another what car for me thread...

ali-t

Iam looking at getting a new car as mine is very expensive to run and things are starting to go wrong with it so once the snow is gone, so is the car.

I don't know anything about cars but do know the features I want but have no idea what they mean in technical terms or in specific cars.

I currently drive a Nissan Xtrail and love it. I love being high up, find it easy to park as visibility is good, feel very safe in it and the leather interior is great for not holding onto dog smells if the hounds have been in the car.

I hate that the road tax is nearly £250pa, I get around 30mpg in it, it is very expensive to run and it is 9 years old and things are starting to go wrong.

I was recently quoted around £4K to get the autocooler replaced and the fuel tank replaced if cleaning the filter didn't solve the running problem. Thankfully it did but there is still a hole in the autocooler and parts are very expensive for it.

I think I would get around £5k trading it in as it has very low mileage, is top of the range (at the time) and I have seen them on autotrader for sale at around £6K

Ideally I would like a car with an elevated driving position as I like to be quite high up. I like the 4WD in the xtrail but don't need it and it isn't a sacrafice to lose this. I live out in the country up a dirt track that is a nightmare to navigate in mud, snow etc so a car that doesn't sit too low to the ground would be best.

I have no budget in mind as I have no budget and would be getting a loan for the shortfall from any trade in or private sale. Keeping it and running it into the ground isn't an option as the parts are so expensive and the current work recommended by the garage is going to come to around half the resale value of the car.

I don't want a new car but nothing too old either and would like something reliable with great fuel consumption and needs to either have a big boot or 4 doors to get the dogs in.

Any ideas what might suit me?

forgotmyname

Xtrail diesel. Cheaper tax.

The money your going to spend pays for a lot of repairs.

Autocooler? £4000 would be enough for a new gearbox not just a cooler.

A transmission specialist would fix it for MUCH less. Or is the cooler in the radiator? Few hundred £ to replace? Not sure on the system on the Xtrail.

Hintza

Op my initial thought is that you would be very lucky to get anywhere near £5k for it so be prepared for a shock.


How about a Nissan Note? Certainly not trendy but will probably do exactly what you want. The advantage is you are dealing with another Nissan so with luck that will maximise your trade in (or does the dealer know your car.....lol)

ali-t

It is a diesel trail and tax is £245. The fault it has may have been fixed by cleaning/replacing the fuel filter last week at a cost of £200 but if it plays up again, it needs a new fuel pump which was included in the costs above.

I don't know much about cars but the intercooler is apparently linked to the turbo thing and its likely to be the next thing to go.

I don't want to keep the car after this winter and need something much more economical.

ali-t

Hintza wrote: »

Op my initial thought is that you would be very lucky to get anywhere near £5k for it so be prepared for a shock.


How about a Nissan Note? Certainly not trendy but will probably do exactly what you want. The advantage is you are dealing with another Nissan so with luck that will maximise your trade in (or does the dealer know your car.....lol)

The dealer does know the car :-( we buy any car offered me just under 6 a few months ago but I wasn't ready to part with it at that point. It has really low mileage and had around £30k on it 3 years ago when I bought it. It is a 54 plate but immaculate with full leather interior, integrated sat nav etc.

steve-L

Honda CRV?

Really a dedicated SOFTroader but probably up to your needs.
Mostly its still a car and parts are mostly car price not SUV price?

+ Cheap tax and decent MPG
+ Elevated driving
+ Can get across a bit of snow, mud.... but its obviously not a defender.
+ Engines run forever... my Accord has 180k, very reliable
+ Road tax .... (forget the band but it is low for my Accord with the same engine)
- Not a capable 4x4
- Image?
- Smaller than a big 4x4

More recently other manufacturers have produced very capable softroaders but these are mostly too new for your budget. The RAV4 is probably closest but image aside I'd probably want the petrol VX and then you forget the economy ....

Hintza

steve-L wrote: »

Honda CRV?

They aren't as frugal as they should be but yes good cars. That then brings in the likes of the Quashquai.

forgotmyname

Some of the X-Trails are under £200 a year tax.

But still means your going to spend how much £££££ to potentially save £100 a year?

The tax on my car has risen from £135 to £170 in 3 years. As time goes on. All the super low emission cars will also start to increase as they need more money to fulfil MP's expense requests.

ali-t

steve-L wrote: »

Honda CRV? /QUOTE]

I had a Honda before I got the Nissan and liked it but have googled the crv and only 30-40mpg so not a huge improvement but I do like Hondas so that could be a possibility.

ali-t

forgotmyname wrote: »

But still means your going to spend how much £££££ to potentially save £100 a year

I am going to have to spend around £4k to keep the x trail on the road so would rather get rid of it before it dies completely and spend the £4k on another car than repairing this one

steve-L

Hintza wrote: »

They aren't as frugal as they should be but yes good cars. That then brings in the likes of the Quashquai.

Not sure of they are good cars or good SUV's or good softroaders?

But isn't the Quashquai too new to be in the OP's price range? (Never looked as its out of mine)