What car?

[Ole]

We have to get a car and being of the 'don't-really-care-what-to-get-as-long-as-it-gets-us-around-and-does-not-leave-us-in- the-gutter-too-often' mindset, I was wondering if anybody has some wisdom to impart as to what make to go for? I have knee problems so it needs to be automatic. We have a son so relatively spacious but not an urban tractor. We use it mainly for short trips and to visit relatives out of london/ And yes, we need a car even though we live in London because my commute makes it essential (trust me!). Any reasonable sounding suggestions will be researched.

[Jeremy]

So you want a small family car? Skoda, Toyota, Honda always do well in the JD Power survey (customer satisfaction).

[womanofdulwich]

Surely you want a golf then? but depends on your budget!

[Jeremy]

Why?

[Lowlander]

Big problem with a Golf/Polo is identifying which one is yours in a car park seemingly full of them!

Seriously, sounds like you need a saloon or compact estate...Volvos - (mine has 140k on the clock now and has never broken down). Otherwise Ford Mondeos are also roomy and reliable

What's your budget? Is a VW Golf too small? Estate too big? Age of car/brand important to you?

[Ole]

Ideally we'd spend max ?10K. I'd prefer an estate but happy to compromise on space for reliability. Worried about new car depreciation so ideally would be after something that is 18 months old or so so still under warranty. I guess my wish list is:

1. reliable

2. under 10k

3. roomy without need for an estate

4. within warranty

5. ages well (not going to clap out after 3 years if bought new)

what make would be the best fit?

[david_carnell]

Suburu Forester or Outback.

Roomy, never break down, unnassuming but easy to spot in car park (if that's an issue) and decent performance/economy.

[Jeremy]

To be honest if you avoid Vauxhalls or anything French/Italian, you'll probably be fine.

[Ole]

My husband once had a golf (I think was 4-5 years old) and a few months later had to spend ?800 on it so he is wary of them too but perhaps he just had bad luck?

[DaveR]

The obvious alternative to an estate is an MPV - the same amount of space in a smaller footprint. The most reliable cars generally are still Japanese, and I believe that is particularly the case with automatics. the Nissan Note is ugly and boring but has sold millions because it is incredibly practical and reliable, and comparatively cheap; however, it's on the small side. Toyota Verso or VW Touran are good and bigger but for ?10k you won't get one less than three years old.

[Townleygreen]

according to Which? the best buy estate cars that fit your budget etc are (best first)

Ford Mondeo, Ford Focus, Skoda Octavia, Hyundai i30 and Kia Cee'd SW.

Not 100% sure all come in automatic, you'd have to check that

[Lowlander]

Also do not worry about the mileage. A two year old car with 50k on the clock will likely have been doing motorway miles: smooth surface, few gear changes, engine running at temperature with little stress on gears or suspension.

As I said my old car has 140k on the clock with no problems, this is 2013 and cars are good up to at least 250k now.

Compare that with a two year old car that's done 25k miles around ED's speed bump ridden roads stressing the suspension, constantly changing gear and rarely getting to full operating temperature...

You're right on new cars. ?10k! Wish I had that budget. What DaveR and Townleygreen say, although personally I'd buy a Volvo or Ford.

[matty40]

i'm selling an automatic Polo, 2004 reg, great condition. 59k miles

?2999,

[womanofdulwich]

if you have one son then a "golf" sized car is good- unless you will need to put a bicycle in the boot. Its tricky parking an estate car in London, and they use more fuel. A polo is really handy for driving on London, but not sure if it big enough depending if you need to put a travel cot, buggy and high chair in the boot , as well as your clothes.

[woodrot]

There are no bad cars made these days - maybe ones that are not to your liking, but not actually bad - like Ladas or Polonez of old.

The Ceed is a great car and well spacious, Volvos are mostly ford bits, so will run forever and work well.

Maybe get yourself up to the car supermarket , white city way, one weekend and have a play with a few different ones - even if you dont buy from them, its a good way to get a feel for models size/ comfort etc. They always have a load of ex fleet Hondas - if you are willing to pay a little bit more for a Honda, then there is nothing to equal them. We have a Honda now - I cannot rate Honda hightly enough - and low low depreciation as well

[Townleygreen]

Which? doesn't agree with you Woodrot. That's based on 49000 people sampling. The Honda Jazz does well, but that's too small for Ole's stated needs.

[woodrot]

The Civic ? thats about astra sized...odd looks though - the engineering in Hondas is wonderful- the only downside for us is that they seem to have used a plasticene amalgam for the interior plastic that scuffs easily

you could do alot worse than a focus- we still have a 12 year old one lying around that looks like its a decomissioned dodgem car, but never fails to get us around.not sexy, but good.

[Ole]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We are going to test drive a Kia and see how that goes.

[Annette Curtain]

A Kia ?

Oh dear!

Aren't they cars for people that don't like cars ?

Mind you that said, i'm driving a volvo estate 1984 (leather interior) which has been round the clock twice. Owned and serviced by the same person /garage for 20 years.

I love it, won't drive our other car. The volvo has an air of "i'm invisible" about it, radio set only to Radio 3 or 4.

So if on LSL you're behind a blue estate, helmed by someone oblivious to you and your ranting - it may well be me.

I offer no apologies, it's meant to be that way.

[Jeremy]

I always thought Kia and Hyundai cars were a bit cheap and nasty. Mind you, that's what people thought about Samsung stuff a few years ago.

[woodrot]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I always thought Kia and Hyundai cars were a bit

> cheap and nasty. Mind you, that's what people

> thought about Samsung stuff a few years ago.

innit.

I can remember crap like the Hyundai Pony - but I was very impressed with the C'eed a couple of years ago when we first rented one- it had like ole style VW solidity and the quality control was far superior to the French stuff i have been in of late. awful name though.

[LondonLogCo]

david_carnell Wrote:

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> Suburu Forester or Outback.

>

> Roomy, never break down, unnassuming but easy to

> spot in car park (if that's an issue) and decent

> performance/economy.

4 wheel drive too - making the short cut at speed across the Rye, that much safer.

[david_carnell]

And if you get a grey import STi version it'd be akin to a WRC rally!

[the-e-dealer]

I'm sure there's a TV program that helps you choose a car.

[numbers]

Skoda. Octavia or Fabia. Not cool in any way but reliable, economical, ok for city driving, you can pick up a new one for around 10k-ish, depending on model.