Advice on a what car to go for please!

peege

Im looking to change the car which is currently a 1.6 petrol audi a3 2005.

I travel about 400KM/week so Im wondering would it be worth my while to change to a diesel??

I'd like a nice looking motor too but dunno what to go for. The budget with my own would be 5-10k.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

sawdoubters

why do you want to change most cars at 5k will be same year as yours

colm_mcm

sawdoubters wrote: »

why do you want to change most cars at 5k will be same year as yours

5-10k plus the audi?

bazz26

400km a week is only 250 miles, wouldn't be changing from petrol to diesel just for that.

peege

I was going to move past the 08 year for the tax, not that its worth much anymore so i thought diesel would be more economical but i dont know. How many miles per week would you want to be doing before you move onto a diesel?

peege

colm_mcm wrote: »

5-10k plus the audi?

Yes, i was hoping to get anout 5k for the audi. So in total 10-15k is what id be willing to spend.

peege

sawdoubters wrote: »

why do you want to change most cars at 5k will be same year as yours

My car plus 5-10 k. 10-15k worth of a new car, if that makes sense!

bazz26

What sort of driving do you do? Is it mostly short stop/start trips or motorway driving. Modern diesels don't like short stop/start trips and you could end up paying more in maintenance than you actually save at the pump. There are also a good few petrol cars that qualify for cheap tax these days.

peege

bazz26 wrote: »

What sort of driving do you do? Is it mostly short stop/start trips or motorway driving. Modern diesels don't like short stop/start trips and you could end up paying more in maintenance than you actually save at the pump. There are also a good few petrol cars that qualify for cheap tax these days.

80% of my driving would be on the main road. The rest would be city driving. The 1.6 petrol audi would cost me about €80 week.

Satanta

peege wrote: »

80% of my driving would be on the main road. The rest would be city driving. The 1.6 petrol audi would cost me about €80 week.

Is that on fuel alone? At 250 miles per week that's roughly 25 mpg. Can't be right. I only fare out a wee bit worse and I drive a 2.5 touareg.

peege

Satanta wrote: »

Is that on fuel alone? At 250 miles per week that's roughly 25 mpg. Can't be right. I only fare out a wee bit worse and I drive a 2.5 touareg.

The last couple of months ive been doing a bit of extra driving over the weekends so that is adding to it.

Generally its €60-80 per week and it is on fuel alone. Thats why i want to change to something more economical but something that looks well too.

peege

bmw 320d???

colm_mcm

peege wrote: »

The last couple of months ive been doing a bit of extra driving over the weekends so that is adding to it.

Generally its €60-80 per week and it is on fuel alone. Thats why i want to change to something more economical but something that looks well too.

Let's be straight here

Do you want a newer different car and need an excuse to spend €10k.
Cos the actual figures will never make sense. You'll still be spending €10k at the end of it.

MuppetCheck

peege wrote: »

The last couple of months ive been doing a bit of extra driving over the weekends so that is adding to it.

Generally its €60-80 per week and it is on fuel alone. Thats why i want to change to something more economical but something that looks well too.

1.4tfsi version of what you have if you like it. There is also a few 1.8tfsi versions around too. Either will be more economical then what you have.

Satanta

As colm has said, for whatever reason you want to change your car... You are going to be out cash on a more expensive car that will ultimately depreciate more than what you have at the moment. So the initial outlay coupled with cost of depreciation will outweigh savings made in running costs.

So that's the boring crap out if the way. If I wanted to change my car, and I do fequently, I never fool myself into thinking I'll be better off financially. It is purely the symptom of my affliction. I love driving and owning different cars, and different types if cars. I'm out a.bit of money every few years but life is short and I'll not be able to drive when I'm dead.

So.... Pick a car that you like. Test drive a few of them. Research common faults. Make sure.you get a good one. And enjoy it. Simples.

Nice looking is subjective. Easy to run is relative. Given your parameters (small hatch and doing average mileage) I would probably say something like a focus 2.0 diesel? Plenty of power compared with your car and economical too.

peege

colm_mcm wrote: »

Let's be straight here

Do you want a newer different car and need an excuse to spend €10k.
Cos the actual figures will never make sense. You'll still be spending €10k at the end of it.

I'm not looking for an excuse to spend the money but I want nice car that would be economical.

peege

Satanta wrote: »

As colm has said, for whatever reason you want to change your car... You are going to be out cash on a more expensive car that will ultimately depreciate more than what you have atcoupled with cost of depreciation will outweigh savings made in running costs.



So that's the boring crap out if the way. If I wanted to change my car, and I do fequently, I never fool myself into thinking I'll be better off financially. It is purely the symptom of my affliction. I love driving and owning different cars, and different types if cars. I'm out a.bit of money every few years but life is short and I'll not be able to drive when I'm dead.

So.... Pick a car that you like. Test drive a few of them. Research common faults. Make sure.you get a good one. And enjoy it. Simples.

Nice looking is subjective. Easy to run is relative. Given your parameters (small hatch and doing average mileage) I would probably say something like a focus 2.0 diesel? Plenty of power compared with your car and economical too.

Thanks for taking the time to think about my predicament! i appreciate your insightful reply.

Your right and I suppose I didn't think of it like that

I think id love BMW 3 series but theyre out of my budget.

mickdw

peege wrote: »

Thanks for taking the time to think about my predicament! i appreciate your insightful reply.

Your right and I suppose I didn't think of it like that

I think id love BMW 3 series but theyre out of my budget.

You will get many 3 series from 08 in your budget.

colm_mcm

What do you like/dislike about the A3?

peege

Decided to hold onto my a3. There is nothing wrong with it and the cars I test drove didn't really compare to it. The golf isn't great and too common. Thanks for all the advice guys.