New vs nearly new - what should I do?
I've e-mailed you a few times about buying my next car and narrowed it down to a nearly new (6k miles, 1yr old) BMW 118d SE, a Hyundai i30 Style (126 hp), Kia Cee'd 4 (same engine as the Hyundai).
After costing in service, depreciation, tyres, 100k miles, buying extra warranty on the BMW, winter tyres for the BMW, fuel, borrowing costs. BMW is £18,000, Hyundai is £17,000 and the Kia is £19,000 through buyacar.co.uk.
In my spreadsheet the cheapest per annum is the Hyundai, then £100/yr more is the 2nd hand BMW and then £130/yr the Kia. They're all good cars, but I wondered which you would think is the best buy all above considered.
After costing in service, depreciation, tyres, 100k miles, buying extra warranty on the BMW, winter tyres for the BMW, fuel, borrowing costs. BMW is £18,000, Hyundai is £17,000 and the Kia is £19,000 through buyacar.co.uk.
In my spreadsheet the cheapest per annum is the Hyundai, then £100/yr more is the 2nd hand BMW and then £130/yr the Kia. They're all good cars, but I wondered which you would think is the best buy all above considered.
Asked on 12 October 2012 by Richard Clark
Answered by
Honest John
If going for the i30 or the cee'd, note this:
Any criticism of the steering, ride and handling of the i30 or cee'd are dispelled by driving one on 15" wheels with standard Hankook Kinergy Eco 195/65 tyres and setting the steering to 'Normal'. In that form it's as near perfect as a family hatchback can get. Absolutely viceless with high levels of grip and plenty of warning where that grip starts to end. Easily as good as a Focus, better than a Golf.
Any criticism of the steering, ride and handling of the i30 or cee'd are dispelled by driving one on 15" wheels with standard Hankook Kinergy Eco 195/65 tyres and setting the steering to 'Normal'. In that form it's as near perfect as a family hatchback can get. Absolutely viceless with high levels of grip and plenty of warning where that grip starts to end. Easily as good as a Focus, better than a Golf.
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