Ok so I'm going to test drive the Mazda 2 and Mazda cx-3 tomorrow and shall tell you how I get on.

15k commuting plus other use is likely to put 20k/ year on it. This will give a useful life of 6-8 years (120-160k) on a new car, which makes the depreciation pretty savage! Your insurance quotes are pretty scary, but will come down quickly as you build some NCD. Some rough numbers...

£25k new car at 40 mpg = £7k / year + insurance for 8 year life

£25k new car at 50 mpg = £6.3k / year + insurance for 8 year life

£15k new car at 40 mpg = £5.7k / year + insurance for 8 year life

£15k new car at 50 mpg = £5.1k / year + insurance for 8 year life

£12.5k 3yr old car at 30k miles, 40 mpg = £6k / year + insurance; 6 year useful life

£12.5k 3yr old car at 30k miles, 50 mpg = £5.2k / year + insurance; 6 year useful life

So, substantial savings to be made by starting off with a lower price, and maximising the economy - going diesel and saving 6-800 a year adds up to £4-5k over 8 years - although this needs to set against the additional purchase cost (as you are likely to lose all that) and the potential for it to go wrong. You certainly need to be trying to get a deal on a pre-reg or at least an in stock car if you go new so that you can minimise the up front costs.

Hi all

I have test drove the Toyota Yaris, Mazda 2 , Mazda cx-3 and honda civic.

The Toyota and Mazda 2 were to small for me and I did not feel like I had much space ( I'm 5ft10.

Then I tried the Honda civic and Mazda CX-3 and the winner was the CX-3 as it was more roomier than the mazda.2 , very comfy to drive and was a tad quieter than the civic.

So I have decided on the Mazda CX-3. Now just have to find one.

Don't get a Sport Nav/Sport GT model:

A) as I said before, it runs on low profile 18in tyres and the ride will have very firm after a few months of the car wearing in, as well as the issues to with susceptibility to damage.punctures and running costs. You could, I suppose, change them out (I think - the 16in wheels and tyres need to fit over the brakes, which can be larger on some models - check with the dealer if this is possible) for the 16in rims and tyres and sell the 18in ones, but that's a pain and you'd lose money (probably about £100- £200, never mind where to store them in the meantime).

B) The uprated stero system has components under the main boot space where the spare wheel/tyre would sit and cannot be removed/moved. This means that that car does not have a spare, and you'd have to buy one separately and stow it in the main boot area, which is not that safe (it can move about, especially in an accident) and takes up valuable space. Mazda give you a 'tyre sealnt' tube/can instead, which is useless.

Lower spec models like the SE Nav and SE-L Nav don't have this issue, but don't come with the spare as standard. Its an odd fitting and Mazda charge an extortionate £395 for the kit. You can try and source it (the wheel/tyre) cheaper, but the mounting is bespoke and may have to come from Mazda. I'd rather have it than not, and is a good bargaining point to try and get the price down.

C) There are lots of gadgets on these models that aren't really needed. The SE-L Nav is the best value for money. You won't be able to find much of a discount generally for CX-3s, and are actually more expensive after discounts (at a dealer or via brokers) than the larger Mazda3. Expect to pay around £17.5k - £18K for a new one from the brokers and probably about £1k more at a dealer unless you're very lucky - some v.low mileage pre-reg cars do pop up around now.

There aren't many about for sale as this is quite a rare car - more Sport models about, often ones PXed back to the dealer because the ride's too firm (my belief anyway). There are some (even rarer) 1.5TD Autos around, but expect to pay £1k - £2k more, and Mazda diesels aren't the best for reliability, even if they are good to drive with and generally economical.

Nice cars overall though. Note that the CX-3 is the same as the Mazda2 on the inside, except for the height and the boot is bigger. Did you try out the equivalents from Hyundai and KIA (Kona and Stonic) for cars with easyish rear access for the dogs? Maybe cheaper and a longer warranty. Their dual clutch gearboxes are nowhere near as unreliable as those from Ford or VW/Audi/Skoda/SEAT.

I have decided I still prefer the Mazda and my dad is still going to help me so I'm sorted.

As I said before, for some reason, Mazda don't like discounting prices on the CX-3, despite it not selling in that great numbers, mainly because I think they've priced it too high - essentially the list price is the same as the larger, and faster Mazda3. Mazda won't even give the car brokers more than about12% off the list price, whereas the 3 attracts a discount from them of 20-22%, meaning they are about £2k cheaper for a similarly specced car.

You're finding it difficult to source one as Mazda seem to have made a big play in flogging the Sport/GT Sport models, yet not with any high a discount. Very odd.

The Mazda is a better driver's car than the Kia/Hyundai, but obviously comes with a shorter warranty. Note that, if, as I recall you're doing 300 miles a week just for your commute to work, then, with trips to the shops, leisure and holiday use, that roughly equates to an annual mileage of, say, 18k - 20k miles (not including any you do as part of your job). As such, if you bought a brand new KIA, its warranty would expire after only 5-6 years as it is 7 years or 100k miles from new, whichever comes first. The Hyundai one is 'only' 5 years, but is unlimited mileage, so could be more benficial to you if your estimated annual mileage is far more than my estimate.

The Mazda warranty is only 3 years/60k miles (whichever comes first) and the car is more expensive for the same spec/harder to source. What I would say is:

1) Don't buy a car you don't really like to please someone else. That being said, if you're borrowing money off your Dad, then they will have a say over how its spent. I personally wouldn't spend as much as you are on my first car - mine was a 2yo mid 90s Nissan Micra 1 litre with no electric windows, A/C, etc, and I made damn sure I saved up so I didn't have to depend on a loan from anyone. I knew I would have to make some kind of compromise as I was only earning £10k pa at the time, but I save up over two years after leaving college before buying, adding some savings I already had.

2) You still sound like you are rather being caught up in the buying process, i.e. what you like rather than what you can afford. I agree with Skidpan and SLO that spending this much on a first car is rather a big gamble, especially when you are just starting your first job after graduating. Buying a car can be quite exciting, which is what the sales staff want - eager customers not worried about spending lots of money, especially if its a loan).

Just be careful - its a big purchase, and don't always assume the best - you need to make sure you can financially cope if something untoward happens, e.g. your job doesn't work out. I'd personally either go for an older example (of either) that's been well maintained (many people as a default just change cars after 3 years) or go for something cheaper, simplier that will be fine, say around the £8k - £11k mark at most. Hence why I said you shouldn't rush into buying something.

I have had a look online and I like the Kia ceed and Hyundai i20 and i30 especially.

My dad thinks a hyundaH would be best with there warranty having unlimited mileage considering how many miles I do?

Edited by gsdgirl on 20/09/2018 at 15:10

At present, your estimated mileage means (if I guessed right about your private mileage etc) that it'll be borderline as to whether the Hyundai or KIA warranty will be more suitable. I personally wouldn't worry about the differences that much - they are both better than Mazda's 3yr/60k miles one.

Choosing a new car (especially your first) can be quite bewildering if you're not 'into' cars - there's so many to choose from nowadays. What I did, once I'd narrow my list of possibles down to 5 models overall was to visit the main dealers for a look around those cars - sit in them, check if they are spacious enough for my needs, and not even think about test driving one or buying it that day. If asked, just say you are 'justing browsing'.

If I liked one, then I'd arrange to test drive it on another day. One of the main problems people come up again is that they don't do enough research and testing to make sure its the right car for them - a 15 minute test drive around town isn't enough - you need at least 45 mins, maybe more (or two test drives) and on a variety of road types, including poorly surfaced ones or with speed humps.

When you do test one, make sure you get the driving position as best you can (including adjusting the position of the steering wheel) - many people find after a few weeks ownership that they've bought an uncomfortbale car (for them), whether that's becuase the driving position just cannot be right, the ride's too firm or soft. I think that's why I increasingly see 'Sport' models being returned after just a year because they are too harsh a ride on low profile tyres and (sometimes) sports suspension. the same goes for the space requirements - in your case, you need enough for the dogs and luggage as well as passengers - the i20 probably isn't big enough for that; the i30 (or its KIA C'eed brother) might be.

As you wanted an auto, the Hyundai ix20 1.6 petrol auto might be worth a look - not exactly swift, but its high up and has a decent sized boot for a car of its size, and the auto is a traditional torque converter one. The model has sort of been superseded by the Kona (KIA has the nearly idetical Venga) and Stonic and may be phased out soon, so better deals may be avilable on both new and used versions. Its not going to be really economical (in real world driving you'll probably achieve mid 30s mpg) but the lower cost price will help offset that, especially if you haggle. Worth a look

thank you very much , you have give me a lot to think about,

but now if been given a good offer my cousin has offered to sell her car to me as she's just got a new one , her car is already on sale for 12k but she's had no one who is willing to pay that, she said with me being family she'll sell it to me for 8k so my dad won't need to help me. Her car is a Skoda karoq it's 2yrs old and has 8000miles on it , she said it's in good order and it's an auto as well and a petrol model, she said it's a good comfty car and not to much noise in , her husband has just brought her the Skoda kodiaq as she needed a bigger car due to her being pregnant and she's expecting twins and they already have tow children so when she's given birth she'll be transporting 4 children and a very large Saint Bernard.

She said the karoq has been a great car and that she's said to be selling but she needs something bigger now, she said it will be big enough for my needs and should easily fit my two dogs in since it fitted the Saint Bernard in she said to help him get in they had a car ramp which she said I could get for my dogs. She said the boot is big and should meet my needs.

I wanted to ask what everyone's thoughts on Skoda are and on the karoq?

BTW, the Karoq was introduced last May, so at most it is 16 months old.

If, in fact, she is a girl.

If, in fact, she is a girl.

What exactly care you trying to say. And yes I am a girl.

And I'm not pulling anyone's leg I can only tell you what my cousin told me clearly she's lying to me and there must be something wrong with the car to our to me.

I only wanted people's opinions on the karoq.

The Karoq is not a bad car at all, just a slightly bland replacement for the more characterful Yeti.

Not sure how much truth there is in this, but I read that the reason the name Yeti was dropped in favour of Karoq is due to Skoda's big push in China. The name Yeti is associated with Tibet, which is a sore point, so it had to go!.

But not a bad car at all, just a pity VAG continue to push with the DSG gearbox instead of something more reliable over the long term.

Edited by SLO76 on 21/09/2018 at 10:42

BTW, the Karoq was introduced last May, so at most it is 16 months old.

FYI the very first Karoqs did not appear in UK showroom until Nov or Dec 2017

The order books for the Karoq opened on the 3rd October last year. In February when we ordered the Fabia the dealer had just received their first "showroom" car which was LHD. They were expecting their demonstrator early March, I know this for a fact since one of the thick salesmen confused the Karoq with the Fabia we wanted to drive and told us we would have to wait a couple of weeks..

The owners forum seems to suggest based on questions about when owners were expecting their cars after a long, long wait that deliveries started in March thus I doubt there would be many 67 plates cars out there and would suspect that those were ex Skoda "management" cars.

There is no way the OP's cousin has a 2 year old one unless they have a time portal they can get products through.

What I suspect the owners cousin has is a Yeti. Not a bad car if you can accept its marmite looks but its not that spacious. They should be available in large numbers at the original suggested price of £12000 which is probably why its not selling.

Thank you Avant , yes I have found everyone else very helpful , I just did not understand what me be a woman has anything to do with asking about a Skoda.

To everyone else who is helping me I have asked my cousin again and I understand now , she told me that the Skoda she's selling me if I want it is the old Yeti and will give me a discount and sell it at £8k and the car she has brought as her new car is the karoq. Anyway I looked at the yeti but I was not keen but the karoq on the other hand was really quiet , very comfty and has loads of room and I have just fallen in love with the karoq but I'm worried with the auto being not that good even though my cousin said the auto gearbox is fine?

The one good thing about going round to my cousins is that i found the perfect car for me and dad's happy to help buy it with me as he said he thinks it's a better suited car. My cousin even dropped me back off home in her new karoq and let me try the dogs in the boot , she let me put the crates in and both dogs got in easy and we're fine.

So I definitely know what I want now but am worried about auto gearbox?

Edited by gsdgirl on 21/09/2018 at 13:56

Thanks , yes my dad is happy to pay the remaining amount as he brought my older brother his first car and my choice is a lot cheaper than my brother's , my brother got him to buy a range rover and my brother did not help buy it, I already have 8k saved and my dad is happy to pay the rest. And unlike my brother I will be making payments each month to my dad for the rest and idI rather pay my dad each month than have it on finance.

I was also going to pay for the extended warranty to extend to 5yrs.

Avant which trim morels have a wet clutch?

Actually I want to thank you for actually knowing how this condition affects us as most people don't understand ( I don't mean on here) like when I saw my cousins Yeti earlier it was very, very messy and I just could not sit in it or touch it and she was laughing at me , people just don't get it , how this condition consumes us. That's why I have to buy New as it has to be 100% clean and in good order. And everytime I have looked at used cars I just can't touch them or sit in them were a new car I will be the only owner.

My OCD is that everything has to be 100% perfect if it's not I just loose it and I know to most people I seem crazy but it's how the condition consumes me. Like last Christmas I had ordered a new tree the wrong one turned up and I was historical , crying saying christmas was ruined and that it just won't be perfect now ( the tree I wanted was sold out and they just sent me a different one).

So it's very refreshing and nice to hear from someone who gets it. That's why it's important I get it right with my first car.

The karoq to me is the best car I have found so far and I feel it is 100% the right choice.

which trim morels have a wet clutch?

Currently non. The only engines being offered at the moment (probably because of the new emission laws) are the 1.5 petrol and 1.6 diesel and they are fitted with the dry clutch gearbox. Only the bigger more powerful petrols and diesels get the wet clutch box. And being a first time insurer and new driver I doubt you would be able to afford the insurance on one of those.

Its one reason posters keep telling you to be more reasonable with your expectations. I had been driving 4 years before I bought a new car and by then had full no claims. It was only 1500 cc with sod all power thus insurance was reasonable.

There is more to owning a car than being lucky enough to get dad to buy you one. Young people at where I worked were paying well into 4 figures for old Corsas as their first cars, I dread to think what the Karoq would cost a first time insurer.

The new one won’t be spotless for long anyway with almost guaranteed new driver damage and the usual stone chips and scuffs from other vehicles. You’re not going to be able to completely satisfy an intense case of OCD with any car that’s being used on the road.

Well worth the OP noting this. A new car is no longer new once it leaves the showroom. It will get dirty inside and out and no matter how much you clean it it will never be perfect again.

Some colours look better longer. Silver is possibly the best, Black without a doubt the worst. ot only does it show the dirt it shows every slight scratch and after a few years looks like a skating rink.

Used car just is not going to happen , I will be buying new abd I know some of you just won't understand why but to me how I see a new car is that I will be the only owner and therefore to me \ my OCD it will be cleaner than used I know some of you just won't be that but it's how I see thing through my OCD,

And the car will be washed and hoovered every night to keep it clean.

And I can afford with my dad's help to buy outright , insurance I have had a few qoutes ranging from £120 - £160 a month which I don't think is bad considering some of the other cars I was looking at were coming in at about £200ish , I have calculated insurance , petrol ( with my dad's help calculating) and it will cost around £340 a month for the karoq , tyres I can save for as after bills and the £340 for the car I still have £500 left each month so I can save a small amount of that each month for tyres when there due to be changed , road tax will be paid for so not a problem and I will be including my first two services in the price when I buy outright.

So I'm definitely sure I can afford it.

I actually have no interest in buying my own home. And I'm not sure what you mean by "£125 a week is not enough to live off" as that's what I have left after bills, food and car. I don't go out or shop often.

Yes I have 0 interest in buying , my mom owns her own home and were in a nice area and the house is being left to me as my sister has just brought her own home next door to us.

So I don't need to look at buying a house and there's no mortgage on my moms. ( I care for my mom and my siblings were happy for me to get the house)

What the OP may not realise as well, for both insurance and driving purposes, is that many of today's petrol-driven cars are now turbocharged, so a 'small capacity' engine but which has a turbo is equivalent in performance of a much larger engine without one(normally aspirated [N/A]), and the insurance, to a reasonable degree, will match.

Eg.

1.0T to 1.2T = 1.6 to 2.0 N/A (about 100 - 120bhp)

1.4T = 2.0 N/A (higher output unit, 125 - 160bhp)

My first car was a 1.0 N/A Micra with 54bhp @ 24 years old, insurance £640pa

My current car is a 1.6 N/A Mazda3 with 104bhp @ mid 40s, insurance £265pa

My insurance now is less than half (in raw terms, not accounting for inflation) what it was for my first car. For a big, brand new car for a young first time driver, even if its only got a 1.4/1.5TSi petrol (150bhp) engine will cost in the order of probably in the region of £2500, maybe a LOT more.

I wholeheartedly agree with others here that going for a new, expensive car, and possibly with a larger engine just to avoid the less reliable DQ200 dry clutch dual clutch auto box is not the best course of action. An older, smaller, less powerful car, that is far cheaper to buy, run and insure would be the best course of action.

Unfortunately, young, inexperienced drivers (we were all there at one point) HAVE to make significant compromises on what they go for in order to make it afforable. What concerns me as well is that the OP seems to 'fall in love' with every large brand new car she sees, and that's a receipe for disaster, both financially and possibly from a safety pov, as she is a very inexperienced driver. Just one minor accident in the first few years and her premiums could skyrocket and seriously put her out of pocket.

A cool head needs to prevail here. She needs to carefully consider your choices and the possible consequences of certain things happening as I've said could here and earlier.

I think your just not understanding my condition. I know in a realistic world it won't be clean but in my mind it will be as that's how I see things due to my OCD, and I know it will take a long time but it's what I will do due to my OCD.