New car conundrum

ChowChow

Hi...I'm thinking of changing my car in the next couple of months, so I'm doing a bit of window shopping at this stage.

My current car is an 09 Impreza diesel (mid-spec version) and for the next motor I'm thinking ahead in terms of what might happen to fuel prices and possible changes to motor taxation.
My annual mileage is circa 20K Kilometres and my budget is trade-in + 8K. Selling privately is not an option.

The rational head says keep the current car and don't change but I've ruled that out for now. I'm looking for a car that returns 65+mpg, is not totally
gutless relative to my current car, has an engine capacity of 1.6 or less and given my budget needs to be a demo model (preferably 2012 reg).
Don't have kids so coupe is an option.

The shortlist of diesel cars I've come up with that I think will fit my budget:

1) New Kia Cee'd (nice car, but maybe a little staid?)
2) Mazda 3 hatchback (ford focus platform so good handling, revamped for 2012).
3) Audi A1 1.6 Tdi 105hp (nice in right spec, light car so should feel sprightly, depreciation not too bad, but expensive and maybe too small).
4) Renault Megane coupe 1.5 110hp (best fuel economy in class, but is it reliable? I suspect depreciation is worse than the others here)

The less rational side of me likes look of the new Astra GTC (cheapest 1.4 petrol version), but is very hard to justify.
At current fuel prices it would cost about €1000 extra per annum to run over one of the above diesel options and might be hard to shift later on given its niche appeal.

The Impreza will have around 70K on the clock when I expect to change and was a demo when I bought it.
Will my trade-in and budget net me one of the above priced at 21/22K or am I completely off the mark? Have I left anything obvious out? Thanks for reading...

Anan1

Money aside, i'd prefer the Impreza to any of those cars. Why you'd pay more for any of them is beyond me.

Alanstrainor

Seems bonkers to me too.

What MPG are you getting out of the impreza, cost to change would negate any benefit of the 10~ extra MPG for a good few years.

Also, you mention that you don't want anything above a 1.6, the current tax system is not based on engine size, so you should have to restrict yourself to the smaller engines out there!

ChowChow

Thanks for the replies. I understand your point of view and of course I understand the economics of what I'm doing, lets just say I'm in my forties and set in my ways Impreza returns around 50mpg, less on the motorway.
As an aside, I could of course be wrong, but its not impossible the next budget could revert to a partial cc based system for motor tax?
Is my trade in valuation realistic?

bazz26

I'd have the Ceed out of that list if a change is what you want. Other than that I would keep what you have as you will be spending thousands to save a few euro on tax and a few mpg.

Golden Ireland

A trade in value of 13k off retail for those cars mentioned would seem reasonable, but I guess not every dealer would be mad about your car as they are quite rare- everybody here will tell you to keep your car but if you want a more economical new car then the only advise is to look closer at the potential cars on the list and pick the one/ two you like the best and shop around. The dealer you bought the Impreza off new might source one of these cars and could give you strong money for the trade in

Golden Ireland

Out of your list the Mazda is the one I'd go for, nice car with revamp and strong 1.6 engine. I saw the new C'eed during the week and thought the design looked very odd, the front is out of proportion somehow.

I have an older Megane with that engine and would buy another one no problem- the engine is good, economical especially for city driving/ country roads but Renault resale value wont be good

A1 is basically a Fiesta sized car, so your happy with cars that size then its best to compare against cars that size!

colm_mcm

Golden Ireland wrote: »

Out of your list the Mazda is the one I'd go for, nice car with revamp and strong 1.6 engine. I saw the new C'eed during the week and thought the design looked very odd, the front is out of proportion somehow.

I have an older Megane with that engine and would buy another one no problem- the engine is good, economical especially for city driving/ country roads but Renault resale value wont be good

The Renault doesn't share it's engine with the Kia or the Mazda

Edit, I just kinda got what you're saying.

Jimbob 83

Reanult looks best and has probably best power
Cee'd is a good car but ugly as sin
A1 is too small if you have kids
Mazda is boring

joe 77

You should have a look at a Toyota Corolla 1.4d4d, it will be cheap to tax if they change the system in next budget, you should also get very good mpg, a work mate is getting 60 + from his 2012 model. It may not be the most inspiring car in the world but it might suit your present needs

bazz26

While the new Cee'd is no portrait I definately would not call it ugly:



OP, have you considered the Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.6 JTD?

bazz26

I would not bother with the current Corolla/Auris, they have been around for 5 years and are showing their age. The competition offer much better options for similar money.

ChowChow

Haven't considered the Alfa I must admit, and it seems to be a fine car, but I will probably end up with a more mainstream marque when I change.

Anan1

What's your reason for changing? In other words, what do you want from the new car?

Zubeneschamali

ChowChow wrote: »

Don't have kids so coupe is an option.

I'm with the crowd who'd rather have the Impreza than any of the cars on your list. I suppose the A1 has a nicer interior, but that's the most I can say for any of them.

It really doesn't make financial sense, and the new car smell will be spoiled by the fact that it comes in a worse car.

How about a Mini Cooper D?

You might get into a Volvo C30.

MrDerp

If you're looking for something really shiny and new, the new V40 will be launching in the coming months:

http://www.volvocars.com/ie/all-cars/volvo-v40/which/pages/engines.aspx

The D2 should consume about the same as a 1.6 tdci focus, but will be much better trimmed.

ChowChow

Anan1 wrote: »

What's your reason for changing? In other words, what do you want from the new car?

Reason for changing - I can afford it (all bets are off if we leave the euro!) and want a change I guess. Also, don't want the hassle of having to deal with the wear and tear items on the car as it gets older (clutches can be a weakpoint on recent Subarus, and then the usual diesel age-related issues of DPF, DMF etc etc). Last service cost me over €400 at the main dealer too. What do I want from the new car? Reliability, low running costs, decent enough performance.

Anan1

ChowChow wrote: »

Reason for changing - I can afford it (all bets are off if we leave the euro!) and want a change I guess. Also, don't want the hassle of having to deal with the wear and tear items on the car as it gets older (clutches can be a weakpoint on recent Subarus, and then the usual diesel age-related issues of DPF, DMF etc etc). Last service cost me over €400 at the main dealer too. What do I want from the new car? Reliability, low running costs, decent enough performance.

Any savings on running costs/maintenance will be dwarfed by the additional depreciation of a new car, so it's really down to your wanting, and being able to afford, a change. Given that you'll likely be wanting to change again, for the same reasons, in three years, i'd prioritise resale value and warranty pretty much to the exclusion of all else.

cadaliac

Anan1 wrote: »

Any savings on running costs/maintenance will be dwarfed by the additional depreciation of a new car, so it's really down to your wanting, and being able to afford, a change. Given that you'll likely be wanting to change again, for the same reasons, in three years, i'd prioritise resale value and warranty pretty much to the exclusion of all else.

Good point but when dealing in new cars, you will always have depreciation. So, on one hand the OP will loose money on depreciation and on the other hand (with an older car) they are dealing with mechanical failures due to wear and tear. If I could afford it, I would be like the OP and just deal in new warranted cars.
A family member is the exact same.
Personally OP I would also keep the Subaru also. Second choice would be the Alfa. I'd rather just go to the nearest cemetery and wait for death at the gates than get a Corolla/Arius. Snorefest of the highest order, but each to their own and all that.

Mitch Connor

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd have the Ceed out of that list if a change is what you want. Other than that I would keep what you have as you will be spending thousands to save a few euro on tax and a few mpg.

I have the previous (08) pro'ceed and the brother has the renault megane coupe - i'd take the renault every single time - though his is the top spec which is what would sway me. Lovely to drive, looks lovely inside and out, only one issue with the car since he bought it and that was as a result of a crash he had and the battery not being connected properly after repair - the car itself has been perfect.

Anan1

cadaliac wrote: »

Good point but when dealing in new cars, you will always have depreciation. So, on one hand the OP will loose money on depreciation and on the other hand (with an older car) they are dealing with mechanical failures due to wear and tear. If I could afford it, I would be like the OP and just deal in new warranted cars.

I'd change regularly too, if I had the money. If money became a bit tight, though, i'd sooner keep my current car for longer than spend more on something newer but inferior. Particularly if my current car was one of the more reliable brands.

the culture of deference

go with a megane dci.

same engine as qashqai, 60mpg +, 5 year unlimited mileage warranty, prob 17-18 grand cash new.