Advice on buying a car? Kia Rio, Dacia or a MG?

Herzlos

Parking certainly got a lot less stressful when I went from nice saloons to a crappy little hatchback.

motorguy

Herzlos said:

Parking certainly got a lot less stressful when I went from nice saloons to a crappy little hatchback.

I try to think of the positive of the extra exercise i get walking from the empty far side of car parks to where i want to go to.  

Not ready yet to give up on being a petrol head.  Maybe in another 6 or 7 years when i'm 60 we'll get something sensible.  

Grumpy_chap

Well, I wonder whether the OP got the Manchester car?
There is only so much leading to water an internet forum can do.

blackstar

Well thank you all very much for all your help, especially my friend Grumpy who has been very ungrumpy. I have put a deposit down on a Dacia 1.0 TCe 90. I think my wife is very happy as she needed a new car. It was a huge help from people here who helped make it happen, which it might otherwise not have happened or would have been in a more difficult position. But has been prevented by you good people like Grumpy. 
I have been busy sorting all this car stuff out so apologize for the late response. 
I now am looking into getting everything else sorted out. 
I called the Dacia customer service line but the person I spoke to had no idea if or when there was a cut off point for taking out the Warranty and Service plan. She said to open up a account on the website and it will give me all the options available to me but that was it.
If you were me now, just buying a brand new Essential Sandero, what (and when) would you do in terms of a service plan and extended warranty?
I think the gap insurance was about £325 4 years with the dealership. I have heard of GAP123 and they are £125 cheaper for 4 years. 
Combined Return to Invoice Gap Insurance and Combined Vehicle Replacement Insurance?
Which is better and how? Cant seem to see any difference?

In terms of keeping it maintained, other than its yearly maintenance, is there anything else you would do, ie check oil every month etc?

Have any of you had repairs on warranty and was it a no fuss?

Goudy

Dacia, like parent company Renault have an online customer area where you can keep track of most things related to your car, including offers for servicing and other car related offers.
https://my.dacia.co.uk/login-signup.html?next=https://my.dacia.co.uk/

Once you have your car details, you can create an account, but probably best talking to the dealer first about things like service plans.

If you want GAP insurance, shop around but make sure you compare like for like.
I've never bought it myself but ALA insurance seem to get good reviews for their GAP policies.

If you aren't doing mega mileage, do a monthly check on the oil level and know what oil it takes if it needs a top up (I still can't find oil for my Clio listed anywhere!).
Also check the tyre pressures at the same time. You can buy a small pressure gauge cheaply and keep it in the glove box.

blackstar

Thanks I have been offered Gardx by dealership for £400 would you take it?

Herzlos

blackstar said:

Thanks I have been offered Gardx by dealership for £400 would you take it?

Nah, you can get the kit to do it yourself for £22 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165237387717

Jenni_D

If they were offering it free then yes. Charging (handsomely) for it? Nah.

blackstar

Thanks Jenni,
Im looking for a good Gap insurance quote, anyone used?

Anyone think using comparethemarket.com is a good website to use to get gap insurance?

I am conufused though as the questions on this website say:

a) Factory fitted thatcham approved alarm/immobiliser

b) Factory fitted thatcham approved alarm

c)Factory fitted non thatcham alarm/immobiliser

d) factory fitted non thatcham alarm

e) Factory fitted

f) None

I am looking on the manual

https://cdn.group.renault.com/dac/gb/transversal-a...

and it says it has a Engine immobiliser and nothing about an alarm, so it obviously has no alarm but which option do I tick? Theres no option for just a Engine immobiliser???

Would others go with a Total Loss Return to Invoice Gap Insurance or a Combined Return to Invoice & Vehicle Replacement Gap?

Dogbyte009

blackstar said:

Im looking for a good Gap insurance quote, anyone used?

Check out MotorEasy - https://www.motoreasy.com/gap-insurance