What 'Normal' Car (Budget around £10k)

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mk1_salami

mk1_salami

Hi all. With the GT4 and baby incoming, I'll have a need to get a normal car for my Girlfriend. Right now she drives a 3 door Mini Cooper S and likes it but isn't great on fuel. We're also just about to move house which means her daily commute will increase to 60 miles a day (at least for the following few months) until Maternity leave.

She'll be using this 80% of the time but I'll sometimes borrow it for practical reasons.

We have a requirement for:
  • 4/5 door car
  • fits a buggy and baby stuff
  • does more than 40mpg
  • I'll want to drive (I've never bought a 'normal' car before, only performance variants so I'm used to nicer cars to drive and don't want a POS to drive, no matter how practical).
Budget is around £10k if we buy cash, or a bit more if we finance it but personally I'd rather just buy outright.

Right now I'm thinking about a Mini Cooper Countryman SD, but I'd like your suggestions!
 
Skoda Octavia in whatever petrol engine sits in your budget, the 1.4 or the 1.5 TSI

[Edit] If you absolutely must have a "performance" car, then the vRS instead.
 
Diesel Skoda Octavia VRS estate would be a good choice (or a petrol if you like).

The newer shape is a few quid above your max price (£13-14k) but you’d get a nicely cared for older shape comfortably.

It’s what I’d have bought if “our” requirement hadn’t been for a mini SUV and not a Skoda.
 
I agree with the above, the Octavia boot is simply cavernous and the 2.0tdi lump is quite decent. My dad has a 2.0 tdi 150 and it's surprisingly pleasant to drive, quite light and the engine is reasonably elastic and flexible, unlike the old Mk2 2.0 tdi it replaced. I'd even go as far as saying that it's more pleasant to throw around the bends than my current A4 3.0tdi quattro, simply due to ~450kg weight difference.

Built quality is better than my old F30 330D and it will certainly do 40+mpg.
I'd up my budget a little and pick up this - should handle even better as these get independent suspension on the rear as well.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806127405406?aggregatedTrim=vRS&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=sponsored&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.0&postcode=ec1a7aj&make=SKODA&model=OCTAVIA&radius=1500&year-from=2014&page=1
 
Octavia is a good shout. Or perhaps a Golf Estate if you don't need the rear legroom? Boot is huge.
The problem with A4/3 Series is that the boot is tiny. Not practical for prams and the associated clutter than small children come with.
 
a quick autotrader search

  • Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech GTD 5dr
  • Ford Focus 1.6 SCTi Zetec S 5dr
  • SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI FR (s/s) 5dr
  • Vauxhall Astra 1.4 i 16v SRi 5dr
  • Volvo V40 Cross Country 2.0 D3 SE 5dr
 
Inspiring and soul less? it's a box on wheels that gets you from A to B. I admit it's only car i've driven but I don't see how they can be much different other than comfort or speed.
 
Last edited:
smilertoo said:
Inspiring and soul less? it's a box on wheels that gets you from A to B. I admit it's only car i've driven but I don't see how they can be much different other than comfort or speed.
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I totally agree about it being a box on wheels that gets your from A to B, it's an extremely effective tool for doing this. It is however extremely boring to drive, like there's a total disconnect between the car and the driver. It's fine if you've no interest in driving, but the OP has specifically suggested that he wants something that's good to drive. Don't get me wrong, I like the Jazz a lot, it's just not at all exciting or engaging!
 
ci_newman said:
At this budget, you'd just scrape into the Mk3 vRS which is a much much better car
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+1
My dad went from a 2.0 tdi mk2 octavia to a 2.0 tdi mk3 octavia. A very significant improvement across all areas, MQB really is a fantastic platform. Much lighter, better screwed together and a significantly more modern interior. I really suggest looking at a regular "hatchback" boot - they are absolutely cavernous and probably one of the biggest boots ever fitted to a non-estate car.
 
Seems like a lot of love for the Octavia in here. Missus hates the look of it so will be a hard sell.
 
A vRS with xenons and the LED rears doesn't look bad at all in the flesh, I think it's worth surprinsing her with a visit to a dealership that stocks one. :)
It is a ridiculous amount of car for the money, very spacious, practical, well built and reliable, but still quite nimble and not bad to drive at all. It will also leave the old mini cooper SD (150bhp version) behind by quite a margin. :)
 
mk1_salami said:
Seems like a lot of love for the Octavia in here. Missus hates the look of it so will be a hard sell.
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TBH if you don't need the extra space an Octavia provides, get a Leon/Golf.
Seat interior is noticably cheaper than the Golf, but i was had Arona for a few weeks and TBH it's not bad at all.

Not sure how the 1.0 120bhp performs in a Golf, but it was plenty in the Arona.
 
mjt said:
TBH if you don't need the extra space an Octavia provides, get a Leon/Golf.
Seat interior is noticably cheaper than the Golf, but i was had Arona for a few weeks and TBH it's not bad at all.

Not sure how the 1.0 120bhp performs in a Golf, but it was plenty in the Arona.
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The boot space on a Leon and Golf are quite restrictive, especially if your pushchair is on the larger side. The only way I can fit a pushchair in my boot is at 45degrees, and absolutely nothing else will fit in there with it. The Octavia fits a pushchair and much much more on top.
 
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