Buying a new car

[EternalOptimist]

More to look at tomorrow but the Kia's getting the best reviews and seems the best value for money so far...

tell us about the kia then

[Cliphead]

tell us about the kia then

Drove 3 cars today, the Astra, Toyota and the Kia. By far for the size of engine (1.4), the Kia had the best ride and handling, scared the tulip out of the sales guy in the back. Seriously threw it hard into a roundabout and it cornered perfectly.

The Toyota has a slightly smaller engine but handling felt mushy, tended to wallow into corners. Better finish and cockpit layout but really unexciting for the price asked.

The Astra has the biggest engine at 1.6 but was no better than my heavier three year old Qashqai, reasonable finish perhaps better cornering being a lower car but not impressive at all and the most expensive - lifetime warranty isn't transferrable so although a new car with 10 miles on the clock I get the standard 3 year manufacturer's warranty.

[EternalOptimist]

Drove 3 cars today, the Astra, Toyota and the Kia. By far for the size of engine (1.4), the Kia had the best ride and handling, scared the tulip out of the sales guy in the back. Seriously threw it hard into a roundabout and it cornered perfectly.

The Toyota has a slightly smaller engine but handling felt mushy, tended to wallow into corners. Better finish and cockpit layout but really unexciting for the price asked.

The Astra has the biggest engine at 1.6 but was no better than my heavier three year old Qashqai, reasonable finish perhaps better cornering being a lower car but not impressive at all and the most expensive - lifetime warranty isn't transferrable so although a new car with 10 miles on the clock I get the standard 3 year manufacturer's warranty.

not too concerned about handling, i am a bit of a pedestrian driver. what about reliability
i want a 1.6 for preference

[Cliphead]

not too concerned about handling, i am a bit of a pedestrian driver. what about reliability
i want a 1.6 for preference

Would prefer the 1.6 and within the budget at £2k more but apparently not a lot of difference, I'll find out tomorrow when I get another drive.

Looking at Kia reviews it seems that although most people are delighted with their new car when something does go wrong it can take weeks to get parts for trivial faults. Nothing that affects the car that much, maybe a duff CD player or whatever.

Still looking around and will report back anything new tomorrow. Some bargains to be had but some cars are still just over the top price wise especially Volkswagen & Honda.

[EternalOptimist]

Would prefer the 1.6 and within the budget at £2k more but apparently not a lot of difference, I'll find out tomorrow when I get another drive.

Looking at Kia reviews it seems that although most people are delighted with their new car when something does go wrong it can take weeks to get parts for trivial faults. Nothing that affects the car that much, maybe a duff CD player or whatever.

Still looking around and will report back anything new tomorrow. Some bargains to be had but some cars are still just over the top price wise especially Volkswagen & Honda.

top stuff. I would rather hear it here than from some sales twat or dodgy website.

thanks CH

[Cliphead]

top stuff. I would rather hear it here than from some sales twat or dodgy website.

thanks CH

That's what I was hoping for

Too many badge snobs or wannabes on here. C'mon tell it like it is guys, why do you just love yer Focus or Corsa?

[v8gaz]

Hmmm I am interested im this and wish to subscribe to your newsletter - what happens at the end? What mileage are you allowed to do?

Well, I have the choice of paying a ridiculous balloon payment, set by BMW who refuse to admit that their cars drop in value like stones (and thereby keeping the monthly payments down) or handing it back. I shall be handing it back, just like I did with the 745, the 740, and the TVR Griff 500.

Dont try this with Range Rover, btw, they now realise that their cars are worth feckall after 5 yrs, and offer a 5k residual, making the payments considerably more per month (approx 650 pcm for a similarly priced RR when I picked up the 760i)

I have it down for 15k miles a year - that can be set at what you want, it seems to make a difference of about a fiver a month per 1k miles.

I love this one so much that I may go to the auction house when I hand it back and buy it, prolly for around 5k.

[realityhack]

oh and its this car...

Drool. I know a bloke near Woodford who has a fully restored, MC rally specced (including bespoke rollcage) original Gullwing. It's a work of art. Bloody beautiful.

why do you just love yer Focus or Corsa?

We went with a Golf, but too soon to tell if it's reliable. I hear the Focus is excellent, great fun to drive. Mate of mine ended his 10 year run of buying Vauxhalls telling me "they're designed to fall apart after 4 years". I was very tempted by the Alfa Giulietta, which is touted as their "Golf-killer" but who knows if they've ironed out the reliability issues or not until they've been on the road for more than a year.

[Bagpuss]

you are better going off the bhp than the engine size , a 1.4 kia will be about 90bhp while a 1.4 golf tsi is 122bhp or 160.

Personally I would steer clear of a new vauxhall (good value at 3 yrs) and Korean cars are still a few years behind the more established brands. Japanese or German is the way to go.


If you dont care about the badge a 1.4 turbo Octavia can be had for 12k new from a broker. This is in effect a 1.4 golf tsi

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/s.../summary/56329

[OwlHoot]

Why in Heaven's name would anyone spend £12K on a car with a poxy 1.4 litre engine, or even a 1.6?

Either the car has the performance of a milk float or is as light as a feather, and either way you'll be toast in the event of an accident.

Get a proper contractor's 2+ litre car FFS, like a Merc.