New car, £5/6k budget.
- Thread starter piggeh
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Caporegime
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Had a test drive of Focus this morning, 1.6 engine. Very nice car overall, nice engine, for some reason the door armrests I find look really naff and it quite annoyed me 
Anyway the dealer wanted £7k which is a bit more than I want to spend so was really doing it to see what the car is like generally. Came back home to find some up north, very similar mileage/reg/spec, for a grand less. Just thinking whether to drive up or just to deal with it over email (reputable dealership) and take a risk in buying one without seeing it, or wait for one locally to be offered for less. Dealer wasnt in a haggling mood (although I wasnt too bothered about doing so as I only really went to test drive it).
Anyway the dealer wanted £7k which is a bit more than I want to spend so was really doing it to see what the car is like generally. Came back home to find some up north, very similar mileage/reg/spec, for a grand less. Just thinking whether to drive up or just to deal with it over email (reputable dealership) and take a risk in buying one without seeing it, or wait for one locally to be offered for less. Dealer wasnt in a haggling mood (although I wasnt too bothered about doing so as I only really went to test drive it).
So far have had a drive of:
Peugeot 308 (08 reg) - nice car, pretty good engine. I get those nagging voices in the back of my head with anything french though. Although I do prefer the look of it to the focus.
Focus 1.6 - nice car, would imagine 1.8 is even better. Might go and see a 1.8 tomorrow evening.
Tempted to look at:
Kia Cee'd - Like the facelift model but might be a year too young for my price range.
Fiesta ST - had a look at one in a forecourt this morning. Good looking cars. I might keep it on the backburner and see if the thought takes hold..
Mulling over whether a Skoda Octavia VRS is worth looking at, as they're nice cars and great engines, but - it's also a Skoda Having lived with a Skoda badge for 5 years I'm sort of tired of driving a marque with an 'old man' reputation.
Peugeot 308 (08 reg) - nice car, pretty good engine. I get those nagging voices in the back of my head with anything french though. Although I do prefer the look of it to the focus.
Focus 1.6 - nice car, would imagine 1.8 is even better. Might go and see a 1.8 tomorrow evening.
Tempted to look at:
Kia Cee'd - Like the facelift model but might be a year too young for my price range.
Fiesta ST - had a look at one in a forecourt this morning. Good looking cars. I might keep it on the backburner and see if the thought takes hold..
Mulling over whether a Skoda Octavia VRS is worth looking at, as they're nice cars and great engines, but - it's also a Skoda
Having lived with a Skoda badge for 5 years I'm sort of tired of driving a marque with an 'old man' reputation.In terms of the Focus you want to be looking at either the 1.6 or 2.0. The 1.8 is a bit "meh" as it's as thirsty as the 2.0 but barely quicker than the 1.6.
Oh, and the Octavia vRS is a fantastic car. Ignore the badge and go drive one, you'll see.
The Kia will be like driving a dishwasher - cheap but uninspiring and utterly bland. If you enjoy driving at all i'd steer well clear.
Oh, and the Octavia vRS is a fantastic car. Ignore the badge and go drive one, you'll see.
The Kia will be like driving a dishwasher - cheap but uninspiring and utterly bland. If you enjoy driving at all i'd steer well clear.
Seen a Focus Titanium 1.6 but 70k miles on the clock. I guess being 3 years old it's been a lease car (eg 3 year 25k a year mileage lease). Would you be put off with the high mileage or consider it if all service history is documented and all done at the correct mileages?
It's £4.5k so about a grand less than a Zetec with 40k miles
It's £4.5k so about a grand less than a Zetec with 40k miles
Get a S2000, be happy! It's the same to tax as the Mazda MPS
But more than twice as much to insure!!
Last few days I've been to Kent, North London, Surrey etc, looking at cars. Amazing the state of most of them given they're 3 years old :/ Went to Buckinghamshire week before. Spent a small fortune in time & fuel so far.
Almost tempted to keep the fabia at this rate.
Almost tempted to keep the fabia at this rate.
Any thoughts on the following:
Seat Ibiza 1.4 SE 58 reg - look quite nice, will see one in the flesh tomorrow.
Suzuki Swift 1.6 VVT Sport - Decent? Interior looks a bit crap.
Seen one of each available locally and with decent mileages. Ibiza only has 18k miles and looks like its in great condition. Guessing it might just have end of manufactuer warranty.
Seat Ibiza 1.4 SE 58 reg - look quite nice, will see one in the flesh tomorrow.
Suzuki Swift 1.6 VVT Sport - Decent? Interior looks a bit crap.
Seen one of each available locally and with decent mileages. Ibiza only has 18k miles and looks like its in great condition. Guessing it might just have end of manufactuer warranty.
Swift Sport is great fun to blast around the twisties, is quite practical and has reasonably decent rear seats. All interior plastics are horrible though. Mine averaged ~35mpg over the 2 years I had it. Driving on motorways/A-roads at 70 becomes very irritating though (road/engine/wind noise), and the car really feels like it needs another gear. The driving position feels a bit high up, but you soon get used to it.
Had a look at a car tonight. Never ceases to amaze me, attitude of some dealers. Dealer went off to phone his boss to see how much they could offer part exchange. I hear him on the phone chatting away from where I was sitting. The dealer mentions to boss that the car is in the book for between £800-1100, but that it has a service light on (otherwise condition commensurate with age).
So 5 minutes later, he comes out and offers £400 part exchange. Lol.
It was a useful conversation anyway as I know now the book value the dealers are going from xD and will just use the trick to turn the service indicator light off..
Said dealer also apologised when I got there for advertising the car at the wrong price (was advertised for £5,950). They say it should be on for £7,450 but as a gesture of goodwill they'll sell it for £6,500. How generous.
So 5 minutes later, he comes out and offers £400 part exchange. Lol.
It was a useful conversation anyway as I know now the book value the dealers are going from xD and will just use the trick to turn the service indicator light off..
Said dealer also apologised when I got there for advertising the car at the wrong price (was advertised for £5,950). They say it should be on for £7,450 but as a gesture of goodwill they'll sell it for £6,500. How generous.
Pick it up during the week or next Saturday. Took it for a nice test drive, enjoyable car to drive. Decided to heck with practicality of 5 doors, rarely have more than 2 in the car anyway!