What do you think of Elon Musk? Have your say | No thanks
First car in my sixties - what do you recommend?
I have always had a company car and now at retirement I am faced with buying and insuring my first car. I am finding choice bewildering and insurance expensive.
I live in London, park on the street and would prefer an automatic.
I have loved my company Volkswagen Golfs but I'm concerned that one might be expensive to run and maintain. I love the solid feel of the Golf and road handling compared to, say, a Toyota Yaris which felt ‘tinny’ and insecure on a motorway test drive.
What would you recommend on a budget of £10,000-15,000?
I live in London, park on the street and would prefer an automatic.
I have loved my company Volkswagen Golfs but I'm concerned that one might be expensive to run and maintain. I love the solid feel of the Golf and road handling compared to, say, a Toyota Yaris which felt ‘tinny’ and insecure on a motorway test drive.
What would you recommend on a budget of £10,000-15,000?
Asked on 18 May 2022 by Annette Staunton
Answered by
Andrew Brady
We'd recommend a Volkswagen Polo. You should be able to find the latest model (launched in 2017) within budget with the DSG automatic gearbox. It'll feel just like a miniature Golf... although the latest Polo isn't actually that small.
Alternatively, stick with what you know and look for a seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf. Buy one with the 1.4 TSI petrol engine and it should be a very dependable choice that won't cost a lot to run.
As a slightly left-field alternative, consider a Mazda 3. It'll be well built, stylish and cheap to run.
Alternatively, stick with what you know and look for a seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf. Buy one with the 1.4 TSI petrol engine and it should be a very dependable choice that won't cost a lot to run.
As a slightly left-field alternative, consider a Mazda 3. It'll be well built, stylish and cheap to run.
Similar questions
Which car would you recommend to replace my excellent 2015 Alfa Romeo Giulietta? It should be manual and petrol and cost no more than about £30,000.
I have a 2011 Mazda 2 TS2 which has covered only 29,000 miles. I have owned it since 2014 and am the second owner.
I recently had it serviced by a Mazda specialist who I know and trust. He recommended...
My daughter has a Hyundai i10 but will shortly be looking for a new car. She wants something similar in size to the i10 or not much bigger, at least as high up as the i10, but the most important factors...
Related models
More Golf-like than ever, will carry four large adults in comfort, huge boot, excellent TSI petrol engines.
.jpg?width=115&height=75&rmode=crop)
Looks great in hatchback and saloon form. Premium interior with excellent standard specification. Fun to drive with excellent manual and automatic gearboxes.
Very comfortable and refined. Range of strong, quiet and efficient engines. Classy image.
Elsewhere on 
.jpg)
