Family cars....

[Ticktock]

Shall we do the checklist?

- Decent space in the back Define decent. I'd say the Golf is ok, not decent like a larger saloon / estate would give you, both in terms of width and legroom.
- Don't lose the sport aspect (nice drive, look, interior). 1.6 diesel may not be the best drive, it doesn't look that sporty, don't know about the interior.
- Very Economical and doesn't cost much to run You may have met this one.
- Good re-sale value 3 years old at the moment. Keep it a couple of years and you might get a few grand, same as most other cars.
- Good boot space, practical Not really, no.
- Reliable and robust Should be OK.
- 15-20k You haven't said how much you paid, but you should have easily beaten this at 3 years old.

[Mich the Tester]

Motors are one area where competition works great, it's hard to buy a truly bad car nowadays. Even the worst one is miles better than the best car you could buy in the 70s/80s.

Nonsense; we should return to the grand old days of import duties, protectionism and British jobs for British workers!

[Old Greg]

Shall we do the checklist?

- Decent space in the back Define decent. I'd say the Golf is ok, not decent like a larger saloon / estate would give you, both in terms of width and legroom.
- Don't lose the sport aspect (nice drive, look, interior). 1.6 diesel may not be the best drive, it doesn't look that sporty, don't know about the interior.
- Very Economical and doesn't cost much to run You may have met this one.
- Good re-sale value 3 years old at the moment. Keep it a couple of years and you might get a few grand, same as most other cars.
- Good boot space, practical Not really, no.
- Reliable and robust Should be OK.
- 15-20k You haven't said how much you paid, but you should have easily beaten this at 3 years old.

But remember: most 3 year olds could out-negotiate NWP2C, so don't be too harsh.

[BoredBloke]

If you are surprised how good the Golf is, try the new model Qashqai.
It's a revelation: 2 things I noticed

1. Interior is up to German standards.
2. It really is very refined indeed, far better then our BMW tourer.

Motors are one area where competition works great, it's hard to buy a truly bad car nowadays. Even the worst one is miles better than the best car you could buy in the 70s/80s.

I saw a 14 plate on on the motorway the other date. They are actually quite nice looking and not as bland looking as the previous models.

As for cars today the prices are cheap for what you can get. I just replaced my old Mondeo with a newer one. Its a 2010 one titanium x 140 bhp Diesel one with all the toys added for £9300, including 1 years Ford Warranty, AA breakdown and 24k on the clock. Yes its a fairly boring car, but it goes quickly enough and averages at 600+ miles per tank on my non fuel efficient driving.

[sasguru]

Shall we do the checklist?

- Decent space in the back Define decent. I'd say the Golf is ok, not decent like a larger saloon / estate would give you, both in terms of width and legroom.
- Don't lose the sport aspect (nice drive, look, interior). 1.6 diesel may not be the best drive, it doesn't look that sporty, don't know about the interior.
- Very Economical and doesn't cost much to run You may have met this one.
- Good re-sale value 3 years old at the moment. Keep it a couple of years and you might get a few grand, same as most other cars.
- Good boot space, practical Not really, no.
- Reliable and robust Should be OK.
- 15-20k You haven't said how much you paid, but you should have easily beaten this at 3 years old.

Didn't the OP say he'd changed his mind and was going to get one car for his daily commute and another family car?
Dunno he changed his mind yo-yoing up and down like a tart's knickers.
As a commute car it's a good 'un.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

It fails a lot apparently...

let's make use of this unlimited mileage warranty for the next 12 months then!

[sasguru]

I saw a 14 plate on on the motorway the other date. They are actually quite nice looking and not as bland looking as the previous models.

As for cars today the prices are cheap for what you can get. I just replaced my old Mondeo with a newer one. Its a 2010 one titanium x 140 bhp Diesel one with all the toys added for £9300, including 1 years Ford Warranty, AA breakdown and 24k on the clock. Yes its a fairly boring car, but it goes quickly enough and averages at 600+ miles per tank on my non fuel efficient driving.

Mondeo is another excellent, under-rated car. Hope they improve the bland exterior in the new model though.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Shall we do the checklist?

- Decent space in the back Define decent. I'd say the Golf is ok, not decent like a larger saloon / estate would give you, both in terms of width and legroom.
- Don't lose the sport aspect (nice drive, look, interior). 1.6 diesel may not be the best drive, it doesn't look that sporty, don't know about the interior.
- Very Economical and doesn't cost much to run You may have met this one.
- Good re-sale value 3 years old at the moment. Keep it a couple of years and you might get a few grand, same as most other cars.
- Good boot space, practical Not really, no.
- Reliable and robust Should be OK.
- 15-20k You haven't said how much you paid, but you should have easily beaten this at 3 years old.

Got it at under 10k despite all other cars with the same spec costing at least another 2k more from other vw dealers..... Bearing in mind I got my old golf at 7k and part ex'd it for more than 3k (after 4 years), i'd say there are little to beat it when it comes to depreciation

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Mondeo is another excellent, under-rated car. Hope they improve the bland exterior in the new model though.

I do agree with that. Mondeos are pretty good.

[northernladuk]

Got it at under 10k despite all other cars with the same spec costing at least another 2k more from other vw dealers..... Bearing in mind I got my old golf at 7k and part ex'd it for more than 3k (after 4 years), i'd say there are little to beat it when it comes to depreciation

Costing or being advertised as?

Golfs as one of the best for saving value so not wrong there. The massive mileage you will make a difference but still one of the least depreciating if you take like for like with most others.

I do that kind of mileage but have bought older cars and just trade em in for the next one. Touch wood I haven't had an expensive failure on anything in 6 years so quids in at the moment. Lap of the gods with this policy though. Am sure something will catch me out one day.

P.S If I thought you were going for a Golf I would have brought my Honda round for you to try. They are very funky cars.