprosy has now more than "peaked"??

Indout96

Depends how large you want to go, I changed a couple of months ago to a VW Passat 2.0tdi and love it. on short town runs (work & back) 3.5 mile runs I get between 40 and 30 mph dependant on traffic. on longer runs 50-60 no problem.
It is large inside, very big boot full leather with heated seats, cruse control ect.
There are a lot of ex-fleet ones around which have done mainly motorway miles but be aware that companies tend to change them just before 80,000 so factor in the cost of a new cambelt / water pump belt (£250 at local garage)
I know Ireland are far more expensive that over here but mine was £7k at 3 years old.

Fuel averages 43 mpg compared to 29.8 for my last car (2005 Tigra 1.8) and our Saab (2004 1.8) which averages 23.6 (mainly town driving short trips) so a big saving on fuel bills
These are all from full fill calculations which I chart at every fill up (I really need to get a life )