New car

[Drift]

We are looking for a new/used car top line £10,000 cash.
Possibly a tad more if we can sell the Picasso (new MOT today )

We are downsizing as the eldest has now left home and just have the 7 year old daughter here now so we have been looking at 2011 Fiestas, so good cars with less than 20000 miles on them but what other options are out there?

We need very economical and reliability as its a 50 mile round trip to work and low tax band so no sporty cars

2 doors or 5 doors not a big issue but not auto's.

[stealthautomotive]

Have a look at vw polo's and golfs. Dont go for a 1.2 polo tho they are juicy on fuel and have no go. Bluemotions are cheap tax £30 a year I think or look at the tdi's. Just to give you an idea and to compare against fiesta.

[Drift]

Cheers, I find the Golf is a bit expensive so would have to drop to and older car and we dont really want that, as for the Polo its just a bit to small and the Mrs hates them, bloody women

[Drift]

I should add anything with the Peugeot/Citroen 1.6HDI engine in is off the cards as I know a few guys who have had serious issues with that engine.

[stealthautomotive]

Some of the seats or skodas might do yes I said skoda. All volkswagen built.

[Dannyboy]

Audi A3 tdi or BMW 120d would be worth a look pal, might be older but wont deprieciate like a lead balloon and very reliable cars that will always sell for good money matey.

[Drift]

Danny, read my first posts, nothing sporty and something economical, that includes insurance
Also nothing more than a couple of years old.

[Dannyboy]

Insurance isnt that high on them as you can go for base trim and they are the diesel models, just done a quote for me, with 3points on an 09 2.0tdi audi A3- £212 Hastings Direct.
Oh and both do 50+mpg.
And your first post didnt say anything about "only 2 years old" bud. Just offering an opinion.

[Drift]

Base trim..nar toys are the future, we are keeping it for 4 or 5 years so we want some luxuries and as for insurance, we live in a Liverpool post code and the Mrs has had a couple of bumps ad a written off car Also no Audi is going to return over 50mpg.

This is coming out tops at the minute,
http://www.arnoldclark.com/vehicle-deta ... rnci-21906

[Drift]

[BoxCleva]

I drove a new Fiesta as my Mum was considering one. I thought it was tinny and poorly made. I certainly wouldn't want to do any distance in one and a 50 mile round trip each day would really tick me off. I'd rather do the journey in a Fronty with muds on

[Drift]

I drive one home from work most nights, well its a two seater fiesta van the basic version and its fine as far as I can see and no one has complaints about it other than its too small for a van (they have had it three years), that the reason I headed to Fiesta territory

[BoxCleva]

Didnt you feel like you had to look for the big key to wind up the elastic band under the bonnet ?


I thought it was terrible, but each to their own I guess

[stealthautomotive]

I must admit the new fords are alot better having owned escorts and fiestas(probably shouldnt admit it lol) tbh its down to personal choice before I got my fronty I had an x reg mondeo which was really good on the motorways. Best car I think I have had has to be the bmw wish I never got rid but I think I have found its replacement in the form of a frontera. Have you tried any vauxhalls such as the astra or insignia.

[Drift]

The car we have is the 1.6tdi so its not to bad, I had a good three hours stuck in traffic in it just before Christmas when stuck on the M62 going home for three hours, one of our Artics had rolled over (poor Fred ) a couple of miles in front of us so yup spent some time in it

I did prefer the connect van we also have, is that based on the Focus?

Astra is an option but I find the trim level lacking in them compared to other makes around the same price.
The Insignia is heading to the large side as we are downsizing

[stealthautomotive]

Tbh its probably worth having a look around and testing a few of each. If your wanting to keep it a few years then hang on untill you find the one that grabs your eye and feels right in buying.

[MG Autos (Mark)]

As part of a contract I was working on recently I got a new Diesel Focus and have to say that was very nice.
It was a 5 door, boot was fairly big considering its only a mid size car, fuel economy was excellent, had 6 speed manual gearbox which was very smooth and helped with the economy. Only had cloth interior but had all the gadgets such as climate control, electric heated seats, power fold mirrors, heated front screen, parking sensors, bluetooth built in for the phone, etc.
I have to say whilst it was far from being my dream car it was very nice to drive, quiet on the motorway and happy to plod along or if you stuck your foot down was surprisingly spritely. May be worth a look ?

[BoxCleva]

I must admit the Focus we also test drove was a much nicer drive and felt much more sturdy and substantial.

[Drift]

How much do you want for it Mark
My eyes are bleeding looking

[BoxCleva]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-FORD-FOC ... 5aeb917d38

Take that over a Fiesta any day