Best family automatic around £10k

Grumpy_chap

Petriix said:

Then there's the tax benefits - assuming those £25k miles are business related. 

I am not sure that there are necessary outstanding tax benefits, even if doing business mileage.  The OP appears to be buying their own car and not mentioned the potential of a SS scheme being available.

What tax benefits did you have in mind for the OP to take advantage of?

I am not saying an EV is not worthy of consideration, but the decision should take into account actual factors that apply in their case and not just factors that may apply in other cases.  

If the OP is doing business miles and can claim standard mileage rates, that will be helpful to the financial balance.

Exemplar

Just bought an 18 Plate Kia Optima 3 spec 1.7 Diesel auto, fully loaded, 85K with main dealer history so Kia warranty until 2025. Could not be happier. Edit, £12K

iwb100

Petriix said:

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.

He doesn’t have £40K he has £10K. He needs a family sized car. It’s utterly pointless to suggest he goes and buys a £40K car given the budget restriction. Unless you are advocating leasing, which I would normally but 25K per year seems a bit too high for any sort of reasonable deal in the current climate, 

ontheroad1970

iwb100 said:

Petriix said:

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.

He doesn’t have £40K he has £10K. He needs a family sized car. It’s utterly pointless to suggest he goes and buys a £40K car given the budget restriction. Unless you are advocating leasing, which I would normally but 25K per year seems a bit too high for any sort of reasonable deal in the current climate, 

Petrix always does his maths with a fantasy in mind: that EVs print money.  

I look forward to the time when EVs are more practical.  I've just changed my car.  I considered the Ioniq5.  Two things stopped me.  Used models are selling for 110% of their new price, and secondly for the kind of driving I do - majority motorway, I don't think the infrastructure is quite ready.  I could have afforded a lower specced Ioniq5 without using finance, but I find leather seats more practical with a toddler in the back.  

For 25,000 miles a year with more than 20,000 miles on motorway you have to look beyond the theoretical running costs and consider the practicality.  EVs are better around town than any ICE car, but they are at their worst at motorway speed.  A zoe wouldn't be practical IMHO for the OP's use - especially as what KWh model with an owned battery rather than leased could they get inside their budget that would do commuting distances without having to make unnecessary stops to charge?  I'd say that a Zoe shaped and sized car would struggle to meet the family remit without a roof box - something that would reduce e the car's range.  

Brewer21

Skintdognotmillionaire said:

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!!!!

Have you tried a diesel specific mechanic, is it an engine fault?

Petriix

ontheroad1970 said:

iwb100 said:

Petriix said:

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.

He doesn’t have £40K he has £10K. He needs a family sized car. It’s utterly pointless to suggest he goes and buys a £40K car given the budget restriction. Unless you are advocating leasing, which I would normally but 25K per year seems a bit too high for any sort of reasonable deal in the current climate, 

Petrix always does his maths with a fantasy in mind: that EVs print money.  

I look forward to the time when EVs are more practical.  I've just changed my car.  I considered the Ioniq5.  Two things stopped me.  Used models are selling for 110% of their new price, and secondly for the kind of driving I do - majority motorway, I don't think the infrastructure is quite ready.  I could have afforded a lower specced Ioniq5 without using finance, but I find leather seats more practical with a toddler in the back.  

For 25,000 miles a year with more than 20,000 miles on motorway you have to look beyond the theoretical running costs and consider the practicality.  EVs are better around town than any ICE car, but they are at their worst at motorway speed.  A zoe wouldn't be practical IMHO for the OP's use - especially as what KWh model with an owned battery rather than leased could they get inside their budget that would do commuting distances without having to make unnecessary stops to charge?  I'd say that a Zoe shaped and sized car would struggle to meet the family remit without a roof box - something that would reduce e the car's range.  

Which bit of the maths do you disagree with? I'd be interested in seeing your calculations; I've provided mine.

Petriix

Grumpy_chap said:

Petriix said:

Then there's the tax benefits - assuming those £25k miles are business related. 

I am not sure that there are necessary outstanding tax benefits, even if doing business mileage.  The OP appears to be buying their own car and not mentioned the potential of a SS scheme being available.

What tax benefits did you have in mind for the OP to take advantage of?

I am not saying an EV is not worthy of consideration, but the decision should take into account actual factors that apply in their case and not just factors that may apply in other cases.  

If the OP is doing business miles and can claim standard mileage rates, that will be helpful to the financial balance.

Depending on the scenario... If you buy through a business then the entire purchase price is tax deductible, otherwise salary sacrifice is extremely tax efficient at 2% BIK. 

Herzlos

Stubod said:

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....??

I guess the answer is that it depends. We could fit 2 kids and a buggy comfortably. Though a full pram with basonet might have been a squeeze and we did use a roof box for holidays.

We only upsized because both kids need wheel chairs and I couldn't fit them both in, and we wanted to get sliding doors. 

[Deleted User]

IAMIAM said:

BMW/German

Sure, if you like throwing money into a pit.

[Deleted User]

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.

I suggested a used 40kWh Leaf. Half the price you suggest, going down as prices get back to normal.

On 25k a year mileage the OP would be saving £5k/year on fossil fuel, so after a couple of years it would have cost the same as a fossil car.

Get a loan for it, after a couple of years the loan is paid off and the OP has an extra 5k/year in their pocket.