More new car advice

[Sparkymart]

I found out a couple of months ago that I was being made redundant in January since then I've had a couple of interviews and found out on Friday I've been picked for one of the jobs

My new job is 28miles each way half dual carriageway and half single Lane

So I'm now looking for a new economical car been looking at the Audi A3 sportback 1.6 tdi, I know I can get a Petgoat 307 which will do 90mpg but I want something nice to drive any other options?

[tisme]

Firstly, well done on getting the job 

 

If I were buying a new car now, it'd be petrol and in the zero to £30 road tax - so perhaps Ford (Fiesta) 1.0 ecoboost   

 

Looks like all diesels are now the new "Chelsea Tractor 4x4" in terms of emissions and "pollution" and petrol is so much cheaper (for now !!) 

[Rusty Nuts]

BMW 1 series diesel.

[Sparkymart]

Thanks tisme, The cheap Road tax is a plus but 1.0.. A bit sluggish? Being in Cornwall there is a lot of caravans and tractors on the road and would like to be able to get past them without a Mile run up (unless technology have made then a lot better than what I remember)

And the BMW 1 series is worth a look

[XTR2Turbo]

New mini with 3 cylinder triple has had good reviews.

 

Audi A3 and fun to drive are not often used in the same sentence.

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

I recently purchased a 120d after running 116ed as a company car. I also looked at the Leon and Golf, if you are thinking A3 I would also look at its brothers. 

[Sparkymart]

New mini with 3 cylinder triple has had good reviews.

Audi A3 and fun to drive are not often used in the same sentence.

I'm sure it will be a lot more fun than the 206sw it will be replacing lol, I'll do some reading up on the other when I get back to my camp site (on holiday)

[CraigHew]

You can't knock BMs (I've had a 520d for the last 6 years and its never missed a beat).

 

The 1 series diesels are great on fuel, I'd also consider some of the more frugal VWs.  Oil burners do have a bad image when it comes to performance but TBH thats all but evaporated over the last 5 years or so.

 

If you really can't make your mind up, organise yourself a tickbox list.  List all the factors that are important to you (economy, tax band, asthetics, colour etc etc) and then give them a mark out of 10 for how (really) much you value that factor.

 

then measure up any potential cars against it, scoring that car out of 10 for each factor.

 

This should put a little practicality behind a potentially subjective decision making process.

 

 

If this is telling you how to suck eggs then I apologies. However you did pose the question.

[John K]

I'm interested why everybody is on the DERV bandwagon.

Do you really get any more miles per £ than a modern petrol engine will deliver?

And call me a cynic, but I honestly do believe that the government (which ever one) offers incentives for any new fuel LPG, then DERV to initially make then look good value for money, but then piles on the taxes and levies to then fleece the owners for all they are worth.

Look at the potential fines proposed for idling Diesel engines...

And unless you are a fleet manager looking after epic milage per year motors, are diesels really better for a domestic motor?

And congrats on the new job..!

[CraigHew]

well, my 520d returns 55mpg at worst, 65+ if you try hard and can keep within legal speed limits. if economy is a big factor an oil burner is a no-brainer. God only knows what a smaller car like a golf with a 2 litre tdi would return.

[cjdad76]

You could consider the BMW i3 - electric or electric hybrid (range extender).  I've just ordered mine, switching form a 4 year old 330d, so didn;t want to lose the power element to my driving.

 

Took one for a 24 hour test drive which gave me the chance to run it to work, gave a few people test drive in it and every one of them, bar none, loved it and were genuinely shocked how quick it was.

 

My commute is 20miles each way on A roads and duel carriageway - the car is comfortable doing either and overtaking while you are at it.  Really impressive little car.

[Sparkymart]

You could consider the BMW i3 - electric or electric hybrid (range extender).  I've just ordered mine, switching form a 4 year old 330d, so didn;t want to lose the power element to my driving.

 

Took one for a 24 hour test drive which gave me the chance to run it to work, gave a few people test drive in it and every one of them, bar none, loved it and were genuinely shocked how quick it was.

 

My commute is 20miles each way on A roads and duel carriageway - the car is comfortable doing either and overtaking while you are at it.  Really impressive little car.

sounds interesting ...what sort of money is an i3 ?

[cjdad76]

£32k list but they get £5k off that thru government grants.  Expensive.but you can make that up in lack of running costs.

 

100 mile range (150 with range extender), £2 for a full charge from empty, no road tax, little / no servicing (first one @ 16,000 miles!).  I'm also taking the opportunity to lease it thru the company I work for - taking advantage of the 0% benefit in kind (company car tax) this year, although this moves to 5% next year.  Big advantage coming thru gross pay rather than net too- but I appreciate not everyone can do this, unless you work for a kind company!

[JOCKER]

£32k list but they get £5k off that thru government grants.  Expensive.but you can make that up in lack of running costs.

 

100 mile range (150 with range extender), £2 for a full charge from empty, no road tax, little / no servicing (first one @ 16,000 miles!).  I'm also taking the opportunity to lease it thru the company I work for - taking advantage of the 0% benefit in kind (company car tax) this year, although this moves to 5% next year.  Big advantage coming thru gross pay rather than net too- but I appreciate not everyone can do this, unless you work for a kind company!

Alternatively try the Nissan LEAF.

 

They start from £16k (RRP) and like the BMW are brilliant to drive. The LEAF is 100% electric and has a range of 124 miles on a  single charge - real world is 100 miles. 

 

If you haven't driven electric go and drive one, you will be pleasantly surprised 

[SootySport]

If it wasn't for me towing the Westfield on a trailer I'd be going for a petrol engine car.   Having said that new petrol turbo engines such as the VAG 2.0 TFSI are nice and torquey.

 

If I was you Sparky I would be looking at the Ford Ecoboosts, Fiesta or Focus.   Us DERV owners are rapidly becoming the Devils on the road.