Spec me.....

monkey_boy · 9 Dec 2010 at 18:42

Hi all,

Which cars should i be looking at to achieve the following (in order of priority):

Automatic transmission
Low depreciation
fits 2 (group 2) car seats in the back
<£4.5k
Newish (>2003 reg probably)

It's for my sister in law and will be kept for less than a year. If I've missed things out I'm sure you guys will soon pick up on it

Any help would be much appreciated.

[TW]Fox · 9 Dec 2010 at 19:21

VW Polo? No idea if they do an auto but you are best off without one. Not especially great cars but will go from A to B, and will have low depreciation.

monkey_boy · 9 Dec 2010 at 20:52

I've had a look into the Polo and it doesn't seem to do that well with residuals compared to say a Mk3 Mondeo 2.0 TDCI Ghia X Auto.

[TW]Fox · 9 Dec 2010 at 20:53

You've gotta be joking? Mondeo good with depreciation?

ajstan · 9 Dec 2010 at 20:56

Mk4 Golf would be a good option, would probably hold its value quite well

Morba · 9 Dec 2010 at 20:56

Focus. £4.5k gets you a mk2 with decent spec and probably a 2ltr engine

Not sure on the expected depreciation though!

Can see a few 06 plate focuses on AT for around that budget

[TW]Fox · 9 Dec 2010 at 20:56

He wants something newish and the Mk4 Golf died in early 2004.

ajstan · 9 Dec 2010 at 21:03

[TW]Fox;17966998 said:
He wants something newish and the Mk4 Golf died in early 2004.

Does also say 'probably' though.

OP why did you want a 'newish' car? Reliability... or equipment..or?

[TW]Fox · 9 Dec 2010 at 21:09

Because old cars suck.

ajstan · 9 Dec 2010 at 21:29

[TW]Fox;17967095 said:
Because old cars suck.

Even if this were true (which it certainly is not

) it doesn't matter - all you need for a temporarily car is for it to be reliable and hold it's value so when you sell it on you make minimal loss.

IMO this would be perfect: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...gen/postcode/e49en/page/1/radius/60?logcode=p

paradigm · 9 Dec 2010 at 21:31

ajstan said:
Even if this were true (which it certainly is not ) it doesn't matter - all you need for a temporarily car is for it to be reliable and hold it's value so when you sell it on you make minimal loss.

IMO this would be perfect: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...gen/postcode/e49en/page/1/radius/60?logcode=p

If you are going down that route, THIS is better value for money.

[TW]Fox · 9 Dec 2010 at 21:34

ajstan said:
Even if this were true (which it certainly is not ) it doesn't matter - all you need for a temporarily car is for it to be reliable and hold it's value so when you sell it on you make minimal loss.

IMO this would be perfect: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...gen/postcode/e49en/page/1/radius/60?logcode=p

That is bonkers, its a 9 year old car, ridiculous money to pay for a 9 year old Golf.

monkey_boy · 9 Dec 2010 at 21:57

[TW]Fox;17966972 said:
You've gotta be joking? Mondeo good with depreciation?

The combo I mentioned above seems to be holding it's value pretty well and would appear to be easy to sell. It looks as though some autos hold their value because nobody wants them but the sellers aren't willing to drop the price enough.

Focus is the best shout so far I think. It seems to tick the right boxes. I think part of me was just hoping there would be some little gem that I'd forgotten about that has all the toys, doesn't depreciate is an auto and is being sold at a knock down price. Don't want much eh?

The Mk4 golf is too old.

monkey_boy · 9 Dec 2010 at 21:59

paradigm said:
If you are going down that route, THIS is better value for money.

Lol, I looked for one of those earlier but there were more listings for golden rocking horse poo than for auto leons.

ajstan · 9 Dec 2010 at 22:02

paradigm said:
If you are going down that route, THIS is better value for money.

Ok, that is a better bet, can get a much newer car for the same money with a leon.

monkey_boy · 9 Dec 2010 at 22:02

ajstan said:
Even if this were true (which it certainly is not ) it doesn't matter - all you need for a temporarily car is for it to be reliable and hold it's value so when you sell it on you make minimal loss.

IMO this would be perfect: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...gen/postcode/e49en/page/1/radius/60?logcode=p

That car is one that falls firmly into the bracket of 'seller won't reduce price even though nobody wants it'. It's a 9 year old golf with a (not very good) auto box. Nobody is paying £4k for one of those.

ajstan · 9 Dec 2010 at 22:04

monkey_boy said:
That car is one that falls firmly into the bracket of 'seller won't reduce price even though nobody wants it'. It's a 9 year old golf with a (not very good) auto box. Nobody is paying £4k for one of those.

To be fair, I doubt the ford automatic equivalent is any better

[TW]Fox · 9 Dec 2010 at 22:05

ajstan said:
To be fair, I doubt the ford automatic equivalent is any better

Neither is it £4k for a 9 year old example.

ajstan · 9 Dec 2010 at 22:07

Okokok, stop laying into me and start suggesting some other cars which would be suitable

monkey_boy · 9 Dec 2010 at 22:28

ajstan said:
To be fair, I doubt the ford automatic equivalent is any better

The DuraShift on the mondy is a good auto box. The Auto box in the focus isn't great but its definitely not bad as auto boxes go.