Diesel, hatch, 6k...or not? Suggestions please.
Discussion
Say you had up to 6k to spend on a diesel hatch, but didn't want something with the power of a toaster, what would you buy?
The VAG 1.9 TDi seems a good place to start, so so far I've found; Seat Mk4 Ibiza FR [130bhp] or Cupra [150bhp], Skoda Fabia VRS [130] or a Mk4 Golf 150 PD TDi GT thingy! What's your opinion on these guys - the Golf would obviously be an older car, but a Golf is still a premium product...or can you think of a none VAG car, with a decent slug of diesel power that's no bigger than a Golf, for 6k that hasn't got mega miles?
Or shall I just stop being sensible/boring/tight and buy a Civic Type-R, Focus ST170, Mini Copper or BMW E46 325 Compact [yes I said Compact].
This isn't for me by the way, I'm suggesting cars for my girlfriend.
The VAG 1.9 TDi seems a good place to start, so so far I've found; Seat Mk4 Ibiza FR [130bhp] or Cupra [150bhp], Skoda Fabia VRS [130] or a Mk4 Golf 150 PD TDi GT thingy! What's your opinion on these guys - the Golf would obviously be an older car, but a Golf is still a premium product...or can you think of a none VAG car, with a decent slug of diesel power that's no bigger than a Golf, for 6k that hasn't got mega miles?
Or shall I just stop being sensible/boring/tight and buy a Civic Type-R, Focus ST170, Mini Copper or BMW E46 325 Compact [yes I said Compact].
This isn't for me by the way, I'm suggesting cars for my girlfriend.
Edited by BUG4LIFE on Monday 18th October 17:14
Well, I've decided, if the misses has the sensible diesel, I can forget about MPG when picking my next car 
If we make any long trips, taking her's will save us dosh - so I guess it'll be doing around 8k a year?
But I still want her to have something quite fun - is the Skoda fun for instance?
If we make any long trips, taking her's will save us dosh - so I guess it'll be doing around 8k a year?But I still want her to have something quite fun - is the Skoda fun for instance?
Edited by BUG4LIFE on Monday 18th October 17:01
I should clarify, my needs and idea of fun would certainly be different to my girlfriend - I loved my bright yellow Integra Type-R, she didn't?!?! - she just wants something stylish, cheap[ish] to run, reliable. But as I'll be driving it every so often, under 100hp isn't going to cut it
I want her to buy my Mum's mega low-mile Puma, but she doesn't like it, no matter how much a tell her how amazing they are to drive!
I want her to buy my Mum's mega low-mile Puma, but she doesn't like it, no matter how much a tell her how amazing they are to drive!
Edited by BUG4LIFE on Monday 18th October 17:17
I'm in a similar position helping my missus to choose something new. The one we like the look of is the Punto Grande 1.9 Sporting. They look good, have a certain sense of fun, not too common in Sporting spec and having had a good poke around a 70k mile example actually seem pretty robust with excellent seats and a decent cabin. I was quite impressed. Hard to ignore Ibiza Cupra and Fabia vRS as well though...
BUG4LIFE said:
I should clarify, my needs and idea of fun would certainly be different to my girlfriend - I loved my bright yellow Integra Type-R, she didn't?!?! - she just wants something stylish, cheap[ish] to run, reliable. But as I'll be driving it every so often, under 100hp isn't going to cut it
By a 106 diesel for the missus and an E36 M3 for yourself. Spend the rest on booze and drugs.Sorry, I'm sure that's not very helpful...
Edited by ManOpener on Monday 18th October 17:24
If she's doing shorter journeys most of the time, it'll struggle to warm up and start getting efficient - you may find it's no better than a petrol. Plus through the winter it gets really tedious waiting for some warm air to come out of the vents.
Agree on the Grande Punto if you must go diesel though.
Agree on the Grande Punto if you must go diesel though.
Hmm, the Punto is a good shout. I just had a quick search in the classifieds...comes in orange too [though I hate the exhaust]. Though how does it compare to the Ibiza? Not really considered a Fait or Alfa, not being German/Japanese/Ford. Guess I automatically think they might be trouble?
Mazda 3 - she won't go for the styling!
Her journey to work is at least 10 miles so the car will get warmed up, and as I said; it would be useful if we had use of a diesel for long trips.
Mazda 3 - she won't go for the styling!
Her journey to work is at least 10 miles so the car will get warmed up, and as I said; it would be useful if we had use of a diesel for long trips.
BUG4LIFE said:
Hmm, the Punto is a good shout. I just had a quick search in the classifieds...comes in orange too [though I hate the exhaust]. Though how does it compare to the Ibiza? Not really considered a Fait or Alfa, not being German/Japanese/Ford. Guess I automatically think they might be trouble?
Mazda 3 - she won't go for the styling!
Her journey to work is at least 10 miles so the car will get warmed up, and as I said; it would be useful if we had use of a diesel for long trips.
I'd have a look into the comparative mileage and running costs for petrol vs diesel for that usage (short commute and 8k miles per year) - petrol might work out more cost effective even if you have a few long journeys here and there. Repairing dual mass flywheels and turbos, for example, can add an awful lot to running costs of a 'cheap' diesel.Mazda 3 - she won't go for the styling!
Her journey to work is at least 10 miles so the car will get warmed up, and as I said; it would be useful if we had use of a diesel for long trips.
Just trying to help you get a ST170.
BUG4LIFE said:
Hmm, the Punto is a good shout. I just had a quick search in the classifieds...comes in orange too [though I hate the exhaust]. Though how does it compare to the Ibiza? Not really considered a Fait or Alfa, not being German/Japanese/Ford. Guess I automatically think they might be trouble?
Mazda 3 - she won't go for the styling!
Her journey to work is at least 10 miles so the car will get warmed up, and as I said; it would be useful if we had use of a diesel for long trips.
Yes it came upon me in a fit of clarity. As I already have French and British cars, I thought it worth getting an Italian to complete the unreliable set Mazda 3 - she won't go for the styling!
Her journey to work is at least 10 miles so the car will get warmed up, and as I said; it would be useful if we had use of a diesel for long trips.
The example near us is a high mileage one but the interior is perfect and the seats are firm so I'm impressed with the cabin and its resistance to wear 'n' tear. My missus isn't after the last word in handling poise but wants something economical, good looking and characterful so the Punto seemed to fit the bill perfectly. I couldn't get her on board with the idea of a vRS (badge snob) and the insurance was quite dear on a Cupra so this has become the favoured option.
LongLiveTazio said:
BUG4LIFE said:
Mazda 3 - she won't go for the styling!
Looks better than any of the examples listed above!It my be that it isn't worth getting a diesel for the miles the car will be doing - for me, the Ibiza kind of loses it's appeal then. I know though, if it's gonna be petrol, she'll want a Mini Cooper. There is a good selection for around £6k but it'll obviously be at least 7-8 years old [not a bad thing really, my BM is 12 years old].
I want her to have a Clio 182 but for some reason she doesn't like them. A girl, not liking a Clio! Again though, Clio, French?!?! She does however like the look of the BMW E46 325 Compact - the front is a tad weird and it looks like it's been kicked up the butt, but I guess it does feel quite classy [gorgeous engine though in 325 trim]. She might scare herself when it comes to maintaining the car of course, compared to her current Ka [over 300 notes for an inspection 2]. I like the idea of a Civic Type-R as I'll have a bunch of fun driving it [I do really really my Teg] - like the BM though, that's over 100% more power than she's used too
What about the 2.2 Civic I-CDTI?
More adventurous styling than the VW/Seat/Skoda offerings, an excellent engine, big boot, good spec in ES and EX guises and the usual Honda reliability.
Not really an evo car but they gave it a pretty good review:
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/6289...
More adventurous styling than the VW/Seat/Skoda offerings, an excellent engine, big boot, good spec in ES and EX guises and the usual Honda reliability.
Not really an evo car but they gave it a pretty good review:
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/6289...
Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 19th October 13:40
BUG4LIFE said:
Say you had up to 6k to spend on a diesel hatch, but didn't want something with the power of a toaster, what would you buy?
The VAG 1.9 TDi seems a good place to start, so so far I've found; Seat Mk4 Ibiza FR [130bhp] or Cupra [150bhp], Skoda Fabia VRS [130] or a Mk4 Golf 150 PD TDi GT thingy! What's your opinion on these guys - the Golf would obviously be an older car, but a Golf is still a premium product...or can you think of a none VAG car, with a decent slug of diesel power that's no bigger than a Golf, for 6k that hasn't got mega miles?
Or shall I just stop being sensible/boring/tight and buy a Civic Type-R, Focus ST170, Mini Copper or BMW E46 325 Compact [yes I said Compact].
This isn't for me by the way, I'm suggesting cars for my girlfriend.
1. Why a hatch?The VAG 1.9 TDi seems a good place to start, so so far I've found; Seat Mk4 Ibiza FR [130bhp] or Cupra [150bhp], Skoda Fabia VRS [130] or a Mk4 Golf 150 PD TDi GT thingy! What's your opinion on these guys - the Golf would obviously be an older car, but a Golf is still a premium product...or can you think of a none VAG car, with a decent slug of diesel power that's no bigger than a Golf, for 6k that hasn't got mega miles?
Or shall I just stop being sensible/boring/tight and buy a Civic Type-R, Focus ST170, Mini Copper or BMW E46 325 Compact [yes I said Compact].
This isn't for me by the way, I'm suggesting cars for my girlfriend.
Edited by BUG4LIFE on Monday 18th October 17:14
2. How many miles and how much fuel money - which will then answer why a diesel or not
3. Why are you looking at essentially the same cars and treating them all as 100% different
4. A Golf it NOT a premium product. It is for delusional yuppie types to think they are superior and "premium"
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