The best jap hatch for my budget

[Foul Bob]

I'm looking to replace my daily driver for something cheaper. I've recently bought a car for weekends and trips away which ticks the fun & fast box, I just want something reliable and capable of my 60 miles per day commute & all other journeys.

I'm only looking at spending around 3-3500 or less. Hopefully less. I want the new car to be petrol powered, fairly small (easy to park in tight spots), reasonably economical, reasonably refined and comfortable whilst being an o-k steer. Wouldn't mind an auto. Doesn't have to be anything special or fast, it's for the more boring journeys after all. I would also like to be able to chuck 1 or 2 bikes in the back with the front wheels off.

Thought about a Honda Jazz, the magic rear seats good for the bike, small with good visibility etc, reliable, don't look too bad in certain trim levels IMO. Anyone know what the ride quality and refinement is like?

Other thoughts include the FN2 shape Civic, magic seats again which are good, visibility not so good and possibly not quite as practical. Older civics seem very robust but a bit tinny and unrefined

Any other reliable ideas would be great, currently looking on eBay and AT at the Auris and the like to see what they offer. Once I get a shortlist together I will arrange some test drives to see for myself.

Cheers,

Bob

[Foul Bob]

There's some interesting options brought to the table, ones I hadn't even thought of at all!

I guess I went instantly to the Jazz for reliability but all of the above mentioned would be great options.

Thanks for the links also, I love the look of those, the Corolla Might be nice, quick but not too sporty with harsh suspension etc but I'm just assuming. Celica a bit more hard core but looks great, perhaps a better choice for a mid twenties chap such as myself than the slower Jazz etc.

The Mazda 3 is the favourite out of that little list, looks fantastic, cheap, Bose sound would be nice! Do they really have rust issues or is this older models? The 2's look nice but perhaps a tad on the small side.

Cheers all

[Foul Bob]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I've had a few Japanese cars now and the paint has always been crap!

I'm really keen on the Mazda 3, it seems like a lot of car for the money. The 2.0 sport is my pick, they seem to come with xenons, Bose, auto lights and wipers etc, aux in which is always nice, I'd only have to stick a parrot Bluetooth thing in and it would be fully sorted for me. I like the celica and Corolla 190's but they lack standard kit in comparison, the celica might be a bit hardcore and harsh for my day to day journeys, and I've driven a Corolla albeit the 1.4.. It felt very lumpen, I know the VVT-li would come with different suspension etc, but I'm just not sure it's worth it for me with the rubbish spec too.

I've been reading about the rust issues with the Mazda's and it seems like it's mostly cosmetic like arches and stuff, so if I find one in good condition then chances are it should be okay.

Not ruling out other options and may test drive a few others, including my initial thought, the Jazz, just to see how it stacks up, but I have sort of come round to the idea of something a tad more involving/sporty.

[Foul Bob]

ZX10R NIN said:

So OP have you sorted a shortlist?

I test drove a Mazda 3 today, the 2.0 sport. Fantastic spec, quite a nice drive too, not slow but certainly not quick by any means, not that I really need quick! This is the front runner at the moment, but this car in particular was a bit tatty where it had been used by a mum with small kids, so I'm looking for a nicer example.

I've noticed though that for half the price of a nice 3 sport, I could have the Corolla or celica 190 with a bit more power, sacrificing on the spec though. I suppose it wouldn't be too much trouble to fit some decent audio and some brighter headlight bulbs to try and improve things. Still looking out for these too.

Had a go In a Civic 1.8 type S yesterday too, the spaceship shape. It had a great panoramic roof, new clutch recently, and it was nice to drive but it was too harsh a ride for my liking, so that's out of the running.

I've found it to be a bit awkward trying to get test drives at this end of the market as if I do find one locally it's usually a private seller, but I'm in no real hurry so I'll keep looking.

[Foul Bob]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd go for the Celica or Corolla with the money saved you could add these choice items to make the daily drive more pleasant:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kenwood-Car-CD-DVD-USB-D...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Infinity-Reference-6-5-1...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Infinity-Kappa-62-11i-16...

To help with the NVH & better acoustics

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RATTLEMATT-x-20-SHEETS-C...

Thanks for the links, I guess there's not too much point worrying about the spec in cars like these where most things can be fitted aftermarket

What are the reasons you'd choose the toyotas? I like the idea of less chance of rust you get in the Mazda's, and can be had cheaper...

A spanner in the works now, my girlfriends 206cc was written off today by some idiot uninsured driver. Not a huge issue as its only a shed, but annoying nonetheless and she was attached to the old thing. She's put a deposit down on a grand vitara which has plenty of room for our bikes etc

This means I could look at cars less practical now too, which may slightly open up options a little, but still after something that won't be annoying as an every day car. There's a Toyota Corolla 190 for sale at a very reasonable price which I plan on trying to look at in the next couple of days. In the mean time however, I'm still spending a lot of time on eBay & autotrader!

Edited by Foul Bob on Sunday 5th June 17:45