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Which used car for up to €12,000?
I'm looking to upgrade and purchase a used car and have a budget of between 8-12k. My work commute is quite varied and involves long distance commutes anywhere in the country 1-2 times a week and the rest is a mix of town driving on the weekends (annual mileage still results in about 15k). I want a comfortable car that's able to handle the long commutes but not sure if I necessarily need a diesal car. Was looking at a Seat Leon 1.2 TSI (2014) or VK Golf (2011) Hyundai i30/Kia Ceed. Advice would be greatly appreciated! Comfort and reliability are key factors. Really like Seat Leon (petrol) but heard that their lifespan is only 120-150k miles?
Our answer:
Hi Elaine,
First up, that's a wide budget to be working to. You'll get vastly better cars for €12,000 than you will €8,000.
I'd agree with your assessment on not needing diesel. Sure, a diesel engine should be more economical on the longer drives you have to do, but it would appear that most of your driving is at lower speeds and over shorter distances. I'd suggest that a petrol or hybrid would be a better bet, as a diesel is likely to come with higher maintenance costs.
I'm not sure where you heard about the lifespan of the SEAT - there really isn't such a thing for any car so long as it's maintained properly and you're willing to put money into it. Also, the Leon is based on the same mechanicals as the VW Golf, so if you like the Leon, it's well worth considering.
Hyundai and Kia have an excellent reliability record, so those are also worth a look. As is the Toyota Prius, actually. As well as being a very economical car, it is really comfortable.
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