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

[SqualidChimp]

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.

 

[SqualidChimp]

I think its probably best if I just don't take part in this thread.

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.

 

[SqualidChimp]

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.

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

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

 

[SqualidChimp]

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?

 

[SqualidChimp]

How much would a 2006 focus tdci cost?

Sorry to quote myself, but Im also making a related new point. The guide price for that would be 6 to 6.5k, but Im only seeing them closer to £9k.