It's new car time

Behemoth · 6 Jul 2007 at 11:28

Yup another new car thread (sorry guys)

Looking to spend 3.5k - 4k, moving away from petrol and want something Turbo Diesel, a good few years newer than the Almera I've got now which is on an S plate.

Sorta thinking 306 D turbo or something VW.

Unless there is anything I've missed then sugestions on a post card please.

Nathan · 6 Jul 2007 at 11:32

Im sure you can get a focus tdci for 4k now. I would get one of them over a 306 dturbo as they are getting on a bit now

Behemoth · 6 Jul 2007 at 11:36

Nathan said:
Im sure you can get a focus tdci for 4k now. I would get one of them over a 306 dturbo as they are getting on a bit now

I forgot about the Focus, thanks for that

Behemoth · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:03

Might have helped if I'd given a bit more back ground on this one I guess.

Basically I do a lot of miles, about 1000 a month, maybe more depeninding on what I'm doing, e.g driving to see some mates or doing some computer work for a few extra beer tokens, hence why I'm looking at going away from petrol and moving over to diesel.

Not too fussed about things like remote central locking, but it's nice, air con is a must, having got that in the Almera I don't want to have to go without, although I see on most of the mid range cars I've looked at it seems to be standard anyway.

I really like the look of Golf TDI's, although the ones I've seen are in the 100,000 mile mark, althoush I suppose on a Diesel thats not too bad, as I've never had a Diesel before (unkown territory) I'm not sure what is good and whats bad, things to look out for.

After having a poke around on the bay, just to see what I like the look of I'd never actually buy a car off there as I don't trust ebay.

have decided against the 306 D Turbo because they are, like Nathan pointed out looking tired.

I'm basically looking at getting either a Golf TDI, a Passat (not the estate but the Saloon version) or a Focus TDI, seen quite a few of them around and they look really smart, would prefer to have a 3 door version of the Golf or the Focus if I could get them.

So with this info in mind and roughly a 4k budget (going to have to take out a loan this time round sadly) what should I be looking for ??

olv · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:04

since when has 12k/year been a lot of miles? that marginally above average

[TW]Fox · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:09

olv said:
since when has 12k/year been a lot of miles? that marginally above average

Many people consider it smack on average. It certainly isn't high or worth getting a diesel for.

40mpg diesel: £107 a month
30mpg petrol: £143 a month

Wow, a whole 35 quid a month. I bet you pay more than that for your Sky telly.

Behemoth · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:19

Well there is a second reason for wanting to change my car, the Almera is turning into a rust bucket. I took it to Auto Glass yesterday to have the Windscreen replaced because it was cracked, when they took it off they found that a lot of the metal work that it fits onto is very rusty, one part of it, the support pillar is rusting away.

Was quite upset about that really, as I do like my Almera a lot but it's gone past the point of no return, well not quite it could be repaired but it's going to cost me £650 or more to have the repair work done, and I'm thinking on a nearly 9 year old car, that sorta money isn't worth spending.

So I had them do a rust treatment on the affected area, fit the new windscreen anyway and made the decision to get rid of the car in the trade while I can still get something decent money wise back on it.

Gaygle · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:35

[TW]Fox said:
Many people consider it smack on average. It certainly isn't high or worth getting a diesel for.

40mpg diesel: £107 a month
30mpg petrol: £143 a month

Wow, a whole 35 quid a month. I bet you pay more than that for your Sky telly.

:-/ £35 a month is quite a lot of money? £420 a year is a lot of money to me...i'm glad you have so much money to waste!

[TW]Fox · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:39

Gaygle said:
:-/ £35 a month is quite a lot of money?

It's 3 pizzas from Dominos! It's half a tank of fuel!

£420 a year is a lot of money to me...i'm glad you have so much money to waste!

I reckon you'd get, for the sake of arguement, an 80k petrol version of Car A for more than £420 less than an 80k diesel version of Car A.

Oblivious · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:40

Its about 1 hours overtime.

fonzee · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:41

defo for 3.5k-4k you could get a 01/02 plate 306 HDI or a Xsara HDI with all the toys... or a focus TDCI with slightly high miles...

i picked up my 02' Xsara HDI 110 SX for 3.5k, 45k on the clock, mint condition couldnt fault it and the HDI engines are very nice! nice handling too (same chassis as the 306).

Obviously down here in Cornwall everythings a little more expensive, but still should be able to find a nice example within your budget.

Id also like to state the fact £35 is a lot a month to me aswell lol.

[TW]Fox · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:43

fonzee said:
defo for 3.5k-4k you could get a 01/02 plate 306 HDI or a Xsara HDI with all the toys... or a focus TDCI with slightly high miles...

i picked up my 02' Xsara HDI 110 SX for 3.5k, 45k on the clock, mint condition couldnt fault it and the HDI engines are very nice! nice handling too (same chassis as the 306).

Obviously down here in Cornwall everythings a little more expensive, but still should be able to find a nice example within your budget.

Id also like to state the fact £35 is a lot a month to me aswell lol.

Lets take your Xsara for example. I reckon a VTR or a VTS would be at least 500 quid less than an identical HDi. That's a £500 saving. Which you could spend on petrol for the more enjoyable sports variant of the car.

Gaygle · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:45

[TW]Fox said:
It's 3 pizzas from Dominos! It's half a tank of fuel!

I reckon you'd get, for the sake of arguement, an 80k petrol version of Car A for more than £420 less than an 80k diesel version of Car A.

Well obviously if you're putting the possibility that the cost of the diesel would be more expensive (i know it usually is, but varies) Also i'm assuming that he'll be keeping the car for more than 1year and therefore get his savings back plus a lot more (depending on how long he keeps the car)? i don't understand why you wouldn't just have the diesel and the 3 pizzas from dominos?! Why have a petrol and miss out on all the pizza goodness?

[TW]Fox · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:48

Gaygle said:
Well obviously if you're putting the possibility that the cost of the diesel would be more expensive (i know it usually is, but varies) Also i'm assuming that he'll be keeping the car for more than 1year and therefore get his savings back plus a lot more (depending on how long he keeps the car)? i don't understand why you wouldn't just have the diesel and the 3 pizzas from dominos?! Why have a petrol and miss out on all the pizza goodness?

'Cos at this budget all the diesels are really boring. So that £35 per month of your subscription fee to fun motoring

fonzee · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:49

[TW]Fox said:
Lets take your Xsara for example. I reckon a VTR or a VTS would be at least 500 quid less than an identical HDi. That's a £500 saving. Which you could spend on petrol for the more enjoyable sports variant of the car.

true.

but then again personally i do a lot more miles than the OP so it was the better choice.

Dangerous Dave · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:54

[TW]Fox said:
Lets take your Xsara for example. I reckon a VTR or a VTS would be at least 500 quid less than an identical HDi. That's a £500 saving. Which you could spend on petrol for the more enjoyable sports variant of the car.

You always forget in your petrol/diesel comparison that while a diesel costs more to buy, come sale time its going to be worth more than the petrol generally speaking the price difference remains roughly the same come sale time.

However I agree for 12k a year there is no need for a diesel, although I've been running round in a petrol V8 Range Rover and I am almost crying seeing 17mpg so I suppose it depends on what petrol you go for.

wassap · 6 Jul 2007 at 23:55

Diesel servicing tends to be a little higher too, plus they have greater tyre wear.Those things add up too aswell.

thepharcyde · 7 Jul 2007 at 07:37

DONT GET A DIESEL IF YOU LIKE DRIVING

[TW]Fox · 7 Jul 2007 at 11:49

Dangerous Dave said:
You always forget in your petrol/diesel comparison that while a diesel costs more to buy, come sale time its going to be worth more than the petrol generally speaking the price difference remains roughly the same come sale time.

That only really matters when you spend loads on the car. £3-4k car, really, the residuals don't really matter do they? Keep it 3 years and does it really matter if the diesel one is worth 2k and the petrol one 1500 quid? They are insignificant differences over the cost of 3 years motoring.

Plus why the constant OMG depreciation? Do you consider the residual value and cost of ownership of your £2k television? Did you consider the value in 1 years time of your £1500 holiday? What about your £500 washing machine? Depreciation is only a serious concern when the car is of reasonably high value. It's not even something you 'pay' as such - you never have to actually hand over money to pay for it, you simply dont get as much money back when you eventually come to sell the car.

And you always forget the price difference is often a percentage and not a fixed amount, a diesel won't always be worth a grand more, will it, the difference gets smaller as the car gets older, otherwise by the time the diesel version is worth £900 the petrol one is -£100