suggestions for a new car

ali-t

Hi, my car knowledge is poor and I am looking for some guidance about a new car. I am changing jobs soon so will be handing back my lease car and need a new one.

I will have a 15 mile round trip each day so will do less than 100 miles a week but live rurally so no where near a bus stop and would need 2 buses and at least an hour to do a less than 10 minute car journey so need a car.

I would have gone for a basic city car but live up a very potholed dirt track road so need decent clearance and need to drive uphill up a 70mph A road so wary of a very small engine.

my shortlist so far of new or nearly new cars is:
1.5 renault captur
volvo v40 - currently have a diesel one of these
Audi a1 1.2
volkwagon up 1 litre
nissan qashqui

I have also seen the new honda hrv but its not coming out until summer which could be any time between now and november!

any thoughts on these options. I would prefer to not have lots of maintenance so an old car isnt an option.

Witless

Dacia Stepway?

mickburkejnr

How tall are you? I only ask as I'm 6ft 3 and took the Dacia Duster for a spin months ago. The seat was all the way down and would rock back and forth like it was on a see-saw.

Out of those options I'd go for the V40. They look OK, it's a Volvo-!!!-Ford after all.

You mention the A1, would you consider the Peugeot 108/Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo? I have the Peugeot 107 and regularly travelled to work which was an A-road with lumps bumps and everything in between and it's been a fine servant to me. I also drove it from Birmingham to Budapest once, and as far North East as Oban in Scotland. Never lost a step or let me down.

ali-t

I would be a bit ckncerned about the resale value of a dacia. I am 5'1 so prefer quite a high driving position which is the one thing I dknt like about my volvo.

i have driven a friends aygo and at the time I had a 2.2l turbo car so ckuldnt get my head round having to put my foot to the floor in 1st gear to get up a hill so the aygo is a definite no go. I will look at the other options. A friend has a c1 and loves it but the thought of going back to the 80's with windy down windows and no air con fills me with horror.

Samsonite1

The Qashqui is considerably bigger than the others, but I would go with that - my company hired one for me when I had to work in NZ and I really liked everything about it. I have had a couple of Nissans in the past and they seem to be rock solid for reliability too.

Unless you dislike the brand, Fords are pretty solid I have found (on my second in a row). I live on the outskirts of London but have country roads one way and giant speed bumps everywhere else, so need a tough car! The EcoBoost engines are worth a look - a 1 litre EcoBoost engine will be a lot more powerful than you expect (although personally I have a big turbo diesel).

forgotmyname

Yes the resale value may poor when you look at percentages, but its cheap to start with so less money to lose.

Which would you prefer £8395 Stepway that may lose 70% of its value
or
£13780 Skoda Yeti which may only lose 50% of its value?

Samsonite1

ali-t wrote: »

I would be a bit ckncerned about the resale value of a dacia. I am 5'1 so prefer quite a high driving position which is the one thing I dknt like about my volvo.

It was not a car I considered so you certainly will not have, but I now drive a Ford C-Max. I was surprised by it - the seating position is 10cm higher than a Focus and you will feel like you are in a 4x4 when you first sit in one. This added the good ground clearance was a major selling point given the giant speed bumps I have to endure. The car is also lovely to drive and Fords are so solid with reasonable dealer pricing for repairs. Admittedly I negotiated a 3 year warranty for free so I am happy for 3 years!

ali-t

I have just had a look at the c max and am not keen on it - it looks like a bloated fiesta. I previously had a meriva (fat corsa) and didnt like that as had some terrifying drives in the snow and ice in it.

loskie

Fiat Panda. Dont bother with 4wd in Tuscany and Umbria , hilly and snowy in winter locals manage just fine.

deskhelp

Audi I just love them.

ali-t

deskhelp wrote: »

Audi I just love them.

What is it that you love about them? Do you have a1?