Help me to shortlist for a new car!

Scythe

Scythe

Scythe

Soldato
Joined
23 Jun 2005
Posts
5,455
Hi all,

My first motors advice request from you knowledgable folk. I'm currently shortlisting through a number of cars, as I would like to get a new car this year.

Situation:
I'm starting a new job in July, so I'm looking at buying a newish car soon after to help with the commute. Currently, the commute to there is 50 miles each way, all on NSL dual carriageway. I spent 15 months on a student placement travelling there in a 2001 1.4 Clio which did the job at ~50mpg which was nice, but I would like to have a more comfortable car with a bit more power at motorway speeds, and the modern comforts to go with a newer car. It is likely I will be moving closer to work, which will reduce my commute to approx 30 miles a day, with regular 50 mile trips home, or further to track days.

I also want to take part in more track days on my bike which will be towed on a trailer, so I will also need a respectable amount of boot / rear seat space to fit tools and associated items for track days.

From my situation, I have decided that a Focus / Golf sized car would be the best option. However, I'm struggling to decide which car to choose, I've read the reviews but I would like to hear opinions from Golf / Focus / Audi A3 / Volvo V40 etc owners. I especially like the look and cabin of the V40.

Basically I'm looking for:
  • Focus sized car
  • Less than £15k
  • Nice spacious cabin which is comfortable for the driver
  • Cruise control & bluetooth audio with iphone is a must
  • Decent trim level / spec
  • Decent capacity
  • Diesel (which engine capacity - 2L or less?)
  • Reasonable running costs / reliable
  • Good motorway cruiser
  • Good for towing a motorcycle trailer

So OCUK, which would you recommend and why? I'm after real world driving experiences from the owners ideally. I will be 22 when purchasing so some more powerful / large engined cars will be avoided due to insurance reasons.
 
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Is there any need to spend £15k on something you'll initially pile significant mileage on? 100 miles a day is 23k a year just in commuting, which is going to grenade the value of anything you buy for £15k. At 22 I'm sure you've far more interesting things you could spend £15,000 on than the automotive equivilent of a washing machine anyway.

I'd be tempted to half the budget and purchase a VW Jetta or Seat Exeo TDI. Economical cars but neither are liked on the used market because they are saloons. The Jetta is a Golf with a boot, the Exeo is a previous generation Audi A4 with new badges and bumpers, so a nice opportunity for something nice.

Both available with exactly the specification you want.
 
[TW]Fox;25597686 said:
Is there any need to spend £15k on something you'll initially pile significant mileage on? 100 miles a day is 23k a year just in commuting, which is going to grenade the value of anything you buy for £15k. At 22 I'm sure you've far more interesting things you could spend £15,000 on than the automotive equivilent of a washing machine anyway.

I'd be tempted to half the budget and purchase a VW Jetta or Seat Exeo TDI. Economical cars but neither are liked on the used market because they are saloons. The Jetta is a Golf with a boot, the Exeo is a previous generation Audi A4 with new badges and bumpers, so a nice opportunity for something nice.

Both available with exactly the specification you want.
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I hadn't thought about this actually, thanks Fox. I'm familiar with the models but never had a closer look at them, I'll have a look.

I'm not too interesting in having a car which is fun / sporty, I need something that is functional and will last. I have my bikes for fun, hence the requirement to be a good towing vehicle.
 
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Absolutely, not everyone needs anything more than a nice enough tool to do the job. So that said, don't spend more than you need to. I'm sure you'd rather have a chunk of that £15k to spend on things you like, like your bike hobby.

This is the sort of thing I'd be thinking of:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ed,nearlynew,new/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

'10 plate car, £7.5k. And it really is An Audi A4 under there. All they changed was the front and rear styling, the rest of the car is Audi A4. Exactly the same engine you'd find powering a much more expensive 10 plate Golf.

Even if you fancy pushing the boat out this one is potentially as much as £5k under budget, only 2 years old, sensible mileage and has Navigation, Xenon lights, leather..

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...w/postcode/pl11aa/page/1/model/exeo?logcode=p
 
[TW]Fox;25597833 said:
Absolutely, not everyone needs anything more than a nice enough tool to do the job. So that said, don't spend more than you need to. I'm sure you'd rather have a chunk of that £15k to spend on things you like, like your bike hobby.

This is the sort of thing I'd be thinking of:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ed,nearlynew,new/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

'10 plate car, £7.5k. And it really is An Audi A4 under there. All they changed was the front and rear styling, the rest of the car is Audi A4. Exactly the same engine you'd find powering a much more expensive 10 plate Golf.

Even if you fancy pushing the boat out this one is potentially as much as £5k under budget, only 2 years old, sensible mileage and has Navigation, Xenon lights, leather..

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...w/postcode/pl11aa/page/1/model/exeo?logcode=p
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Even the interior is much of the same! That is a good buy for £7500. Baring in mind the amount of mileage I would be doing, what do you recommend I should limit my mileage limit to - 60k? I'd probably sell and move on within 3 years / 75-80k miles. By this time it would be on approx 140k and could probably be used for a nicer car once I've moved closer to work and reduced my daily commute.

A diesel which spends the majority of its time at ~80mph on the dual carriageway would last a fair while I would've thought, and I shouldn't have any problem with DPF with this driving. I'd probably be in top gear all of the time also.
 
I was going to come in and say Seat Exeo but fox has already given you good advice..

Only thing i'd say is consider if you can live with a saloon, i'd personally be looking at the estate version. I imagine you'll be taking a paddock stand and set of wet wheels for your bike? While boots in saloons can be a decent size they're a complete nightmare to fit anything into which isn't in lots of small bags.
 
sovietspybob said:
I was going to come in and say Seat Exeo but fox has already given you good advice..

Only thing i'd say is consider if you can live with a saloon, i'd personally be looking at the estate version. I imagine you'll be taking a paddock stand and set of wet wheels for your bike? While boots in saloons can be a decent size they're a complete nightmare to fit anything into which isn't in lots of small bags.
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Yeah I've noticed the boot could be a problem so was looking at the estate varients of those. I'd likely fold the back seats down too.
 
If you don't need the rear seats you'll get all your stuff in the avant. Its a very good car for the money and they tend to be well specced too.
 
Blackhawk47 said:
Don't get why people on here bang on about the Exeo...yes it may be an Audi A4 underneath but a 10 year old one!
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Because the car itself is far newer and therefore more likely to be reliable. They are also very, very cheap as your link below demonstrates. 03 plate Audi A4 for £6k or a 10 plate Exeo for £7.5k, a third of the age with a better, newer engine!

Maybe I'm just not keen the Seat but would it not be better to spend that bit more than £7.5k and get a A4 or Passat.
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Why would buying a Passat be better? A newer shape A4 would obviously be a better car but a 10 plate one of those is thousands of pounds more money.
 
It looks like The a4 inside but that's kind of the point, its stilk a nicer interior than youll find in any ford etc for the same money. Why would you buy a car several years older when you can pick up the same model that's just outside of warranty for the same money?

It also has the newer engine - could be viewed as a positive or a negative I guess but the op is doing enough miles to try and keep it used as intended
 
Scythe said:
Basically I'm looking for:
  • Focus sized car
  • Less than £15k
  • Nice spacious cabin which is comfortable for the driver
  • Cruise control & bluetooth audio with iphone is a must
  • Decent trim level / spec
  • Decent capacity
  • Diesel (which engine capacity - 2L or less?)
  • Reasonable running costs / reliable
  • Good motorway cruiser
  • Good for towing a motorcycle trailer
Click to expand...
Have you considered a Seat Leon TDI FR / Cupra? They pretty much cover all your points right there.

I was in the same situation as you, bought one and never looked back, saved 8k from the 15k spending limit too...
 
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