Quick Q about getting a new car

[finlay666]

Looking realistically about what I will be doing next year (getting a place in industry through uni) I will be probably moving home to save money, so will need to get a car.

I have been looking at a few different plans, and think a diesel is what I will need (of the 30 mile journey to work, 25 would be motorway, 5 days a week)

Obviously economy is important, as is insurance group, pref 5 or below so roughly 1.4l petrol or less I think

Anyone got any suggestions? My housemate drives a 1.5d Renault Clio and gets really good mileage from it so something similar would do me I think

[staffsMike]

The clios's are quite nice, especially in sport or "dynamique" spec

Group 3 insurance which doesn't hurt either.

[finlay666]

Main attraction was the fact that with just one person in they seem to do 70+mpg happily as opposed to 40 or so in some cars

did a quick quote check on a 1.5 DCI for ~£3k, fully comp was £1.15k , 3rd party was just over £900

Nice to see my insurance come down from the £3k it was when I first passed (this is with 0 no claims too)

EDIT: f*** that, the insurance quote was from egg, just checked with endsleigh and it's £750 or so fully comp on an 02 £3.5k car

[staffsMike]

I drove one when on pass plus and my mates mum has one, the engine is quite punchy. My brother had the petrol dynamique and the handling is very good to.

[finlay666]

Well when I'm in my housemates car he can drive it like hell, get decent accel and get 60mpg or so

Damn, I really want one now

Need to save up some moolah first for it though, pretty skint right now and need to get some more money in to pay for it, though my 21st is coming up....

[kalniel]

02 Astra 1.7 cdti LS with metalic paint etc. are going for around 3.5k now. Depressing really

[finlay666]

Any more car suggestions?

Clio is cheaper on insurance, but only by £100 or so, so not much really over 12 months

[eshrules]

Any more car suggestions?

Clio is cheaper on insurance, but only by £100 or so, so not much really over 12 months

have you considered a Seat Ibiza (based on the car you've already had a look at) these come with 1.4tdi's which have proven to be very economical and responsive engines.

you may want to consider your total annual mileage in regards to the economy argument, as the price difference between diesel and petrol often offsets any economical gain, if for example, you do barely more than 10k a year, a diesel would still prove to be more expensive than petrol, when the overall cost is considered.

[Behemoth]

My sister has just gotten herself a Clio 1.4 Dynamique, 5 door petrol job on an 04 plate. She says it's goes well and is quite good on fuel. I took one look at it and thought, hmm I couldn't drive that too small for me.

Even with the drivers seat all the way back my knnes bend to the point where it hurts, I'm 6 ft tall and need decent leg room in a car.

The Astra is a pretty decent car, would certainly be more comfortable thats for sure

[finlay666]

I'm over 6'2" and can still fit in one ok, seat as far back as it will go, possibly drivers side is a different matter

I'm still looking at ideas, although I will need to take into accound visiting the gf etc so looking at probs about 15k+ miles per year

[eshrules]

I'm over 6'2" and can still fit in one ok, seat as far back as it will go, possibly drivers side is a different matter

I'm still looking at ideas, although I will need to take into accound visiting the gf etc so looking at probs about 15k+ miles per year

you need to sit down and work out exactly what mileage you will do and how much of the will be urban, how much will be motorway. then work out your MPG over both of these and calculate a cost comparison for both petrol and diesel, that should help you in your choice a lot