Car advice

[RandomGuy.]

6 minutes ago, Honest Saints Fan said:

My lease is ending on my Mazda 2 and it is time to upgrade to fit the family in it. I'm hopefully going to look at Kia Sportage and a Volvo XC40 in the next couple weeks. Any opinions? My knowledge of cars is basically the colour.

Would they be fairly new?

[Honest Saints Fan]

Just now, RandomGuy. said:

Would they be fairly new?

Yes, brand new. Also looked at Tiguan. It would be an automatic too.

[RH33]

I like the xc40. My knowledge of cars is about as I depth as yours.

That said my Mondeo is lovely to drive and has huge boot!

[pub car king]

The ecoboost is decent they have fitted it with different power outputs.

We have a 1.0 fiesta and it flies along.

There are issues with the catalyst on them though. Ours had to have a software update from ford after it kept going into limp mode but it was fine after and didnt cost a penny.

I know someone who just left it on their focus and now the cat is on it's way out. 

[Hard Graft]

2 hours ago, Honest Saints Fan said:

My lease is ending on my Mazda 2 and it is time to upgrade to fit the family in it. I'm hopefully going to look at Kia Sportage and a Volvo XC40 in the next couple weeks. Any opinions? My knowledge of cars is basically the colour.

Leased an XC40 in December and can honestly say it is the best car I have had. Plenty of room for the grandweans, plenty of space in the hatch and a comfy drive.  Had to wait 5 months for delivery but John Clark in Edinburgh were great to deal with.

[welshbairn]

2 hours ago, Lambie's Pigeon Feed said:

I'm approaching middle age but I'm about to buy a car for the first time and would love some advice as I'm unsure what to get.

Budget is £10k max ideally less, half of that is a car loan, it's a car I expect to run into the ground. Looking for a big hatchback that can accommodate a dog and camping gear. Mainly for trips to beach and long drives to the countryside, limited city driving despite loving in a city.

I figure I need to go to a dealer (ideally not Arnold Clark) as I dont know what I'm looking for with a private sale.

I was thinking Focus or Leon (or something of similar size I dont have my heart set on anything), in that price range I'd hope for sub 10k miles and less than 3 years old.

Specifically on the Focus, 1.0 EcoBoost engines seem to be all the rage, anyone got any experience? Instinctively sounds too wee.

EcoBoost 1.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002267758238?advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&make=FORD&radius=30&model=FOCUS&price-to=9000&postcode=g611hy&sort=year-desc&year-from=2016&page=1 

Or Diesel 1.5?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003108218216?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2016&price-to=9000&postcode=G61 1hy&model=FOCUS&sort=year-desc&page=1&radius=30&make=FORD&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New 

No special knowledge but I'd be wary of a diesel, it's possible they'll road tax them out of existence because of the emissions, especially if you want something that'll last you a good few years.

[D.A.F.C]

 Warning light will be because your fluid level is low.
What kind of car do you have and is disks or drums on the back?
Sounds like you've worn the pads/shoes down so far that you've popped a piston out the caliper/cylinder, and the fluid is now just pouring out.
At a minimum it sounds like you'll need disks, pads and a caliper, or shoes and a cylinder.

Does the brake fluid not stink? Ferodo fluid?
Got a car back from the garage once and the brakes failed and it was reeking.

[beefybake]

3 hours ago, Lambie's Pigeon Feed said:

I'm approaching middle age but I'm about to buy a car for the first time and would love some advice as I'm unsure what to get.

Budget is £10k max ideally less, half of that is a car loan, it's a car I expect to run into the ground. Looking for a big hatchback that can accommodate a dog and camping gear. Mainly for trips to beach and long drives to the countryside, limited city driving despite loving in a city.

I figure I need to go to a dealer (ideally not Arnold Clark) as I dont know what I'm looking for with a private sale.

I was thinking Focus or Leon (or something of similar size I dont have my heart set on anything), in that price range I'd hope for sub 10k miles and less than 3 years old.

Specifically on the Focus, 1.0 EcoBoost engines seem to be all the rage, anyone got any experience? Instinctively sounds too wee.

EcoBoost 1.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002267758238?advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&make=FORD&radius=30&model=FOCUS&price-to=9000&postcode=g611hy&sort=year-desc&year-from=2016&page=1 

Or Diesel 1.5?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003108218216?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2016&price-to=9000&postcode=G61 1hy&model=FOCUS&sort=year-desc&page=1&radius=30&make=FORD&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New 

 

I've always paid cash for cars, or on the 2 occasions in 40 years that I've borrowed money

to buy a car, I've taken out a personal loan from a bank.  That way, I can see exactly how much

I'm really paying for the car, and I actually own the thing from word go. No HP, no PCP, No balloon

payments, or residual trade in values. In short, no smoke and mirrors.

 

At root, I just think that borrowing money, incurring debt, to buy something that depreciates in value

is stupid money management.

 

However, that isn't what you asked.

 

So....

 

1. I'd stay away from diesels.  They're values are going nowhere, they're just viewed now as dirty, toxic vehicles.

    In addition, the price range/ age of car you'd be considering means that it will have a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

   They're just trouble.

 

2. Previous poster mentioned an Octavia.  I'd agree. They're nice cars, quality built, and well fitted out. Underneath, they're

    basically a Golf, except you're not paying Golf prices.

 

3. Have you thought about a Toyota Prius. ( Hybrid/Electric ) ?  All those taxi drivers who run them up to 200, 300, 400,000

    miles with hardly a problem, can they be wrong.... ?  Nowadays, I generally buy cheap, old cars.., so your budget is many

   times what mine typically is. Also, I don't know what the prices of s/h Priuses are. Presumably you might not want

  an ex - taxi that has been sh*t on, puked over etc in the back seat. But, anyway.

 

Good luck, hope this helps.

 

PS   Fords are not good cars for long term ownership.  At root, as an overall package, they are not quality built cars. 

Edited June 28, 2020 by beefybake

[Ron Aldo]

21 minutes ago, beefybake said:

 

I've always paid cash for cars, or on the 2 occasions in 40 years that I've borrowed money

to buy a car, I've taken out a personal loan from a bank.  That way, I can see exactly how much

I'm really paying for the car, and I actually own the thing from word go. No HP, no PCP, No balloon

payments, or residual trade in values. In short, no smoke and mirrors.

 

At root, I just think that borrowing money, incurring debt, to buy something that depreciates in value

is stupid money management.

 

However, that isn't what you asked.

 

So....

 

1. I'd stay away from diesels.  They're values are going nowhere, they're just viewed now as dirty, toxic vehicles.

    In addition, the price range/ age of car you'd be considering means that it will have a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

   They're just trouble.

 

2. Previous poster mentioned an Octavia.  I'd agree. They're nice cars, quality built, and well fitted out. Underneath, they're

    basically a Golf, except you're not paying Golf prices.

 

3. Have you thought about a Toyota Prius. ( Hybrid/Electric ) ?  All those taxi drivers who run them up to 200, 300, 400,000

    miles with hardly a problem, can they be wrong.... ?  Nowadays, I generally buy cheap, old cars.., so your budget is many

   times what mine typically is. Also, I don't know what the prices of s/h Priuses are. Presumably you might not want

  an ex - taxi that has been sh*t on, puked over etc in the back seat. But, anyway.

 

Good luck, hope this helps.

 

PS   Fords are not good cars for long term ownership.  At root, as an overall package, they are not quality built cars. 

Surely when buying a car on PCP or leasing is the best way to go? I've never seen the point in buying a car outright given it'll constantly be losing value. PCP or leasing means you only pay off a portion of the car's value for a few years with the dealership/finance company taking the hit in terms of depreciation. 

[Tutankhamen]

3 hours ago, Lambie's Pigeon Feed said:

I'm approaching middle age but I'm about to buy a car for the first time and would love some advice as I'm unsure what to get.

Budget is £10k max ideally less, half of that is a car loan, it's a car I expect to run into the ground. Looking for a big hatchback that can accommodate a dog and camping gear. Mainly for trips to beach and long drives to the countryside, limited city driving despite loving in a city.

I figure I need to go to a dealer (ideally not Arnold Clark) as I dont know what I'm looking for with a private sale.

I was thinking Focus or Leon (or something of similar size I dont have my heart set on anything), in that price range I'd hope for sub 10k miles and less than 3 years old.

Specifically on the Focus, 1.0 EcoBoost engines seem to be all the rage, anyone got any experience? Instinctively sounds too wee.

EcoBoost 1.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002267758238?advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&make=FORD&radius=30&model=FOCUS&price-to=9000&postcode=g611hy&sort=year-desc&year-from=2016&page=1 

Or Diesel 1.5?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003108218216?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2016&price-to=9000&postcode=G61 1hy&model=FOCUS&sort=year-desc&page=1&radius=30&make=FORD&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New 

Remember the general market place is going to be flooded with cars as things get tight financially. It's a buyers market.

[welshbairn]

5 minutes ago, Ron Aldo said:

Surely when buying a car on PCP or leasing is the best way to go? I've never seen the point in buying a car outright given it'll constantly be losing value. PCP or leasing means you only pay off a portion of the car's value for a few years with the dealership/finance company taking the hit in terms of depreciation. 

If he's intending to run the car into the ground the depreciation doesn't matter, especially if it's 3 years old with low mileage.

Edited June 28, 2020 by welshbairn

[beefybake]

3 minutes ago, Ron Aldo said:

Surely when buying a car on PCP or leasing is the best way to go? I've never seen the point in buying a car outright given it'll constantly be losing value. PCP or leasing means you only pay off a portion of the car's value for a few years with the dealership/finance company taking the hit in terms of depreciation. 

As I said, I prefer to avoid the smoke and mirrors. 

If I own the car...

I can do what I wish with it.  If I tire of it after, say, the new car smell wears off, I'm not stuck with it.

I can do as many miles in it as I choose, without  incurring a penalty.

If I get ill, or I lose my job..., the car is still mine and I don't have to find the £200 a month, say, month in, and month out,

for just about ever.

You say 'finance'.  I say debt, because that is what it is.

[Thistle_do_nicely]

4 hours ago, Lambie's Pigeon Feed said:

I'm approaching middle age but I'm about to buy a car for the first time and would love some advice as I'm unsure what to get.

Budget is £10k max ideally less, half of that is a car loan, it's a car I expect to run into the ground. Looking for a big hatchback that can accommodate a dog and camping gear. Mainly for trips to beach and long drives to the countryside, limited city driving despite loving in a city.

I figure I need to go to a dealer (ideally not Arnold Clark) as I dont know what I'm looking for with a private sale.

I was thinking Focus or Leon (or something of similar size I dont have my heart set on anything), in that price range I'd hope for sub 10k miles and less than 3 years old.

Specifically on the Focus, 1.0 EcoBoost engines seem to be all the rage, anyone got any experience? Instinctively sounds too wee.

EcoBoost 1.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002267758238?advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&make=FORD&radius=30&model=FOCUS&price-to=9000&postcode=g611hy&sort=year-desc&year-from=2016&page=1 

Or Diesel 1.5?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003108218216?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2016&price-to=9000&postcode=G61 1hy&model=FOCUS&sort=year-desc&page=1&radius=30&make=FORD&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New 

I reckon for about £9k you could get a pretty low mileage Astra?

We've got the estate largely because we've got a malamute cross so when I fold the back seats down he gets to just sprawl himself right out in the back, loves it. Doesn't feel too much like a big car to drive despite being its size, either, if that makes sense. My 15 plate hasn't given me any grief whatsoever especially compared to my first Ye Olde Fiesta deathtrap and the Clio I had after that.

Would be worth a test drive imo, pretty confident you could get a petrol 1.4L turbo for that, either with 120HP or 150HP.

Ohh! I had an EcoBoost 1.0 as a courtesy car recently, thought it was a good wee car - was weird being able to go up steep hills in 4th gear, ha. Think you're right in that it'd probably be too small for you unless you can get away with folding the back seats down.

edit: ha, had a wee look myself, £8998 for a 16 plate 1.4L turbo hatchback. Doesn't fit your ideal mileage though.

https://www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars/vauxhall/astra/1-4t-16v-150-design-5dr-auto/2016/ref/arnbi-u-65149

£9998 for a 17 plate 1.0L turbo, prolly similar to the Focus EcoBoost you mentioned. Sub 10k miles on it.

https://www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars/vauxhall/astra/1-0t-ecotec-design-5dr/2017/ref/arnag-u-32229

Edited June 28, 2020 by Thistle_do_nicely

[ICTJohnboy]

For all those decrying diesels my current car is a 2016 Ford B.Max 1.6 diesel. CO2 Emission is 109 so road tax is just £20 a year.  It also averages around 60 MPG, plus has all the performance I need. I can also get my golf clubs in the boot along with a ton of other stuff.

What more could anyone want?

[Tutankhamen]

54 minutes ago, beefybake said:

As I said, I prefer to avoid the smoke and mirrors. 

If I own the car...

I can do what I wish with it.  If I tire of it after, say, the new car smell wears off, I'm not stuck with it.

I can do as many miles in it as I choose, without  incurring a penalty.

If I get ill, or I lose my job..., the car is still mine and I don't have to find the £200 a month, say, month in, and month out,

for just about ever.

You say 'finance'.  I say debt, because that is what it is.

Even more so if you intend to run it into the ground.

[JamesP_81]

Looking to get a car with 3 full size seats along the back due to the imminent arrival of child number 3. Research seems to point me towards a Citroën c4 grand spacetourer/Picasso giving best bang for its buck, does anyone have any experience of these or class rivals eg Ford S-max etc..

[RH33]

Just now, JamesP_81 said:

Looking to get a car with 3 full size seats along the back due to the imminent arrival of child number 3. Research seems to point me towards a Citroën c4 grand

I had one when still married and had three under 5. Isofix on all three back seats was useful. Boot was huge too. 

[sonsanorak]

I've had a 52 picasso, an 06 cmax, a 57 grand picasso and now a 65 plate grand cmax.

I got rid of both citroens when they started breaking down, they were great motors for the family; huge, practical and comfy. I got rid of the picasso when the fuel pump went and I was advised to get rid. This was quite a basic model and it was the only problem it ever gave us. The grand picasso was the exclusive model and everything fancy on it broke at some point; egs gearbox bearings, egr valve, electronic handbrake, air suspension and compressor. When it was running it was a great motor. I would have another but not with all the bells and whistles.

The two fords aren't quite 3 full size seats across the back, but take my 3 easily now they're all out of car seats. The 2 fords have been good motors for us, but I would have loved the smax or galaxy.

Looking to get a car with 3 full size seats along the back due to the imminent arrival of child number 3. Research seems to point me towards a Citroën c4 grand spacetourer/Picasso giving best bang for its buck, does anyone have any experience of these or class rivals eg Ford S-max etc..

[Andy Dufresne]

8 hours ago, Honest Saints Fan said:

My lease is ending on my Mazda 2 and it is time to upgrade to fit the family in it. I'm hopefully going to look at Kia Sportage and a Volvo XC40 in the next couple weeks. Any opinions? My knowledge of cars is basically the colour.

We have a Tucson and it was an excellent car,great driving position and the kids fit is along with all the baggage

[Honest Saints Fan]

21 minutes ago, keithgy said:

We have a Tucson and it was an excellent car,great driving position and the kids fit is along with all the baggage

Yes another option I've looked at Keithy G. Thanks.