What "Interesting" Economical Sub £13k Car

[TheDetailDoctor]

Subsequent to my "Is the Volvo C30 any good" thread, I was wondering what interesting, economical cars there are around at the moment?

Must be minimum 2+2 seat, over 50mpg real world, under £13k, max of 2 years old & under 20k miles (80% motorway driving) and abbove all interesting.

Thus far I have

C30 DRIVe
Alfa Mito
Honda CR-Z (OK I may have to wait a year or so for a pre-owned one under £13k)

Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Thursday 6th May 13:07

[excel monkey]

Mini
118d (with a bit of haggling)

[adycav]

Mini Cooper D?

[TheDetailDoctor]

The Crack Fox said:

Hmmm, tough call on the interesting front... 118d is the logical choice.

At least they are nice to drive.

At the risk of looking like I have caught the gay - Beetle cabrio also.

Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Thursday 6th May 13:15

[ewenm]

I'd pick the C30 over the 118d (in fact, I did, but in the 2.0d guise) but the DRIVe might be a bit gutless if that matters. Much nicer place to sit IMO which I find important when I spend most of my driving time in that car in traffic or on the motorway (or both).

[DeadMeat_UK]

Elise, and a bus pass or bungie cords for the +2

[HellDiver]

excel monkey said:

118d (with a bit of haggling)

He said interesting. Not deadly boring.

[DeadMeat_UK]

HellDiver said:

excel monkey said:

118d (with a bit of haggling)

He said interesting. Not deadly boring.

I'm surprised you found it boring. What sort of roads did you drive it on ?

I found the one I drove quite fun. It has a very surprising fun factor and certainly seems to be one of those cars that makes you want to play.

[ArtVandelay]

Fabia VRS not manage those sorts of MPG?

Renault did a sports diesel too but I doubt it would get 50mpg.

[mike325112]

TheDetailDoctor said:

At the risk of looking like I have caught the gay - Beetle cabrio also.

I got one of these from a hire car company in Spain a few years back instead of the jeep I ordered. It was absolutely dreadful, worst car I have ever driven.

[SystemParanoia]

edit: pic was FAR too big!

Edited by SystemParanoia on Thursday 6th May 14:57

[TheDetailDoctor]

They are glacierly slow though.

[ArtVandelay]

Considered LPG?

[clonmult]

ArtVandelay said:

Fabia VRS not manage those sorts of MPG?

Renault did a sports diesel too but I doubt it would get 50mpg.

Friend has a Fabia VRS, he's getting around 50mpg on his commute. Cracking little car. Does look a little bland though.

[cs02rm0]

TheDetailDoctor said:

interesting, economical

[carmadgaz]

Swift Diesel (they are quite fun to drive)

Or sod interesting and go for a Polo Bluemotion?

[SystemParanoia]

TheDetailDoctor said:

They are glacierly slow though.

faster than Zonda through the muddy stuff though

[TheDetailDoctor]

SystemParanoia said:

TheDetailDoctor said:

They are glacierly slow though.

faster than Zonda through the muddy stuff though

I keep wellies in the boot of the Zonda!!!!!

[300bhp/ton]

TheDetailDoctor said:

Subsequent to my "Is the Volvo C30 any good" thread, I was wondering what interesting, economical cars there are around at the moment?

Must be minimum 2+2 seat, over 50mpg real world, under £13k, max of 2 years old & under 20k miles (80% motorway driving) and abbove all interesting.

Thus far I have

C30 DRIVe
Alfa Mito
Honda CR-Z (OK I may have to wait a year or so for a pre-owned one under £13k)

Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Thursday 6th May 13:07

With such rigid requirements why bother with a what car?? Not really enough choice to make it worth it IMO

[adycav]

There must be some sort of sporty derv Seat Ibiza (FR TDi?) that meets that criteria.