Car Purchase.. HELP!?

[StonehamPark]

Of course NSC is the only place I can get the completely fair, unbiased and mature answers that I'm looking for..

I'm shifting my old Mini One as PX for a newer car in January and have a few models in mind. If anyone has any experience with any of the below models or could recommend me any, it'd be appreciated.

I've got a budget of about £6000 but can push to £7500 if I find a great deal.
My commute is short, 5 miles each way with an average annual mileage of 5000-7000.
I'm looking for a 3 door hatchback which is fairly economical, petrol and 1.6L or less.

Models I'm currently looking at: A3, Golf, and the BMW 1 Series models.

Any advice on the above is very welcome!

Tara for now.

 

[Stat Brother]

Why would you want to spend all that money on a 10 mile round trip?

 

[dougdeep]

I'd buy a new C1 Citroen. Free tax, cheap insurance and 60+mpg.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Mrs Earle has a Citroen C3. Had it 11 years on 3k a year. Just changed the tyres for the first time for £220. Great value little car.

 

[public school boy]

Trabant 601 with go faster stripes. My Selywn had one when we first started dating. We had many hours of fun in it usually whilst we were waiting for the hunky AA man.

 

[HenryC]

I just bought a new Golf SE 1.6 TDi

Picked it up a couple of days ago.

Loving it so far and would recommend...!

 

[Deleted member 18477]

What advice is needed? All of them cars are good and are better than what you need a car for....

 

[£1.99]

Get yourself one of these! You'll be the talk of the town.

 

[StonehamPark]

Why would you want to spend all that money on a 10 mile round trip?

Nice edit, a little less unfriendly now.

I like nice things, I've had plenty of 'cheaper' cars and I'm in a position where I can afford quality.
Yes the work commute is nothing and I regularly run to/from work, but I do a lot of weekend driving to Brighton (from Bristol) and to away games.

I just bought a new Golf SE 1.6 TDi

Picked it up a couple of days ago.

Loving it so far and would recommend...!

Nice. I'm looking at Golfs (06-08) models. I doubt there's much you could criticize a Golf for.

 

[Surrey Seagull]

I just bought a new Golf SE 1.6 TDi

Picked it up a couple of days ago.

Loving it so far and would recommend...!

That's exactly the same model as mine which I've had since March. Have you had a play with the radar yet? It's 1 of my favourite features of the car.

Stoneham, you should be able to pick up a good mk.v for that kind of money. If you opt for a dsg gearbox, make sure to get it checked out.

 

[Stat Brother]

Nice edit, a little less unfriendly now.

Yeah sorry about that, it took too long to work out what was wrong with my post.

Once again apologies.

 

[Icy Gull]

From that list? Definitely the A3

 

[Springal]

I'm a big fan of BMW as you get a quality build and running costs are not to bad. Got a 6 year old 3 series and it's only really had 1 problem, which BMW paid 70% of the part cost when pushed.

Don't go diesel for that commute, you will get problems.

 

[beorhthelm]

from the list, the Golf - the A3 is Golf with an Audi badge for which you pay a premium.

 

[Icy Gull]

from the list, the Golf - the A3 is Golf with an Audi badge for which you pay a premium.

Might as well go for Skoda or a Seat then, cheaper than both and the same car underneath. He did say he wanted a nice car, the Audi is a nicer looking car and is a premium brand.

I'd go for an Alfa Giulietta personally.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Why would you want to spend all that money on a 10 mile round trip?

My thought as well.

 

[surrey jim]

I got a top of the range Hyundai I30 '57 plate for £3.5k in the Summer, all electric, cruise control, heated seats, climate control. Is a 1.6D and gets 50 MPG. Value for money against what I could have got in the BMW/VW range, albeit with less of a brand. The mileage on car was 120K. Have been advised that these are the cars that are being rolled out in Met police/ Sussex fire brigade to replace all their ford fleets.

 

[hybrid_x]

Get a civic or ibiza, each for about a grand (both reliable).....and spend 5 grand going around the world for a year when you have time.

 

[StonehamPark]

That's exactly the same model as mine which I've had since March. Have you had a play with the radar yet? It's 1 of my favourite features of the car.

Stoneham, you should be able to pick up a good mk.v for that kind of money. If you opt for a dsg gearbox, make sure to get it checked out.

Yeah I will have a serious look at the Golfs, they're definitely in my top 2 currently.

Yeah sorry about that, it took too long to work out what was wrong with my post.

Once again apologies.

No problem.

From that list? Definitely the A3

The A3 is the one I'm leaning closest to, although the only setback is the highest cost out of the lot.

Might as well go for Skoda or a Seat then, cheaper than both and the same car underneath. He did say he wanted a nice car, the Audi is a nicer looking car and is a premium brand.

Yep, it's purely and unashamedly a materialistic luxury. I'm happy to pay the extra couple of £1000's for a nicer car that does the same as a £2k car.

My thought as well.

It's more for the weekend drives down to Brighton and everything else to be honest. I occasionally walk or ride to work.

I got a top of the range Hyundai I30 '57 plate for £3.5k in the Summer, all electric, cruise control, heated seats, climate control. Is a 1.6D and gets 50 MPG. Value for money against what I could have got in the BMW/VW range, albeit with less of a brand. The mileage on car was 120K. Have been advised that these are the cars that are being rolled out in Met police/ Sussex fire brigade to replace all their ford fleets.

Really good shout. I hadn't looked at these at all but I will now. Thanks.

 

[Jesus Gul]

Sirocco