what car to buy - opinions please??

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Fri 23 Jul 2010 21:29
what car to buy - opinions please?? - sweep

I guess this is a huge topic but I currently have a ford Focus 2009 1.8 style which I got about 6 months ago. Don't like it, the build quality is rubbish, it's got lots of creaks and rattles, it keeps losing power, and the road noise is worse than my old Fiesta.

So I want to change it. I wondered if anyone had any opinions re similar sized cars. Ideally I want to spend between 10000-11000, and I guess what matters most to me is a car that feels well put together and is quiet!

My current list includes VW golf, Seat Leon, MAzda 3, Renault megane, but happy to consider anything else

Advice? Opinions?

Thanks very much

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Fri 23 Jul 2010 23:17
what car to buy - opinions please?? - gordonbennet

Hyundai i30 and Kia Ceed both worth a look, better than the badge sensitive would like. New Astra, Auris, Fiat Bravo.

At the other end 3 series BMW, pity they shelved the compact when 1 series came out, but 1 series is a nice car too in it's own right especially with proper auto box, tyre noise might be an issue with runflats though.

The fashion for huge wheels with elastic band tyres is the cause of much of the tyre roar experienced, we had a Focus renter in Ireland on 17" rims, never again.

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Sat 24 Jul 2010 21:33
what car to buy - opinions please?? - Avant

If build quality is a priority, the Golf is a strong contender. But also consider an Octavia: it'll have the same mechanicals as a Golf, it's just as well-built and you'll get a newer one for your budget. Skoda dealers are mostly family-owned and therefore better all round than the large chains who own a lot of VW dealerships.

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Sun 25 Jul 2010 13:31
what car to buy - opinions please?? - amj

+1 for the Kia.

The 3 door Pro-Ceed is a very nice looking car IMHO and not what you would expect from Kia at all. Read the HJ road test, they rate it and a 7yr warranty is not to be sniffed at. You will be saving a fair wedge of money just to have an unfashionable badge on the grill and boot lid. It all depends how important the badge is to you i guess?

You will pay a premium for a VW. Is it worth the extra? Only you can decide that but build quality does seem to have lapsed in the last year or 2. Resale value of Golfs is high as they are a well respected used car with a good reputation but if youre saving thousands to begin with then this may not be such an issue.

Do some homework and get some testdrives,ideally for an extended period and not just 15 mins with the salesman and make your own mind up. Its a buyers market so haggle hard and get what you want.

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Sun 25 Jul 2010 19:58
what car to buy - opinions please?? - sweep

thanks for the advice - happy to receive any more too. I thought of the Golf as I 'd always heard they were well built but maybe less so from what you're saying?

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