which car to buy - VW golf/ Audi A3/ etc?

[Minitoots]

Our old car has conked out so we're looking for a nearly new replacement- our priorities are:- it must be economical to run (and not too expensive to buy) , 5 door but not too large, etc. We're thinking about something like a VW golf, Audi A3 etc - What about car finance? Any suggestions or recommendations?

[womanofdulwich]

I think a golf is a lovely car. A lot depends on how long your legs are- I would try both a golf and an audi A3 see which feels more comfortable.

[numbers]

I bought a second-hand Skoda Fabia that was a few years old for a very reasonable price. Def not as cool a car as a VW or Audi but its v.economical to run and insure. Service costs don't look like they will be massive either. It's bigger than a VW Polo, maybe its size is on a par with a Golf.

5 doors, lots of boot space, roomy inside. Mind you, I'm a short-arse although its comfortable to drive if you're over 6 ft. So I'm told.

Don't know anything about car finance. I did loads of research before I decided upon Make/model. You could try What Car, Autotrader etc websites for comparisons too.

[Minitoots]

thanks, numbers - will check out that one too!

[Annette Curtain]

I'd recommend a well maintained Golf any day over anything else

I'd be prepared to pay a bit more too

As an aside, AVOID RENAULT MEGANES, i'd rather pull my own teeth out than have one again

[malumbu]

Buy petrol unless you are doing mainly long distance motorway miles. Better still buy a ultra low emission vehicle, EV or petrol hybrid. You wont be allowed in central London otherwise from 2020 when Boris's Ultra Low Emission Zone comes into force. Better still think about joing a car club so you only use it when you need it.

Diesel fumes are the main contributor to about 29000 early deaths in the UK due to fine particulates and nitrogen dioxide.

[Townleygreen]

Ford Focus and Mazda3 are similar sized to the VW Golf, but are much more reliable.

On a more general point, seriously think about getting one of the eco versions of whatever car you decide upon.

The ones whose engines switch off when you're stationary are great. They come on again when you touch a pedal. Saves so much fuel!

[Jeremy]

Golfs are really expensive, especially second hand. Not sure why they're so popular. I guess people like the brand...

[Minitoots]

Lots of helpful advice, thanks and yes, townley green we'd also looked a bt at Mazda 3 (had mazdas in the past which were very reliable) and ford focus so any more feedback on those models would also be good.

[Gerrard]

I had an A3 for several years and couldnt fault it. I loved driving it - a solid, well built and pratical car. We currently have a Golf which I like, and it is a very safe car for our family to travel in, but its just not as nice inside or out as the Audi.

I recently hired a new Ford Focus which possibly drives slightly better than our Golf, but the interior felt cheaper, seats were not as comfortable etc.

If you don't care too much about what it looks or feels like or particularly how it drives, go for a cheaper option as the cars mentioned are all going to be efficient and reliable. If you are at all bothered, I think it's worth saving up for an Audi/VW as over time the things that you didn't like in the beginning will start to really annoy you later on - particularly if you do a lot of driving. Also consider the safety aspect, as cars can differ considerably on NCAP tests.

[David A]

The A3 and Golf are the same car under the skin, as are the Skoda Octavia and Seat Leon. They're all built on the same platform and have identical powertrains unless you're going for a performance model.

Likewise the Mazda 3 and Ford Focus. They're the same car with different panels, trim and marketing departments.

You're already in the automotive equivalent of elasticated slacks, so I'd go full beige and get a Hyundai.

Or, if you don't mind people seeing that you've really let yourself go and stained yourself, a Kia.

[DaveR]

Re NCAP safety tests, very little to choose from in any car in class since 2009:

http://www.euroncap.com/small_family_car.aspx

For reliability, Japanese makers consistently come out on top:

http://www.reliabilityindex.com/ratings/best/Small%20Family

Both the Golf and the A3 are great cars, but the utilitarian choice is something like a Honda Civic, and you will save yourself at least ?2k. It depends on how concerned you are with being cool.

[womanofdulwich]

David A

Thanks for sharing that

:)

[El Pibe]

Looked at the Honda accord recently. Dizzyingly confusing fascia and knobbly bits.

[Minitoots]

Thanks for the helpful info, everyone. You asked whether we were bothered about the car looking cool or not- my partner's quite keen but I'm not bothered as I'm cool enough myself.

(Only joking- seriously, I'm more concerned with the finances and how much it will cost to buy/run rather than the look of it.)

[fernado]

David A Wrote:

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

> You're already in the automotive equivalent of

> elasticated slacks, so I'd go full beige and get a

> Hyundai.

>

> Or, if you don't mind people seeing that you've

> really let yourself go and stained yourself, a

> Kia.

Brilliant.

[New Girl]

Yep David A, with you there, VW/Audi/Seat's are built the same engine and spec just the exterior, fancy bits and badge on the bonnet differ and determine price. It's all the same bits under the bonnet. I hear skoda's are actually rather reliable!

[ruffers]

Seat is the cheaper VW, Skoda the even cheaper. We have a Seat Leon which is 12 years old and never missed a beat - recommended.

As a side note a Seat Exeo is essentially an A4, but much cheaper.

[RichJ]

You'll generally pay less for a Golf than for an A3 with similar engine size/spec. Unless you really like the Audi brand and/or look, I'd go for a Golf instead. Only caveat is that I always think the A3 boot looks (at least from the outside) as being slightly bigger but have never properly checked it.

We had a Golf for a couple of years and it did the job very nicely although we very quickly out-grew the boot space once kids came along.

[Top Girls]

Everybody has waited 4 years and you still playing with peoples mind.Is time to make up your mind buy VW GOLF

AND END OF DISCUSSION. Wish you good luck will see what the VW God thinks about this. Should the church be involve !

smarter way of thinking using other people to make their lifes easier. I wish that happen to me.

[Mick Mac]

Top Girls Wrote:

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

> Everybody has waited 4 years and you still playing

> with peoples mind.Is time to make up your mind buy

> VW GOLF

> AND END OF DISCUSSION. Wish you good luck will see

> what the VW God thinks about this. Should the

> church be involve !

> smarter way of thinking using other people to make

> their lifes easier. I wish that happen to me.

4 years? Eh ?? November 09, is 9th November being 4 days ago not November 2009 being 4 years ago.

[Michael Palaeologus]

I recently changed my Golf TDi and found that I got the best deal with a 9 month old Mercedes B class.

[El Pibe]

whatever you buy get an ex demo.

They've not much on the clock but you save the huge depreciation cars suffer the second you drive them off the forecourt.

[Michael Palaeologus]

What El Pibe said, my last 2 cars have been ex-demo/ex-staff cars. New cars lose at least 20% straight away.