cars

[bfo]

next thing to look for will be a car

looking for a smallish hatchback with back seats that'll drop

cheap to run and insure and for road tax, less have 5 years old ideally

any suggestions.

note I won't be getting this till I sort the house out, just wondering what sort of thing i can get.

I'll so miss the cruise control and heated seats.

Comments

[tisiphone]

No idea about price point or running costs in the UK, but I just wanted to point out my Saab hatchback (previous model to the 9-3) was cheap to run in the US and had heated seats and cruise control.

[d_floorlandmine]

Saab really aren't that cheap to buy over here (at least, not if they've still got four wheels), nor are they smallish hatchbacks in UK terms [grin]. Rather nice, though ...

Also, US running costs don't really compare, given how our fuel prices are rapidly increasing. [sigh]

[tisiphone]

Ours ain't cheap (though not as expensive as yours), I just don't drive much. Easier to take the bus around here.

[d_floorlandmine]

I drive a Cruiser these days - even the diesel's fairly thirsty, but I mostly only use it for reaching escape velocity to get out of London.

After a quick, scrap paper and internet converter, comparison, our diesel price of around £1.30 per litre translates to around $8 per US gallon.

[_nicolai_]

Ford Focus

edit to add: I can't believe I just recommended Ford, but, well, it's in the zone you're looking at.

VW Golf?

If you're going to commute by car from Huntingdon to Cambridge, diesel may be a good idea.

[d_floorlandmine]

Skoda.

I'm not kidding - they're rather good these days. Cheap, reliable (they are now - they're basically VWs for a lower price).

The Fabia's probably the one to look out for. Turns out that they have a approved used car scheme, too. The Felicia's the previous model, and will be pretty cheap, though they'll be getting on a bit now.

[_nicolai_]

I agree with Skoda quality etc, but when I was looking for cars, I found the efficiency and general engine quality of the petrol ones wasn't good, while the excellent diesels were commensurately expensive in the secondhand market, unfortunately.

[d_floorlandmine]

The earlier petrol ones did have a tendency to be underpowered (the 1.3 Felicia estate was challenged by Blue Bank when fully loaded for a week in Whitby - and I mean fully loaded), but the more recent ones have more powerful engines. The diesels are stronger, though, although you're right that there's less of a saving there second-hand.

Fords do have the advantage that spare parts are often pretty cheap.

[dreema]

look for something slightly older, you'll get way more for your money. I remember when i was looking to replace the pug, a new saab cost 30k, the same model three years later cost 10.

[mikewd]

I have to agree that Ford Focus probably is actually the sensible choice - seems reasonably well designed, good handling, cheap parts etc. & likely to be a good selection around of the age you're looking for. These days Ford's direct injection diesel's seem to be pretty good - unlike the ones from some years ago