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1. Decide how long you want to keep it
2. Work out what finance (if any) you want / can obtain
3. Calculate total cost over ownership life: allowing for purchase, realistic residual, finance costs, insurance, servicing, road tax, fuel etc. (calculations will obviously be quite different for upfront purchases vs PCP vs HP etc. but the key thing is total cost over ownership is comparable across each, as long as you factor in the residual value of the asset you end up owning)
4. List all in ascending order of cost of ownership and calculate the incremental cost of each vs the cheapest
5. Pick the one which gives you the nicest feeling in your tummy when you look at the car you're getting vs the extra cost over the cheapest

It's boring work but if you genuinely want to get the best car you can afford - or justify getting a poxier car because it's crazily cheap, this is the best way of doing it.

pjm1 wrote:1. Decide how long you want to keep it
2. Work out what finance (if any) you want / can obtain
3. Calculate total cost over ownership life: allowing for purchase, realistic residual, finance costs, insurance, servicing, road tax, fuel etc. (calculations will obviously be quite different for upfront purchases vs PCP vs HP etc. but the key thing is total cost over ownership is comparable across each, as long as you factor in the residual value of the asset you end up owning)
4. List all in ascending order of cost of ownership and calculate the incremental cost of each vs the cheapest
5. Pick the one which gives you the nicest feeling in your tummy when you look at the car you're getting vs the extra cost over the cheapest

It's boring work but if you genuinely want to get the best car you can afford - or justify getting a poxier car because it's crazily cheap, this is the best way of doing it.

Sadly, I've already done this. Problem is I don't know how long I'll keep the car. I'd rather not pick up any debt however so leaning towards that.

God dammit I even draw a graph to help me decide...

Of the options you've listed, given you don't know how long you'll keep the car for, I would go for the Golf if I could get another 500 or so knocked off the price. I presume FSH?

Saint wrote:Of the options you've listed, given you don't know how long you'll keep the car for, I would go for the Golf if I could get another 500 or so knocked off the price. I presume FSH?

FSH? Problem with the golf is running costs, and the fact its done a fair few miles in not a long time.

Newby1 wrote:

Saint wrote:Of the options you've listed, given you don't know how long you'll keep the car for, I would go for the Golf if I could get another 500 or so knocked off the price. I presume FSH?

FSH? Problem with the golf is running costs, and the fact its done a fair few miles in not a long time.

We run Golf's as our company pool cars. A couple have racked over north of 100K in less than 3 years, and as long as they're serviced properly they're bullet proof

in your 20's you need to bag as much as you can dude

I had a 3 litre Ford Capri (I think) Managed a 360 under the Crick underpass as we went from slippery to dry.

I had a brief look at the boot during the balletic moment. How on earth I missed the sides is legendary.

(I just shut my eyes and prayed.) I became a total Christian after that episode.

Globus, whilst that's an interesting anecdote, does it in any way help the OP?

Just kinda curious...

Fat Albert wrote:If you were happy with your Renault take a look at one of these

Spoiler: show

a brand new one with a 1.5dci diesel and a 5 year warranty lists around £9000 and they have the same ridiculous new vehicle offers as other manufacturers e.g. deposit contribution, low or zero interest rates, etc. You'll easily get one at £8k equivalent

underneath the party frock the Sandero Stepway is a Clio

That's awful.

Sefton wrote:

pjm1 wrote:Globus, whilst that's an interesting anecdote, does it in any way help the OP?

Just kinda curious...

There is no point to a Globus post other than to talk about Globus, his name is an anagram of naracassitic plum.

You of all people will not knock me off my pedestal.

I'm essential for you, and others, to try for a bit of superiority.

You lose.

If you're looking for a motorway cruiser don't go for a 1.6! it's false economy, the body is the same weight but your wilfully choosing less muscle to haul it about.

If you're a young fella looking for the craic but also want a reliable work horse for around 8k. Look for a 2010 Saab 9-3 Aero (make sure you get the hot). 235bhp with a massive turbo. 150mph in the blink of an eye. You can get the older model for buttons.





I've got the convertible version and it's great fun absolutely blowing away chav mobiles. The acceleration is out of this world, the speedo needle goes like the rev counter. I've never owned such a fun car.

Other than that, you will pick up a 4yr old Chrysler Sebring for next to no money. They have a 2.0ltr golf engine in the UK, with all the toys (heated seats, cooled/heated cup holders). Around £2-4000.

You know this makes sense

Looking at a fiat 500 / clio/ twingo type car for the south of France. Avoiding diesels and a budget of 5K. Just a run around with the odd motorway drive to Monaco/Alps.

dr dre - he won't be able to afford to insure the Saab.

Again though, I think some figures might be instructive here for those that are equating capacity with motorway ability

My car - 1.6, 108bhp, 111ft-lb torque. Done quite a lot of motorway miles, perfectly happy (if wind noisy) at *cough* 70mph.
Ford Fiesta 1.0 Red edition - 138bhp*, 155ft-lb torque. Do you think this will be happy on the motorway if mine is?

Figures aren't the whole story will be the obvious retort, but that works both ways. There were, and are, some much bigger engines around producing less power than that Ford unit. My mum has a 2.0 Nissan diesel, the more powerful of the two versions sold, that has the same bhp, more torque admittedly.


* as a note, more bhp per litre than the Veyron.

A3 over priced. Octavia great car but probably too big based on your other candidates.

bobbity wrote:I know there are reports of Ford's little units blowing apart, but in general I'm not sure that they've been around long enough for us to know. Have to admit, I'd be concerned about a 110hp 1.0 turbo with 100k on the clock, but it's not that long ago that people were suspicious of anything with 100k on the clock so things may have moved on.

Anyway, my 1.6 Civic has done me very well for the last 30k (70-100k), no trouble with motorway speed (bit of wind noise) and returns high 30s. From the Midlands I've done multiple trips to Cornwall, couple to Norfolk, several to the south east, one to Durham and one to Germany. It cost 2k four years ago. There's a lot of perfectly reliable cars out there without needing to spend much.

Ford's 1.0l turbo I-3 engine has the lowest warranty of any engine they have ever launched. It's also won International Engine of the Year a record 3 times.

That said, if you're mostly doing motorway miles, a 1.6l turbodiesel would probably be the best compromise in terms of performance, reliability and fuel economy.

dr dre2 wrote:
Other than that, you will pick up a 4yr old Chrysler Sebring for next to no money. They have a 2.0ltr golf engine in the UK, with all the toys (heated seats, cooled/heated cup holders). Around £2-4000.

Yeah, I'd also create a new multi to recommend a Sebring. You utter knobhead!

Sandstorm wrote:

dr dre2 wrote:
Other than that, you will pick up a 4yr old Chrysler Sebring for next to no money. They have a 2.0ltr golf engine in the UK, with all the toys (heated seats, cooled/heated cup holders). Around £2-4000.

Yeah, I'd also create a new multi to recommend a Sebring. You utter knobhead!

Lovely cars, golf engine, mean looking, all the toys for a few thousand pounds. I wouldnt recomend buying a new one but a second hand one represents great value.

dr dre2 wrote:
Lovely cars, golf engine, mean looking, all the toys for a few thousand pounds. I wouldnt recomend buying a new one but a second hand one represents great value.

I had one as a hire car for 4 days last year and was gutted that it didn't breakdown/get stolen so I could get something else from Avis. It was worse than cars like Ford Cortinas from the 1970s I drove as a kid.

A 24 year old buying one will never get laid again.

Sandstorm wrote:

dr dre2 wrote:
Lovely cars, golf engine, mean looking, all the toys for a few thousand pounds. I wouldnt recomend buying a new one but a second hand one represents great value.

I had one as a hire car for 4 days last year and was gutted that it didn't breakdown/get stolen so I could get something else from Avis. It was worse than cars like Ford Cortinas from the 1970s I drove as a kid.

A 24 year old buying one will never get laid again.

The UK cars have a golf engine, you get executive spec in a newish car for £3000. They only work in silver but the styling is menacing and a little bit "gangsta". Any 24 year old in one would be seen to be "doing well", especially with all the toys and luxuries in them. They have a bit of a Bentley vibe to the styling and nobody over here knows what the hell it is, it's a real talking point. I'd never suggest buying a new one the depreciation would make your eyes bleed, but getting one second hand is a different matter, you get a hell of a lot for your money at someone else's loss.

It has to be said though. You do have to remove the bumper to change a bulb and the passenger side wheel has to be removed to change the battery. But having this as an internal boot release lever makes up for that and is again is a talking point that adds to the menacing look.