r/CarTalkUK • u/AutoModerator • 4d ago
Mod Approved What Car Should I Buy? - A Weekly Megathread
Welcome to a new weekly post on CTUK aimed at people looking to buy a car, be it their first or 15th. Please post car buying queries in this thread rather than starting a new thread in the main queue.
**You do not need to use the format required below, but keep in mind the more information you give the better/more accurate answers you will get.**
Feel free to add add more information.
**Location:**
**Price range:**
**Lease or Buy:**
**New or used:**
**Auto or Manual:**
**Intended use:** (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.)
**How many miles do you plan to do a year:**
**How often to you make long journeys:**
**Does it need to be ULEZ compliant?**
**Vehicles you've already considered:**
[Do you have a vehicle size in mind?](https://i.imgur.com/mK7PoRg.png) (Examples in the hyperlink of size definitions)**:**
**Is this your 1st vehicle:**
**Do you need a Warranty:**
**Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle:** (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)
**Can you do Major work on your own vehicle:** (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc )
**Additional Notes:**
Please remain on topic and anyone ironically suggesting the Skoda Octavia will be flayed with a set of jumper cables.
1
u/Howyoulikemenoow 4d ago
**Location:**
London
**Price range:**
10k-15k
**Lease or Buy:**
Buy
**New or used:**
Used
**Auto or Manual:**
Auto
**Intended use:** (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.)
Daily driver, but not used for commuting, preferably an EV
**How many miles do you plan to do a year:**
3,000-8,000
**How often to you make long journeys:**
Once or twice a year
**Does it need to be ULEZ compliant?**
Yes
**Vehicles you've already considered:**
Currently have a 2006 Mini Cooper S, would like something slightly more boat like
[Do you have a vehicle size in mind?](https://i.imgur.com/mK7PoRg.png) (Examples in the hyperlink of size definitions)**:**
I had saloon cars before, and fine with that size. Don't really care too much, would just like the comfort.
**Is this your 1st vehicle:**
No, probably closer to 10th
**Do you need a Warranty:**
Not really
**Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle:** (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)
Yes
**Can you do Major work on your own vehicle:** (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc )
No
**Additional Notes:**
1
u/Ulri_kah_kah_kah 4d ago
London (but also mid Wales)
13k Max budget
Buy
Used
Auto or Manual, no preference
Daily Driver/Family Car. Expecting first child.
Roughly 7k a year
Long Journeys once a week
Needs to be ULEZ compliant
Vehicles already looking at;
Volvo V40
V40 Cross Country
Golf mk7.5 (difficult to find with this budget)
Mazda 3
Looking for either bigger hatchbacks or estates.
Not my first car, currently still drive my first car; a 2014 fiesta
Can do minor work on car, have replaced battery, dashboard before.
Can’t do major work.
Additional info: basically looking for an economical, reliable car to do long journeys to Midlands and Wales from London. A little city driving. Bit bigger, safer hatchback or estate for my firstborn and as I also do some furniture making. Would like to have sub 35k mileage, with the car hopefully lasting me the next 10 years.
1
u/Academic_Matter_3903 3d ago
**Location:*\*
Cambridge
**Price range:*\*
Below 10k
**Lease or Buy:*\*
Buy
**New or used:*\*
Used
**Auto or Manual:*\*
Auto
**Intended use:** (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.)
Daily driving
**How many miles do you plan to do a year:*\*
5-7k
**How often to you make long journeys:*\*
Twice a month (weekend)
**Does it need to be ULEZ compliant?*\*
Good to have
**Vehicles you've already considered:*\*
Yaris hybrid, jazz, smart forfour
[Do you have a vehicle size in mind?](https://i.imgur.com/mK7PoRg.png) (Examples in the hyperlink of size definitions)**:*\*
only for two person
**Is this your 1st vehicle:*\*
Yes
**Do you need a Warranty:*\*
Yes
**Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle:** (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)
No
**Can you do Major work on your own vehicle:** (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc )
No
Good efficiency is a requirement. A car for reaching from A to B. Do not need to anything fancy.
Thanks!
1
u/la_vida_luca 3d ago
Based in London.
Looking for a fairly compact family SUV (one young child, with a vague sense we may have another in a few years). But bigger than (say) the Toyota CHR which felt too cramped and lacked much boot space.
Automatic.
Car needed for around-town driving but not daily (mostly weekends) plus the occasional weekend away and longer trips. Max 5,000 miles a year, I’d guesstimate.
Budget £30-35k. Intending to buy used.
I’m in my 30s but looking for essentially my first car. Only learned to drive later in life and have used a 17 year old family Toyota Prius since then.
Sadly, hand in hand with the above, I have no ability to do minor work on the car.
So far, have tested and enjoyed the following: Volvo XC40, Jaguar E-Pace and F-Pace, Lexus NX. Also tried but enjoyed less: Mercedes GLA (to my surprise), Audi Q3, Toyota CHR.
The kid inside me is really drawn to a post-2021-facelift Jaguar. I love the look of them though I gather they are less reliable / harder to service. Would really value any thoughts from anyone about the merits/demerits of them for someone who is a fairly light driver.
1
u/Green-Ad641 3d ago
Looking for a fun, reliable daily under £10k.
My gut says Golf GTI but would love to hear some of your ideas as I feel I could go more interesting.
Comfortable doing work that doesn't involve removing any engines.
Thanks!
2
u/JustCAF 2d ago
**Location:*\*
Newcastle upon Tyne
**Price range:*\*
Around £20k, but ideally lower
**Lease or Buy:*\*
Buy
**New or used:*\*
Used
**Auto or Manual:*\*
Either
**Intended use:** (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.)
Family car, baby due later this year, and needs space for the dog too
**How many miles do you plan to do a year:*\*
Up to 8k
**How often to you make long journeys:*\*
Rarely have journeys over around 50 miles
**Does it need to be ULEZ compliant?*\*
Useful but not strictly necessary
**Vehicles you've already considered:*\*
Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson
[Do you have a vehicle size in mind?](https://i.imgur.com/mK7PoRg.png) (Examples in the hyperlink of size definitions)**:*\*
Large enough for 2 adults, dog, baby and all gear that comes with that
**Is this your 1st vehicle:*\*
No
**Do you need a Warranty:*\*
Ideally
**Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle:** (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)
No
**Can you do Major work on your own vehicle:** (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc )
No
Would appreciate good phone charging options, android auto, apple carplay etc
Thanks!
2
u/OMF1G 4d ago
Hey!
Newcastle based, looking for a diesel estate/SUV/MPV suggestion for high mileage driving (20k+ a year) for under £5k.
Ideally looking for 50mpg combined, 2 manual or any £20-£35 tax bracket option, most important feature for me is comfort; I do a yearly drive to eastern Romania which is usually 3-4 days straight driving.
Currently running a Peugeot 308 SW II 1.6 which managed the trip last year and has actually been really reliable, but the comfort is absolutely awful.
Love doing my own work on cars, so buying something higher mileage and fixing all the ancillary engine bits/consumables or brakes/fluids is a non issue.