[Help] New Car - what would you choose

[schmunk]

I learnt to drive in a Polo and it was a great car FWIW

I learned to drive in a Morris Traveller - and it was crap! Your point is.....?

My wife's granny learned to drive in a Bentley, and now drives a Honda Jazz...

 

[John Byrnes Mullet]

Audi A3 Sportsback

 

[maltaseagull]

My son has had 2 Polos, neither from mint, but both well appreciated.

Very fortunate.
Every car I have ever owned has depreciated

 

[zefarelly]

But they can also be fruity.

with holes in, often covered with foil

 

[Garage_Doors]

I bought a Sep 2018 registered VW tiguan on PCP in Aug 2019 with 6200 on the clock, 9 1/2 grand off list price, plus lots of options I wanted on it like leather seats etc.

Just dont see any logic in buying brand new??

I thought PCP is a form of renting rather than buying as you have to give it back at the end of the term?

 

[schmunk]

I thought PCP is a form of renting rather than buying as you have to give it back at the end of the term?

PCH is pure renting - you have no rights to the car at the end of the lease term.

PCP is effectively Hire Purchase with a break clause - at the end of the term, you can choose to either give the car back or pay a pre-agreed "balloon payment" to buy the car outright.

 

[LlcoolJ]

Two Polos. Four Golfs. Clarkson drives a GTI performance as his every day car (as mentioned). The Times review said "all round, this is probably the best car in the World".

Depends on what you need size wise, but I must say the Polo GTI is MINT.

 

[LlcoolJ]

PCH is pure renting - you have no rights to the car at the end of the lease term.

PCP is effectively Hire Purchase with a break clause - at the end of the term, you can choose to either give the car back or pay a pre-agreed "balloon payment" to buy the car outright.

It's peas or beans though (as they say up North). You just get a new one every 4 (or whatever) years.

Who cares if you own it outright or not? Unless it's a vintage Porsche or something, it's only going to lose you money anyway.

It's not a house. Just enjoy driving what you want to and can afford.

 

[WATFORD zero]

I'm obviously the outlier here

For the last 40+ years, I have decided what sort of car I want (Big estate, Supermini, Family Hatchback), check out any that have really poor reviews/reliability and then look for any of the rest in private sales and if I see something I like, I go and test drive it (normally end up checking out a few) and whichever I like I buy. The only thing I tend to do is get large engines on large cars because those are the ones I've tended to do longer trips in.

And even more so now than when I started as most cars these days are really are much of a muchness. Over the years I think I've had cars from most major manufacturers, particularly the long standing ones.

I don't think I've ever said I want that make/model (except when I had company cars and had to choose one). Does everyone else go looking for a specific make/model ?

 

[Drumstick]

I have a X ref Polo which frankly is treated worse than dirt and yet never given me a moments problem. Almost feel guilty.


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[Icy Gull]

I'd go with the Polo.

I learnt to drive in one in 1989, just a good honest and (for then) simple car.

I keep looking at these .. . View attachment 133038. You need to save up a few years no claims first though

This man has taste.

 

[Icy Gull]

I'm obviously the outlier here
Does everyone else go looking for a specific make/model ?

Yep, Alfa fanboy and I say that having had a couple of Porsches. Alfas have soul and make you smile every time you drive them. They are not the unreliable rust buckets most (who have never owned an Alfa) would have you believe. Keeps second hand prices low with the stigma they still carry from the 70s

 

[Doonhamer7]

You may get a better deal on a nearly new bigger car - when I was looking for 6-12month old jag XF / Volvo c90 / Mercedes e-class / Audi A6. (would add 5 series but if you want a lesson in how not to do sales visit bmw in Crawley) with <10k miles on clock were all cheaper than equivalent vw (Including golf) and Audi (lowest depreciation for same car). I found the gap is even bigger if they’ve just bought out a new model (Volvo xc60 was a good example a couple of years ago, 4K difference between cars with 2months age difference). You could easily be getting a £45-50k car for c£20-22k.

 

[zefarelly]

Yep, Alfa fanboy and I say that having had a couple of Porsches. Alfas have soul and make you smile every time you drive them. They are not the unreliable rust buckets most (who have never owned an Alfa) would have you believe. Keeps second hand prices low with the stigma they still carry from the 70s

Same can be said for some Subarus . .. . labelled as dull farmers wagons or boy racer rally cars, there are some hugely capable sport wagons with German build quality for the same price or less than a v***all or Ford

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Honda Civic - the last few generations have been excellent cars and are getting better all the time.

I got a 12 reg Honda Jazz 1.4 in November after my old car died. Never had a better car IMO. Huge visibility, large internal capacity, economic, smart looking, a smooth runner and, unbelievably, cheaper to insure than my old 51 reg 1ltr Nissan Micra (the old style!)

Great little runaround.

 

[Monsieur Le Plonk]

On balance it looks like the Polo is car of choice from the list.....although someone has since recommended a Seat Leon. Anyone got any views on that?

(Thanks to all who have contributed - NSC at it's most helpful)

 

[Icy Gull]

On balance it looks like the Polo is car of choice from the list.....although someone has since recommended a Seat Leon. Anyone got any views on that?

(Thanks to all who have contributed - NSC at it's most helpful)

Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda are basically the same car with an ascending scale car snobbery. They are all made by the same company, similar cars different badge