Best family automatic around £10k

Skintdognotmillionaire

Hi all -

My current car (A Skoda Rapid Spaceback 2015 1.4tdi) has developed a fault that apparently nobody can diagnose or fix (even the main stealer)

I eat up 25k a year (85% motorway miles) so I really need something I can rely on and keep going ideally up to 250k miles or more. 

Whats my best bet for a family sized automatic around 10k? 

It seems like I can’t find anything newer than 2015 which worries me as it will be a downgrade from my current car! 

Car prices have risen astronomically since I paid £9k for mine back in 2018!!!!

Stubod

..current car prices are silly, but no sign of them changing anytime soon. Just sold my car for only £3k less than I paid for it 4 years ago.

Best bet is to go onto Autotrader and set up a "search" which, (if you register), you can save and get updates as more cars become available. Assume you will be wanting a diesel?...so something like an Octavia hatchback may be a good starting point?

Setting up a filter on Autotrader as:-

Skoda, Octavia, Diesel, Auto, £9k-£11k, max mileage 69K...

.... is showing the "newest" one available as 2016....so that's is probably your strting point?

Skintdognotmillionaire

Stubod said:

..current car prices are silly, but no sign of them changing anytime soon. Just sold my car for only £3k less than I paid for it 4 years ago.

Best bet is to go onto Autotrader and set up a "search" which, (if you register), you can save and get updates as more cars become available. Assume you will be wanting a diesel?...so something like an Octavia hatchback may be a good starting point?

Setting up a filter on Autotrader as:-

Skoda, Octavia, Diesel, Auto, £9k-£11k, max mileage 69K...

.... is showing the "newest" one available as 2016....so that's is probably your strting point?

Thanks for the tips.

Unfortunately mines in awful cosmetic condition (narrow driveway + kids opening the doors and the OH scraping it down the gatepost) so I’m only being quoted about £2,200 for it when the same cars are currently selling for £6,000

I was a bit thrown because in the past I’ve always used auto trader, but no it seems like so many dealerships/online supermarkets (E.g cinch/cazoo etc etc) don’t advertise on there? 

Private sellers seem a better deal too but im terrified to buy one. 

iwb100

I think for your mileage you might want to slightly up your budget if you can given you will find something but it’s likely to already be high mileage.

[Deleted User]

With that kind of mileage a Nissan Leaf is probably your best bet. Not 10k but when you factor in the massive fuel savings...

IAMIAM

BMW/German

Petriix

Put the £10k towards an EV and pay the rest out of the fuel savings.

(Assuming you can charge at home and don't regularly drive more than 300 miles per day.)

Herzlos

Skoda Yeti. Fairly small footprint but pretty square so lots of internal space and versatility, decent diesel engines. Pretty decent spec too.

I've only driven a manual one but a co-worker loves his auto.

£10k will get you a 2014/2015. 

ontheroad1970

To the EV evangelists, I'm not sure the Zoe etc is the way to go on this occasion, OP is doing nearly all motorway miles and 25k a year.  Family sized vehicles in EV form are either 40k+ or not here yet.

Petriix

ontheroad1970 said:

To the EV evangelists, I'm not sure the Zoe etc is the way to go on this occasion, OP is doing nearly all motorway miles and 25k a year.  Family sized vehicles in EV form are either 40k+ or not here yet.

Doing 25k miles is typically £5,500 in petrol at current prices. If that's evenly spread at ~ 100 miles per working day then you could do it all at 7.5p per kWh which is ~ £500 for the year. That £5k saving buys you a lot of car, especially with a £10k deposit. Then there's the tax benefits - assuming those £25k miles are business related. The lifetime ownership cost of a £40k EV isn't necessarily massively more than a £10k ICE and it's worth looking at the actual figures.

Stubod

Herzlos said:

Skoda Yeti. Fairly small footprint but pretty square so lots of internal space and versatility, decent diesel engines. Pretty decent spec too.

I've only driven a manual one but a co-worker loves his auto.

£10k will get you a 2014/2015. 

Up until recently I had a Yeti and it was probably my favourite car. However for a "family car" you will find the boot a little small when there are 4 of you in the car....??