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What car?
David Jenkins - 14/10/09 at 09:06 PM

I'm thinking about buying a new (newer) car - my 10-year-old Toyota Yaris SR is still going strong and serving me well, but it's not a rewarding experience on long runs. It'll (hopefully) become my wife's runabout.

The main criteria are:

* I have no brand loyalty - although I have been happy with the Toyotas I've owned (about 4 in succession so far).
* I want something medium-sized, with 4/5 doors.
* I want respectable handling - not sports car, but no vices - just something I can trust.
* I want very good mpg.
* I don't care if it's auto or manual.
* I don't care if it's petrol or diesel.
* I want good reliability.
* I want something that I can run for quite a few years - if I like a car I'll keep it for a long time.
* I couldn't give a monkeys whether the exterior/interior is boring.
* I'm not fussed about gimmicks and accessories, but I do like abs, air con and electric windows.
* It's going to spend most of its life going from home to the station and back, with occasional long runs across the UK.

I was impressed with my son's turbo diesel Focus - but not with the heap of money he had to spend to get the engine fixed a while back.

I don't like Peugeots - and not impressed with the other French makes such as Citroen. I think VWs are over-rated.

So - what should I be considering?

COREdevelopments - 14/10/09 at 09:13 PM

What are you going to do with your yaris?
Have you test drove any cars? Toyot corolla is a good car bit boring but reliable, or the new auris? Also try out any of the vag range.

Rob

David Jenkins - 14/10/09 at 09:18 PM

I'm trying to persuade my wife to use the Yaris instead of her Matiz, which is getting 'tired' - but she wants 4 doors... the discussion continues...

I wouldn't mind another Toyota, but they do carry a price premium compared to other makes.

I haven't test driven anything yet - I have a slight problem, in that I really HATE dealing with used car salesmen... I always feel that I'm being ripped off, probably because I am.

mookaloid - 14/10/09 at 09:30 PM

for a bargain buy at an auction - pay the price that the used car salesman pays before he adds his mark up.

Avoid anything French like the plague.

stick with Japanese if you want the best reliability.

Cheers

Mark

COREdevelopments - 14/10/09 at 09:33 PM

Yes salesmen can be offputting. But they want your cash so make them work for it. Yes toyotas can be a bit over priced for what they are. but look around, big dealers offer big discounts on dealer registered cars so they can shift them quicker. Also get rid of that matiz. They really are lowest of the low. Yaris is a hell of an upgrade!

Rob

Benzine - 14/10/09 at 09:33 PM

Pontiac Aztek


Ninehigh - 14/10/09 at 09:34 PM

My mum's got a Prius which is pretty nice, sounds like it'd fit all your requirements and for the most part it's effing silent even with the engine running. Oh and gets a few mgp less than my diesel mondeo on the motorway.

liam.mccaffrey - 14/10/09 at 09:34 PM

I'll chip in with what i run a volvo v70 estate
So I suggest either v50 or v70 with the 2 lt or D5 diesel. good MPG and good power/torque

They are really comfortable and fantastic cruisers.

dinosaurjuice - 14/10/09 at 09:35 PM

skoda octavia is a good mile-muncher. boring inside and out. the tdi will do over 50mpg.

nib1980 - 14/10/09 at 09:35 PM

Nissan Qashqai

COREdevelopments - 14/10/09 at 09:39 PM



The best salesman ever!!

COREdevelopments - 14/10/09 at 09:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nib1980
Nissan Qashqai


Its half french though.

macspeedy - 14/10/09 at 09:40 PM

pug 306 hdi 2001 60 mpg if driven carefully low mileage for not 2 much money fsh... my new run around

omega0684 - 14/10/09 at 09:44 PM

got to second the shout for a Skoda Octavia or a Supurb! can be picked up very cheaply and as they are VAG they are reliable and robust! if you want some fun get the vRS, you still get 50+mpg with the diesels!

Major Stare - 14/10/09 at 09:46 PM

Budget?

In no order..........

Skoda Octavia
Qashqai are excellent but dont have the fuel economy as have 4x4 stance (1.5dci is a cracker though)
Mazda 3
Kia Ceed
Hyundai i30
Toyota Auris
SEAT Altea/Leon


[Edited on 14/10/09 by Major Stare]

nib1980 - 14/10/09 at 09:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by COREdevelopments
quote:
Originally posted by nib1980
Nissan Qashqai


Its half french though.


It's not I can assure your it's 100% British




BenB - 14/10/09 at 09:52 PM

My Dad's got a D5 V70. MPG is quite good for a Volvo but not so good when you consider it's DERV.

I've got a DERV Renault Megane II (1.5dci). Powerful enough for me, lots of torque etc etc. Does 55mpg all day long, up to 66mpg on a long run, cheap to ensure, £35 p.a. road tax and free congestion charge if you get a EuroIV one...

As much as people say French cars go wrong electrically I don't think that's true. The weaknesses on the Megane are the acquired taste re the booty (which I quite like), the window regulators (not a Renault part so can't really blame them for dodgy gaskets on the motor body) and having to remove the front bumper to change the headlight bulbs.

COREdevelopments - 14/10/09 at 09:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nib1980
quote:
Originally posted by COREdevelopments
quote:
Originally posted by nib1980
Nissan Qashqai


Its half french though.


It's not I can assure your it's 100% British

Even the 1.5 dci renault engine thats in them?



nib1980 - 14/10/09 at 09:57 PM

Even the 1.5 dci renault engine thats in them?


you mean the K9K engine developed at our Spanish tech centre from the Renault base engine

[Edited on 14/10/09 by nib1980]

COREdevelopments - 14/10/09 at 10:06 PM

yes the renault engine. worth avoiding imo.

Rob

nib1980 - 14/10/09 at 10:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by COREdevelopments
yes the renault engine. worth avoiding imo.

Rob


no problem we're all entitled to our opinion



.

designer - 14/10/09 at 10:18 PM

Nissan Note

Loads of room, comfortable, easy to drive.

omega0684 - 14/10/09 at 10:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
Nissan Note
easy to drive.


REALLY!!!! i thought that when i drove the note it had one of the worst driving positions in the world, i couldn't find any position in it that i could drive it in comfortably, just my 2p.

Nash - 14/10/09 at 10:27 PM

Have you considered the scapage scheme? FORD have some greats deals at the moment on FIESTA's KUGA'S, etc.

Lots of cheap cars out there that fall under your criteria and are heavily discounted at the moment.

SEAT (if you like VW but find them "over-rated". LEON is a good car based on GOLF.

I have had three Renault company cars in a previous life and two V70's, V70 every time. I've had 3 BMW's 3 series (E30, E36 and E45) at 6 cyl models. All great driving cars. Currently run a MkV GTI Golf 5 door (well mostly my wife drives it). Probabley the best All round car I have owned, quick, smooth (DSG box is magic), economical, roomy, big load carrying space. understated but those that know.... know.

In reality I don't think there is any such thing as a bad car these days, just choice.

Good hunting.

..........Neil

[Edited on 14/10/09 by Nash]

franky - 15/10/09 at 12:05 AM

octavia all day long..... oh they're VAT free at the minute too.

spidersaurus - 15/10/09 at 02:47 AM

iono why no one mentioned civic yet

purely as a daily driver, civic was perfect for me. my hatch back choice woulda been the mazda3.

t16turbotone - 15/10/09 at 05:35 AM

Subaru legacy outback, bit weird looking but i think its a great car

speedyxjs - 15/10/09 at 06:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by spidersaurus
iono why no one mentioned civic yet

purely as a daily driver, civic was perfect for me. my hatch back choice woulda been the mazda3.


I was going to say civic

oldtimer - 15/10/09 at 06:51 AM

I love that Pontiac Aztek - well you said you didn't mind what it looked like! I dislike used car salesmen too, but hey, they're just tring to earn some money like the rest of us. I bought our last car at auction - 18 months old, 17K miles and 1/2 the new price........

Danozeman - 15/10/09 at 07:01 AM

Whats your budget david??


quote:

for a bargain buy at an auction - pay the price that the used car salesman pays before he adds his mark up.


That doesnt work round here. The auction cars go for the same if not more than a forecort at the min.

alistairolsen - 15/10/09 at 07:37 AM

quote:
Originally posted by dinosaurjuice
skoda octavia is a good mile-muncher. boring inside and out. the tdi will do over 50mpg.


was going to be my suggestion too.

That or an late A4 B5 model

britishtrident - 15/10/09 at 08:17 AM

quote:
Originally posted by nib1980
Nissan Qashqai



the diesel uses Renault Dci = trouble.

britishtrident - 15/10/09 at 09:28 AM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
Nissan Note

Loads of room, comfortable, easy to drive.


They eat tyres ---- at 25,000 miles the second set of fronts on my daughters car are looking prety knackered --- generally she gets 30,000 from a set of tyres.

The wishbones were changed at 20,000 miles but it dosen't seem to have made much difference to the wear rate.

David Jenkins - 15/10/09 at 11:31 AM

I thought that this topic would get people talking!

Comments in no particular order:

Volvo S70 - not a bad car, but probably too big for my needs, and a bit long in the tooth now.

Prius - I can't take that car seriously. MPG barely better than a modern petrol car of a similar size, and nowhere near as good as a decent diesel. I wouldn't want to pay for new batteries in 5 years time either!

Scrappage - I can't afford, and don't want, a brand-new car. In the past I've bought 2-year-old cars that still have enough warranty to get big problems fixed.

One thing I do like about Fords is the heated windscreen - my car lives on the drive, and clearing ice off the screen at 7:00am on a freezing cold winter's day does not impress!

I suspect that I'll be looking at another Toyota... boring, but lively enough and reliable if looked after.

Mix - 15/10/09 at 11:56 AM

Hi

I'm very pleased with the 2.0 turbo diesel Mondeo I bought recently, high fifties to the gallon, and a six speed box.

Regards Mick

Ninehigh - 15/10/09 at 12:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Prius - I can't take that car seriously. MPG barely better than a modern petrol car of a similar size, and nowhere near as good as a decent diesel. I wouldn't want to pay for new batteries in 5 years time either!


Actually it's better than you'd think. A two week holiday round wales I managed 55 and the Prius 53. It's not amazing on motorways but if most of your journeys are on town/city stop-start driving it's much better

morcus - 15/10/09 at 01:17 PM

Another thing with the note is the top model has wheels in a weird size so you can only get tyres through Nissan and pay full whack, other than that its a great car.

You could get your self an old XJ, you get alot of car for your money and I've not travelled in anything more comfortable without it being French. I'd Highly Recomend the old Citroen C5, The best ride ever though I know soe people don't like the feel of Hydronuematic suspension.

If getting a new car, the Fiat Bravo would probably do you well, My cousin has one and its a great car, and theres the option of a dual tronic box so you can have auto and manual (Sort of).

Ninehigh - 17/10/09 at 07:52 AM

quote:
Originally posted by morcus
Another thing with the note is the top model has wheels in a weird size so you can only get tyres through Nissan and pay full whack, other than that its a great car.


I had that problem once, you'll likely find there's a common size that's got a profile 5% higher or lower.. Iirc it was 165/65/14 and the cheap ones were £80, but 165/70/14 were £80 for four same brand