Got a car conundrum so would appreciate ocuk help
So my current situation :
Car: suzuki sx4 2010, 1.6 diesel circa 90bhp, 125k miles
Broke down today with broken selector cables which ive had done before (cost circa 300£ and done by a crap garage. I now know a good independent)
What it needs done (ASAP)
Service + wheels changed over to owned winter tyres. Estimate £3 to 400
Gearbox selector linkage estimate £200 to £300
Oil leakage circa £100 (guess)
It is currently also leaking engine oil (onto the coolant bay) and the oil light has come on. Need to drive it 250 miles back home on Monday

Im in two minds wether to drive it to WBAC / similar or have my trusted independent look over it. Likelyhood is i will want to change next year as id like something reliable.
Mrs drives a fiat panda 2011 with 125k miles which she uses irregularly so i can use that for a week or so to work if needs be. She doesnt drive for work/ does very low mileage in it (circa 3k)
I have 4 years no claims and never bought a car before (inherited my current one)
My requirements
Nice to haves
Frontrunner
Seat leon FR 2.0 - 150 or 184bhp. Decent 184bhp model with circa 30k miles/2 years old looks around 13k
I believe its only 2017 models that have android auto / 2017 models have been refreshed (altho this means £145 road tax rather than £30 for 2016 models..)
Others
Volvo v40 D4 R design (190bhp)
Dont really like the handbrake being on the passenger side on this, plus the screen is small amd and seems fairly low headroom? (only sat in back of one)
Golf 2017 or newer (adaptive cruise plus android) - dont think i could afford same spec as seat leon equivalent?
Ford focus 2.0 - can get 150bhp and 184bhp. Can get a good model for 2years old/30k miles/leather spec for 12kish
Lots of these in zetex spec/red/black wheels look a bit chavvy? Some good spec titanium x models with leather seats.
Can get similar ST models for 13.5kish with good specs/seatsST models - worry they would get stolen which puts me off them
Alfa romeo giulietta (circa 160bhp). Circa 2 years old/30k miles
Concerned reliability isnt great on these
Mini cooper s diesel
Would the mpg/depriciation/cost be similar from these?
Mazda 3 - seen quite a few fairly cheap 2016 models but looks a bit long for me plus no android
Bmw 320d?
Are automatic boxes better in bmws than other manufacturers? Likely to throw up many issues?
Example motors :
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201909202433636?atmobcid=soc3
So my current situation :
Car: suzuki sx4 2010, 1.6 diesel circa 90bhp, 125k miles
Broke down today with broken selector cables which ive had done before (cost circa 300£ and done by a crap garage. I now know a good independent)
What it needs done (ASAP)
Service + wheels changed over to owned winter tyres. Estimate £3 to 400
Gearbox selector linkage estimate £200 to £300
Oil leakage circa £100 (guess)
It is currently also leaking engine oil (onto the coolant bay) and the oil light has come on. Need to drive it 250 miles back home on Monday


Im in two minds wether to drive it to WBAC / similar or have my trusted independent look over it. Likelyhood is i will want to change next year as id like something reliable.
Mrs drives a fiat panda 2011 with 125k miles which she uses irregularly so i can use that for a week or so to work if needs be. She doesnt drive for work/ does very low mileage in it (circa 3k)
I have 4 years no claims and never bought a car before (inherited my current one)
My requirements
- I Drive circa 16 to 18k a year. Commute is 30miles each way (30ish mins on a good run and probably 28 miles of which is motorway/dual carriageway)
- Like the size/length of hatchbacks (particularly due to my houses drive layout so similar to my current 4.3m length)
- Want it to be reliable and will probably keep this car for 5+ years / until 150k+ miles of possible
- 50mpg or better would be nice (or better)
- Want 3 years old or under (my company car scheme requires under 6 years old if i get promoted next year but they're fairly flexible on this)
- Leather/part leather /decent spec
- Air conditioning
- If it was within 100 miles of Warwick that would be nice but can travel
- Budget 10 to 13k and would like to maximise value for money /bang for buck (eg could pay 13.5k ish for better model). Will be paying cash(unless there's good finance which i can pay off with no cost).
- Do a 350 mile trip to Glasgow up to 4 times a year, plus trips to Northumberland.
Nice to haves
- Automatic gearbox if its not likely to cost much more /throw up issues?Whats the impact like to fuel economy? Do ocuk recommend DSG gearboxes?
- Circa 180 bhp (my current motor is circa 100bhp so might not make a big deal if its say 150 bhp rather than 180?). Ive driven a 200 bhp Toyota rav4 auto hybrid and liked it, similarly a 460bhp mustang GT... (i cant afford these ofc)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Android auto
- Heated screen for winter, may be better than my current car which is slow to heat up.
- Comfortable to sit in (ive previously sat in a mates leon fr for circa 500miles and liked it)
- 5 doors
- Not keyless entry if its likely to be stolen (this is driven around Birmingham.. ) this puts me off focus ST diesel which i think is keyless and easy to steal?
Frontrunner
Seat leon FR 2.0 - 150 or 184bhp. Decent 184bhp model with circa 30k miles/2 years old looks around 13k
I believe its only 2017 models that have android auto / 2017 models have been refreshed (altho this means £145 road tax rather than £30 for 2016 models..)
Others
Volvo v40 D4 R design (190bhp)
Dont really like the handbrake being on the passenger side on this, plus the screen is small amd and seems fairly low headroom? (only sat in back of one)
Golf 2017 or newer (adaptive cruise plus android) - dont think i could afford same spec as seat leon equivalent?
Ford focus 2.0 - can get 150bhp and 184bhp. Can get a good model for 2years old/30k miles/leather spec for 12kish
Lots of these in zetex spec/red/black wheels look a bit chavvy? Some good spec titanium x models with leather seats.
Can get similar ST models for 13.5kish with good specs/seatsST models - worry they would get stolen which puts me off them
Alfa romeo giulietta (circa 160bhp). Circa 2 years old/30k miles
Concerned reliability isnt great on these
Mini cooper s diesel
Would the mpg/depriciation/cost be similar from these?
Mazda 3 - seen quite a few fairly cheap 2016 models but looks a bit long for me plus no android
Bmw 320d?
Are automatic boxes better in bmws than other manufacturers? Likely to throw up many issues?
Example motors :
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201909202433636?atmobcid=soc3
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