Spec me a car (and loan advice)

Russinating · 11 Mar 2011 at 16:55

I'm looking to upgrade from my 1999 Clio 1.6 to something a bit more professional, and generally different (I've had it for 3 years now).

I reckon I'll be able to sell the Clio for at least what I bought it for with a slow sale, which was £1,600. I'll probably sell it after upgrading simply because I don't want to rush a purchase and I can't really be without a car for that long.

Now, I have a real love for Alfas. I know not everyone's a fan, but the 147, Brera and GT really appeal to me. I'm really not a fan of Fiestas, Mondeos etc: they're just a bit too dull/normal. And yes I'm shallow

. But is there anything else I should be considering? And should I buy second hand or new?

A local dealer has quite a few Alfas with a ton of info for each: http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub.currentstock. Generally decent prices or a bit of a rip off?

And Moneysupermarket etc throw up a 6.9% APR loan for £7.5k over 3 years. I bank with HSBC and Lloyds normally but I'm also a customer of Barclays and Natwest.

Budget: £10,000 absolute max, loan dependent
Deposit/supplement: ~£2,000

Car will be doing <5k miles per year, split use 50/50 between personal and business. Must be practical and able to take my bike (ie folding rear seats).

Thanks in advance

.

[TW]Fox · 11 Mar 2011 at 17:12

By business use do you mean business use or just driving to work?

Russinating · 11 Mar 2011 at 17:14

By just driving to work do you mean just driving to work or driving to jobs?

Part of my job involves driving to weddings, they're all over the shop and the travel expenses are paid for the by the client, but I don't have clients in my car if that's what you're getting at?

PS. I don't drive to work at all, I commute by bike.

Adz · 11 Mar 2011 at 17:24

That Brera looks fantastic but go into it with your eyes open. In my experience it's far from a myth that Alfa Romeos are fragile cars prone to throwing up expensive bills compared to other, more 'boring' cars in their class.

You'll love the seats and the engine note and just the general feel of the thing but, if it's a car which you need for work and which you're making a stretch financially to afford, I'd consider very carefully whether you might be better off with something a little more 'boring' like a Focus, Astra or Golf.

Russinating · 11 Mar 2011 at 20:45

Adz said:
if it's a car which you need for work and which you're making a stretch financially to afford, I'd consider very carefully whether you might be better off with something a little more 'boring' like a Focus, Astra or Golf.

You know, I probably agree with you, wish is why I may just stick with the 147 - that was what turned my eye towards Alfa in the first place. My ex-flatmate has one, didn't drive it myself but was a passenger many a time and you do certainly seem to get a lot of bang for your buck.

It'd also mean I wouldn't have to go down the loan route, as I'd be more than happy with something such as this coming from a Clio: http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub.review&carid=1256