What made you choose the car you have?

What was the biggest reason for your car choice

  • its NCAP rating on safety

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • fuel economy and running costs (insurance, tax etc)

    Votes: 17 17.5%

  • style

    Votes: 16 16.5%

  • reliability

    Votes: 7 7.2%

  • its what you could afford

    Votes: 7 7.2%

  • Other

    Votes: 50 51.5%
  • Total voters
    97
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joescrivens

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Following on from a very interesting and highly entertaining thread about car seats that turned into one about car safety I wondered what reason made you pick the car you own.

1. its NCAP rating on safety
2. fuel economy and running costs (insurance, tax etc)
3. style
4. reliability
5. its what you could afford
6. Other

of course all of the above are taken into account but which one was the most important to you? What car do you drive?
 
The fiesta I had was almost dead and there was no way it was going to get through its MOT at the end of this month, so I went for a second hand VW Polo with low mileage. It was what I could afford, AND I considered the safety/build aspect of it as well.
 
Joe, I clicked other because my previous car was written of after being sideswiped on the M20 by a lovely French truck driver :annoyed: So because I needed a car pretty quickly (commuter), and despite the fact that I was able to use a company car for a while, I did a bit of searching, took a few drives, and settled on the Audi I still drive. She 12 years old now and still does me 40mpg if the runs are clear, and as my company pay for my fuel anyway it's all good. She's comfy, plenty fast enough for me, no kids so safety not really an issue although I understand Audi is pretty good.
 
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Style for me too. It's thirsty and two seat so impractical expensive to buy not the cheapest to insure either as for n cap never gave it a thought.
 
joescrivens said:
1. its NCAP rating on safety
2. fuel economy and running costs (insurance, tax etc)
3. style
4. reliability
5. its what you could afford
6. Other
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I have a few cars. They are all "Other" as your first five options don't figure in my car buying choices.
 
What a boring poll. Why bundle all the fun reasons together in "other"? :thumbsdown:
 
Reliability for me. I am on my third Mondeo & all combined have driven approx 120,000 miles in them & have only had a single mechanical breakdown.
 
The mpg it said it would do, it was after I got a new job with a commute that is very long (well for me not having done more than 15min drive before).

Also the NCAP rating is top marks which is a bonus for one with a young family.

Had the Magane for over a year now and its been better than I could expect.
 
Reliability for me, although style and running costs are the other two points that make up the car equivalent exposure triangle :lol:
 
Couldn't give an arse about any of the options.. I wanted a land rover, so I bought one!!
 
TCR4x4 said:
Couldn't give an arse about any of the options.. I wanted a land rover, so I bought one!!
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Can't say fairer than that :0)
 
Style....2007 new shape Honda Civic, after seeing one on Top Gear although I chose the Diesel Sport to give me economy with some performance and cheapish insurance and road tax.
 
Voted for Other. Had no choice really. Just moved to a new Province and needed a car quick. Only had $8000 to spend, and ended up spending it all on a used, 135,000K, 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix.....it was the best of a very bad bunch!! It's big & not economical (about 23MPG) thankfully petrol is cheap at the moment ($1.07/L for premium), but it is a nice long distance tourer. And great in the snow.
 
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other.... i wanted something that i wouldn't give a monkeys about throwing bags of adhesive and tiles in the back of and also not worrying about it getting scratched and knackered. Hence, £2000 Golf Estate '51 plate... and i love it. Had Merc, BMW, 350Z, Audi S3.. don't even come close :love:

Mrs drives Audi A4 convertible.. and the choice for that isn't on your list either.... 'because our daughter liked it best' :lol:
 
:thumbs:fuel economy and running costs esp the insurance (as i was only 18 at the time) i didnt really mind the style i will be getting a motorbike for that
 
joescrivens said:
What are they?
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I buy vehicles to a purpose so I don't have to compromise them.

Every day car - handling & balance (mid engined), reasonable power, not too many seats (two is enough), ability to put the roof down.

Tow car - 4wd, able to tow > 2000kg, good torque to sustain 60mph uphill with a big, non-aerodynamic trailer, reasonable internal load capacity, low ratio gearing of some kind for difficult conditions like muddy paddocks (been there, got stuck with a 2wd) .

Motorsport cars - appropriate to the respective disciplines. They all use Hillman Imp running gear though, as I like the engine, and the handling that the layout gives.

Think they all qualify as "other" from the options given.
 
Got a delivery mileage Focus on the way back from shopping at Morrisons - biggest shopping bill to date!
 
I like Mondeo's, I'd had 2 mk 1's and 2 mk2's previously and had intended to buy a mk 4 Titanium X Sport 2.2 TDCi, but felt I ought to have a mk 3 first so bought an ST TDCi, I'd narrowed my choices down to three cars as I wanted Recaro seats over the standard sports seats. I ended up buying the first car I went to see and never got to see the other two cars. Love the car, puts a big grin on my face everytime I drive it, upgraded a few bits and pieces performance wise in the stop, go and handling areas so intend to keep it for at least another couple of years. Parking is becoming a problem at home, so I may never get to own a Mk4 or Mk5 Mondeo (when it finally comes out) Next car likely to be a Mk3 Focus ST in Tangerine Scream.
 
nilagin said:
I like Mondeo's, I'd had 2 mk 1's and 2 mk2's previously and had intended to buy a mk 4 Titanium X Sport 2.2 TDCi, but felt I ought to have a mk 3 first so bought an ST TDCi, I'd narrowed my choices down to three cars as I wanted Recaro seats over the standard sports seats. I ended up buying the first car I went to see and never got to see the other two cars. Love the car, puts a big grin on my face everytime I drive it, upgraded a few bits and pieces performance wise in the stop, go and handling areas so intend to keep it for at least another couple of years. Parking is becoming a problem at home, so I may never get to own a Mk4 or Mk5 Mondeo (when it finally comes out) Next car likely to be a Mk3 Focus ST in ASBO Orange.
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Corrected the name of the colour for you ;)
 
I've a VW Golf GTI, this is my second. The first was a company car with a previous job.

For me it was performance, style and a flappy paddle gearbox! Also, it's very refined in town and on the motorway, but can be a lot of fun on winding road.
 
I bought a new Focus 1.8 TDi in May 2005 just as the new shape came out so got a good discount as well as having FORD Priveliges which gave me an extra 20% off, I paid £8500 and still have it today, I have done 90000 miles and have spent less than £3000 on servicing and repairs in that time.
I bought it because I needed an economical car as I did a lot of M/way driving to work.
 
Do two legs count in this questionare?
 
Can't vote for just one, for me I have to choose every 3.5 years as it's a company car, I look at safety, comfort, due to the miles I do (odds are i am ore likely to be involved in an accident.) room (for what I have to carry) and last for me is the tax implications. Off the top of my head I have done approx 300k since June 2005.
 
I wanted something reliable, cheap to insure and run after my seat Ibiza failed - I have a new 1.2 polo which is a lovely little car, I think it looks pretty nice too - its certainly very comfortable to drive for long periods which is the main thing really.
 
I only really like the look of sports cars, so when it came to buying a practical car i went for cheap. My ugly c-max was 3yrs old and only done 10,000 it was like a brand new car for £6500. Once i get my house i will have a little weekender, the top of the list at the moment is a Porsche Cayman.
 
Mk 6 vx astra (5dr), 1.7 diesel...

got it as our old car was a mk 4 astra (3dr) and with a baby on the way was impractical, costly, and falling to bits.

new car is sound, £30/year tax, looks nice inside/out and not constantly pouring fuel in to it!
 
rjbell said:
Once i get my house i will have a little weekender, the top of the list at the moment is a Porsche Cayman.
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If you get one you will want to drive it every day.
 
Other - I just wanted one!

Always fancied a Jag and after the last couple of years, a look at the bank balance, a comparison of the interest I am getting compared to inflation and the knowledge that shrouds have no pockets, I bought one. Planning on getting another in 3 years (if I wait that long), this time the sportbrake (what more plebeian companies call an estate or [gods forbid] a touring!). Tempted by the idea of a V8 rather than the V6 - no kids to leave the planet to so why not?
 
joescrivens said:
1. its NCAP rating on safety
2. fuel economy and running costs (insurance, tax etc)
3. style
4. reliability
5. its what you could afford
6. Other
Click to expand...

Okay, lets's see:
1. doesn't have a NCAP rating ... never tested
2. it's only does 12-14 mpg so running costs tend to be a bit on the high side, although insurance is cheap and the exhaust noise makes me grin :D
3. Looks like a brick on wheels
4. well, it's only let me down once so I suppose it's not too bad
5. no, could afford something more expensive
6. ah yes, it's got Land Rover on the bonnet :D:D

Which car? A 1996 Land Rover Discovery, 3.9V8 Auto ES that spent the first 10 years of it's life in Japan and is now fuelled by LPG ... magic :thumbs:
 
Nod said:
Other - I just wanted one!

Always fancied a Jag and after the last couple of years, a look at the bank balance, a comparison of the interest I am getting compared to inflation and the knowledge that shrouds have no pockets, I bought one. Planning on getting another in 3 years (if I wait that long), this time the sportbrake (what more plebeian companies call an estate or [gods forbid] a touring!). Tempted by the idea of a V8 rather than the V6 - no kids to leave the planet to so why not?
Click to expand...

Think you'll find that's spelt c o m b i v a n.:lol:
 
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