Help recommending me a car please.

[Dave0881]

OK, I've decided to my 1st car at the age of 32.

In terms of budget anything from £5000 - £10000, but could stretch to £15,000 for the right car. Would look for a model of a few years old with moderate to low mileage.

Top priorities in this order:

Running costs
Reliability
Interior
Fun
Exterior
Not too common
Practicality

Other things I would like:

Leather seats, good sunroof.

Currently considering:

Honda CR-Z- seems to tick a lot of those boxes. Biggest concerns about it are that the backseats sound almost completely useless and while practicality is not my top priority it would perhaps be nice to fit someone in the back every now and again. Interior seems reasonably nice but not spectacular

Lexus CT200h - Ticks a lot of boxes, concerns being price and completely lacking any sort of fun. Oh and they are all auto!!!

Citroen DS4 - I like the look of this car, but concerned about wisely reported electrical issues and some reported rust!

Of these 3 I'm leaning towards the Honda having trouble pulling the trigger because of the useless seats. I could just get a Golf but I really would like something a bit different.

Any opinions about these cars?? Any other models I've missed that might fit the bill?

Many thanks in advance

Edited by Dave0881 on Saturday 19th July 12:14

[nickofh]

Something a little different - check
running cost - check
interior - check
exterior - check
not too common - check
fairly practical - check ( as much as a golf or ct200h)
Leather Seats - check
In Budget - check
fun - check ( as much as a golf I would think )

Alfa Giulietta

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

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

Reliability ? If it is really really important go Japanese IMO, though the Fiat Bravo Multijet my father in law has is pretty solid and the same engine in our fiat croma is pretty solid too having had a hard life. It needed a near gearbox which I believe are a GM product. My experience of Italian cars has been better than French also.

I think the Ct200h would be fun in a different way. I have never driven one of these , but would love too. The technology has its appeal to me that's the big thing for me.

Good Luck let us know what you decide on....

[gaz1234]

Oh dear

[Dave0881]

nickofh said:

Something a little different - check
running cost - check
interior - check
exterior - check
not too common - check
fairly practical - check ( as much as a golf or ct200h)
Leather Seats - check
In Budget - check
fun - check ( as much as a golf I would think )

Alfa Giulietta

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

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

Reliability ? If it is really really important go Japanese IMO, though the Fiat Bravo Multijet my father in law has is pretty solid and the same engine in our fiat croma is pretty solid too having had a hard life. It needed a near gearbox which I believe are a GM product. My experience of Italian cars has been better than French also.

I think the Ct200h would be fun in a different way. I have never driven one of these , but would love too. The technology has its appeal to me that's the big thing for me.

Good Luck let us know what you decide on....

Many thanks for the advice. I certainly will do.

[Dave0881]

gaz1234 said:

Oh dear

Thanks, that's helpful.

[Willy Nilly]

Tough on leather seats, tough on the causes of leather seats.

[Martin_Hx]

CRZ's look brilliant imo, very rare. I'd go look at one at a dealer first if I were you and go from there. Ok is not the fastest car out there but a good talking point!

[Bonefish Blues]

The Lexus is one of the worst cars I've driven. Lots of surface leather and shininess but awful packaging and a bone-hard ride that was supposed to be sporty.

I went for the Prius instead - which is interesting, economical, reliable, but most definitely not fun.

[itz_baseline]

I would take another look at your list of priorities. You have put practicality at the bottom of the list, yet the reason you aren't sure about the CRZ is that its not very practical.

[Dave0881]

itz_baseline said:

I would take another look at your list of priorities. You have put practicality at the bottom of the list, yet the reason you aren't sure about the CRZ is that its not very practical.

They are all strong considerations and while practicality isn't top, it would still be nice to be able to carry people in parts of the care that are considered seats. Sounds like it might as well be a 2 seater.

[Dave0881]

Martin_Hx said:

CRZ's look brilliant imo, very rare. I'd go look at one at a dealer first if I were you and go from there. Ok is not the fastest car out there but a good talking point!

Thanks Martin; it is definitely one of the front runners, but I have also now added the Civic type S to the list. Not in love with the exterior, but it does tick most of the boxes

[nickofh]

Dave0881 said:

Thanks Martin; it is definitely one of the front runners, but I have also now added the Civic type S to the list. Not in love with the exterior, but it does tick most of the boxes

Brother in law has the 1.4si as a company car and as far as I know it has been faultless. Faultless is also my experience of Japanese vehicles my previous WRX was solid and dependable as was my lancer, 120'000k trouble free miles between them.

I like the civics myself and would be tempted by the 1.8 petrol ( should be legendarily reliable ) and the 2.2 cdti. Think I would prefer the petrol though. Fairly good performance from both.