[BGM]

Right, in an effort to curb some costs and make a proper effort to save up in order to move house i am considering downsizing my car.. by downsize all i really mean though is that it had to be more economic to run both in terms of fuel i put it, and servicing costs.

Like a lot of people, i get a car allowance through work. It's a use it or lose it style system that after tax comes out at approx £340 pcm, so not massive, but enough for something decent right?

In the past 5/6 years i've spent way over that, but now i need to trim up the excess few of hundred quid i spend on top and stick it into savings as well as some other aggressive 'trimming' elsewhere. Be a fun few years won't it?

So, what are the options/recommendations do we think.. i am looking at leasing the following (due to rules around the car age etc, can't just get an older one):

* BMW 1er
* Merc A-Class
* New VW Golf Mk7
* New Audi A3
* Volvo V40?!
* Alfa Guilietta??!!!

Priorities are as follows, in no particular order:

1. Fuel economy.. look at something in the 60mpg++ range [so basically diesel]
2. Service costs.. low low low low
3. Most 'bang for buck' car
4. I know whatever happens this car will be dull as ditch water, but something interesting would be nice!

I spent a good 2 or weeks working on the A-Class A180 CDI, but the numbers don't add up as i do around 15k per annum and the monthlies were like £410, shame, nice car... but reviews are so mixed i'm only prepared to go with that if it's around the £340 - £350 mark..

I'm now starting to think mk7 golf a bit, specced one up on their site andthe 1.6 TDI although only coughing up only 105bhp returns just over 70mpg.. mut be sooo dull though.

Things i really know i'm going to miss are nav, xenons, leather etc.. the golf with nav and xenons only came out at £22720 which seems ok right?

Arghh.. what are people thoughts on this? should i go even lower and spec up something like a polo to the max? or should i get an econobox golf with no nice stuff?

Any potentials i have missed off?

[phil200tdi]

BMW f20 120d auto

I suspect would come near budget.
65mpg
7secs 0-60

[mowflow]

So is £340 your budget?

I've just ordered an F20 125d with about £3k of extras and that is exactly what it's costing per month on a PCP at 14k miles per year.

You could probably drop to the 120d which will still be quick enough to be fun. The auto is very good but it does add around £1500 to the price. I'm not sure what figures people are getting out of the 120d but according to reports 50mpg is easily achievable in the 125d. not bad for a car with over 200bhp that does 0-60 in 6.5s

While looking for a car I test drove.
Mercedes A250.
Same performance as the 125d but way more expensive to run. It didn't drive anywhere near as well as the BMW.

New Audi A3 1.8tfsi.
Gearbox doesn't seem to suit the engine. The engine was good on the motorway but crap around town. Handling and ride is much improved over the old model.

Golf GTD.
Just boring, felt a bit dated compared to the above and wasn't cheap

Skoda Octavia VRs
Same engine as the Golf but drove much better. I believe they don't share the same suspension set up or the Octavia has that complex dif thingy from the Golf GTi or something. MPG reports aren't fantastic for a diesel and my wife's a snob so it was out from the start.

Ford Focus 1.6TDCi
It drove well but I hated the interior.

Only other thing that I can think might be good is a Mini Dooper or something. Too small for me so never even tried.

[davyk31]

Mini Cooper SD would be a good call if you can live with a small car, plenty of mpg, decent enough power and has to be achievable in that budget.

[richk84]

The new v40 does look like a nice car, ive been in a new v60 and if its anything like that could be a good option

[BGM]

Originally Posted by mowflow

So is £340 your budget?

I've just ordered an F20 125d with about £3k of extras and that is exactly what it's costing per month on a PCP at 14k miles per year.

You could probably drop to the 120d which will still be quick enough to be fun.

just been having a quick look about again, as i hadn't even considered looking at an F20 above 116d, mowflow what was your deposit, and term as i can't get anything even close to your monthlies..?

i assume it's not M Sport trim?

[mowflow]

It is an M Sport as the 125 is only available in that trim.

I'll PM you some details.

Meant to say that I also tested an Alfa giulietta a while back. It was a nice steer with good handling and the 1.4 multi air engine had plenty of go for such a small engine, although the car I tested was the salesmans company car and it was only averaging 36mpg. The DNA system also worked really well. The problem was that it's hard to make the finance work as risiduals are crap. The basic spec of even the Veloce is also pretty poor so necessary options quickly push the price north.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by mowflow

I'll PM you some details..

cool!