Used car recommendations - family car up to about £10k absolute tops!!

[Richard A Thackeray]

I kind of liked the Octavia but cars like the Superb and Kia Ceed are euro 6 according to the ones I have seen locally but the octavia is euro 5. How does that matter in relation to LEZ and ULEZ charging? Not that it matters as my partner says she wants dull and cheap with hopefully cheaper to run. Kind of smaller to get better MPG and other running costs. She does not like the bulk of Octavia and Superb. She thinks we ddon';t need the space but I think we will at least twice a year for holidays.

I had an Octavia estate for over 9 years (March 2012 - May 2021)
1.6TDi (remapped at about 90,000, to the equivilant of a early vRS)
Cheap to insure
VED was £30
A poor day if the average MPG when refilling the tank didn't work out to 55+ MPG (as wife rarely drove it, in its the last 4 years with us)

Capacious, for 5 adults, if not up to Superb levels of space

Would I have another?; hell, yes (but maybe a Scout next time)
As for ULEZ, I have no idea??, I've been to London twice in my almost 60 years on this planet, & won't go there again without a damned unavoidable reason!!
I do know that its replacement (Kodiaq, bought May 2021) is ULEZ compliant though

 

[rualexander]

The VW scene tax.

I had a SEAT Altea XL. It was basically a slightly tweaked golf plus in that it was slightly longer. You would see more of them and I don't think I ever saw a golf plus.

I looked a few Golf Plus examples and quite liked them, but it was the relatively small boot space and the lack of removable seats that meant I didn't go for one.

 

[Time Waster]

I looked a few Golf Plus examples and quite liked them, but it was the relatively small boot space and the lack of removable seats that meant I didn't go for one.

Oh boy the Altea XL had a hell of a lot of boot space. I don't know why the golf minus is such a small boot space with it supposedly being the same platform.

The few times I went in a golf they always struck me as the interiors had the design option of anything black. They were pretty dark cars in a way the other brands in the VAG control were not. TBH I have never seen why people think VW are so good. Everyone I know had issues. Like my sister's polo that just stopped running randomly including on the outer lane of a motorway at ahem 70mph officer!! I mean engine cuts out and everything shuts down including power steering! Scary for her to have to muscle the car over to the hard shoulder before the coasting speed died completely!!

Then the VW vans we test drove did not drive any better than the vivaro / trafic we ended up with. In fact the transit I think drove best of all despite the VW having more power. Add in the fact that I can only fit comfortably into the drivers seat. The bench seat on the passengers was tight with two of us on it with me as one of them. It would not work for us if I was the only one to drive it with us all in.

 

[Daninplymouth]

I just showed my other half a few octavias. Hurray it is now an option again!!!

Just seen a few civics and they are at VED £190 but Skoda Octavia is £180. That could only be a mistake or the honda was sold originally above £40k i think the threshold is.

2015or2016 1.6diesel civics are ved free, and ulez compliant. Also has the dpf right on the engine so don’t get any issues with them unlike other diesels when used for short journeys.
I can put my 60cm trek in without having to take a wheel off. For a small hatch the inside space is unbearable

 

[Bonefish Blues]

2015or2016 1.6diesel civics are ved free, and ulez compliant. Also has the dpf right on the engine so don’t get any issues with them unlike other diesels when used for short journeys.
I can put my 60cm trek in without having to take a wheel off. For a small hatch the inside space is unbearable

Amusing typo is amusing!

 

[Sixmile]

Does anyone bring their bike along to test drive a new (to them) car? I haven't done that as yet but have brought along a double pram and a bike trailer before Boot space has always been a top factor for me. Owning a polo estate at 20yo means you can never go back to a wee car. That thing took a 4x12 guitar cab laid flat no bother.

 

[rualexander]

Does anyone bring their bike along to test drive a new (to them) car? I haven't done that as yet but have brought along a double pram and a bike trailer before Boot space has always been a top factor for me. Owning a polo estate at 20yo means you can never go back to a wee car. That thing took a 4x12 guitar cab laid flat no bother.

I didn't take my bike but I did make a cardboard cutout from an old bike box of the outline of my bike with the front wheel off. 😂
God knows what dealers and sellers thought of it but it was a useful tool in deciding which cars would work with my bikes. I'm 6'2" so have large/extra large framed bikes and often see car reviews online saying bikes fit easily but then I look at the bikes and realise they are quite small framed bikes.

 

[Tom B]

People do take PCP on used cars at a fair age, 7, 8, 9 years, and sometimes even older if the cost is still substantial.

Bonkers.

My colleagues face fell when I said so you'll pay £12'600... Then what? What do you have to show for it?

If he'd taken a Loan with the same monthly payment and bought a 3-4yr old version of the he'd still have spent the same money but have a car worth £5-6k to either keep or sell. He would also not be tied to main stealer servicing, a mileage cap or being paranoid about damage / scuff and scrapes (with his kids that's a worry).

He was well and truly romanced by the dealer who in my experience seems totally uninterested in cash buyers.

 

[Bazzer]

Does anyone bring their bike along to test drive a new (to them) car? I haven't done that as yet but have brought along a double pram and a bike trailer before Boot space has always been a top factor for me. Owning a polo estate at 20yo means you can never go back to a wee car. That thing took a 4x12 guitar cab laid flat no bother.

I took my diving cylinders to a car dealers to make sure they fitted in the boot, when Mrs B was replacing her car. From the look on the salesman's face, that was a new one for him.

 

[Time Waster]

Just seen a few Hyundai Tucsons in the new shape (as in after they went back to selling then with this name after the IX35 name was stood down). I have also considered honda FRV. My partner is looking at the Honda CRV. both available for less than £10k in a car with a 2018 plate and lowish mileage. I think the honda engines are particularly frugal even compared to the octavia. Just nearer £10k than the equivalent age octavia I think.

There is the Toyota Auris. I think it is small but they were the corolla replacement for a few years before the corolla came back and the auris name stopped being used. Apparently it is competing or trying to with the VW passat sized cars but as I said it looks smaller.

Anyone have views on these four car models? One Hyundai, 2 hondas and a toyota as options I think. I think the FRV is similar in floorplan size to the tucson but not as high up, but my partner thinks not. I really need to get out and see them to get the feel for them.

 

[Profpointy]

I took my diving cylinders to a car dealers to make sure they fitted in the boot, when Mrs B was replacing her car. From the look on the salesman's face, that was a new one for him.

I lat down in the back with the seats down to check I could kip in it. That got a raised eyebrow too. I used to do long weekend hillwalking trips in Scotland so I'd reach a suitable point in the highlands by maybe 3am so it was a lot easier to kip in the back than faff about with a tent for just one night

 

[Sixmile]

Just seen a few Hyundai Tucsons in the new shape (as in after they went back to selling then with this name after the IX35 name was stood down). I have also considered honda FRV. My partner is looking at the Honda CRV. both available for less than £10k in a car with a 2018 plate and lowish mileage. I think the honda engines are particularly frugal even compared to the octavia. Just nearer £10k than the equivalent age octavia I think.

There is the Toyota Auris. I think it is small but they were the corolla replacement for a few years before the corolla came back and the auris name stopped being used. Apparently it is competing or trying to with the VW passat sized cars but as I said it looks smaller.

Anyone have views on these four car models? One Hyundai, 2 hondas and a toyota as options I think. I think the FRV is similar in floorplan size to the tucson but not as high up, but my partner thinks not. I really need to get out and see them to get the feel for them.

Would love an FRV in ex spec although I think that ship has sailed. I think they'd make a cracking tandem owning family car. I've always kept an eye out for them, eventually found one locally but came with zero paperwork or history so I walked away as have been stung like that before. It could've been legit but chances are it wasn't.

I don't have experience of the Hyundai or Toyota engines but have driven a 1.8 Honda petrol for 8 or so years and has been pretty flawless. We're at 144,000 now without a blip. My mechanic did warn me to stay clear of the Honda 2.2 diesel engine (that is found in the FRVs) and stick with their petrol's but then again I have seen some high mile 2.2 honda diesels but don't know how much it cost to get there. Sure petrol is dearer to drive but if you never have to repair it, it probably equals out in the long run.

 

[Jameshow]

Just seen a few Hyundai Tucsons in the new shape (as in after they went back to selling then with this name after the IX35 name was stood down). I have also considered honda FRV. My partner is looking at the Honda CRV. both available for less than £10k in a car with a 2018 plate and lowish mileage. I think the honda engines are particularly frugal even compared to the octavia. Just nearer £10k than the equivalent age octavia I think.

There is the Toyota Auris. I think it is small but they were the corolla replacement for a few years before the corolla came back and the auris name stopped being used. Apparently it is competing or trying to with the VW passat sized cars but as I said it looks smaller.

Anyone have views on these four car models? One Hyundai, 2 hondas and a toyota as options I think. I think the FRV is similar in floorplan size to the tucson but not as high up, but my partner thinks not. I really need to get out and see them to get the feel for them.

Corolla / auris is good sized tbh.

Korean cars do seem popular. Spares can be an issue irrc.

 

[vickster]

Think @DCLane won a CRV in a competition a while back?

 

[DCLane]

Think @DCLane won a CRV in a competition a while back?

True. It's still here and passed an MOT yesterday.