It's looking like the end of the road for shite motoring for me

[barefoot]

the MG dealer is only 5 miles away from where we live.

 

 

Excellent reason for your choice of car, I salute you.

[garethj]

but I would urge you not to fall into the trap of thinking that new = guaranteed reliability.

This.

 

I’ve no idea what a newish car costs, but I don’t think a new MG is your guaranteed way to motoring security.  If I had several thousand to spend, I’d probably look at a Toyota Yaris in as minty condition as you can find.

 

The perceived terror of breaking down can be overstated sometimes, even if your car broke down tomorrow you could get taxis or a hire car for a few days.  It’s not like you (or she) would be totally stranded with no means of getting around.

[Mr Lobster]

I'm going to go against the tide here, but if reliability is key then buying new makes more sense than running something old depending on your circumstances.

 

Generally, new cars are very reliable. Yep theres the odd lemon but they are the exception rather than the rule. If you haven't got the time / skills / whatever to be fixing something older and just want something that you can get in and drive without worrying about any issues then in general a new car will be the better option.

 

If you are happy doing a bit of fixing and making sure that any issues which arise are sorted then something older is fine but if not then you'd be better buying newish.

 

An older car will require some degree of attention, maybe not much depending on what you run but certainly more than something new which theoretically should just need tyres and levels checking periodically.

 

Buying new doesn't make economic sense so if you want something new then either buy something with as strong residual values as possible (DS3, 500, Mini) or something cheap (Sandero, Kia Piccanto) that way your potential loss is reduced.

 

However, I'd run away from the MG as fast as possible. Depreciation on the MG will be horrific and as something of an unknown quantity I wouldn't bet on reliability of it either. 

 

Sandero would be my choice if she needs something that size or Picccanto if she can manage with a bit smaller car.

[trigger]

If you really must have a MG3 can't you wait a year for then the markets flooded with nearly new one's at 40% off the new retail price?.

 

Again if it was my money I'd be looking at Kia's, Hyundai's (remember the long warranty on them) or Fiat Pandas.

[ruffgeezer]

We've several c1s and a new shape c3 in, I must confess I like the c3 a lot considering It's modern. If you are nearby, feel free to pm me with any questions.

[dollywobbler]

Didn't a survey recently reveal that Kia and Hyundai have most warranty claims? Not what you'd expect or perhaps the downside to offering a seven year warranty!

[Mr Lobster]

Theres a few Kia Ceeds in my family - Dad, brother in law and sister all run 2010ish Ceeds and whilst they are perhaps not the most exciting car of ever, they are very, very reliable and I think the only issue any of them had in the last three years is a failed temp sensor for the outside air temp readout.

[Brent_Crude]

Another vote for Citroen C1 in petrol form. If I had to buy something fairly new, it'd be one of these. Or possibly a Panda.

 

The Panda has certainly caught my attention in looking at solutions to my current Range Rover crisis. Even brand new, Fiat are offering £99 down, and £99 a month at 1.4% APR, with the optional final payment around £3k. Obviously that is for shite spec. but that's all I would want anyway. Brand new, cheap motoring doesn't come much more accessible than that and probably quite fun to drive too. As a 2nd car, I am sorely tempted.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

the idea of buying new is to keep it as long as possible, probably about ten years. she speaks about 10k miles a year too but it's all little journeys to patients houses.

How about this for all short trips + decent boot + proven reliability record?

 

Nine grand's worth of Toyota Prius. Better spec than the MG, better economy, and it'll probably still be worth more in five years time. 

 

edit: don't know where I got the idea your budget was £9k

[alf892]

How about this for all short trips + decent boot + proven reliability record?

 

Nine grand's worth of Toyota Prius. Better spec than the MG, better economy, and it'll probably still be worth more in five years time. 

 

edit: don't know where I got the idea your budget was £9k

Maybe the worst adice ever dispensed on here! Well apart from any vague vote in favour of the MG that is

 

A lot of technology to obtain mediocre fuel economy and an expensive battery........

 

Just saying like

 

Driven by resentful reps or smug socially/enviro aware (they think) fools.

[Cavcraft]

Ah yes, the Prius. I don't think people are allowed to like them on here.

[Mr Lobster]

If you wanted something to keep for 10 years then I reckon the way to go is buy a normally aspirated petrol engine which hopefully means less to go wrong. So a 1.2 Sandero then...

[In The Pit]

I can understand why your partner likes the MG3 its a nice looking car (as is the MG6).  The Panda is really ugly, the Fiat 500 is for bimbos or grannies who don't like to think of themselves as grannies.  The Vauxhall Adam looks ok.  What about the VW Up (prices start from £8,185) or the Ford Ka (prices start from £8,725).

 

Going back to MG I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years we hear great reviews on them and they really take off, just like other budget brands before it like the Skoda, Kia, Hyundai etc.

 

As others have said i'd take a look at the Dacia Sandero

[srad34]

How about this for all short trips + decent boot + proven reliability record?

 

Nine grand's worth of Toyota Prius. Better spec than the MG, better economy, and it'll probably still be worth more in five years time. 

 

edit: don't know where I got the idea your budget was £9k 

 

Hateful cars, when I worked for a large retailer, this was the only option and I did 1000 miles a week in mine, not that good on fuel and like driving a fridge with wheels.... Batteries last 10-15 years and cost more than the car will be worth....   

[DVee8]

By one of these

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/kia/venga/postcode/dh23hx/radius/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/sort/default

 

Don't ask me why one drove past today i through what the fuck is that.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Ah yes, the Prius. I don't think people are allowed to like them on here.

 

Nor anywhere else outside ecomodder.com. I find car forums reactions to the Prius bizarre. If I was after a new-ish car for lots of local trips, there's literally nothing better. Yeah, their economy on the motorway isn't impressive, don't buy one if you do half a million miles a year. 

 

Actually if I was doing exclusively local business trips I'd go Leaf or Zoe. 

[Barry Cade]

Had a Zoe on the back of the truck today.....

[Mr Lobster]

I had a look at a Zoe and actually liked it. But whilst its cheap for a 'leccy car you've still another £70 a month on leasing the battery and in all honesty, theres a lot of things I'd rather spend the money on car wise (If I was about to spend that sort of money on a new car). 

 

That said, if I win Euromillions then I'd have one as third or fourth car just for local running about but until they get a decent range and faster recharging I'm out.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Had a Zoe on the back of the truck today.....

 

I can't imagine a Renault suffering from an electrical breakdown so was it a range under-estimation?

[Lacquer Peel]

If anybody is worried about the reliability of modern Renaults, some of the Kangoo DCis at work have clocked up over 300,000 miles over 3 years with no problems.

 

I think buying a new car, servicing it regularly and running it into the ground might work out financially.

[londonm]

I can understand why your partner likes the MG3 its a nice looking car (as is the MG6).  The Panda is really ugly, the Fiat 500 is for bimbos or grannies who don't like to think of themselves as grannies.  The Vauxhall Adam looks ok.  What about the VW Up (prices start from £8,185) or the Ford Ka (prices start from £8,725).

 

Going back to MG I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years we hear great reviews on them and they really take off, just like other budget brands before it like the Skoda, Kia, Hyundai etc.

 

As others have said i'd take a look at the Dacia Sandero

That'll be why the Fiat 500 sells like hot cakes, and judging by the recent history of 'MG' (believe me, this bears as much relation to MG as Noodles) I wouldn't be surprised if they're not around in a year or two. I really don't think you know anything about cars with this 'advice'.

 

Incidentally, the Ford Ka is the same car as the Fiat 500, just in case you hadn't noticed.

[purplebargeken]

I have a Hyundai (i10 auto) and it has been uber reliable. Mine is a 61 plate and has done 25k of very varied driving and has not ever put a foot (tyre) wrong.

 

If I was buying new again then it would be another Hyundai or actually a Dacia for a change.

[nacho man]

Maybe the worst adice ever dispensed on here! Well apart from any vague vote in favour of the MG that is

 

A lot of technology to obtain mediocre fuel economy and an expensive battery........

 

Just saying like

 

Driven by resentful reps or smug socially/enviro aware (they think) fools.

I have read that quite a few taxis are clocking mega miles in them and have no problems.

 

My mate who is a typical school teacher Prius driver bought one of the very first ugly ones with high miles and has had it for a good few years. His commute is a good 40 miles each way but with not much motorway/dual carriageway action which they like as they can regenerate electricity and it does a solid 45mpg and he doesn't treat it well at all. I reckon if he drove normal and it could 50mpg which is not bad for a large car full of gadgets 5 seats etc etc

 

I think the new ones with nice wheels look ace.

 

Please don't shoot me.

[Cavcraft]

If anybody is worried about the reliability of modern Renaults, some of the Kangoo DCis at work have clocked up over 300,000 miles over 3 years with no problems.

 

I think buying a new car, servicing it regularly and running it into the ground might work out financially.

 

 

I agree and reckon if you kept it long enough it would. You'd just have to persevere though the pain barrier (depreciation and then the bills when the warranty runs out) and grin and bear it. I expect a lot is down to how you drive and how well things are serviced, to be honest.

[Mr Lobster]

That was the sort of logic we used when buying Mrs_L's Mazda. At two years old it had already done the worst of its depreciating and the plan is to run it to about ten years / 150k which hopefully it should be good for without any major issues. Time will tell I suppose.

[londonm]

I have read that quite a few taxis are clocking mega miles in them and have no problems.

 

My mate who is a typical school teacher Prius driver bought one of the very first ugly ones with high miles and has had it for a good few years. His commute is a good 40 miles each way but with not much motorway/dual carriageway action which they like as they can regenerate electricity and it does a solid 45mpg and he doesn't treat it well at all. I reckon if he drove normal and it could 50mpg which is not bad for a large car full of gadgets 5 seats etc etc

 

I think the new ones with nice wheels look ace.

 

Please don't shoot me.

They'll be as cheap as chips shortly, they will no longer qualify for London Congestion Charge exemption. We'll see how attractive they are to people then. Personally, I get a certain amount of pleasure thinking of those smug yoghurt knitting ponces realising that the fortune they spent on this contraption is heading down the Swanee.

[Lacquer Peel]

Attention: people who live in London.

 

There are other places in the UK.

[londonm]

Attention: people who live in London.

 

There are other places in the UK.

Yawn.

[In The Pit]

That'll be why the Fiat 500 sells like hot cakes, and judging by the recent history of 'MG' (believe me, this bears as much relation to MG as Noodles) I wouldn't be surprised if they're not around in a year or two. I really don't think you know anything about cars with this 'advice'.

 

Incidentally, the Ford Ka is the same car as the Fiat 500, just in case you hadn't noticed.

 

I remember you using the same notion about selling like hot cakes when I criticized the BMW Mini, that fact is just because something sells well it doesn't mean it's the best or that its any good. The Sun newspaper is the most read newspaper in the UK I think most people would agree it's not the best.

 

I didn't say the Fiat 500 was bad just that it has a naff image and tends to be driven by young girls and old women.  Yes i'm aware that the Ford Ka and Fiat 500 are basically the same underneath, however they are not identical the styling is totally different also the Ford doesn't have the naff image that the 500 does.

[londonm]

I remember you using the same notion about selling like hot cakes when I criticized the BMW Mini, that fact is just because something sells well it doesn't mean it's the best or that its any good. The Sun newspaper is the most read newspaper in the UK I think most people would agree it's not the best.

I didn't say the Fiat 500 was bad just that it has a naff image and tends to be driven by young girls and old women.  Yes i'm aware that the Ford Ka and Fiat 500 are basically the same underneath, however they are not identical the styling is totally different also the Ford doesn't have the naff image that the 500 does.

Oh, that naff image of the Fiat 500. In your opinion, however it sells shitloads and holds its value so your view is best described as irrelevant.