Cheapish car conundrum

[Tmrtom]

I'm finding it difficult to find a car that both I and my wife like with the following criteria (listed below in order or importance) :

3-4 k
Reliable without big bills bork factor!
4 doors
Good handling
Reasonable mpg (40+) and tax (sub £200 if possible)
Hatch or estate - no saloons or coupes as we have dogs and do a lot of mountain biking
Decent size
Decent performance
Nice interior

Does anyone have any recommendations? Ideally fancy a warm hatch, open to petrol or diesel (it will do 10-15k miles a year, so happy with either).

Thanks,
Tom

[Down and out]

Ssangyong Rodius. Plenty of room for a Leonberger with space for trays of geraniums as well.

[Summit_Detailing]

Gen1 Skoda Octavia VRS hatch or wagon was the first thing to come to mind.

Volvo V70 2.5T would be worth a look, although you won't see 40mpg.

Honda Accord wagon, 2.0 more common than the 2.4, 35bhp between them.

Saab 9-3 2.0T wagon

Happy hunting!

Cheers,

Chris

[DoubleD]

You could probably get a decent mondeo or maybe a mazda 6

[Xcore]

Mazda 6 mps!

[iwantagta]

Xcore said:

Mazda 6 mps!

Doesnt this live in the 555 tax bracket?

[ZX10R NIN]

2.5T Mondeo Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.5 N/A Mazda6 SL

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.0T Insignia SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.4 Accord Executive

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leftfield Cadillac CTS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[kieranblenk]

1.8 petrol Civic or Focus would probably fit the bill.

[iwantagta]

Leon FR - bad boot lip for dogs though,

Octavia VRS?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[RSTurboPaul]

iwantagta said:

Xcore said:

Mazda 6 mps!

Doesnt this live in the 555 tax bracket?

I think they changed tax bands (upwards, into the higher/highest) after a couple of years of production, so (IIRC) the early ones are cheaper to tax.

They do, however, seem to suffer from chocolate conrods - seems to be high gears / low rpm scenarios that causes most issues, but it's the usual case with these sort of things, so many (most?) have had no issues but many have had rebuilds required.

It definitely falls into 'potential bork territory' on that basis IMO!

[ninjag]

Octavia 1.8 petrol or 2.0 diesel and the Golf 1.4 petrol are probably the best candidates that meet all your requirements and are also sub 8s to 60mph.

[alabbasi]

ninjag said:

Octavia 1.8 petrol or 2.0 diesel and the Golf 1.4 petrol are probably the best candidates that meet all your requirements and are also sub 8s to 60mph.

Golf 1.4 will do 0-60 in under 8?

[CubanPete]

320d touring
Mondeo

[DoubleD]

alabbasi said:

ninjag said:

Octavia 1.8 petrol or 2.0 diesel and the Golf 1.4 petrol are probably the best candidates that meet all your requirements and are also sub 8s to 60mph.

Golf 1.4 will do 0-60 in under 8?

Yep. 7.9 seconds

[Tmrtom]

Thanks for the ideas guys. The oh has decided that estates are too big so we have settled on a c segment hatch.

Front runners are Alfa Guiletta (probably would want the 1.4 170 bhp veloce model) and BMW 1 series mk1 (118i in either se or m sport model) Does anyone have back to back experience of these?

[ZX10R NIN]

The Giulietta is the pick of the bunch at this price point but they won't be easy to find at your budget, they are out there but you might have to travel though:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Mr Tidy]

I can't help with the Alfa option, but I had a BMW 118i Sport as a courtesy car back in 2016 and quite liked it.

[ZX10R NIN]

You like any BMW

[DoubleD]

ZX10R NIN said:

You like any BMW

Ha ha