Having asked a while ago I actually have been to see/test drive a few tintops that meets our criteria (120g CO2 or less and an estate)
Honda Civic diesel. Great diesel engine, super economical but £12k+ as brought out in 2014
Toyota Auris 1.4 Diesel. Inside like a 1990s escort base model and engine a bit sluggish. Again £10K, brought out 2013
Golf bluemotion. All OK, quite nice inside 2year old 35000 milers from £8.5k. Will they retain value??
Focus. All OK Huge selection, similar prices to the Golf
Volvo V50. Little more expensive, but heard horror stories re servicing and build quality.
So, Golf is a strong contender. But please feel free to tell me I am looking at the wrong car (+why). To reiterate MUST be under that magic 120g CO2.
And I won't entertain anything French!
Cheers
Clive
At 1.4 litre diesels don't make any eco or economic sense, at 1.6 litre they begin to make sense.
Of the cars listed the VW wins by a country mile.
Vw all the way, everything else is powered by a French love child.
Thought as much.
However, the Honda engine does put the others to shame in terms of smoothness and power delivery, really rather good. And sadly expensive at the
moment.
Pricing of all cars seems very location dependant, and can vary on a 2013 35k car from £8500 in the Midlands to over £10000 down here on the south
coast. Luckily I am prepared to travel....
How about Kia Ceed's.
Wife has recently bought a 2012 1.6 estate.
Going down from a 3.0 flat Six Subaru Outback and still pleased. I think not doing 25mpg any more helps.
Only hitch water washer died. Took it to the main dealer, book in, done on warranty with no hassles. Did not even buy from them.
I still have issues with the Korean stuff. I suspect unjustified thesedays, but I want to see more "history" with the cars, and how those
long warranties pan out. Besides, they are pricier than the Golf, and I know Golfs have good residuals.
Basically I am slow to adopt!
Can't understand the anti-french mentality. Had two Grand Espaces over last 7.5 years and never had a single problem. Only selling as i no longer
have a caravan and boys are grown up and I want a change.
2011 RENAULT GRAND ESPACE DYNAMIQUE TomTom dci 150 - BLACK
As for Kia warranty, it states on website that consumables aren't covered but everything else is. Got the wife a Venga and collect mother's
Picanto on Weds. When three years old, it'll still have four years warray. Quite a selling point that.
ATB
Simon
One thing to keep in mind is that diesel cars are likely to face a higher tax burden now the fact the truth about the NOx problem is in the public and government eye.
Personally been caught out with the 2 french cars I have owned. So that is that.
Having sat in and test driven a Kia about 8 years ago, I was horrified by the "feel" of the car, and I also stumbled across 2 people who
were having issues with warranty claims at the time. So for now, I will pass.
Yes, I do take a long time to forgive.
EDIT. I suspect diesel cars registered in the future will be penalised, but I very much doubt there will be anything retrospective. After all, is the
gov decided to push up rates of VW after the recent fiasco, people would ask for recompense from VW. I suspect that the govt will cyt out the
middleman and get a payoff from VW direct. But long term, diesel use is bound to decline. Probably.
[Edited on 12/12/15 by cliftyhanger]
Kia have improved year on year especially since the Hyundai bought a major share of the company.
quote:
Originally posted by cliftyhanger
Yes, I do take a long time to forgive.
[Edited on 12/12/15 by cliftyhanger]
My daughter owned a Mk4 Golf Gti - what a piece of rubbish that was! Several parts broke, did some research and found that many others had
experienced the same problems, and those problems reappeared on Seats and Skodas that were based on the Mk4 Golf.
I didn't find it nice to drive either - unrewarding and not especially fast, considering the power (mostly due to it's lardy build).