More importantly, do you want lots of options? The BMW i-drive has so many hidden options, but do we need them?

minimum Total Cost of Ownership

Edited by brum on 12/12/2010 at 16:46

You could write a thesis on this topic....

There are so so many variables and sometimes the car you chose is not the car with the best bits but the one that does most things well.

We currently have an i10 - brilliant around town, warms up fast, good MPG on a short run, 5 doors, big enough boot for simple shopping - but not great on a long run but perfect for my soon-to-be 30 minute commute.

We also own a RAV4 which I would never have bought a year ago - but the arrival of a little person changed that and the car is perfect. The Mrs enjoys driving it and prefers it to the A3 , Saab 93 and Legacy even though each of those was better in some way or another (or even most ways)..

* Refinement

* Low Noise Levels

* Auto Gearbox (Torque Convertor + Plantery Gears not CVT or Automated Manual)

* 6 Cylinders

* Sat Nav

* Bluetooth

* Leather

* Estate or equally practical shape

* Good audio

* Reasonable but not excessive performance

* Acceptable economy

* Handling that means the car settles down nicely... I like a car that talks to me but have always found a Focus to need to be "Driven" all the time i.e. constant adjustments rather than a steady motorway muncher.

You could indeed write a thesis on this (and probably are given your nom de plume). You're welcome to ask the question, but I don't think you'll get any very scientific answers.

What any of us wants from our car depends on so many things:

- what our particular needs are (Brettmick provides a fine example of cars that meet his current needs but might not have done a few years ago)

- whether we can afford to fulfil those needs, and therefore how close the car will get to fulfilling them

- whether we need more than one car in the household - and, in turn, whether the need for two cars reduces each car's individual ability to fulfil the need

- the number of people in the household, and what age they are

- whether the car is fulfilling a practical need of the need for fun, or if a bit of both, in what proportion.

We have a Skoda Octavia vRS estate, a Mini Cooper convertible and an old BMW Z3 roadster. Make of that what you will: there are all sorts of reason why we have that combination of cars.

(chevrolet epica diesel LS)

What I want from a car is overall low running costs, space for my 6'2" 15 stones with a seat that has plenty of adjustment and comfortable on the occasional long journey from west wales to London. doesn't have to have great "image", but reliability, running costs and low purchase price are good as is the fact that insurance is a very competitive £245 a year fully comp. tax is currently £180, fuel 45mpg overall. car cost me £6745 one year old (less than 7000 miles) instead of nearly £16000.A few years ago had a lotus, big mistake... but lots of good low mileage cars available now, sadly mostly korean to get good purchase price. just before I bought my car, there were brand new pre-reg hyundai i30's available for £8799 fron a south wales car supermarket and also 2.0diesel chevrolet cruze for less than £10.000. lots of Kia ceed's too. Suggest to anyone check check and check again, if you can afford new or nearly new get longest warranty, make sure of service history if used and yet againcheck honest john forums for problems and reviews.

Had I not gone for the epica the i30 wold have done the trick with the 5 year warranty. the ceed next but was about £2000 more brand new, and then the cruze, but yes we are all different! happy motoring.

A REALLY good heater....i.e.hot air after less than a mile.