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.