What size engine do i need?

loskie

you would get a nearly new decent specced one for 17k to 20k. Decent discount off asking price should be achievable.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/volvo/v40/postcode/dg71tr/radius/1500/price-to/20000/maximum-age/up_to_1_year_old/price-from/15000/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/sort/mileage/onesearchad/nearlynew%2Cnew/transmission/manual/fuel-type/diesel/page/1

thescouselander

The Volvo would be a good call IMO - I reckon you'd even get a new one for less than £20k if you used a broker. Or you could look at a lease or PCP deal to see if the finance fits your budget although at that milage it might work out expensive.

I'd also say the new Focus is very good and worth a look (I've driven a few of these through work).

AdrianC

Tcrumpen wrote: »

I'll be doing approx 30,000 miles a year inc business miles.

And your employer provides no company car option?
They have no guidelines on suitable cars for business use?
How much car allowance are they paying you?

gilbert_and_sullivan

If you're moving to the city and still going to be commuting by car forget Diesel.

I'll second Bigjl's note about lashing out £20k on a car, if you are going to cover up to 30k a year much of which will be city driving, by the time its 3 years old with gettng on for 90k on the clock you will have lost at least £12k in depreciation alone.

If you want another car by all means buy one, whatever you like, but if you keep it well serviced there is no reason why you couldn't run you're present Aygo into the ground, you just need to give it some welly to get it to shift.

Engine size isn't everything, much depends on what size and weight the car you want is and whether your chosen engine is naturally aspirated or otherwise, bear in mind that compressed air intake engines (supercharger/turbo) might not be as long lived and will require better care and servicing to stay together.

Tcrumpen

AdrianC wrote: »

And your employer provides no company car option?
They have no guidelines on suitable cars for business use?
How much car allowance are they paying you?

The company does not provide a company car (i believe i'd get taxed a lot if i had one)
I havne't asked really about what they would recommend
They pay me 45p per mile but thats it as far as i'm aware

AdrianC

You would get taxed on a company car, yes. "A lot"? Compared to buying and running your own car for 30k miles/year? Probably not. Especially if you don't have private mileage fuel paid for.

And, if they're paying you 45p/mile x 25,000 (or whatever), you're going to be paying a lot of tax on that, too. 45p for first 10k, then 25p is the maximum untaxed allowance - and you will need to document that mileage, too.

Don't get suckered by headline lease/PCP etc figures, either - 30k/year leases are MUCH more expensive.

You should probably have done all the maths before accepting the job... You may easily end up subsidising your employer's business model.

Tcrumpen

AdrianC wrote: »

You would get taxed on a company car, yes. "A lot"? Compared to buying and running your own car for 30k miles/year? Probably not. Especially if you don't have private mileage fuel paid for.

And, if they're paying you 45p/mile x 25,000 (or whatever), you're going to be paying a lot of tax on that, too. 45p for first 10k, then 25p is the maximum untaxed allowance - and you will need to document that mileage, too.

Don't get suckered by headline lease/PCP etc figures, either - 30k/year leases are MUCH more expensive.

You should probably have done all the maths before accepting the job... You may easily end up subsidising your employer's business model.

I couldn't afford to turn a job down i was on unemployment benefits

AdrianC

Tcrumpen wrote: »

I couldn't afford to turn a job down i was on unemployment benefits

Sounds like splunking out on a £20k car is a REALLY bad idea, then - and an even worse idea if it's brand new.

Stageshoot

Motorpoint currently have a great selection of Volvo V40s (Nearly New)

Have been tempted myself by a D4 Design

Bought 5 Newly news from them over the years and cant praise them enough

http://www.motorpoint.co.uk/used-cars/volvo/v40

buglawton

I often drive a C1 1L essentially same vehicle OP wants to upgrade from. Use it on 150 mile round trips. Amusingly, once I get it up to the legal max motorway speed, I sail past much larger cars that I presume are concerned about their fuel consumption so taking it easy.

It should be fine for OP to happily carry on with the Aygo, at least for the first 6 months while acclimatising to the new job and while in the trial period. If the employer is making some implicit demand that your vehicle is client-worthy, then they should have some financial assistance available.

Oh, and if a salesman turns up at my house to do a quote on a home project, I'd be positively impressed to see them arrive in a compact, economical vehicle.

I think a lot of the 'what car should I upgrade to for my mainly personal use' questions are folks trying to justify a more prestigious vehicle to themselves and to OH.