I wanted a new car...

[Roverageous]

Right the newest car I have ever owned is a '53 registration Rover 45. I decided that I fancied a brand new car - just once. I got rather excited about speccing a car exactly how I want it, delivery miles only etc... etc... I pretty much decided in my head this was what was going to happen, then I was going to retire my Rover 75 to 'high day and dry day' status. I set my criteria thus: Saloon, diesel, auto, heated leather, not grey/black/white.

 

My short list comprised of:

• Skoda Octavia
• Ford Mondeo
• Vauxhall Insignia
• Kia Optima
• Peugeot 508

After having a poke and a drive of all these cars I have completely lost all enthusiasm for buying anything new. I will detail why:

 

Skoda Octavia:

The 2.0 diesel is really noisy in the cabin. WAY noisier than the 2.0 CDT in my 75. There's nowhere to put your right elbow when driving, indicator / wiper stalks are not easily to hand, electric mirror switch is in a stupid place, window switches are in a stupid place, CREAKY plastic centre console - if you push the fascia with your finger you can actually see it bend and the door cards give a good creak if you grip them. I tried a couple of cars on their forecourt and they were both the same. It'll be rattle central in 5 years in that cabin.

 

Ford Mondeo: Much quieter inside than the Skoda, but OMGBLINGYINTERIOR. No need for that. I don't want fucking silver bits on my steering wheel, thanks. Did feel better screwed together than the Skoda though, but not my much. The big thing with the Monday was a very harsh, and very noisy ride.

 

Vauxhall Insignia:

NEEDS LESS BUTTONS. They're everywhere. Worse interior quality than the Skoda - things don't even line up in there and the 'leather' steering wheel certainly didn't feel very leather. They didn't have a diesel available for me to drive, but the 1.8 pez that I drove was hopelessly gutless - remember this is compared to a 15 year old diesel auto. Not good.

 

Kia Optima:

Again shiny interior. Doesn't quite work. Lack of 'go' from the 1.7 diesel engine really lets it down. Ride is noisy and harsh over bumps.

 

Peugeot 508:

Interior on this is good, and feels well put together. Still some dodgy hard plastic in places but not too bad. Ride seems a bit more supple too, but engine and road noise very intrusive in the cabin. Couldn't get the seat to a comfortable position at all and had back ache after a few minutes of test driving.

 

Feeling a bit MEH at my experience so far I wandered over to the Merc dealer opposite who decided to try and flog me a C class. It's a nice looking saloon, I'll give it that. But WHAT IS IT DOING WITH A FUCKING IPAD GLUED TO THE FASCIA?! No. Just no.

 

I completely fail to understand how people who drive these new cars DARE to tell me how shonky Rovers were and how they all fall apart? Mine's holding up incredibly favourably to the shit I drove today.

[Skizzer]

This site is NOT ABOUT NEW CARS.  

 

How hard is that for new joiners to understand?

 

Not to pick on you, Roveragrous, but there's been way too much of this sort of shit this week.  Please can everyone just go back to Pistonheads and leave us alone.

[Roverageous]

This site is NOT ABOUT NEW CARS.  

 

I think you'll find that's the point. 'Kinell.

[Uncle Jimmy]

'Speccing a new car exactly how I want it'.

 

Best done by buying an old one.

[AnthonyG]

Jaguar XE. That is all.

 

It might not depreciate quite as bad as most of the ones you've mentioned. They must have fucked up the new Mondeo if you think the ride is shit, my Mk4 was better than a Jaguar XF.

 

Sorry Skizzer !!!,

[Angry Sheep]

You're unusual in that you're looking to buy a new car in this segment. No one buys a new Mondeo, Insignia etc for themselves. Most 'buyers' will be company car drivers who care more about their BIK rate and how many gadgets they have than what it'll be like in five years time.

 

Jag XE isn't a bad shout.

[beko1987]

Buy a mk1 octavia derv and talk to 320touring!

[Angry Sheep]

Actually, get an MG6. That's shite already.

[Timewaster]

As a company car buyer I cared 100% about the BIK (benefit in kind - tax liability) and 0% about the car.

I didn't really want it anyway so the less it cost me the better.

 

Having a brand new car is a very short lived novelty.

[Vince70]

It's easy and cheap to buy a new car..

Just buy an old car magazine off eBay for about 3 or 4 quid from around the mid 90s and trick yourself into thinking that it's a modern mag..

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=281108895993&globalID=EBAY-GB

 

Then read all those road tests then set yourself a budget to get something decent with a petrol engine or a diesel that doesn't have a meltdown.

 

It works for me all the time plus you can get German cars with 15 inch wheels and French cars that work

[Lacquer Peel]

Not sure that autoshite isn't or can't be about new cars, it's that the only new cars with autoshite values are produced in Iran.

[brownnova]

Not sure that autoshite isn't or can't be about new cars, it's that the only new cars with autoshite values are produced in Iran.

Now, now you obviously forgot about Morgans! What could be more autoshite that building your car partially out of wood...

 

But really weird new cars from developing countries or ones built in a shed using traditional methods are the only new cars I'm really interested in (in spite of me driving a modern- but that's more like a white good than anything else, and you don't find me wanting to talk about my fridge!)

[tooSavvy]

Motability 'renner meggie 1.5td' arrives Tues....

 

Wouldn't poke it with yours....

 

LOGAN 1.2 allday....

 

 

that is all

 

 

TS

[beko1987]

It's easy and cheap to buy a new car..

Just buy an old car magazine off eBay for about 3 or 4 quid from around the mid 90s and trick yourself into thinking that it's a modern mag..

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=281108895993&globalID=EBAY-GB

 

Then read all those road tests then set yourself a budget to get something decent with a petrol engine or a diesel that doesn't have a meltdown.

 

It works for me all the time plus you can get German cars with 15 inch wheels and French cars that work

My car was derv hot hatch of the year 1994 or some such bollocks, makes me proud!

[srad34]

Actually, get an MG6. That's shite already.

 This ^^^

Buying one of these would instantly have the ladeez failing at your feet....

[carlo]

This site is NOT ABOUT NEW CARS.  

 

How hard is that for new joiners to understand?

 

Not to pick on you, Roveragrous, but there's been way too much of this sort of shit this week.  Please can everyone just go back to Pistonheads and leave us alone.

 

Have to disagree, I found the OP interesting, and it bears out all my frustrations about new cars should I ever cross to the other side.  I quite often feel like Roverageous that I fancy something new to keep for ages (usually after one of my fleet has given me a bit of grief, which to be honest isn't often.)  These sorts of cars are also the ones I'd be interested in, and to a similar spec.  The things which put you off would be exactly the things which put me off; I totally agree about the Mondeo cabin for example.  I thought the Skoda would have been a bit better than that though.  Even if you buy one of these things you have the angst of what to do with it when the thing starts costing money after a few years.  Have decided the only sensible new car is a tiny, cheap one like our Picanto for Mrs Carlo, which is surprisingly good.

 

Just goes to accentuate the advantages of driving shite, amongst all the other advantages they're often better to drive too.

[babydriver]

Now come on Chaps, This poor soul has fallen by the wayside and we all need to rally round and support him, Roverageous, you need to buy an autoshite calendar and lock yourself in a darkened room, chant for 30 minutes each day....All mods are shite.....Autoshite....Think beige thoughts and buy anything with an alphabet prefix or suffix. After 30 days of dedicated worship you will be a changed man. 

We are here for you....we lourve you

[Bren]

It's not just new cars.

 

My A6 sits outside the house not being used - I use my wife's 51 plate focus.

 

I bought the Audi on the basis that approaching my mid 40's I would buy myself a "nice" car. Which it is.

 

But it just has'nt worked as of yet, it's much like a date with a supermodel - everybody stares at you, but you know that nothing's going to happen. Plus it is the most expensive car I have bought, which does not sit comfortably.

 

Sometimes you need to find your level in life, my level is not audi's.

 

I'm not ashamed to admit it, I've been looking at vectra's on ebay.

 

Tell me of another car website anywhere in the universe where this would happen?

 

Maybe I am more shite than I could possibly hope to imagine.

[garethj]

Welcome, newbie.

 

I don't understand the bit about "hard plastics" from journalists, and you've put it in too. Judging by the dust on my dashboard I never touch the hard, soft, gel filled or flock covered plastics in my car and I'm a design engineer of plastic parts.

 

It's interesting (for a geek) when trying someone else's car, but day to day in your own car? Who cares?

 

It's not really a surprise that newer cars aren't as good in many ways, they've had 2 more generations of Value Engineering (think Project Drive) to cut cost. Of course there are improvements too but you don't get them for nothing. And remember that Skoda, GM, Ford etc are still in business making profitable cars, Rover aren't.

[J-Rod]

Personally, I think it just shores up the fact that we're all vindicated in driving round in cars which are older than most teenagers. 

 

Having gone from a 57 plate Legacy to a 51 plate Stagea, the difference is chalk and cheese. The Leggo was all gimmicks and needless silver plastic shite (though, as I've said before, the JDM spec versions are a million miles better constructed). And it was uncomfy. And cold. Or boiling hot. The Stagea is a lovely, comfy, warm old armchair of a car that you can drive around all day in and it feels solid, not brittle like the Leggo did. 

 

I am also aware I'm totally preaching to the converted here.  Get 'em while you still can, kids... 

[beko1987]

Now, now you obviously forgot about Morgans! What could be more autoshite that building your car partially out of wood...

 

But really weird new cars from developing countries or ones built in a shed using traditional methods are the only new cars I'm really interested in (in spite of me driving a modern- but that's more like a white good than anything else, and you don't find me wanting to talk about my fridge!)

When was the last time you saw a Morgan though, I never see one...

[Angry Sheep]

Welcome, newbie.

 

I don't understand the bit about "hard plastics" from journalists, and you've put it in too. Judging by the dust on my dashboard I never touch the hard, soft, gel filled or flock covered plastics in my car and I'm a design engineer of plastic parts.

 

It's interesting (for a geek) when trying someone else's car, but day to day in your own car? Who cares?

 

It's not really a surprise that newer cars aren't as good in many ways, they've had 2 more generations of Value Engineering (think Project Drive) to cut cost. Of course there are improvements too but you don't get them for nothing. And remember that Skoda, GM, Ford etc are still in business making profitable cars, Rover aren't.

 

I've sat in cars with a number of journalists who've tapped the dashboard, criticising it for being hard or cheap. Journalists are the only people who tap the dashboard - who cares what it feels like?

 

A lot of modern cars do have nasty electric window switches, though. I do touch them and I would like them to feel a bit more premium on some cars.

[beko1987]

I licked my dashboard once, didnt feel cheap but tasted foul.

[stripped fred]

I love old cars and reading about them and i have no intention of buying anything new or nearly new. That doesn't stop me being interested in them though and especially autoshiter's opinions of them.

[chaseracer]

 

 

Now now, Skiz... have you been driving the "charmless faux upper class Germanic bejewelled wanker rep chariot shit" again? 

[chaseracer]

I licked my dashboard once, didnt feel cheap but tasted foul.

 

Was it made of eyeballs?

[Jim Bell]

Was it made of dyslexic ducks?

[cros]

Morgans might be made of wood but the rest is so horrible I'd rather walk.

[mouseflakes]

Slight kerfuffle out at the start of the thread

Sadly Roverageous was unaware that a list of modern car names in a post causes The Red Mist to descend on Skizzer so he's unable to finish reading said post in case further damage is done. A list of three or more and he grows huge, rips all his clothes off (apart from a rather fetching pair of denim shorts) and turns green.

 

Put it all down to an understandable misunderstanding. And no offence intended here - just having fun.

 

 

Right, now that's out the way...

 

Motability 'renner meggie 1.5td' arrives Tues....

 

TS

We're having to change our Motability vehicle just now too. Our daughter's needs mean that we have to have a reclining rear seat which is set high up from the ground and a very large boot for her wheelchair. So we've been looking at lots of new SUVs (yes, I know).

 

Well - the only NEW car that's available on the scheme and that meets our specific needs is - a VERY OLD car! The Ssangyong Rexton!

 

 

 

I am actually very excited at the prospect!!

 

 

 

 

Shame it can't be a Kyron...

 

 

 

 

Don't worry Skizzer, I won't mention any more, not even the Actyon...

 

 

 

Oops - anyone got a spare shirt?

 

[Lacquer Peel]

You'd win at Motability with a Rexton.