Help me choose my next car

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Sat 2 Aug 2025 14:31
Help me choose my next car - GoneFishing

I currently drive a Golf 8 which mostly, I love. However, my passion is fishing and I have to take frequent trips down rutted muddy tracks. This is where the Golf gets into trouble. My next car needs to be more fishing friendly.

Selection criteria:

Must have decent ground clearance and be able to cope with 'off tarmac' excursions .

Comfortable cabin with reasonably up to date tech.

Enough space in the back for all my fishing gear.

Good for urban, motorway driving.

Budget up to £30K

Happy to buy used with mileage up to 20K

Half decent fuel economy (I know I will have to kiss goodbye the the Golf 8's amazing frugality).

Have a good reputation for reliability.

Musn't be a massive 'tank' (Input from spouse)

I have been looking at the Volvo XC40 which seems like a good fit. Any suggestions for the ideal fishing friendly wagon welcome.

Steve

Edited by GoneFishing on 02/08/2025 at 14:32

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Sat 2 Aug 2025 15:40
Help me choose my next car - badbusdriver

Volvo may well have had a good reputation for reliability when it was an independent company, but not so much under its Chinese owners.

As for space, I have no idea how much fishing gear you have or how much space it takes up!. Do you need a bigger boot than the Golf(and if so, roughly how much bigger)?

TBH, my suggestion would be to keep the Golf and get something like a £5-7k Dacia Duster just for your fishing trips. I'm assuming these rutted tracks also often have overgrown bushes either side to make a mess of your paintwork?. Personally, I wouldn't be that keen on blowing £30k on a nice, fairly new car and then subjecting it to that.

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Sun 3 Aug 2025 12:37
Help me choose my next car - GoneFishing

I can fit the gear in if I drop the back seats in the Golf. I have thought of keeping it and buying a rugged 4x4 just for fishing trips. A Freelander 2 appeals if I can find one with spot on service history and sensible mileage. I will take a look at the Duster too.

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Sat 2 Aug 2025 15:41
Help me choose my next car - daveyjp
Subaru. Crosstrek/XV if you want compact. It’s based on the Impreza. Forester if you need larger. You will need to forego some mpg, but 40+ is possible on a decent run.
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Sat 2 Aug 2025 20:49
Help me choose my next car - Adampr

Lexus NX?

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Sat 2 Aug 2025 21:15
Help me choose my next car - gordonbennet

On a smilar vein to the Lexus, Toyota Rav 4 or its Suzi badged clone Across, Suzi badged versions are really quite bargainous (newer and lower mileage for the same money) for an AWD plug in hybrid with surprising performance on tap, Suzi versions also look less awkward at the front end to me.

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Sat 2 Aug 2025 23:18
Help me choose my next car - Adampr

On a smilar vein to the Lexus, Toyota Rav 4 or its Suzi badged clone Across, Suzi badged versions are really quite bargainous (newer and lower mileage for the same money) for an AWD plug in hybrid with surprising performance on tap, Suzi versions also look less awkward at the front end to me.

I've been chatting to a friend with an Across over the last few days. He likes it a lot (to his surprise - his wife wanted it) and was saying they're an absolute bargain at about 2 years old.

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Sun 3 Aug 2025 06:03
Help me choose my next car - gordonbennet

I've been chatting to a friend with an Across over the last few days. He likes it a lot (to his surprise - his wife wanted it) and was saying they're an absolute bargain at about 2 years old.

Indeed, and now Suzi have upped their annual serviced based extended warranty to nearly match Toyota they're a safer bet than before...haven't checked how much Suzi compares with Mr T for servicing costs over the extra 7 years both now offer, those costs would be interesting if anyone knows them.

Despite my reservations about newer cars with the sizeable solar/battery install being fitted here shortly a plug in hybrid with decent battery range does make increasing sense for us.

Edited by gordonbennet on 03/08/2025 at 06:04

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Sun 3 Aug 2025 12:42
Help me choose my next car - GoneFishing

Thanks. I will check it out!

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Sun 3 Aug 2025 12:39
Help me choose my next car - GoneFishing

Funnily enough, this was under serious consideration. However, I have read lots of horror stories about how easy the NX is to steal and the high rates of theft. There are aftermarket solutions to improve security but they make an expensive car even more pricey.

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Sun 3 Aug 2025 00:23
Help me choose my next car - SLO76
Wouldn’t touch the Volvo, our XC60 snapped coil springs driving over an empty crisp packet. They’re not a quality item, don’t get them mixed up with the Volvo’s of old, before the Americans and later the Chinese ruined the firm.

I’d be looking at a petrol Mazda CX5, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson or Toyota RAV4.
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Sun 3 Aug 2025 10:19
Help me choose my next car - Falkirk Bairn

Suzuki Across -

£30K will get a low mileage under 2 year old car

£25+K ish 20K miles. 2+ years

It's a Rav4 and, if you Suzuki service it, you get up to 10 year major kit warranty.

They were not popular as it was Rav4 money and nothing different to make you buy it

It's the same car - different front end, different badges and minor differences in toys - after all there was 1 Suzuki spec and variations of the Rav4

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