View Full Version : Shopping for a new car
Hi folks
Pending a salary review in a couple of weeks, I am in the market for a new car. Time to trade in my Focus 1.6 Zetec for something a bit more interesting. I am 24, unfortunately I lost my NCB last year and I have 3 points on my license, thanks to the plod around here and their reluctance to catch any real criminals :/ so I need to be careful with insurance.
Currently have two new toys in mind; Mini Cooper S or Seat Leon Cupra (probably the TDI).
My question is, when is the best time to start looking? Some people have told me right before Xmas, others have said very early January. My budget is somewhere between 8-10k inc part-ex or resale value of my Focus ('53 plate, 40k on the clock). I think I paid over the odds for the Ford, so I really want to get a decent deal on the next car I buy..
Civic Type R gonna rape you on insurance?
Tough times at the motor industry at the moment. There is always talk of getting a motor just before the change over times. Really I say just get out there and have a look, that costs nothing :) You will cry over how little the book value will be for the Focus. I would try and sell privately (but that's me).
You seem to be torn in your choice. A sporty mini or a diesel. Can I throw something in the mix, what about a big engined petrol car (V6) and then factor in £1500 for a gas conversion? This is what I'll be considering for my next one.
edit:- should add that not all large engined cars rape you on insurance.
Matblack
20-10-2008, 12:07
MINI S will be expensive to insure and tax, they are thirsty little monsters, I rarely get more than 35MPG and regularly around 26MPG, that said they are great little cars to drive and if can get one that had the TLC+ package then yoou may get a few services for free. If you want something comprable but cheeper to live with then consider a Clio 172, I had one before the MINI JCW and in all honestly its not much slower or worse handling. £8k won't get you a great S but it would probably get you a very nice Cooper and with the 5 speed box they aren't slow by any stretch, if you haven't driven an S yet then maybe try the Cooper first, if your content with the performance then you'll get cheeper everything to go with it. My JCW will cost £500/ year to tax in a couple of years, just food for thought!
MB
leowyatt
20-10-2008, 12:10
:shocked: cost you how much???? That is crazy.
Matblack
20-10-2008, 12:14
:shocked: cost you how much???? That is crazy.
Its a Band K for emissions, its the supercharger :o
The new turbo ones are cleaner and cheaper to tax because of it, Cooper has no charger and hence is cheaper because its cleaner :(
I'll be keeping her for another year and then we'll have to think about the future which may be a turbo version with BMWs ED tech or something very different, like an A4.
MB
My JCW will cost £500/ year to tax in a couple of years, just food for thought!
I'm not convinced. The 2009-2010 price for band K is £300 rising to £315 for 2010-2011. The first year rate (so that for brand new K band cars) will be £550 in 2010-2011 but I can't see a renewal for your JCS being £500.
Matblack
20-10-2008, 12:27
Yep just checked £310, right now its £210 goes up to £300 next year and £310 in 2010, don't know where I got £500 from
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/road-tax/Default.aspx?deriv=32764
MB
Sorry, I meant £310 rather than £315.
Mine is going to be pretty nasty. I paid £400 a couple of days ago for 12 months tax and in a years time it'll be £430. Damn you, band L!
Matblack
20-10-2008, 12:31
Just looking at the new S3, one band lower than mine and 265PS 0-62 in 5.9, I have a feeling I might have to test drive one of these in a year or so :)
MB
They're very, very tunable too. A few hundred quid will see 310bhp + easily.
Ta for the advices so far. TBH Mat I didn't realise mileage on the S was quite that low.. I had hoped to take 35mpg for granted :/ I have thought about a Cooper, and not ruled it out. I'll have a shop around and get an insurance quote - the S came out at ~850!
I am open to ideas tbh. I would dearly love an Audi, but I don't think I can realistically afford the running costs yet. I have a general dislike of Peugeot, but besides that I know I have about £8k to play with and I know I want something that will be fun to go out and drive.
Civic Type R is a bit too boy racer for me tbh, as is the Focus/Fiesta ST. Quite why the Cupra isn't I can't tell you, just personal preference I guess!
I know that I need to haggle alot harder this time round, I let the last sales guy take me for a bit of a ride on my Focus and I let him think I was getting a good deal when I actually wasn't. I paid £7,200 with 12k on the clock and then threw £300 3 year warranty on top. I will be chuffed if I can get £4k now *slaps head*.
leowyatt
20-10-2008, 14:31
You thought of anything Alfa related?
Matblack
20-10-2008, 15:05
Ta for the advices so far. TBH Mat I didn't realise mileage on the S was quite that low.. I had hoped to take 35mpg for granted :/ I have thought about a Cooper, and not ruled it out. I'll have a shop around and get an insurance quote - the S came out at ~850!
I am open to ideas tbh. I would dearly love an Audi, but I don't think I can realistically afford the running costs yet. I have a general dislike of Peugeot, but besides that I know I have about £8k to play with and I know I want something that will be fun to go out and drive.
Civic Type R is a bit too boy racer for me tbh, as is the Focus/Fiesta ST. Quite why the Cupra isn't I can't tell you, just personal preference I guess!
I know that I need to haggle alot harder this time round, I let the last sales guy take me for a bit of a ride on my Focus and I let him think I was getting a good deal when I actually wasn't. I paid £7,200 with 12k on the clock and then threw £300 3 year warranty on top. I will be chuffed if I can get £4k now *slaps head*.
If you like MINIs I don't think you'd be disapointed with the Cooper, go and drive one and see what you think. :)
MB
You thought of anything Alfa related?
Just having a look now. What are they like on servicing/upkeep? I have no real knowledge of them or their reputation tbh, except that the Brera is very easy on the eye :o
147 GTA.
You know it makes sense.
...well, it actually probably makes about as much sense as a fluorescent yellow panda fellating a chimp but I thought i'd throw it in there anyway.
edit - http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/ALFA+ROMEO+147/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-240-4294963522-4294966656/advert.action?R=200842320905039&distance=200&postcode=so167df&channel=CARS&make=ALFA+ROMEO&model=147&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=
leowyatt
20-10-2008, 16:48
To be honest mate I have no idea on servicing/upkeep. The only person I know who owns one is Will.
147 GTA.
You know it makes sense.
...well, it actually probably makes about as much sense as a fluorescent yellow panda fellating a chimp but I thought i'd throw it in there anyway.
edit - http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/ALFA+ROMEO+147/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-240-4294963522-4294966656/advert.action?R=200842320905039&distance=200&postcode=so167df&channel=CARS&make=ALFA+ROMEO&model=147&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=
V pretty though isn't it..
I am struggling to find anything in my price/insurance bracket that looks better than the LEON 1.8 20V 225 R Cupra!
You fairly stuck on a hatchback or would you be happy with a coupe or saloon too?
I love Alfas but would never buy one with my own money.
I had a Spider for a month when my R32 was off being fixed and it was a steaming pile of crap. It had 75 miles on the clock when I got it and in the month I had it, I had to call Alfa assistance (RAC) out 5 times. 4 times because it wouldn't start (a switch on the clutch pedal died a few times) and once to replace the oil pump. Yes, the oil pump needed replacing on a 2 month old car.
I love Alfas but would never buy one with my own money.
I had a Spider for a month when my R32 was off being fixed and it was a steaming pile of crap. It had 75 miles on the clock when I got it and in the month I had it, I had to call Alfa assistance (RAC) out 5 times. 4 times because it wouldn't start (a switch on the clutch pedal died a few times) and once to replace the oil pump. Yes, the oil pump needed replacing on a 2 month old car.
I know people said Alfas were bad but I didn't realise it was this bad. That's shocking. Makes me thankful for the Focus's mile munching abilities.
The one I had was a particularly bad example as I do know people who have had no problems with their Alfas but I've heard enough horror stories from people I know to make me spend my money elsewhere.
Civic Type R is a bit too boy racer for me tbh, as is the Focus/Fiesta ST. Quite why the Cupra isn't I can't tell you, just personal preference I guess!
yet you want a mini that whinneeessssssss when it drives along? (IMO the cooper S sound horrid when driving) I'd rather get a cooper.
I would suggest an RX-8 but their running costs are absolutely obscene.
Thought about one of the Skoda VRS'?
seat leon cupra tbh, my mate works for bently and has a new company car every 3 months
he has had leons, a3's ibiza polos all tdis and petrol variants over the last few years
ibiza petro turbo is an awesome bit of kit as well tbh with loads of easy tuning potential
but as an ex volwswagen audi technician i will say you cannot go wrong with a VAG tdi lump ;)
You fairly stuck on a hatchback or would you be happy with a coupe or saloon too?
Not against trying anything out tbh, although I am quite picky on the coupe front.
yet you want a mini that whinneeessssssss when it drives along? (IMO the cooper S sound horrid when driving) I'd rather get a cooper.
I would suggest an RX-8 but their running costs are absolutely obscene.
Thought about one of the Skoda VRS'?
I love the RX-8 I think it is a striking car to look at, but I heard the same re. running costs, plus I would like a bit more balance between fuel consumption & performance as I am doing more miles nowadays. The Cupra TDI solves that problem if I drive it sensibly! It is also why I have ditched the Cooper S idea, a quick skooch around for mileage and I can see it will cost me too much.
seat leon cupra tbh, my mate works for bently and has a new company car every 3 months
he has had leons, a3's ibiza polos all tdis and petrol variants over the last few years
ibiza petro turbo is an awesome bit of kit as well tbh with loads of easy tuning potential
but as an ex volwswagen audi technician i will say you cannot go wrong with a VAG tdi lump ;)
Ta for the advice, I think you are probably spot on - I am yet to hear anyone tell me to stay away from the VW/Audi/Seat TDI engine.
Not against trying anything out tbh, although I am quite picky on the coupe front.
What about something like an Accord Type-R then?
Quite pretty cars, go well in VTEC, don't drink fuel when out of it.
Other things to look, no idea if they are in budget or not...
Mondeo ST TDCi/ST220
Octavia vRS
but as an ex volwswagen audi technician i will say you cannot go wrong with a VAG tdi lump ;)
My previous car had one such lump in it - the PD 150 and it was a great engine. Sounded like a tractor but not as bad as other diesels I'd driven.
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