Advise please - Need to buy car Max budget 12k

guilo67

As per thread on other forum. I am going to be made redundant in the not too distant future.
I have about 12k max to spend on a relatively new car, say 2 years old. Don't know if I want to spend the full budget. I am pretty spoiled as for the last 24 yrs I have had a company car. Not sure if my 30 year old experience at basic servicing holds any credence nowadays as I barely recognise the engine when you flip the bonnet.
My strategy is buy a circa 2yr old car and keep it for around 10 years. I have owned petrol and diesel and have no preference.
I will do circa 10k miles per year.
My initial thoughts are buy a Ford Focus or Mondeo.


Feedback greatly appreciated. Many thanks >>>>>>

daveyjp

Have a look at Ford Direct. You will have plenty of change for your money if you go for a Focus petrol.

guilo67

Would you go for petrol over diesel. At the moment I would.
Also how large an engine would you recommend.

Thanks in anticipation".........

AdrianC

You've got £12k in your pocket.
You're about to be made redundant.
You want to put the lot onto a car.

Honestly? Put £10k in the bank, spend £2k on a car.

force_ten

guilo67 wrote: »

Would you go for petrol over diesel. At the moment I would.
Also how large an engine would you recommend.

Thanks in anticipation".........

that depends on the type of driving you will be doing and your annual miles

running around town, stop start, popping down to the shops, and the odd trip on the motorway but mainly town work then it is 100% petrol

if your driving is made up of long trips all the time fast motorway runs and the odd trip around town and to the shops then i would go for a diesel

all modern diesels have been fitted with diesel particle filters since 2009 to meet EU regulations and if you use a modern diesel to pootle around town then there is a good chance you will have serious problems with the DPF and they can cost a grand to replace

attila_

Ford focus or mondeo? Sorry but botg of those sound really boring to means would not spend that much on them.

If you have that amount available and you've been working for 30 years why not get something a little nore fun?

Bmw 330i
Audi a4 3.2 or 2.0 tsi
Bmw 530d/i
Alfa brera or one of the latest 159
Golf gti edition 30

Depends what you're after of course. The above is a mix of cruisers to sporty hatchbacks. You nay not get 2 year old but not too far off.

Honestly if I was going to get mondeo or focus would not spend more than £3/4k. Those a throw-away cars.

GwylimT

I would choose the mondeo over the focus, a far comfier drive, I had an 09 petrol 2l mondeo it was the best car I've ever owned, unfortunately it was stolen and torched.

The mondeo petrol and Diesel engines are fantastic, the only issue I have with the focus diesel is the sump tank is small.

guilo67

Thanks all for your replies.
I think I am leaning towards Petrol as I will be only circa 20% motorway driving. 50% will be relatively rural. Since its the north of Scotland A9 and the like. Also want a front wheel drive as the snow and the ice can be a !!!!!!.


Given I want the car to last at least 9yrs and will probably do about 100k miles do any of the cars have a problem in your opinion.


Again many thanks

gamston

have you thought about going to auctions for a car, many of the garages buy their cars for sale there,
its worth looking at their web sites
they have nearly new cars, mobility cars, google BCA manheim these are local to me, you can see what they have, at manheim I have to put bidding deposit of £500 cash, get it back when I leave the auction, if there is one near you its worth a visit

Herzlos

Unless you're doing huge mileage then go petrol; it's cheaper to service with less to go wrong, and you probably won't notice much difference in fuel costs anyway.

If you're planning on keeping it for 100K miles, have a look at Vauxhall Astra or Insigna (they are pretty much giving away the 1.8 petrol), as if you get one new enough you can get a 100K mile manufacturers warranty.

Personally, if I was going to be made redundant soon I'd be looking at spending 3-4K on a new car and keeping the rest in cash just in case it took longer to get a new job than I intended. If you're looking at it as an early retirement or already have something else lined up, then that's a different matter entirely.

force_ten

guilo67 wrote: »

Thanks all for your replies.
I think I am leaning towards Petrol as I will be only circa 20% motorway driving. 50% will be relatively rural. Since its the north of Scotland A9 and the like. Also want a front wheel drive as the snow and the ice can be a !!!!!!.


Given I want the car to last at least 9yrs and will probably do about 100k miles do any of the cars have a problem in your opinion.


Again many thanks

if you live in the north of Scotland and need to use the car when the weather turns bad then i seriously suggest that you look at buying winter tyres

the best way to do it is to buy a spare set of alloys and fit them with good quality mud and snow tyres, this will seem expensive to start with but as you will have the winters on for up to six months a year it will reduce your summer tyre bill

also in the north of Scotland it may be worth carrying a set of snow chains in the boot of car that can be fitted to the drive wheels if the winters cant cope, Lidl normally stock a pair of snow chains for around the £20.00 mark and they come into the shops around october, if you never use them it will be the best £20.00 you ever spend

I have owned three mondeos and they are a very capable and often underrated car and i would go for a mondeo over the focus