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Looking at newer cars, as my diesel don't like my 8 mile commute and is getting long in the tooth. So looking at small economical petrol's, but want something to throw the bike in (one wheel off). Really don't need Mondeo size estate, but the supermini estates are too small (width wise) for my liking, focus sized estates aren't really adding much in the way over normal hatch's.
I've struck upon the unloved (review wise) Rapid Spaceback, as capacity wise it's bigger in the back than my current car, £8-11k get me a year old car with under 15K on the clock, lots of creature comforts (toys/pana roof at the top end), or a like of a Golf/Astra (estate) with 60K on the clock and 2-4years older...and I don't feel the need for an Audi 😉
I know there lots of petrol heads on here, but I just need a 'sensible' car, so what holes can you poke in the plan?
8 miles? I'd advice (sic) a bicycle. They're ace!
For balance, after years of cycling to work (about 8 miles each way) there's no way I'd ride a bike through traffic again. Been knocked off too many times, life is too short to mix it with ****s in cars during rush hour.
I drive a Leaf. Plug it in every three nights, smooth and quiet driving. Cheaper than running a diesel.
Shame you can't wait a few years - record levels of new cars on PCP will surely mean a flooded second hand market will follow soon?
Wot no Octavia?
BMW 335d estate
8 mile commute - I really would go for a Leaf or a Prius plug in.
You could even do that on an Outander PhEV which has been a bit of a flop so should be able to pick one up cheap. When on petrol mode the MPG is crap but you should be able to do work and back on a charge.
Toyota Auris Touring Sport in hybrid form. Relaxing in traffic, very economical, super reliable, plenty of room for bikes.
When I was looking for a car the best source of info I found was this, on reliability. Basically, its data from Warranty Direct based on how much they have to pay out on each model every year. Most of the 'recommendations' I got were based on bias (positive and negative) or anecdote. This is actually empirical:
http://www.reliabilityindex.com/
The key headline points are:
-if you want reliability, buy Japanese.
-many of the premium brands trading on a 'quality proposition' don't actually deliver very good reliability. eg BMW/Audi/VW.
=don't buy a Landrover Discovery.
We have a 14 plate Rapid Spaceback with panaramic roof etc, 1.2, think it's about 105bhp, adequate for taking kids to school / shopping and occasional long distances. Average 46mpg, £30 road tax. Comfy ride quality, surprisingly solid and quality feeling at the price point. 18000 miles and not spent a penny on it apart from fuel/ tax and a couple of services. No warrenty work either. Takes a 29er on its side with front wheel off no bother. Not going to get you all excited about driving it but I would recommend.
Interesting stuff, hadn't even considered an electric/hybrid & my initial thought were, they wouldn't be in my budget, but they are.. liking the size of the Toyota Auris, vs a leaf but again it getting quite big & a fair few miles on the ones I can afford.
Good to have feedback on the rapid too, as it still the newest car I could get (never had anything that new.. it's a draw)
What about a Honda Jazz - the back seats fold up to give plenty of space to put a bike behind the drivers seat, leaving the boot free.
Ah, for balance I looked at a Rapid Spaceback and was surprised how little room there was in it, plus at 1.2l max for petrol I wan't liking it for load carrying - family of 4 with multiple activities. Octavia FTW. 1.4l TSI was good, just been repatriating my son and his kit from Y2 university, rubbish packing but car plus roof box did the job :0
Tbf I think it depend what you were comparing it with size wise, it's not as big as focus/Astra estates but it doesn't suggest it's an estate car. I have viewed one & it's a bigger rear compartment than my golf plus, looks like a good size without being estate length. Octavia estates are ace, seemingly bigger than the cavernous mondeo, but more than I need - which the auris is edging towards. As for the motor, there all small motors nowadays (it's even put in the octavia apparently), & the high output version is the same power as my 1.9 deisel, but I've yet to actually try one. This years model has a 1.0l motor with the same output. My friend bought an 1.4tsi a good few years back, which I was sceptical about, but they (family of 4 & associated crap) happily trundle up to scotolandshire regularly
Shame you can't wait a few years - record levels of new cars on PCP will surely mean a flooded second hand market will follow soon?
You would think so people have been predicting this for a number of years and it still haasn't materialised itself.
If anything, as most cars stay in the networks, clever yield management helps keep second hand prices as high and there is obviously even less competition from private buyers so I can't see values falling off a cliff.
I was in one of these car wharehouse places recently and they had a sporty(looking) fabia in grey with a black roof as much kit as yoo can get in a skoda, under 20k on the clock and all for 7.7k. It had the nice 1.2 petrol engine.
If I needed a car that would do.
For context I like fabia's because the doors are big, they have lots of cup holders and are easy to service if you have other requirements they may not be for you.
Re market: April was 20% down yoy, some of that was pre reg in March but its happening now and 2017 will be 5/10% down on 2016.
I had a Rapid hatch for a few days whilst the A/C was being fixed in my vRS and it was pretty good. It was the 110hp petrol.
The capacity impressed me. Whilst narrower than my car, with the seats down it seemed big and swallowed my Demo 8 with only the front wheel off with ease. The engine seemed pretty good too.
I've always been a bit meh about the Rapid but having one for a few days changed my mind.