Car Advice Needed

[mackit]

Right…I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice in regards to my car situation.  Broad outline is I currently have a wonderful Edition 30, 5dr, DSG, Sat Nav, 33k miles, black diamond pearl.  Currently a 1 car family as my wife works in London so I can afford to run the ED30 no problem.

We are now expecting a child and although the ED30 in 5 door guise is more than adequate to be a family car I think we need to become a 2 car family.  I drive to work, my wife will probably not return to work for a few years so ultimately I think she will need a car to run, and one that is big enough for buggies, bags, etc.

I also had to make a claim last year as some very kind person decided to hit my car and failed to leave any note.  A new rear bumper later and I am looking at a substantial increase in my insurance premium.

So….i am now looking in the next several months to look at buying 2 cars and unfortunately selling the ED30.  One would be for me to drive to work so could be a 2/3 door and the other a family sized car with at least 4/5 doors for my wife.  She has no claims so her insurance is an issue while I have 10 years no claims.  Given that I will have to pay to run two cars now I would prefer to reduce the running costs in terms of fuel, road tax and insurance on both cars, so I would say at least 40mpg and not higher than group insurance 16 for me.  I would prefer to get both cars that have some sort of warranty left to reduce any potential costs.

Budget is broadly £20-24k as an overall spend on 2 cars. 

Initial thoughts were a 59/10 plate VW Golf GT TDi (140) for me and perhaps a 59/10 plate VW Polo for my wife.  The only issue with the 5dr Polo is I think the boot is pretty small and the TDI for me is a little slow in that engine spec plus they are not cheap.  I wish I could afford the GTD!!

Another combo was a Fiat Abarth 500 for me and say a Ford Mondeo for my wife, but I’m unsure being 6ft 2 if I would look an idiot in the Fiat and whether my wife could park the Mondeo!!  I do love those Abarth’s though and pretty cheap to run.

Any advice based on your experiences would be hugely appreciated. 

 

[andrewparker]

Yes, I'd love an Abarth too!

Presuming you'll go back to a 1 car family when your wife goes back to work you could lease a car for 3 years, a Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup for example That way you'll cut down on maintenance costs, plus avoid any substantial depreciation when you hand it back.

[VC]

i'll be captain practical for you

your family car will need to be big enough in the boot to fit a pushchair easily with a baby bag, then allow a bit more for a tesco's spree etc.

does it have to be a 'car'? how about a touran? sensible money, good residuals too and well specced


i  had one for a few weeks and theyre fab

...and with a little modding you wont feel like youve sacrificed style for substance eg:







that would leave you a good sized budget for your car... and the arbath is a cool car... but its for the ladies to do school runs and shopping not for a 6ft 2 bloke to feel manly in 

how about an Audi A4?

[andrewparker]

An A4? Could you not think of anything more boring?

Tourans look marvelous value for money though. Seems like £9-10K buys you a decent one, leaving £15K for a toy.

[mackit]

Hmm...Touran.....certainly a good car but i don't know whether i could deal with the abuse from my friends as that certainly is a family car, i fyou know what i mean.  Was hoping for something that was still practical but not too much towards the family car classification.  Hope that makes sense.

Audi A4...very nice....but i'm unsure if i could get one new enough with resonable spec for the money i'm looking at.  Will take a look on Autotrader now.

Thought about the Clio 200 for me....i think it is an acceptable hot hatch for a man rather than the Abarth, as much as i love it.  The only issue is tax and insurance would still be quite high.  Great car though.

[andrewparker]

Hmm...Touran.....certainly a good car but i don't know whether i could deal with the abuse from my friends as that certainly is a family car, if you know what i mean.

For the man that has given up

[mackit]

 

I'm sure it's a great car and if this was my 2nd or 3rd child....it would be hugely practical but in the meantime i would love to try and stick to a hatchback or saloon.

I guess i could start wearing a dress and shave my legs.  That way i might look ok in the Abarth!!! 

Is the Abarth really a ladies car?  Was really interested in one of these....around £12k, good mpg, reasonable insurance and tax and i'm sure fun to drive.

[andrewparker]

I don't think so, far from it. It's the same as saying a Mini Cooper JCW is a ladies car.

Wasn't there a member on here who had an Abarth with a Milltek exhaust?

[andrewparker]

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,14473.0.html

[mackit]

Looks good.

Been thinking of maybe a Golf GTD and then by a Focus or Kia C'eed as a second car for around £5000.  Would push my budget but i would imagine the GTD is a fun car to drive and fairly cheap to run.  Insurance is over £150 cheaper that the ED30.

Any views on the GTD?

[NB07]

i like the GTD they are really quite fast too some guy merked me at the lights in one the other day wasnt expecting it at all! 

[VC]

If I were your mrs and you bought me a KIA I'd slap you 

[mackit]

Yes...once on the move i think the GTD would be plenty entertaining.

I know...Kia...not the best image but 7 year warranty so added piece of mind.  It's a to the friend, to the shops kind of car which is not much money and cheap to run.  Problem is would find it hard to have to drive but at least something like a GTD would give me added comfort.

Problem with the GTD is they are still very new and thus expensive.  More i spend on something like the GTD reduces the justification of getting rid of the ED30 as the return on savings would take a few years.

[Poverty]

Just me then who thinks there is no gain to be had for you by selling the ed30 only to then buy two cars with a combined value of 24k. I mean you will get 16k or so for the eddy if you sold, better off keeping it and lettingnyour wife use that as a family car and get yourself a 197 for 8k, then you have the best of both worlds.

[mackit]

Yes...it's true....although the second car would have to be something like a Focus as my wife has 0 no claims.

Need to really find something for the same price as the ED30 with low running costs to make it worthwhile.