change of car, but what to?

LJW_2

Hi, I currently have a BMW 3 series but want to change as the petrol is costing far to much, also the tax will be going up soon!!

I need a family car, not to big but not to small, I also use the car for work and do quite a lot of shortish journeys, also it has to be reasonble for insurance and new road tax rates!

Anybody have any advice? I'm hoping to part x the bm and don't want a brand new car.

newcastlebelle

my neighbour is getting a new company car next week to replace his honda.
its a hibred [?].dont know much about them, but it costs £10 py road tax and runs on 3/4 battery [ which recharges itself] and 1/4 petrol. is a large as a family car, reliable for v long journeys on the motorway and he does a lot of miles py.
anyone know about these?

anewman

Skoda Octavia/Fabia.1.9 TDI

ArsenalFC

A ford focus perhaps, 1.6i group 5-7 insurance.

Doozergirl

I moved from the 3 series to the 1 series petrol and saved a lot on petrol. If I'd actually gone for diesel I'd have got even more. After all our research I actually went to buy a Ford Focus from a car supermarket and whilst we'd looked at the 1 series a few months earlier, I'd discounted it really because of the 'badge' thing.

But when I got in the focus, I didn't like the old man Beige interior (I know but I only wanted the funky turquoise car or nothing and old man beige doesn't sit well with funky turquoise exterior) and a 1 series was sat outside the showroom. I got into it and it was just a million miles better than the Focus. More solid and you get to keep that firm steering feel that you get from a BMW. It also just feels safer and more solid. It didn't feel like a compromise which the Focus did and the BMW diesels are fab having had a couple as courtesy cars.

I've changed again already because I really just wanted a MINI but wasn't allowed one. In the end I over-ruled him and I get even more MPG even if I have to squidge the kids and the shopping in. It all fits!

The other car I like is the Honda Civic. The back seats are great because you can flip the seats up (not the usual flip the chair backs down) for storage or stow things under the seats even when you're carrying passengers. Very practical but the car I test drove had a slightly warped windscreen and it put me off (plus I wanted a MINI)

ArsenalFC

I agreed the 1 serie will be a different class to the focus.....so is the price. Bmw are fab cars if one can afford to buy and maintain it, I've had 2 bmw, 318is and 323ci both great cars to drive. But now i'm looking for a small sensible and reliable car as the 323ci just drinks too much petrol for me.

Doozergirl

ArsenalFC wrote: »

I agreed the 1 serie will be a different class to the focus.....so is the price. Bmw are fab cars if one can afford to buy and maintain it, I've had 2 bmw, 318is and 323ci both great cars to drive. But now i'm looking for a small sensible and reliable car as the 323ci just drinks too much petrol for me.

I had the 323Ci He was lovely! Thirsty yes!

sarah_elton

ArsenalFC wrote: »

A ford focus perhaps, 1.6i group 5-7 insurance.

I thought I wanted a Focus but recently bought an Astra instead (few weeks ago). Couple of groups lower on the insurance than the Focus for the same cc.

I absolutely love it, and everyone who told me to go for an Astra loves theirs. It's just dead comfortable, great turning circle (I previously only had v small cars and never thought I'd be able to park it lol), seems pretty economical. It's one of those cars that's boring so I can't explain why I love it, but it's completely practical. Excellent boot size for the size of car too. My boyfriend reckons I have heavy foot - let's just say it cruises at speed very nicely.

Only downside is road tax. I got a 2002 1.6. It's currently £170/year, going up to £205 then £210 in 2009/10.

Maintenance on either Fords or Vauxhalls is cheap due to the British thing. Other car I like is the Honda Civic. My mum got one in 01 when they re-vamped it and I drove that for a while. Lovely car. And I loved the dash mounted gearstick! Felt so natural. When I was buying the Astra I would have liked to get a Civic but they haven't depreciated nearly as much so the 01 onwards model was out of my price range.

AdrianHi

LJW wrote: »

Hi, I currently have a BMW 3 series but want to change as the petrol is costing far to much, also the tax will be going up soon!!

I need a family car, not to big but not to small, I also use the car for work and do quite a lot of shortish journeys, also it has to be reasonble for insurance and new road tax rates!

Anybody have any advice? I'm hoping to part x the bm and don't want a brand new car.

What have you got exactly?
A 6 cylinder?
Lets be careful not to exchange high fuel costs for high depreciation here and be no better off.
Also watch out because if the current trend continues the next 6 to 12 months (depending on the car) will see petrol cars become cheaper than their equivalent diesels to fuel, diesel is heading towards too expensive.

danvanman

My sister bought a focus about 8 months ago, loves the car, thought finds it heavy on petrol?

https://www.thevanwarehouse.com

Idiophreak

sarah_elton wrote: »

I thought I wanted a Focus but recently bought an Astra instead (few weeks ago). Couple of groups lower on the insurance than the Focus for the same cc.

I absolutely love it, and everyone who told me to go for an Astra loves theirs.

Yeah, I'm another one of those people - went out to buy a focus, didn't even look at the vauxhall garages, but then got desperate and went for a look at them...so glad I did. Had mine 3 years now, it's only ever had one slight problem (oil pressure sensor), it drives really nicely, a lot of fun, good economy, good speed when you put your foot down. Plenty of load space, comfy front and back - if it's big enough for your needs, I'd really recomment trying one out. (I have the last of the old shapes, but love the new shape ones too...though I've never driven one).