A what car for my other half!
A what car for my other half!
Author
Discussion

AlecG

Original Poster:

1,361 posts

237 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Hello,

We're currently struggling for inspiration - my good lady currently has a Smart MHD convertible which is approaching the end of its warranty. Only last week did the alternator belt break and do a fair bit of damage having only covered 18k. She's fallen out of love with it and fancies a change!

She commutes 40 miles a day with a mixture of motorway and town driving, so wants something economical ish - around 40mpg.

We've so far tested a previous shape Swift Sport (after I had two laps in one at the ring!) which was good, although having a short ratio box I could take see it being too good on jungle juice. We've tried a Fiat 500 twin air which was "ok", as was the Toyota IQ. Wednesday we've got a test drive in an Abarth 500 as she likes the look of them (and a decent second hand one is the same price as a twin air!), and are going to try the latest shape Swift Sport, but what else?

I've suggested an MX5, but she's not keen (although loved my old mk3 MR2),and have spent far too much effort in trying to get her interested in a mk1 Elise to no avail!

So something small, probably 4 seats, quicker than the Smart car (tough one, haha!) cheapish to run, "nice looking" and reliable...

Over to you!

AlpineWhite

2,164 posts

218 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Budget?

AlecG

Original Poster:

1,361 posts

237 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
That'd help I guess! She's more in the new car mentality which is up to £13.5k for a specced twin air and a swift sport. I'd prefer her to spend £5-7k on something second hand that won't lose much money...

MiniMadMike

781 posts

221 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
MINI Cooper seems a reasonably obvious choice?

AlecG

Original Poster:

1,361 posts

237 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
She's not a fan of minis, not sure why! Also she's not adversely to a swift car, she's had a TTs, a Scirocco tfsi and mk5 golf GTI before the Smart car...

Dangermouse58

81 posts

163 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
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Vw polo gti is what I'd recommend

HustleRussell

26,129 posts

183 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
The new Swift is a bit softer and is fitted with a 6th gear.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

213 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
What sort of damage did an alternator belt cause???

AlecG

Original Poster:

1,361 posts

237 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
The new Swift is a bit softer and is fitted with a 6th gear.
Thanks, we'll check one of those out then!

We had a brief look at an Up! which she thought was ugly! She's not keen on a Twin good Sport either...

AlecG

Original Poster:

1,361 posts

237 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
What sort of damage did an alternator belt cause???
Apparently (according to the technician) it whipped a sensor off and caused a fair bit of damage. Not knowing the gritty end of her car, or dealing with the repair I've no idea!

V8Triumph

5,995 posts

238 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
40 miles a day in a little box?! Has she tried something bigger? smile

How about a BMW 1 or 3 Series.

crispyshark

1,268 posts

168 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
has she driven a mini cooper?

My missus tested all the same cars and avoided minis....then we test drove a cooper sidewalk one quiet sunday...it now lives with us! wink

Arbarth is lovely but a bit overkill for your situation imho, plus fiat 500s do feel cramped and i doubt you will pick one up for 7k.

CT

AlecG

Original Poster:

1,361 posts

237 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
No she's not driven a mini, I'll make her though, haha! A one series could be a good shout too, but my 325ti compact was too big...

The budget is flexible - she's happy with spending up to £13k, and I'm not!

She just did a trip from Reading to Norfolk in the Smart car, and we regularly go up t'north in it!

AlecG

Original Poster:

1,361 posts

237 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
The new shape Mini Diesel looks quite good...

AlecG

Original Poster:

1,361 posts

237 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Any older car suggestions?

longshot

3,286 posts

221 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
a Yaris maybe or is that a bit old for her?

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

213 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
AlecG said:
Any older car suggestions?
Lotus Elan turbo? They seem to be capable of 30-35mpg, handle well, are fast, fun to drive, good to look at, it's a Lotus, very little depreciation. Isuzu engine and a huge R&D development budget, so designed and built well.

em177

3,145 posts

187 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
AlecG said:
Any older car suggestions?
Lotus Elan turbo? They seem to be capable of 30-35mpg, handle well, are fast, fun to drive, good to look at, it's a Lotus, very little depreciation. Isuzu engine and a huge R&D development budget, so designed and built well.
scratchchin

Dalto123

3,203 posts

186 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Have you considered any Renault 'sport' models? Seem like nice cars and pretty good value:

Rentault Twingo - Small car like some of the others, under 20,000 on the clock and under £7000:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Alternativley you could go for the Megane sport with 225bhp, 24,000 miles and £7000!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

AlecG

Original Poster:

1,361 posts

237 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
My Nan has a Yaris, so I don't think she'd be interested...

The Elan is a good shout, truth be told I'd prefer an Elise, but that means that the Elan may be acceptable!

The Twingo is also worth a closer look at. The Megane on the other hand they are just too juicy. I'd like one though!

I've got a Mk1 golf with a mk3 golf diesel lump in it, and she's not interested in using my car, and us getting a camper either - I'm trying lot's of angles!