I been in diesels for the last 9 years and went petrol this time, sometimes there are offers by dealers as you’ve extended maybe worthwhile to keep looking and wait till something comes along, although being in NI probally limits those deals abit.
It’s one of the reasons i went with a lower car last time and this time and what i really like is how they drive over a suv or mpv.
I also have bad back and leg problems only i’m only 6ft2 but my legs are long and some cars are better than others for swinging them into after I’ve sat on the seat. Some i have to bend them to much to get them in and that really hurts my back to much. Pretty much every car is not easy to get into for me anymore but some are worse than others but it saves money on the ap as alot of lower cars have a lower ap than an suv with the same specs.
But it is a personal choice and I like a newer mode, but at the end of the day gotta think of the overall budget and sometimes something has to give to get all the things i want like adaptive cruise and after getting the golf after a grand c4 i quite enjoyed driving again with less body roll, which also effects my back the less side to side movement is preffered now as well and some are better for us taller folk. Maybe worth checking a few out that in your ap price range and that the specs are what you need and see.. Having more options is alway better.