new car chat

[thom04]

I hope @thom04 doesn’t mind me resurrecting this thread. I’m in the market for a new car (2nd hand) for the first time in 14 years I think? The faithful friend Nissan X-Trail somehow managed to lose its oil without once alerting us until the engine started knocking anyway.
I could pay to get a new engine as I really like the old thing but I have been outvoted.
We went around a few dealerships on Saturday. The Hyundai place was rubbish. Not much actual information on the window, just a QR code that didn’t work with my Nokia 6230i. The Kia place was much better. Helpful but not pushy. They had a Sportage that I liked. Spendy but towards the top of the range.
Petrol engine. I don’t think diesel is the thing anymore. Trouble is, we wanted a hybrid at least. The next garage on our list was Suzuki.
Never had one but always sort of liked their mini 4 x 4s (shhhhhh). A mild hybrid Vitara caught the eye. Slight downer is that it’s two wheel drive but whilst I have a work vehicle I do have a 4 x 4. The Vitara is a higher end model plus it is an auto.

Anyone had one? Reviews tend towards the positive. We do t do a lot of miles, maybe 5000 a year? Reliable is what we want.

Not at all! I'd meant to do a follow up anyway but had completely forgotten

Having no car interest myself & having not had to buy a car since 2010 it was very helpful getting some opinions on the current state of things. For anyone interested I ended up with a 2021 Kia Rio, no complaints so far

 

[Twozaskars]

While I can't help on the specific car, best thing for us was to get down to a car supermarket such as motor point or available car and just look around - you may stumble across something you never expected as we did with our Honda CRV. I'd have never considered that car until I saw and sat in one. My Mrs didn't even care to test drive it, she knew there and then and she loved every mile for the two years we ran it. Still bangs on about it now...

 

[legrandefromage]

Flogged the 2012 Sportage with 140000 for £2500

Got the 1998 Elgrand and a 2015 Sportage left.

New old works van is a plastic fantastic 2020 Vauxhall Combo. It's a Peugeot Partner in all but name, it gets blown about in the slightest breeze . It's adblue had to be deleted because it gave the company so many issues. The Bluetooth is criminally awkward.

I've done 5000 miles in it since the 4th of November

It's awful.

But it is saving me £300 a month as I'm no longer filling my own car. Plus it's work use only so am not paying extra income tax for personal use

So now I'm out of the car industry for good, Kia is just about the most boringly reliable to own

 

[Twozaskars]

New old works van is a plastic fantastic 2020 Vauxhall Combo. It's a Peugeot Partner in all but name, it gets blown about in the slightest breeze . It's adblue had to be deleted because it gave the company so many issues. The Bluetooth is criminally awkward.

I've done 5000 miles in it since the 4th of November

It's awful.

That bad? Really? I've had these vans since 2010 and found much better than the considerably more expensive VW Caddy's I had for three years prior that people rave on about.
If anyone out there owns PF57ZLN I feel for you.

With you on the KIA though - our C'eed is pretty boring.

Edit: my van is usually loaded in excess of 1800kg so a bit more weight to blow around, although was shaky across the A66 this morning.

 

[nstarmore]

If you want reliable then you won't go far wrong with Suzuki tbh and the Vitaras are a solid choice, they are always a little bit dated looking and can feel a little tinnier than some of the more expensive options but I've never known anyone buy a Suzuki and not be happy with it, they'll be on my list next time I'm in the market.

Kia's and Hyundai's seem to be fairly reliable for the most part but the only person I know to have bought one had an older Tuscan new (the 1.7 diesel) and the gearbox was made of chocolate and was never right from new, despite their famous warranty Hyundai refused to replace it so that put me off them in fairness but a lot of others have high opinions, with good reason I'm sure.

 

[Siish]

If anyone out there owns PF57ZLN I feel for you.

I know what you mean, my old transit courier (BC18 SZK) Spent more time in the garage than on the road in the 4 1/2 years I had it, the connect I have is much better,

As for original question, all the old reputable brands seem to have lost there way and put profits over anything else as anything post 2010 ish seems to be designed to fail and the overly expensive to repair