How much is too much for a hatchback?

bigredmachine

bigredmachine

bigredmachine

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24 Nov 2012
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101
Hi,

I am in need of a new car as my current Focus is on it's last legs. I am looking to get another hatchback.

I drive on average 12/13k miles a year and require a relatively sized boot to put all my video production gear and any family holiday gear for weekends away.

Due to my mileage I am looking at the following diesels:

A3 1.6 / 2.0
Golf MK6 1.6 Match / 2.0 GT 140
Golf MK5 2.0 GT 140
Focus 1.6 / 2.0

I have also looked at the Audi A4 / BMW 3 Series but insurance seems high.

I was looking for something up-to 5 years old and about 30/40k on the mileage. I want to keep it for at-least 5 years hence looking at lower mileage car.

My question is how much is too much to spend? What would feel like an upgrade on my MK1 Focus 1.8 TDCI?

I have saved 11k but can push budget to 13/14k if something stands out and is fully loaded.

Thanks,

Red
 
You want a Mondeo or similar, you do. No point going with smaller hatchbacks for that mileage and usage. It'll certainly feel like a much better way of spending 10k+ :)
 
Howard I had a look at the Passat & Mondeo but they just feel really big and something my dad would want :/

My commute to work is 40 mile daily on a mixture of town roads and dual carriage ways and the Mondeo might not zip around hence looked at what I am used to?
 
MilanoChris said:
With that mileage you want a petrol and not a diesel.
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Really? My current focus requires filling up every 2 weeks and gets me around 500 miles on a 52L / £70 fill. Wouldn't a petrol cost me more yearly?

Also in the summer months (July/Aug) I regularly do weekend commutes from London to Birmingham and felt a diesel would save me more money?
 
I take it you dont do that commute every day? 40 miles each way by a nominal 48 weeks is more like 20k per annum, or i guess it could be 20 miles each way and 10k plus personal use?

I wouldn't personally bother with a diesel for the latter but it's your call. As per the others an octavia to mondeo sized hatch sounds ideal for you. You should drive one, whilst they aren't quite as nimble as some of the slightly smaller hatches it's still a very enjoyable drive and you'll never struggle for room (especially in a mondeo, they're massive).

If you definitely want a diesel I wouldn't personally touch the 1.6 vag unit, it's horribly lacking in power - fine for company car users who have no choice but has no personal buyer benefits as far as i'm concerned. The ford unit is better but still feels pretty underpowered and has it's own reliability issues in older cars at least
 
rodenal said:
The ford unit is better but still feels pretty underpowered and has it's own reliability issues in older cars at least
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The diesel engine in the Mk4/4.5 Mondeo is totally different to that found in the older Mk3.
 
Fair enough, wasn't sure if the 1.6 was still the psa unit - it still feels a bit lacking in the new focus though, I'd far sooner have the 2 litre
 
rodenal said:
I take it you dont do that commute every day? 40 miles each way by a nominal 48 weeks is more like 20k per annum, or i guess it could be 20 miles each way and 10k plus personal use?

I wouldn't personally bother with a diesel for the latter but it's your call. As per the others an octavia to mondeo sized hatch sounds ideal for you. You should drive one, whilst they aren't quite as nimble as some of the slightly smaller hatches it's still a very enjoyable drive and you'll never struggle for room (especially in a mondeo, they're massive).

If you definitely want a diesel I wouldn't personally touch the 1.6 vag unit, it's horribly lacking in power - fine for company car users who have no choice but has no personal buyer benefits as far as i'm concerned. The ford unit is better but still feels pretty underpowered and has it's own reliability issues in older cars at least
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Apologies for not being clearer. My Monday - Friday commute is 20 miles each way. Weekend use is mainly shopping or visiting family so on a yearly basis my average over the past few years hasn't topped 15k.

My cousin has a fully loaded Mondeo and they do seem to be very big and practical but probably need a test drive to see how it compares to the small hatchbacks I am used to driving.

The reason I was looking at the VAG 1.6 was due to lower tax and insurance but I see your point on it not being very exciting for personal use and therefore the punchier 2.0 VAG are worth looking at.

I did see this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201235483280320 but not sure if paying 12k is over the odds.

The VAG cars seem to have better build quality compared to my current and newer Focus.
 
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The interiors are certainly put together a bit better but I would say the ford is likely to be a more reliable and cheaper to own car.

I had a 2009 59 focus titanium that was better specced than the car you've linked to there, with a nicer interior combo and DAB/bluetooth as standard in a non poverty colour that would be worth probably £3k less than that car is listed at, that's the kind of trim i'd go for in the mk2 focus

Look at a mondeo of the same age though,, a 2010/2011 titanium X Mondeo is not to be sniffed at
 
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Its not hugely complicated, 15k miles per year will cost £2589 at 35mpg and 132.9p per litre

Change that to 50mpg and 138.9p, it will cost £1894

Your annual saving buying a diesel is £695 per annum, less than £60 per month.

Given that the diesel will cost more to buy and will have more "high risk" parts to fail, I dont imagine you'll break even for some time
 
rodenal said:
The interiors are certainly put together a bit better but I would say the ford is likely to be a more reliable and cheaper to own car.

I had a 2009 59 focus titanium that was better specced than the car you've linked to there, with a nicer interior combo and DAB/bluetooth as standard in a non poverty colour that would be worth probably £3k less than that car is listed at, that's the kind of trim i'd go for in the mk2 focus

Look at a mondeo of the same age though
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I do see your point about more spec inside but do like the look of the Zetec S http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201212114578254/ compared to say the standard Focus. I have a bog standard Focus at the moment so wanted something with a bit more character even if it's another Focus.

I will search for larger cars also such as the Mondeo. Would they be better than say 07/08 plate 320D / A4 / A4 Avants?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201211164254631/
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201241488351925/
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201210455199377/
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201244491218208/
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201244490660919/
 
The 3 series and A4 are much smaller than a mondeo and will probably not offer you any more room than the focus (maybe even less overall) whilst losing the hatch aspect which may or may not matter. It depends on what size and shape of boot you really need I guess. They are also in another league of running cost

The titanium and titanium x focus are much nicer inside than the zetec S, if you wanted the front and rear skirts you could always add them yourself - the front grill section is definitely simple to swap, the rear will likely be the same
 
iaind said:
Its not hugely complicated, 15k miles per year will cost £2589 at 35mpg and 132.9p per litre

Change that to 50mpg and 138.9p, it will cost £1894

Your annual saving buying a diesel is £695 per annum, less than £60 per month.

Given that the diesel will cost more to buy and will have more "high risk" parts to fail, I dont imagine you'll break even for some time
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Thanks for the breakdown. I haven't closely monitored how much MPG petrol cars can do hence didn't know the price difference. My previous petrol car would hardly give 300 miles on a £80 fill-up hence switched to a diesel.
 
Aren't Diesels generally about £2k more at this age ?

And get a mondeo you won't regret it.
Missus has a focus I have a mondeo (albeit older models) and mine is so much comfier for crusiing, I do similar mileage to you by the way, another option is to convert the petrol car you might buy to gas (can be done for around £1k on a normal 4 cylinder engine)

The money you would save on buying a petrol in the first place can be used to have the conversion done, then you have the best of both worlds, lower fuel bills with higher reliability :)
 
bigredmachine said:
Thanks for the breakdown. I haven't closely monitored how much MPG petrol cars can do hence didn't know the price difference. My previous petrol car would hardly give 300 miles on a £80 fill-up hence switched to a diesel.
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Depends entirely on the car and how it's driven

Some diesels will do sub 30mpg, some petrols will do more than 50

Given the sort of use you want and the type of cars you're looking at, a petrol would be more appropriate. Yes its going to cost a bit more to fuel, but when you're spending 1000-2000 more on the car then it doesnt make much sense
 
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