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Hi. I'm in the process of trying to decide what car to buy. I had been looking at either a Ford Focus, Honda Civic or Mazda 3... and an acquaintance in the car industry has given feedback suggesting that a VW Golf or similar model would be a better option. I had heard that European cars were generally more expensive all round due to insurance, maintenance and spare parts etc. I would appreciate some advice before I actually go looking at cars. Also.. what is the cost of an AA pre purchase inspection these days please?

Hi there,
Mazda 3 will be tops for reliability, and lower running cost potential, while the VW golf has more of a European Luxury element and very fuel efficient engine options.
I generally find that once you have driven a European car, it's hard to go back to anything else. But yes costs can be a bit more, due to the workshops used and the quality parts required.