What shopping trolly?

[RizzoTheRat]

The time is coming to replace the Mrs ageing Fiesta, and she fancies going up a size (Golf/Focus sized) so it's time to trawl autotrader for boring cars. Critera are:

£5k ish
Reliable
Economical
Reasonable sized boot (at least as big as a Mk4 Fiesta)
5 door
ISOFIX
10k/year

Note there is no requirement for excitement or handling in there

I'm thinking go Japanese for reliability with a Civic, Auris or Mazda3. Are the Korean competition like the Cee'd and i30 worth a look? Presumably Focus is worth a look as there's millions out there in the price range. Not too bothered by Golf and Leon as they hold their value too well and I'm not sure about the boot size.

What else should I look at?

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 28th January 16:03

[BorkFactor]

What sort of mileage are we looking at (i.e. petrol or diesel)?

My default choice would be a Focus, get a less desirable model in an odd spec so that your money goes further.

[RizzoTheRat]

Petrol, she does a lot of short trips and then the occasional longer one, total mileage is probably around 10k/year (now added that to the requirements thanks)

Might also consider something like a Prius but I'm not sure I want her getting used to an automatic box as she does sometimes drive mine and would probably then forget to use the clutch

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 28th January 16:04

[BorkFactor]

RizzoTheRat said:

Petrol, she does a lot of short trips and then the occasional longer one, total mileage is probably around 10k/year.

Can't go far wrong with something like:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[RizzoTheRat]

She's scary enough in a 1.25 Fiesta, I think Id be looking at a 1.6 in a Focus you do get a lot for your money with the Focus simply as there's so many out there, what are they like on reliability and servicing costs?

[vtecyo]

How about a Jazz? Boot size may be a little less.. not too sure on that.

Nice little cars though.

[BorkFactor]

RizzoTheRat said:

She's scary enough in a 1.25 Fiesta, I think Id be looking at a 1.6 in a Focus you do get a lot for your money with the Focus simply as there's so many out there, what are they like on reliability and servicing costs?

Fair play! There isn't a massive performance difference to be honest between the 1.6 and the 1.8 so I would probably just buy the best example you can find that is close to you.

We had quite a few as fleet cars in my last job and they were great - mostly 1.6 TDCIs (avoid!) but a few petrol ones. No real problems to speak of, and some of them were really ragged on a daily basis. In fact there were no mechanical issues that I can think of, all the problems were thanks to careless drivers sadly. They are tough, but driving far to fast down a farm track takes its toll on tracking and anti roll bar links.

Get one with sensible wheels and tyres are cheap, big alloys ruin the ride too. Get a Zetec or one with the bolstered seats if you can as they are much more comfortable. Stereo is good, economy is good, and they are refined little things.

[RizzoTheRat]

Nice.... (sorry)

How big is the Jazz? I thought they were the Fiesta sized one. Can you get an adult in the back with a 6' driver?

[LuS1fer]

I would go Focus or Civic myself. I had a Focus 1.6 hire car in Mallorca and it was throughly good car. Nice step up from the Fiesta which tends to be noisier due to it's size.

In terms of style, however, having seen the two parked next to one another, the last Civic makes the Focus look rather boring and staid.

[Z06George]

RizzoTheRat said:

Nice.... (sorry)

How big is the Jazz? I thought they were the Fiesta sized one. Can you get an adult in the back with a 6' driver?

My brother and I can both fit comfortably in the back of our mum's jazz and we're both 6ft+. Boot size is plenty too.

[RizzoTheRat]

LuS1fer said:

In terms of style, however, having seen the two parked next to one another, the last Civic makes the Focus look rather boring and staid.

Yeah, a friend of hers as a Civic and they're a great looking car with a decent sized boot.

Nobody got any thoughts on the Cee'd or i30?

[LuS1fer]

The Jazz is a tardis inside but the issue with smaller cars is less bodywork so more noise and vibration. That said, my mother tried the Hybrid and that was quite refined (though ultimately she bought an almost new 1.6 Focus)

[RizzoTheRat]

Does the Jazz lose out on boot space to be able to get people in the back then?

[Z06George]

RizzoTheRat said:

Does the Jazz lose out on boot space to be able to get people in the back then?

I wouldn't say so, it's a reasonable length boot and very tall.

[HorneyMX5]

Another vote for a cooking civic here. The boot is pretty good but also the back seats fold completely flat in one easy click. Also the back seat bases fold UP!





Makes my Type R incredibly versatile for a hot hatch.

[RizzoTheRat]

I think the Focus is winning on sheer availability. Autotrader is showing 25 of them within 30 miles for £4.5-5k on under 60k miles. Civic looks nicer though and I'm still not sure if a Jazz is big enough.

[LuS1fer]

RizzoTheRat said:

I think the Focus is winning on sheer availability. Autotrader is showing 25 of them within 30 miles for £4.5-5k on under 60k miles. Civic looks nicer though and I'm still not sure if a Jazz is big enough.

The Jaz seats fold as above as well.

[RizzoTheRat]

Well her Fester needs a fair bit of work to get it through the MoT so it looks like we're car shopping at the weekend.

Several 2007 Focus for sale privately in our price range locally, anything specific to look for on them?

Might try and track down a Jazz to look at as well.