As I've posted a "probably for sale" ad in the appropriate section, I thought I would update the forum on what's going on.
Having had two breakdowns in the last 9 months without warning (CPS, alternator), we've decided that sadly we need to move on. Having looked at the various options and criteria for the next car, we've decided on a Honda CR-V. Ideally it would have been a 170bhp Passat (much like Jim's), or an Octavia VRS. However, as this has been effectively an unplanned change of car, we're having to cut our cloth according to our finances. We looked at buying a used car with a bank loan, but have decided on new with a lease. We will save around €90 per month on running the Saab at 25,000 kilometres per year. Diesel here is around 22 cents per litre cheaper than super plus, so moving from 10L/100Km petrol to 4L/100Km diesel will a big saving, as will the €50 per month tax.
The CR-V is slightly shorter than the Saab, but almost an identical width, with huge amounts of leg and head room, We are buying the 1.6 i-DTEC 120PS diesel 2WD. It doesn't feel too bulky on the road, and bowls along very smoothly. Friday we test drove a Golf SV back to back with the CR-V, and it was a no brainer financially - the Golf over 5 years is almost identical in all monthly costs with the CR-V over 4 years, the only difference will be the fuel consumption. The SV was the 110PS diesel, which we drove with a 5-speed manual although we would have bought a 7-speed DSG. On twisty uphills the SV proved to be nimble, sure footed, and easy to place on the road, while the CR-V was a bit more cumbersome but not terribly so. The steering on the SV was light and direct, whereas the CR-V has electrically assisted PAS, which I didn't greatly like but it was OK. The SV needed to be kept on the boil, the Honda less so. And on the flat, the perceived flexibility of the Honda was far better, with the SV not having much in the way of pull until it got a few revs on.
Hopefully, in 4 years time, we'll be able to move on to something more exciting - 530xD estate
- but for now, the CR-V should be a nice relaxing place to spend our time on the road. And the Saab stays until around October.
