Help

[Ted1]

I hope someone can help me

I am driving my partner mad as want to change my car. I have finally narrowed it down to 3 but cant choose which one i want......

I like the Pug 206cc but have heard that the roof leaks
Hyundai coupe 2l SE
Alfa Romeo 147

I want something that has a bit of poke and looks nice. Like comfort when am driving as spend a lot of time on the road.

My budget is upto £1500 if that helps.

[Fubar1977]

Personally it would be the Hyundai out of those three.
Alfa`s nice but likely to be trouble and I just can`t stand the look of modern pugs.
My father in law used to have the hyundai and it was a lot better than I ever thought it would be.

[Ferosferio]

As above: If it absolutely has to be out of the 3 cars listed then it's the Coupe for me.

That said, its a fairly 'eclectic' selection. Have you considered anything else? You can get more car for your money than those listed. They're all lacking the "poke" you mention too, IMO.

[Ted1]

the more i look the more i get confused.... being a girl i want something that looks nice and drives well..... any suggestions would be good

[Baryonyx]

A colleague of mine's wife has just bought a Hyundai Coupe 2.0L. I think it's pretty naff but he thinks it's alright (he's not really into cars) and his missus likes it too. So I suppose I'd go for that one, and definitely not the naff 206 CC.

[dry664]

The 147 is a lovely car, a bit different but expensive on insurance and servicing bills.

[Cunning Punt]

I think given those choices I'd take the 147, mostly for the interior.

Might want to look at Ford Puma 1.7s too. Fun, cheap, feisty little things, and there's not much to go wrong (the only major thing to watch for is rust in the wheel arches).

[LuS1fer]

Pug 206cc says "I'm a girl, I know nothing but I have a folding roof". Bit of a fashion car (OK, OK, I hate them)
Hyundai Coupe 2.0 SE - I like these but prefer the last Celica. I don't like the bug-eyed version.
Alfa Romeo 147 - I like these too, mainly for the grille shaped like a punani , but I would always be worried about reliability and repairs.

Small cars tend to have less refinement, in general.

[Triumph Man]

The Hyundai Coupe F2 is quite nice, in terms of looks etc. My Dad's girlfriend had one, in black, and it looked really rather good. And I'm somebody who normally doesn't like a car unless it has at least 6 cylinders, and RWD.

On that note, have you considered a Z3?

[KaraK]

A friend had a 1.6 version of the Hyundai as a first car (his was a Mk1 on a W plate - not sure which age you are looking at) and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it drove - a bit nervous in high-speed bends but otherwise it was great. Interior was a bit uninspiring but solidly made and the car lasted well (until he parked it in the back of my car obviously) so that would be my choice of the three, in my experience of 206's they are poorly made and bits fall off with alarming regularity. The Alfa is an eyesore which (for me) would count it out.

[TA14]

Ted1 said:

being a girl i want something that looks nice and drives well..... any suggestions would be good

Then it has to be the 147. I'd drive mine more often if my wife didn't grab the keys first.

[big_boz]

Pug...Roof leaks and may very well stick half open at some point and leave you stranded, also top heavy and generally naff.

I had a Gen1 Coupe 2.0...it was not fast, and the handling was pretty cack as standard, the rebound and steering feel is pants, I test drove a later model (think it was a 2006 car) that was much nicer to drive and sit in, but was even slower as same engine as the earlier cars and a bit heavier, certainly didn't feel at all sporty though.

If it has to be a car from your list, I would spend a bit less than £1000 on a 147 and bank the rest in case you need it for repairs. This would be against my better judgement having owned a troublesome, but equally wonderful 156. The 1.6 TS feels just if not more lively than the Hyundai, also no variator issues to worry about.