Help me choose a car (BMW 1 / Fiesta / Octavia)

Talc1234

Hi,

Looking to buy a used car 1-3 years old, economical but fun to drive. I drive 13k Miles per year but likely to increase as my father is ill and I need to visit him every 3 weeks (300 miles round journey). My daily commute is 15 miles each way, mostly rural can include motorway depending on route

Cars I am thinking of are Ford Fiesta 1-2 years old <20K miles 1 liter turbo ecoboost 125 hp model OR BMW 1 diesel 116 / 118 / 120d 2-3 years old 40-60 K miles OR Skoda Octavia TSi 1.2 1-2 years old <20K miles

My kids normally live their mum. I appreciate a bigger boot on holiday but not a deal breaker (can use roof box)

All cars are priced £11 - 12K

What would your choice be?

Spicy_McHaggis

11-12k for a used fiesta should see it ruled out.

Iceweasel

You do regular short journeys which would normally rule out a diesel with a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) but......

Those 150 miles x 2 journeys every 3 weeks or so will be long enough for the car to perform a re-gen of the DPF.

That's very similar to the pattern of use my diesel gets.

If you go for the BMW (which I would do - as I'm a big fan of that marque) buy it from a BMW dealer with an AUC (Approved Used Car) one year warranty which can be renewed after it expires.

A little pricier from a dealer - but you can sleep easy - these complicated technology cars can be very expensive when things go wrong - and the manufacturers warranty is the only one worth the paper it's written on.

There is a risk, albeit a small risk, of timing chain problems with the 2 litre N47 engine, but with a warrantied AUC car that would not be a worry.

harveybobbles

What a non-descript selection of cars.

I would also personally avoid diesels, unless you're cracking over 30,000 miles a year.

Volvo C30/V50/V40?
i30 or i40?
Nissan Puke?