New Used car spec me

Jony27 · 2 Apr 2019 at 10:33

Hi all,

Just another spec me thread with a budget of £7k, bear in mind this is N.Ireland pricing so a bit pricier compared to mainland.

Currently drive a '04 Focus 1.6 Petrol and do just shy of 10k miles per year mostly used on motorway for 26 miles per day. Main requirements are;
- petrol
- 5 doors
- hatchback
- similar or faster than current car
- cheaper tax(currently £180)
- usual electrics that come with newer cars these days(bluetooth/AC/etc). Cruise control would be a bonus.

Currently looking at the following;
- 2013 Focus 1.0 Ecoboost 125bhp with 55k miles for £6000
- 2014 Leon 1.2 TSI with 45k miles for £7000
These would be my first picks but also looked at Auris/Ibiza/Fiesta

Any do's and don'ts or other recommendation would be appreciated. Anything in particular to look out for on the focus/leon mentioned?

Fluffybob · 2 Apr 2019 at 12:19

Check out the Kia C'eed I'm still running a 13 plate and it's been rock solid and great fun to drive.

Jony27 · 2 Apr 2019 at 21:53

Fluffybob said:
Check out the Kia C'eed I'm still running a 13 plate and it's been rock solid and great fun to drive.

Thanks, wasn't on my radar but there's one nearby I may be able to test drive.

fastwunz · 3 Apr 2019 at 15:03

Jony27 said:
Thanks, wasn't on my radar but there's one nearby I may be able to test drive.

Leon gets my vote - woudnt realy go for a Kia of that age tbh. Proper grandad wagon.

ShiWarrior · 3 Apr 2019 at 17:28

1.4 Leon FR ?

Jony27 · 3 Apr 2019 at 19:12

fastwunz said:
Leon gets my vote - woudnt realy go for a Kia of that age tbh. Proper grandad wagon.

Yup, the Leon is definitely my style of choice over the Kia.

@ShiWarrior it'd be the older shape I can afford in fr rather than the new one which I prefer, as naive as that sounds.

ShiWarrior · 3 Apr 2019 at 19:30

Jony27 said:
Yup, the Leon is definitely my style of choice over the Kia.

@ShiWarrior it'd be the older shape I can afford in fr rather than the new one which I prefer, as naive as that sounds.

and ? the old shape you can still get it in 1.4 trim

better engine than the 1.2, SEAT sold 1.4 FRs the most over all other models

TheVoice · 4 Apr 2019 at 15:48

ShiWarrior said:
and ? the old shape you can still get it in 1.4 trim
better engine than the 1.2, SEAT sold 1.4 FRs the most over all other models

But he prefers the Mk3.

smilertoo · 4 Apr 2019 at 16:37

Isn't all car tax being set at £140 from this year unless it's an EV...or a huge car that incurrs extra costs.

ShiWarrior · 4 Apr 2019 at 17:57

smilertoo said:
Isn't all car tax being set at £140 from this year unless it's an EV...or a huge car that incurrs extra costs.

from march 1st 2017 registered i think

Jony27 · 4 Apr 2019 at 19:55

ShiWarrior said:
from march 1st 2017 registered i think

So any cars registered from March 1st 2017 will have the £140 compulsory tax?
As @TheVoice mentioned, I prefer the looks of the Leon MK3 which is what sways me towards it over the focus Mk3.

ShiWarrior · 4 Apr 2019 at 21:44

Jony27 said:
So any cars registered from March 1st 2017 will have the £140 compulsory tax?
As @TheVoice mentioned, I prefer the looks of the Leon MK3 which is what sways me towards it over the focus Mk3.

i was intensively looking at the leon FR new shape
there are some available with £30 tax because they are registered before 1st march, most are £140

ShiWarrior · 4 Apr 2019 at 21:48

£30 TAX

Facelift FR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201812042985363?atmobcid=soc5

another :

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201903145875188?atmobcid=soc5

Jony27 · 4 Apr 2019 at 22:00

Yeah, as nice as the MK3 FR are, I'm afraid it's twice my budget :eek:

LiE · 5 Apr 2019 at 08:57

The Leon you posted looks pretty good tbh.

Jony27 · 5 Apr 2019 at 09:40

LiE said:
The Leon you posted looks pretty good tbh.

Yeah, it ticks all the boxes for me. SE trim, average mileage for it's age, full service history and I like the look of it!
I've rang the dealer and time permitting will be test driving it tomorrow afternoon. One thing I've noticed though is they've actually put the price down from £7150 to £6990.

LiE · 5 Apr 2019 at 09:54

It's a shame you need 5 doors, some decent 3 door examples out there.

This would be my pick.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...ew&onesearchad=New&quantity-of-doors=3&page=1

Jony27 · 5 Apr 2019 at 10:58

Yeah looks sweet, bit of a treck from Belfast though

LiE · 5 Apr 2019 at 11:08

Jony27 said:
Yeah looks sweet, bit of a treck from Belfast though

Pft! it's only an hour on a flight to Birmingham then an 8 hour drive home

8 hours in your new car will be glorious.

ShiWarrior · 5 Apr 2019 at 17:15

can you stretch a bit more ?
Try and get the 1.4 FR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201901184063551?atmobcid=soc5
This one is only £20 tax a year !!

better engine, much better spec , its worth the grand or so more than the 1.2 se