I need (different) advice... what's the cheapest new car that wouldn't embarrass me?

Jon

After two pages of comment and advice - what are you going to do?

Derek,

I wish I could say "retire" but that cannot be until I am 67 - which is in another 34 years time!!!

I better get hold of Which? and just start looking.

Call me effeminate and totally un-masculine, but cars just don't interest me (neither does football) and it's a 'needs must' reaction that I am doing!!

Thanks to all for the advice thus far.

Jon

quote:

Originally posted by Mat Cork:
John - I live 20miles from work and commute through the year on a bike - it's only about 1h10 each way,

Not really fair to suggest that would be the time for an average commuter cyclist is it?
I've been cycling to work for 20 years and couldn't do that time each way. Do you have; (a)no junctions, (b) no hills, (c) no wind where you live?

..and back to the topic; a VW Polo. It is a very cloak of invisibility where teenagers are concerned.

The sensible thing would be to keep the costs down and go for a Ford or a Vauxhall. Sizewise, you're looking at the new Fiesta (very cute and well made) and the Vauxhall Corsa (also cute, no idea about build). My father-in-law bought himself a pre-registered Ford Focus 1.6 Style for under £9k. 11 miles on the clock - that's a £15k car normally. The deals are going around.

As soon as you drive it off the forecourt, it's worth 25% less than you paid for it.

2nd hand makes a lot of sense at the moment. Some nice cars going round for sensible money.

Get a Toyota - They don't break, leak or rust!
They are no more expensive to maintain than all the other common over priced junk.

quote:

Originally posted by Rockingdoc:

quote:

Originally posted by Mat Cork:
John - I live 20miles from work and commute through the year on a bike - it's only about 1h10 each way,

Not really fair to suggest that would be the time for an average commuter cyclist is it?
I've been cycling to work for 20 years and couldn't do that time each way. Do you have; (a)no junctions, (b) no hills, (c) no wind where you live?

..and back to the topic; a VW Polo. It is a very cloak of invisibility where teenagers are concerned.

I average about 25km/h with plenty of junctions and traffic lights but good cycle paths, except for a slightly exciting uphill run of a 1,5km towards the end of the workbound run. It's a round trip of 28 km. I'm on fat, knobbly tyres at the moment, would be faster on a road bike and I'm not particularly fit or light.

I second the vote for a bike, but it may not be so easy if you have to take work home and constantly transport books, homework, exams, etc.

Thirded on the bike.

Bike's a possibility, subject to distance/inclination/having somewhere to shower/change/store spare kit; and the amount of stuff you need to cart back and forth.

Car-wise, I'd be reluctant to buy brand new for depreciation reasons but would be considering a lightly-used...
Citroen C1/Peugeot 106/Toyota Aygo (much the same car, built in same factory so go for whichever offers the best deal or has the most convenient garage)
Toyota IQ
Smart for two/for four
Fiat Panda or 500
New Fiesta is a cracking car and should have been out long enough for some good deals on ex-dem and pre-registered
MINI

If you are set on buying new then yes, haggling is to be encouraged - whatcar.co.uk website amongst others will give you a 'target price' that you should be able to achieve if you have nothing to p/x, somewhere like drivethedeal.com offer some pretty aggressive discounts to take away the pain of dealership haggling.

(Says the man who was going to get a new Fiat 500 and ended up with a 3 year old Alfa GT!)

Fourthed on the bike. Cycle commuting has transformed my life. It makes me happy. It makes me fit. It makes me rich. Cars ruin everything.

THere is nothing to stop the purchase of a car and a bike and use which ever is appropriate for the given day.

Any way it is time for decisions to be made and and actions taken so that he can have a car ready, taxed and insured for his arrival at school in a few weeks time.

Time to list out your needs and wants and then go and find which vehicle best satisfies all the needs and most of the wants.

Come on chop chop. It is only a car you are buying not a hifi system.

quote:

Come on chop chop. It is only a car you are buying not a hifi system.

Yes, it's really not very hard. Think of a few you like the look of. See how much they cost. Drive a couple. Buy one. Easy peasy.

My C1 is great. Cheap and quite nice to drive. It's rubbish over 85, but at 50 it's fine. I think I last put some fuel in about a month ago. It has a Toyota VVT something engine, which is supposed to be good. Looks nice too and really easy to park. You can get good deals where you pay a small deposit, a bit per month at very low APR and the rest in three years time if you want to. Otherwise you just hand it back. Hopefully there will be some nice little electric cars around by then.

Nigel

What about a second-hand hearse?

Imagine the kids faces when you pull up in that rascal.

quote:

What about a second-hand hearse?

That would be dead cool. Sorry.

Nigel

quote:

Originally posted by hungryhalibut:

quote:

What about a second-hand hearse?

That would be dead cool. Sorry.

Nigel

No dead people jokes please.

The fiat 500 is a cracking car and would be top of my list for the must be new option.

Polo obviously. Fiat indeed.

How about secondhand:

TVR Chimaera
Toyota MR2
Mazda MX5
Jaguar S type
Audi A6, Coupe, A4 or Quattro
Land Rover Defender or Discovery
Range Rover
Jeep Wrangler
Golf GTI
Mini Cooper

All cars with huge credibility and fun to drive.

Jonathan