Getting a new car - clio, clio sports tourer or fiesta

SqualidChimp

SqualidChimp

SqualidChimp

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Joined
20 Oct 2002
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602
Location
Glasgow
I'm seriously considering getting a new car, since buying used cars around 3 years old at the moment is looking almost as pricey (cost per year). I'm looking for a diesel, quite economical. I drive quite far to work (usually 70 mile round trip), and often go quite far for water/winter sports. And I was considering the sports tourer because my current clio looks really stupid with my windsurfer dangling over the top of it... :) The clio sports tourer also fits a snowboard tip to tail in a straight line inside the car with just one of the back seats down! But it is more expensive.

For your consideration, prices for new (not pre-registered):

Clio GT Diesel 3dr 106bhp (link to review) - best interbobs-derived price: £11,888

Clio Sports Tourer diesel 5dr 106bhp (link to review) - best interbobs-derived price: £12,474

Clio Dynamique diesel 5dr 106bhp - best interbobs-derived price: £11,368

Fiesta Econetic eco-diesel 5dr (link to review) - best interbobs price: £11,375 - or add £600 to go for the diesel zetec.

Now these prices reflect a saving on the RRP of between 15 and 20%. My best mate's brother is a sales person with arnold sharks, and I guestimate that they get a staff discount of 30%, but dont know if they'd be allowed to pass that on, or if they did whether or not they'd expect a wad of cash up front. However, Im working on that being a no-goer, since the guy in question is a bit of a shark himself :)

Opinions?

Should I go for one of these new cars? The reason Im thinking getting one of these is that for a '07 plate DCI 106 (i.e. 2 and a half yr old) they are wanting £7,500 at least, and more if you want decent trim level. The turn-off for me with the dealerships is that they all offer derogatory part exchange prices - e.g. my current '54 plate diesel dynamique is on a few forecourts for at least £4,400 around here. Parkers price guide says it's worth £3,300 part exchange, heading towards £4k in a private sale in good condition. It's condition is immaculate, and has full service history etc. Arnie Sharks offered me £2,600 at one place and £2,400 at another. Do they think people are really that daft. It's right there on their forecourt that they think they can sell it for £4k! Anyway... enough of my ranting.

Help me talk this through with myself. :)
 
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I can see exactly where this thread is going to go...

Asking for advice on here on buying a brand new small diesel car is interwebs suicide.

Buy a nearly new Focus Titanium TDCI
 
SqualidChimp said:
Arnie Sharks offered me £2,600 at one place and £2,400 at another. Do they think people are really that daft. It's right there on their forecourt that they think they can sell it for £4k! Anyway... enough of my ranting.
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They have to make money, so buy low, sell high.

iaind said:
A friend of mine has one. He had to get a small car because his GF can't drive a "big car" :rolleyes: but they needed space for a dog
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:/ Women. :rolleyes: :p
 
well your brave coming here and asking about new cars ;)

I have a new clio and cant fault it, I'm with you on the econimics of new verse 3 year old new every time,
but is having your board in the car worth 800 quid. if it is then the clio tourer is the one to go for.

Await the mondeo estate crew to turn up. they be here in a min


bullit
 
[TW]Fox;14919045 said:
I think its probably best if I just don't take part in this thread.
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Well, thank you for your input. :)

I like small hatchbacks - but the clio sports tourer still looks smallish - certainly smaller than the megane still, and probably shape wise looks more than a little like the new fiesta, which in turn looks like a smaller version of the focus.

Before my clio, I had a 1.6 Ford Focus zetec (petrol) and it was great for practicality, and a bit poo on economy (avg 30 to 33mpg). The clio I currently have has avg mpg reading of 55.2 at this exact time.

The focus titaniums are around 3 grand over-budget.
 
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With such awfully dull and boring tastes why the need to spend such a lot of money on a car? It's quite obvious you have very modest requirements - take advantage of this and buy something cheap and spend the change on extra winter sports holidays.
 
[TW]Fox;14919045 said:
I think its probably best if I just don't take part in this thread.
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You'll be back. :D

/Yes, as I thought!

Please OP, please buy something used. A 2.5 year old car is hardly going to be worth £2K is it? Oh, and if you want an estate, buy one. Not an extended Clio. It'll offer almost none of the merits of a full sized estate, be that a Laguna (shudder), Mondeo, Focus or Accord etc, and still feel like a Clio. It looks gash too.

Fox makes a very good point. You could get something a few years old, that'll be leagues above the Clio Tourer and leave you with plenty of beer money.
 
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[TW]Fox;14919103 said:
With such awfully dull and boring tastes why the need to spend such a lot of money on a car? It's quite obvious you have very modest requirements - take advantage of this and buy something cheap and spend the change on extra winter sports holidays.
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Good advice. What would you recommend though? I just wanted to upgrade my current clio dynamique with something more powerful and newer and before my next service which will include timing belt :D

<provoke>Oh and incidentally BMW suckle the mighty goat boaby. :eek: </provoke>

:p
 
What about something like a 2006 Focus TDCi? Loads of space, 50mpg, reasonably reliable, loads of change to spend on things which matter more to you than cars :)
 
I was considering a 2 yr old diesel civic for around £11k , which Im just off to test drive. *waves* - back in a couple of hours, by which time I expect you lot will have instructed me on my best course of action. How much would a 2006 focus tdci cost?
 
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