Need advice on what type of car to buy

tom1ie

hi all
I need to buy a car for a new job ill be starting next month.
The role will have me travelling 15-20k a year.
Ill also be dropping the kids to the creche so need a car big enough for 2 car seats etc.
I'm looking for the most efficient car, fuel wise, i can possibly get, but i'm looking for a second hand car. Something with low tax.
My budget would probably stretch to 12000 maybe 13000.
would something like a skoda superb be in that zone?
any advice on what make, model and year would be greatly appreciated.
thanks all.

colm_mcm

Will you be paid civil service rates for mileage?

passatman86

The superb is a car im really considering myself.. might try test drive one - best way to see if it suits your demands

tom1ie

colm_mcm wrote: »

Will you be paid civil service rates for mileage?

yeah.

colm_mcm

tom1ie wrote: »

yeah.

Make sure you get something over 1500cc (as in not a 1.5) then as the rates are higher.

I would look at a Jetta 2.0 TDI. It’s not nearly as big as a Superb, but I’m not convinced you need something that big.

tom1ie

colm_mcm wrote: »

Make sure you get something over 1500cc (as in not a 1.5) then as the rates are higher.

I would look at a Jetta 2.0 TDI. It’s not nearly as big as a Superb, but I’m not convinced you need something that big.

yeah good advice on the >1500. So would the jetta be lighter than the superb, and hence cheaper to run? If thats the case am i better off looking at something like a golf, if i can fit two car seats in?

colm_mcm

The Jetta is bigger in the back than a Golf.

What I like about them is they don’t come in 1.6 TDI, they’re all 2.0, and don’t seem to suffer as many engine issues (ref dieselgate) as the likes of a Golf and they’re not as complicated as a Passat.

They’re not perfect of course, they’re quite an old design underneath, but they’re quite a capable car and are reasonably respectable where the likes of a Corolla or Focus wouldn’t be.

tom1ie

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Jetta is bigger in the back then a Golf.

yeah but would it still carry two car seats and say a pram in the back? thats really all i need, as we have an opel insignia if we are going on a longer trip etc etc. the insignia is a 2011. i dont think its very economical so thats why im looking at getting something else.

colm_mcm

tom1ie wrote: »

yeah but would it still carry two car seats and say a pram in the back? thats really all i need, as we have an opel insignia if we are going on a longer trip etc etc. the insignia is a 2011. i dont think its very economical so thats why im looking at getting something else.

Yeah, the boot is enormous in them.

tom1ie

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yeah, the boot is enormous in them.

sorry i ment would the golf carry the two kids seats in the back and a pram in the boot? my train of thought is if the cars smaller its lighter, hence better on fuel consumption per km, hence better for me making money on my mileage.

colm_mcm

There’s only 50kg in it (i.e. 4%)

tom1ie

OK so if I was to go for a car, something like a jetta, would you recommend diesel or petrol@ 15-20k kilometres a year?
Is the jetta the best on offer in that category, ie how would a Mondeo or an Octavia compare, when looking at mpg?
Thanks.