economical big(ish) car

fairyclicks

HI There

I'm in need of a new car and don't know where to start looking. I have driven a 4x4 for about 12 yrs and find driving a small car very uncomfortable. I have problems with my hips and need a higher seating position. I also need a car with a decent amount of space as i tend to do car boot sales. I have a budget of about £2000 - any suggestions?

Thanks

andygb

These are good cars, have plenty of room, and you can dial in a high seating position. They are also quite economical.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201245491325979/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/2000/model/superb/make/skoda/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/quicksearch/true/radius/1501/postcode/me21dp/page/1?logcode=p

steve-L

What do you mean by economical?
After a big 4x4 it sounds like most cars would be more economical?

If you have a problem in mobility you can get money to convert/buy a car.
I don't know the details, you could ask a manufacturer of special seats....but I guess it involves a doctors note...
http://www.elap.co.uk/motoring/vehicle-adaptations/rotating-seats/

It still depends on the car, what headroom you need etc.

In general terms the most economical 4x4 seems to be the Honda
Its not a true full off roader ....
The TDCI gets good milage and has Honda reliability, I have the same engine in my partners Accord Estate (really low so probably not a good option for you without modification). It does however have a HUGE BOOT....

Assuming you do a normal milage then many of the BIG TD's are a good bet if you keep away from the less reliable ones...

Look for an ex-fleet car that has had the full service history (lots with estate as its a salesman's car).
When I was looking I also looked at the Rover 700's.... since Rover went out of business/got bought they have dropped rapidly in price... and you get a lot of car for the money...

fivetide

Vauxhall Agila/Suzuki Wagon R/Ford Fusion.

all smaller cars with a high up seating position and with the rear seats down a huge load space as allt he seats fold flat.

also available with small engines. You can get everything you need without buying 'a big car'

C_Mababejive

Have you considered a diesel transit connect van SWB?

steve-L

fivetide wrote: »

also available with small engines. You can get everything you need without buying 'a big car'

Except residuals......
Big cars hold their value better ..... and cost less (usually) in the longer term....

Cars made with budget consumers are made to be cheap to buy new and usually start 'fall apart' after 75k.... hence the second hand price plunges to almost nothing quickly.... Smaller engines equally are not made to last 500,000 miles ....

Cars made for fleet buyers are made to be cheaper to own and last longer. Hence they hold value better.

I'm not suggesting anyone lease a car but the lease companies have good figures on this.... this is why its cheaper to lease a new BMW than a Fiesta....

For any price point you will get a NEWER and perhaps lower milage small 'consumer car' BUT with less (economic) miles left on it than a bigger fleet car. By economic I mean at some point running repairs are costing more than the car is worth.

The combination of a small car and big diesel doesn't help..the engine might well do 500,000 but the car will be dropping apart way before that compared to a better built bigger car designed for the fleet market.

MPG is not all that different outside of towns for a 1.4 petrol and 3.0D...... My 330D gets 50+ MPG at 70 mph......(driven carefully).... I average 40MPG combined....
Depreciation is much lower than a similar priced smaller car (I paid 6000)... it has 113k but feels considerably NEWER than my mums 45k Corsa.... and costs me less than my mum's Corsa to keep on the road.... (It seems hardly a month goes by she doesn't need something fixing/replacing)... obviously it costs me more to change the oil..... tyres etc.

The Honda has cost me £400 in I think 25k miles...(£300 to strip and clean the turbo).. (From 150k to 175k).... I get 40MPG combined ... not quote so much as a 1.1 petrol compact but not that different on a motorway.....

In between I get the bonus of a 'nicer car'. Heated seats, mirrors, leather (useful with kids)... No need to hire a van for IKEA/Homebase etc.

I have owned smaller, older cars and I found them to be money pits...... I'd only buy one now if I had a drive that was only big enough for a compact..... or I really only did city centre driving....

This suits ME.... I commute often on the train.... but when I work at a client site I might be doing 50-100miles+/day....

Weekends I will tend to go further rather than shorter.....
The difference driving the BMW or Honda to visit Granny (600 mile round trip done more often now than with a smaller car) costs me far less than the old 2.0 petrol sport I had (1/2 cost) and I feel a lot less tired after driving up the rainy M6 on a Friday night!

In the Honda (BMW is a saloon) regardless of what we pack Mum has room to sit in the back if required..... the estate boot just swallows prams/bikes/travel cots..... and its a lot more comfortable all round.

fivetide

steve-L wrote: »

Except residuals......
Big cars hold their value better ..... and cost less (usually) in the longer term....

The OP has a budget of £2k.... Residuals don't really come into it.

Cars made with budget consumers are made to be cheap to buy new and usually start 'fall apart' after 75k.... hence the second hand price plunges to almost nothing quickly.... Smaller engines equally are not made to last 500,000 miles ....

Almost agree, the OP will be looking at condition but they have said they want something cheap to run.

On the money, 40k on the clock and should do everything needed

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/suzuki/other-models/suzuki-wagon-r-1-3-vvt-16v-gl-5dr/599536

Cars made for fleet buyers are made to be cheaper to own and last longer. Hence they hold value better.

I'm not suggesting anyone lease a car but the lease companies have good figures on this.... this is why its cheaper to lease a new BMW than a Fiesta....

No, lease buyers know that their middle managers are not going to want to drive about in a Fiesta and as such will lease them a BMW 3 series. The buying power of this gets the price down for them.

Yes Mondeos et al are designed for a bit more use generally but it is good you qualified what you meant by a big car here, espcially depraciating less. I'm pretty sure I'll find you a big Citroen worth peanuts compared to new and having lost a much bigger percentage of it's new price than any fiesta....

For any price point you will get a NEWER and perhaps lower milage small 'consumer car' BUT with less (economic) miles left on it than a bigger fleet car. By economic I mean at some point running repairs are costing more than the car is worth.

OP wants something with an upright driving position.

The combination of a small car and big diesel doesn't help..the engine might well do 500,000 but the car will be dropping apart way before that compared to a better built bigger car designed for the fleet market.

OP still wants somethign upright with a big load space. they are not looking for a 3 series BMW

MPG is not all that different outside of towns for a 1.4 petrol and 3.0D...... My 330D gets 50+ MPG at 70 mph......(driven carefully).... I average 40MPG combined....
Depreciation is much lower than a similar priced smaller car (I paid 6000)...

Budget, again is £2000....

it has 113k but feels considerably NEWER than my mums 45k Corsa.... and costs me less than my mum's Corsa to keep on the road.... (It seems hardly a month goes by she doesn't need something fixing/replacing)... obviously it costs me more to change the oil..... tyres etc.

Motorway miles are no issue. Short trips will kill a car as fast as too many long ones.

The Honda has cost me £400 in I think 25k miles...(£300 to strip and clean the turbo).. (From 150k to 175k).... I get 40MPG combined ... not quote so much as a 1.1 petrol compact but not that different on a motorway.....

What Honda? You mentioned a BMW and a Corsa?

In between I get the bonus of a 'nicer car'. Heated seats, mirrors, leather .....SNIP.

Not trying to be funny but if you'd read the initial post you could have saved a lot of typing there chap! :beer:

forgotmyname

Im thinking of a van based vehicle next. Maybe a minibus.

Rip the extra seats out and fit a caravan/motorhome kitchen unit etc. Replace the front seats with Mondeo ones which i find 100% comfortable.
I can drive all day and not get cramps etc.

An S-Max alternative without emptying my wallet?

steve-L

fivetide wrote: »

Not trying to be funny but if you'd read the initial post you could have saved a lot of typing there chap! :beer:

Ooops....
Your right, I missed the 2k.....

p.s.
My other half has my old Honda Accord Exec TDCI (175,000 miles)


p.p.s.
And I'm not sure if its driving position or getting in position.......
Most people with a mobility problem is actually getting into the car that's the bigger issue.


p.p.p.s Citroen were in the top for the Warranty Direct reliability survey.... along of course with German/Japanese.....
I concur, the residuals are pants for a nearly new buyer!
It's amazing how much influence Jeremy Clarkson has

The MPV's go for a song on auto-trader ..... and would probably suit the OP. Some of the best bargains around IMHO.... no good reason for it either. (I understand they are less than for example a similar s-max, just not how much less).

rev_henry

steve-L wrote: »

What do you mean by economical?
After a big 4x4 it sounds like most cars would be more economical?

If you have a problem in mobility you can get money to convert/buy a car.
I don't know the details, you could ask a manufacturer of special seats....but I guess it involves a doctors note...
http://www.elap.co.uk/motoring/vehicle-adaptations/rotating-seats/

It still depends on the car, what headroom you need etc.

In general terms the most economical 4x4 seems to be the Honda
Its not a true full off roader ....
The TDCI gets good milage and has Honda reliability, I have the same engine in my partners Accord Estate (really low so probably not a good option for you without modification). It does however have a HUGE BOOT....

Assuming you do a normal milage then many of the BIG TD's are a good bet if you keep away from the less reliable ones...

Look for an ex-fleet car that has had the full service history (lots with estate as its a salesman's car).
When I was looking I also looked at the Rover 700's.... since Rover went out of business/got bought they have dropped rapidly in price... and you get a lot of car for the money...

Do you mean a Rover 75? As long as its a diesel estate it might be ok, though driving position might be an issue.

skivenov

Speaking as someone with a dodgy back who likes an upright driving position, normally with the driver's seat about a notch forward of being in the boot, don't get a BMW!

Daft as it sounds, I find the comfiest vehicle on the road to be the Ford Transit van. I've driven one for 400 miles none-stop before and arrived fresh as a daisy.

Well worth a look if you're willing to entertain a smaller vehicle to reduce your running costs are the Ford Fusion and Fiesta (particularly the previous shape).

A bit bigger, but still reasonably cheap to run, except the petrol auto's, is the Vauxhall Zafira.