Small SUV

[Lord Tyrion]

Just test drove yaris cross, I like. Question is 115 or 130 hp...drove the 130.

Do you do much driving outside of town? If you are up and down the A1, A19 etc then go for the bigger engine. If not, go for the bigger engine . Personally, I'd rather have that bit extra and if you don't do big miles, don't think you do, then the mpg difference will be so marginal over the year that it isn't worth worrying about.

 

[Mandofred]

Mileage is the same with either. It's an extra £3+k for the bigger engine...which is all the electric stuff being jazzed up. The petrol engine is the same. The real issue I have is why are the colours sooooooo horrible. Are the people in charge of deciding colours brain damaged? I might have to have the weaker engine just because I can get a dark grey....the stronger car ONLY comes in 3 colours, a blue which isn't bad, silver and durgy white colour. Wonder how much it costs to have a car painted a decent colour?

 

[Mandofred]

Whoops....I take back the £3k comment. The basic model (which I am looking at) with 116hp I can get for £25490 on the road. The 130hp would likely cost me about £6k more. I don't think I can justify that much more for a little more vroom-vroom. All I do around Harrogate is drive in traffic...heading up to Ripon to play golf it's lucky if I get above 50mph. Supposed to have 30% more torque at lower speeds with the 130....but.....

I've thought about just doing the leasing bit....seems a lot more popular these days, and with the way I've been switching cars in recent years it might be the smarter way to go....and maybe get the vroom-vroom model. But....jeez they only have ugly colours. At least the cheaper model comes in a solid dark grey...which for some reason you can't get on the more expensive model. Madness.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Whoops....I take back the £3k comment. The basic model (which I am looking at) with 116hp I can get for £25490 on the road. The 130hp would likely cost me about £6k more. I don't think I can justify that much more for a little more vroom-vroom. All I do around Harrogate is drive in traffic...heading up to Ripon to play golf it's lucky if I get above 50mph. Supposed to have 30% more torque at lower speeds with the 130....but.....

I've thought about just doing the leasing bit....seems a lot more popular these days, and with the way I've been switching cars in recent years it might be the smarter way to go....and maybe get the vroom-vroom model. But....jeez they only have ugly colours. At least the cheaper model comes in a solid dark grey...which for some reason you can't get on the more expensive model. Madness.

Have you looked at second hand options, even through Toyota? It opens the selection much more and will save some money on full price.

 

[Mandofred]

Have you looked at second hand options, even through Toyota? It opens the selection much more and will save some money on full price.

I've not been much of a used car person.....I've done it in the past from relatives etc, but might look into it. I've definitely started leaning towards the leasing side...especially since I've turned more crazy in my later years and tend to get bored with cars (and golf clubs) and want something else. The leasing direction would take care of that....in theory. I think Toyota was wanting 3.5yrs for a lease at 6000 miles a year....which is a LOT of driving for us.....currently less than 4k on the Ignis in a year. Haven't done that much driving since we moved back to the UK. When back in the US, I could do most of 1000 miles just going to visit my relatives and back for a long weekend.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I've not been much of a used car person.....I've done it in the past from relatives etc, but might look into it. I've definitely started leaning towards the leasing side...especially since I've turned more crazy in my later years and tend to get bored with cars (and golf clubs) and want something else. The leasing direction would take care of that....in theory. I think Toyota was wanting 3.5yrs for a lease at 6000 miles a year....which is a LOT of driving for us.....currently less than 4k on the Ignis in a year. Haven't done that much driving since we moved back to the UK. When back in the US, I could do most of 1000 miles just going to visit my relatives and back for a long weekend.

You can lease for whatever length you want. The price just changes accordingly. We used to do 2yrs at work, then changed to 3yrs to reduce the monthly cost. It is in your hands.

Lease Loco is a decent site to play around on. It will let you move lengths, mileage, upfront costs etc and you can get an idea of what it will cost. Always beware the lease that suggests a low price but has a massive upfront cost. The low mileage works in your favour though, that is another trick they often try.

 

[RichA]

If you can't be arsed to shop around, use Car Wow. They get brokers in your region to make you their best offer on the exact car and spec you want. I've used them a couple of times. It beats haggling with a salesperson. You might get lucky with someone trying to hit a target on a fleet purchase.

 

[cliveb]

I had thought about it. I'm fighting a lot of my old prejudices on some cars. From my time back in the 80's, cars like Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, were all terrible for dependability. The Dacia's came out and the early ones weren't rated very well......at least from the reviews they are getting better and better and the power in the cars seems to be better as well.

Was on holiday in Iceland a couple of years ago, and the Duster appeared to be one of the hire cars of choice.
Lots of roads in Iceland aren't exactly easy on cars.
I can't imagine that the rental companies would be buying them if they weren't dependable.

 

[Mandofred]

Just out of sheer laziness.....might just go ahead with it in a couple of days. I did try CarWow.....they came in "kind of" just a few hundred cheaper....not worth the agro for me if they will buy my Ignis from me. The Toyota lad did say I could get out of the lease at any point.....yeah....I know.....but if I nail them down to the details.....I could see just going for a 2 year lease. My attention span is only about that long.

 

[rulefan]

Just out of sheer laziness.....might just go ahead with it in a couple of days. I did try CarWow.....they came in "kind of" just a few hundred cheaper....not worth the agro for me if they will buy my Ignis from me. The Toyota lad did say I could get out of the lease at any point.....yeah....I know.....but if I nail them down to the details.....I could see just going for a 2 year lease. My attention span is only about that long.

Have you looked at Honda. Good servicing dealer in Harrogate.

 

[spongebob59]

Have you looked at Honda. Good servicing dealer in Harrogate.

The HRV is a very nice car

 

[hairball_89]

Got to be worth looking at a Dacia Duster, hasn't it?
Happened to be at a Dacia Renault dealer a couple of weeks ago and they had the brand new one in the car park - just delivered. Looked really nice. I'm very keen to have a test drive and I'm not even in the market for a new car right now.

I've got a Duster. It's great. This is our 3rd on PCP, super happy with them all and highly recommend it.

Had a nose around the dealership at the comparative Kia and Renault models the last time we exchanged cars on the PCP deal and the additional outlay for seemingly exactly the same car was just not worth it for a badge.

Dealers are making noises about a hybrid next year too, if that's the case I'll definitely be interested.

 

[Mandofred]

I had a Jazz in my younger days....maybe a 2007 model. Under powered, noisy, great room with the seat moving routine. Honda seems to have lost their oomph these days. Everybody wanted a CR-V.....not anymore. I test drove a Jazz cvt back 10? years ago....horrible. Staying automatic. The cvt on this yaris cross isn't bad at all. I think almost all the brands are heading cvt direction....I've no issue with them other than they tend to be loud in small cars(I'm looking at you my own Ignis). This yaris cross gets pretty impressive mileage with its hybrid.....not really an issue with me since I don't drive that much....but....

 

[jim8flog]

I drive a Peugeot 2008 - love it.

I do have the electric one so no experience of a petrol one (had the 308) previously and I have driven auto boxed cars for years

 

[RichA]

I've got a Duster. It's great. This is our 3rd on PCP, super happy with them all and highly recommend it.

Had a nose around the dealership at the comparative Kia and Renault models the last time we exchanged cars on the PCP deal and the additional outlay for seemingly exactly the same car was just not worth it for a badge.

Dealers are making noises about a hybrid next year too, if that's the case I'll definitely be interested.

I think Skoda have done a great job of mitigating the car buying public's badge snobbery.
The understated brilliance of cars like the Octavia, Yeti and Duster are almost like a badge of honour for sensible private new car buyers these days.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Yes. If I had to just walk up and buy something without trying....I'd be leaning towards that Toyota Yaris Cross. Heading out there this morning if they have one to look at/test drive. Probably swing past the Citroen place as well.

Funny thing....the Suzuki dealer kept the Ignis overnight when replacing the fuel pump and let me have one of their Swifts. Loved it. Plenty of oomph. They told me it was a 3 cylinder cvt. When I look online at YouTubes etc, it states something like 12 seconds to 60. The car I had was a good bit faster than that, but it didn't say it was a sport model. Boot was a hair to small for me though.....

If you find something you like you might just stop there and then. Research will always pull up plus’s and minus’s of any car, but if you like something and the reviews aren’t shocking maybe just go with it. That is said of course by someone who isn’t really interested in cars…they are tools for getting from A to B in reasonable comfort and without costing the earth. I just get confused with too much information available when it comes to cars.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I think Skoda have done a great job of mitigating the car buying public's badge snobbery.
The understated brilliance of cars like the Octavia, Yeti and Duster are almost like a badge of honour for sensible private new car buyers these days.

Thats Dacia, not Skoda.
I think you probably meant the Fabia.

 

[RichA]

Thats Dacia, not Skoda.
I think you probably meant the Fabia.

No. As previously mentioned, I meant the Duster - I know it's a Dacia.
Personally, I've always thought the Fabia was a hideous roller skate of a car.

 

[spongebob59]

I had a Jazz in my younger days....maybe a 2007 model. Under powered, noisy, great room with the seat moving routine. Honda seems to have lost their oomph these days. Everybody wanted a CR-V.....not anymore. I test drove a Jazz cvt back 10? years ago....horrible. Staying automatic. The cvt on this yaris cross isn't bad at all. I think almost all the brands are heading cvt direction....I've no issue with them other than they tend to be loud in small cars(I'm looking at you my own Ignis). This yaris cross gets pretty impressive mileage with its hybrid.....not really an issue with me since I don't drive that much....but....

I'm getting around 55 in the HRV hybrid.
It's well worth a test drive, nothing like the old Jazz cvt.

They were doing great deals on the full electric version.

 

[Mandofred]

Ahhh....maybe I should start a thread about the 5 most horrible car choices....and 5 best?

I'm getting around 55 in the HRV hybrid.
It's well worth a test drive, nothing like the old Jazz cvt.

They were doing great deals on the full electric version.

Not planning on going electric at this point. I really am pretty lazy with car buying. I am a good candidate for an electric though.....about 4000 miles a year, rarely further away from Harrogate than 15 miles. This car will be my last biggish car....still smaller than the Suzuki Vitara we got rid of last spring. At the point I get rid of this car....whether it's a lease or purchase....I'll be 70+ and will likely go back to something smaller. If they have the electric stuff improved by then I could see something like the new Inster. I don't know that many people, but I've still heard too many people have to wait quite a while to get their electric cars fixed.