Suggestions for less than £10k

squerble

squerble

squerble

Soldato
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Hey all,

Currently have a 1.25 Fiesta ('08 reg, Zetec Blue) which is in perfect working order, with less than 30,000 miles on it, but needing four new tyres. It has a miserable 74bhp and can only overtake an ant with a tailwind. I do nothing but town driving (6 miles each way to and from work, plenty of traffic lights but I get about 20 seconds at 50mph, so my annual mileage is tiny (probably around 5,000 miles inc trips to see family etc) nor do I actually need anything more than what I have. What I want on the other hand, is more power, more space and a change.

I sort of want to spend up to £10k, and have a couple of requirements, and a couple of "nice to haves".

Must have
  • Climate control
  • Cruise control
  • Xenon headlights
  • More power than my Fez, at least double (150+)
  • Bigger than my Fez
  • Reasonable running costs - I'm not stupid enough to ask for "low" because I have as low as is possible now, and I know as I up the power and "luxury" of the car, running costs typically increase too.

Nice to have
  • Quickclear windscreen - always owned Fords, and always liked this feature.
  • Automatic - preferably some form of dual clutch, but will take an older "slush box" if it's well rated and has some form of manual 'override'.

Other features such as full leather, or lane departure warnings etc are all nice, but aren't in the requirements list. This set of requirements screams Focus or Mondeo Titanium X, but with the Focus, I'm unlikely to get an auto with the 1.6 EcoBoost engine (150bhp, mappable to 180-190), and I'm not seeing that many Mondeo Titanium X EcoBoost Powershift's (2.0 turbo with 200/240bhp, dual clutch gearbox) with Xenon headlights.

Throw some suggestions at me but please avoid the French cars. Feel free to tell me I'm stupid for wanting to spend £10,000 just to satisfy a "want" which is very, very far from the "need", and just buy four new Uniroyals for the Fez :D
 
There is nothing wrong with simply wanting an upgrade.

Your options can be narrowed by suggesting how old you will go.
I would not go for a Mondeo unless you need it, but it sounds like you want a better sized car rather than needing a big car because you take kids to Uni or have a family of 4/5.

You really do a low mileage, so don't worry about MPG as it is small compared to other running costs i.e. don't concern yourself with losing 10mpg for example.

The only thing I would say at this point is 100% do not get a diesel.
They have lots of fancy crap on to reduce emissions which is pricey when (not if) it goes wrong, plus you won't ever warm the bloody thing up in time!

If you are doing just 6 miles to work, have you considered the Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost? The current one is worlds apart from your one.
The exhaust manifold is integrated into the engine making it heat up quickly.
There are 100, 125 and 140 horse power versions to choose from, you keep the Ford quick clear windscreen and the car is well within budget.
Whilst these power outputs (max power near red line) are not double your current car, the turbo will probably make the 100hp version feel twice as quick due to the massive difference in torque delivery.
There are loads of near new Fiestas on Motorpoint for around 10k. I have even seen near new STs for £14000, so slightly older should be in budget.

I am yet to sit in one but I hear the current Fiesta ST is supposed to be the absolute dogs nads.
 
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The thing you're going to find here is that any traditional auto coupled with the kind of power output you're expecting will make the car feel much more sluggish than the manual equivalent.

That leaves you in dual clutch territory - personally I wouldn't want an out of warrant dsg (though at the money maybe you're into a decent approved used car anyway) and to be perfectly honest I haven't a clue how the ford dual clutch holds up

Do you want a particularly new car? Could spend a bit less and get something with a bigger engine and slush box
 
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Your list of wants seems bizarre to me, for the type of driving you do if I'm honest.

Dual clutch auto isn't necessary, as you're only driving in town, so a lazy auto will work ok for you. You aint hoofing it around the twisties.

Xenon lights? Really? Town driving is all well lit usually. So why you would need them, other that aesthetics, is beyond me.

Cruise control? Again, when would you ever use that in town? For the 20 seconds you get to 50? Still, should be standard on almost any car you get anyway.

Fiesta ST does sound like a good shout to me though. As would the Focus, although I'd be looking for an engine bigger than 1.6 in that.

You should manage an B8 A4 2.0T S-Line for that budget, which would do the job wonderfully. Or a mk6 Golf GTI, or a Passat CC. Or how about a Lexus IS250? Jaguar XF? They might start getting into more expensive running costs though.
 
Oh an is250 would be a rather lovely option actually - the lack of outright grunt shouldn't even really matter. Wouldn't need to spend anything like the budget either
 
OpenToSuggestions said:
There is nothing wrong with simply wanting an upgrade.

Your options can be narrowed by suggesting how old you will go.
I would not go for a Mondeo unless you need it, but it sounds like you want a better sized car rather than needing a big car because you take kids to Uni or have a family of 4/5.

You really do a low mileage, so don't worry about MPG as it is small compared to other running costs i.e. don't concern yourself with losing 10mpg for example.

The only thing I would say at this point is 100% do not get a diesel.
They have lots of fancy crap on to reduce emissions which is pricey when (not if) it goes wrong, plus you won't ever warm the bloody thing up in time!

If you are doing just 6 miles to work, have you considered the Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost? The current one is worlds apart from your one.
The exhaust manifold is integrated into the engine making it heat up quickly.
There are 100, 125 and 140 horse power versions to choose from, you keep the Ford quick clear windscreen and the car is well within budget.
Whilst these power outputs (max power near red line) are not double your current car, the turbo will probably make the 100hp version feel twice as quick due to the massive difference in torque delivery.
There are loads of near new Fiestas on Motorpoint for around 10k. I have even seen near new STs for £14000, so slightly older should be in budget.

I am yet to sit in one but I hear the current Fiesta ST is supposed to be the absolute dogs nads.
Click to expand...


Agree with a lot of this:

The Mondeo is huge! I'd have no issue driving and parking it every day, I'd just be a little more concerned about the higher likelihood of new dings due to filling more of the space. It's on the list due to it filling all of the requirements, plus I still quite like them.

Focus seems to be the ideal size, and the interior is lovely on the Titty X (example car here). Has all the features (aside from auto), looks great and has what seems to be a decent engine, plus a few nice extras (parking assist, lane departure, blind spot info, colour-changeable interior ambient lighting etc etc).

Would probably be happy to consider the newer (2013+) Fiesta, but I'd wonder if it offered any actual increase in size? I'd lose xenons with a Fiesta too (although they at least have projectors). They do look great and there's plenty available some with less than 2,000 miles on.

Fiesta ST would also be a nice shout - again a couple of drawbacks above but I could have some hooning fun with my friend who drives a lovely Clio 200T.
 
xs2man said:
Your list of wants seems bizarre to me, for the type of driving you do if I'm honest.

Dual clutch auto isn't necessary, as you're only driving in town, so a lazy auto will work ok for you. You aint hoofing it around the twisties.

Xenon lights? Really? Town driving is all well lit usually. So why you would need them, other that aesthetics, is beyond me.

Cruise control? Again, when would you ever use that in town? For the 20 seconds you get to 50? Still, should be standard on almost any car you get anyway.

Fiesta ST does sound like a good shout to me though. As would the Focus, although I'd be looking for an engine bigger than 1.6 in that.

You should manage an B8 A4 2.0T S-Line for that budget, which would do the job wonderfully. Or a mk6 Golf GTI, or a Passat CC. Or how about a Lexus IS250? Jaguar XF? They might start getting into more expensive running costs though.
Click to expand...

I appreciate they don't quite "match" the driving, but why should I not choose those features if I'm going to spend £10,000 on a car?

Dual clutch gets rid of the torque convertor, which tends to sap power due to it being a fluid coupling. If I'm looking at a lower horsepower car then that can make a lot of difference (used to have a 1.6 100bhp Focus with a 4-speed slush box and it was horrific if you wanted to do more than 40mph).

Xenon headlights are fantastic. Again, I had them on my last Focus and even in town they have a visible difference. Visiting some family in Wales, especially in winter, they come in very handy, which comes on to...

Cruise. Why wouldn't I have it? I don't do many motorway journeys but I still do some.


Thanks, I'll check out the A4/Golf and see where I stand with those. :)
 
Before I even read your original post and saw the £10K in the title, my immediate thought was Mondeo Titanium X Sport. They are brilliant cars and despite the size, they don't feel it when you're actually driving. And for the money you will get a generous amount of kit. As you have noticed though, they are rare so you'll have to wait for the right one to come on the market. My 2L EcoBoost cost me £8400 and it has the majority of the options ticked.

It is probably overkill for your needs but if you want comfort with decent power at a reasonable cost, then it's perfect.
 
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I can't see how a Mondeo is a good shout for bloke without kids (assumption) that does 6 mile commutes.

At the OP's example of a Tit X Focus, wow they are a lot of money.
I realise they are loaded to the hills with kit, probably with options on top too, but it seems a lot for a four year old Focus prefacelift (not saying this is not the market rate for them either!). It just doesn't feel right having a Titanium X with all the fancy extras when you don't drive very far - Echoing the comments of 'do you really need xyz options'.

I've been driving nearly 10 years and never driven an auto. Do you have an auto only license? Otherwise I'd keep options open :).
 
Yea, it's just me with no Mrs and no kids yet. Have a full license too.

Auto is in the "nice to have" column. I don't need it but it actually makes more sense in my day-to-day situation because I'm up and down the gears all the time. If I was on the motorway all the time I wouldn't probably want it. I do some motorway drives (family up in Scotland, the Lakes, Wales and Loughborough etc) throughout the year, the driving isn't solely around town.

This is why I was open to suggestions and feedback, I wasn't sure if I was being crazy or not :p
 
leoncuprar said:
No Mrs.. No Kids. Does something like a 350Z not appeal ?
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It does, but I know I'd be hankering too much for a 370Z as I like it so much more :p

As for the Mondeo, I'm still not seeing any good reason why it shouldn't be on my list. Why wouldn't I want a big, comfortable, automatic when I'm just mindlessly going between traffic lights to get to work?
 
I run an 08 Fiesta Zetec S Mk6, and while it's reliable and super cheap to run, its ride isn't refined and there's always the want for more power.

So my next car I'm very much considering an Audi TT. Plenty of them around at your budget.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506194464452

Beautiful shape and lines on the exterior and interior looks miles better than the current gen of Fords (which I'm no way keen on, looks like they styled it after a spaceship too flashy and plastic), and the handling of the TT is bound to be superb, Quattro drive and far more sleek size.

Anyway something to consider.
 
norm said:
I run an 08 Fiesta Zetec S Mk6, and while it's reliable and super cheap to run, its ride isn't refined and there's always the want for more power.

So my next car I'm very much considering an Audi TT. Plenty of them around at your budget.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506194464452
Click to expand...

I don't get it, he does 5k a year around town and wants an auto and you suggest a DPF fitted 2.0TDI with a manual box? Really?


the handling of the TT is bound to be superb
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Err.... :D

It's like you didn't read any of what he said - I could perhaps see your point if it was a 2.0TFSI S-Tronic but a manual diesel?! There are very few engine and gearbox combinations that are LESS nice to use in town than a manual 2.0 TDI.
 
[TW]Fox;28204379 said:
I don't get it, he does 5k a year around town and wants an auto and you suggest a DPF fitted 2.0TDI with a manual box? Really?




Err.... :D

It's like you didn't read any of what he said - I could perhaps see your point if it was a 2.0TFSI S-Tronic but a manual diesel?! There are very few engine and gearbox combinations that are LESS nice to use in town than a manual 2.0 TDI.
Click to expand...

*Disclaimer* OP can search for a model that meets his specific requirements if he so chooses, the link I gave was only a example. :rolleyes:
 
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