New Car Time

matthab

matthab

matthab

Soldato
Joined
19 Apr 2009
Posts
3,159
Hi Guys

Ive recently started a new job which has enabled me to afford a new car. My current car is a 1.2 2002 Renault Clio Which ive had since 2007 and has served me very well even thoe its done 102,000 miles.

Im looking to spend about £7k-8K (close to 7k as possible) on a medium size car or a small hot hatch. My age is a factor as im 20 and I currently pay £721 fully comp on my clio. Im looking for a car which is capable of carrying all my kit to RC kit car races, computers to gaming events and genreally be nice to drive whether its short blast into town or 2 hour trip down the motorway.

The cars I have in mind at the moment is

  • Vauxhall Astra SRI (1.6 or 1.7 diesel) - Looks the most likely contender as I have seen a nice one for just under £7K.
  • Ford Focus 1.6, 1.8 - Looks abit boring inside and out.
  • Ford Fiesta ST - I love this car but struggling to swallow the raised tax and hefty insurance
  • Renault Clio 182 - Can pick them up cheap but same issue as the ST
  • Skoda Fabia VRS - I like this but its abit boring on the inside.

What are your views on the above and is there any other cars that you can recommend?

Matt
 
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Just another suggestion:

Suzuki Swift Sport - Offers everything the Fiesta does but should be cheaper to insure.

It isn't that quick but its a hoot to drive and cheap to run.

The only downer is the short gearing which means motorway driving can be tiresome (although no worse than a 182 or Fiesta ST).
 
Yeh I was seriously considering it untill I realised how small the boot was and its only a 4 seater. Its a nice car and is a insurance group 9 but i recon I would struggle to get my stuff in it without pilling it all on the back seat.
 
matthab said:
.

The cars I have in mind at the moment is

  • Vauxhall Astra SRI (1.6 or 1.7 diesel) - Looks the most likely contender as I have seen a nice one for just under £7K.
  • Ford Focus 1.6, 1.8 - Looks abit boring inside and out.
  • Ford Fiesta ST - I love this car but struggling to swallow the raised tax and hefty insurance
  • Renault Clio 182 - Can pick them up cheap but same issue as the ST
  • Skoda Fabia VRS - I like this but its abit boring on the inside.

What are your views on the above and is there any other cars that you can recommend?

Matt
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Not much of a choice if you ask me so out of them I'd go with the Skoda VRS & a remap.
I can't really suggest owt else either as I don't go shopping for 7k cars.
 
The Astra is probably the worst car on that list, all the others (Yes even that vRS!) have areas where they excel, the Astra doesn't.

I'd say the Fiesta ST sounds like the best all round compromise. It's a bit of a hot hatch without the full blown expense of a proper hot hatch like a Clio 182, yet its more fun and a bit more interesting than a boggo Astra or Focus.
 
Conveniently, I'm selling a Suzuki swift sport ;) Yours for a bargain £7k.

Aside from your suggestions already, if you can get cheaper insurance from a specialist then how about the Civic Type-R? Realistically, if you're spending £7k on a car, then you shouldn't get caught up on fuel economy and tax expenditure. They will be minimal compared to the depreciation on an eco-box. The Type-R, Clio 182 or Fiesta ST would get my vote.
 
If the difference in tax between two cars was a jump from £160 to £215, and you're spending SEVEN THOUSAND pounds on the car, would you let £55 a year change your mind?
 
blun said:
If the difference in tax between two cars was a jump from £160 to £215, and you're spending SEVEN THOUSAND pounds on the car, would you let £55 a year change your mind?
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he has a point i would get the ST, put a abit of money a side each month so when the tax is due it doesn't hurt your bank account.
 
Bit of an odd one, but Audi TT, with the rear seats down the boots not that bad, only a two seater though
 
ci_newman said:
if you can get cheaper insurance from a specialist then how about the Civic Type-R? Realistically, if you're spending £7k on a car, then you shouldn't get caught up on fuel economy and tax expenditure.
Click to expand...

I like to see a quote for 20yr on a CTR, it could easily cost over £1k fully comp depending on the area.
 
Yes this is my problem I can afford the car whether to get it on finance or not is another decision. But I dont like paying another £700 + ontop of insurance.

Thats why im also looking at something sensible like a Astra/Focus.
 
The Astra isn't nearly as bad as half the forum would have you believe, but I certainly wouldn't bother with the 1.7 Diesel, its the 1.9 or nothing, in my opinion, and seeing as a CDTi 150 is within budget, why are you looking at 1.7s?
 
Well the 1.9 seems to be a very high insurance group being group 12 and for a diesel I considor that very high. Also the 1.7 is a group 7 costs the same to tax as my clio and is a lot more readily around.
 
Have you actually had a quote for one? Groups are rarely fully indicative of actual price.

I just went up a group, yet my insurance halved ;)

Yes it may be a higher insurance group, but it makes half decent power (and will make even better power with a remap!) and is the better diesel engine of the Astras.
 
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I did a quote and got a price of £900 so that isnt bad. Thanks for that Im now looking around to get an idea of prices and finance options.

Just out of interest why does everyone dispise the Astra what ive heard is it isnt a bad runner?
 
It isn't a bad runner and nothing about it is actually bad. The standard range apart from the VXR are strictly average apart from styling where I think the 3 door version is the best looking hatch out. In terms of driving feel, build quality and kit it's behind its rivals.
 
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