How to spend £10k...?

[mightymolecule]

Hi, I’m new to the forum. Quick car buying question!

I currently have a 55 Polo that needs replacing. I have a £9-10k budget. I don’t have a commute but do about 10k miles per year, so I’m looking for something that can do dual carriageway distances (1-2 hour drives) better than the Polo, is mildly fun/nice to drive (not expecting track day performance), without being too big for street parking in a city.

Main considerations:
1) Needs to look smart for client meetings
2) Needs to be quick but not necessarily fast
3) Need to be able to convince the other half that it’s ‘small enough’ for her to learn to drive in (we’re both mid 30’s and I’ve been driving since I was 18, so insurance isn’t so much of a consideration).

Had a drive in a new GTi and loved it but sadly out of budget...for now!

Front runners are BMW 1 series, Scirocco, Golf, Merc A class. I’m tempted by 3 series but I think it’s too big for her to learn in.

Any suggestions, preferences or options I should rule out? Particularly interested in any engine/spec advice within the models above.

Thanks in advance 🙏

[Thales]

8P S3

[Darren93]

If you really liked the Polo GTI get one, there's a few out there for under 11k from dealers and some private too. Not a great deal over budget, quite easily justifiable with some man maths and bound to be more fun that some of those vanilla options.

[ninjag]

Another way of looking at it is if she learns on a bigger car then think how easy the test will be in one of their shopping trolleys.

[dhutch]

ninjag said:

Another way of looking at it is if she learns on a bigger car then think how easy the test will be in one of their shopping trolleys.

Indeed, but typically it's much more about confidence than skill initially.

[dhutch]

mightymolecule said:

Had a drive in a new GTi and loved it but sadly out of budget...for now!

Front runners are BMW 1 series, Scirocco, Golf, Merc A class. I’m tempted by 3 series but I think it’s too big for her to learn in?

Not had a one series, but seem nice as long as you avoid the baseline interior and timing chain issues. Scirocco and Golf are both nice, if not GTi you should get one the pedals well depending what age you're going for. I have a 330ci E46 and the gf doesn't enjoy driving it coming from. Fiesta although does fine when she is in it. Also both early 30s and looking for our next car.

Have considered a Volvo but hard for the price. She likes the t-roc (sigh) but it's a softroader and double the budge, her sister has a Dacia and while I see the appeal of rather buy used for the money.

Audi A3?
Ford Focus?
Kia Ceed (don't laugh)
Skoda Octavia?

Daniel

[mightymolecule]

Darren93 said:

If you really liked the Polo GTI get one, there's a few out there for under 11k from dealers and some private too. Not a great deal over budget, quite easily justifiable with some man maths and bound to be more fun that some of those vanilla options.

I actually meant the Golf GTi but didn’t think about the Polo GTi. Good suggestion. Any idea how they compare?

[mightymolecule]

ninjag said:

Another way of looking at it is if she learns on a bigger car then think how easy the test will be in one of their shopping trolleys.

Yes, my thoughts exactly...but on the other hand, I’ll be the one paying for any bodywork repairs

[mightymolecule]

dhutch said:

Not had a one series, but seem nice as long as you avoid the baseline interior and timing chain issues. Scirocco and Golf are both nice, if not GTi you should get one the pedals well depending what age you're going for. I have a 330ci E46 and the gf doesn't enjoy driving it coming from. Fiesta although does fine when she is in it. Also both early 30s and looking for our next car.

Have considered a Volvo but hard for the price. She likes the t-roc (sigh) but it's a softroader and double the budge, her sister has a Dacia and while I see the appeal of rather buy used for the money.

Audi A3?
Ford Focus?
Kia Ceed (don't laugh)
Skoda Octavia?

Yeah, I’m kind of tempted by a 1 series because I’ve never had a BM. I drove one when they first came out and it was underwhelming but was also a base model. I hear good things about the M sport 1 series.

I would consider a Focus if new enough. The Skoda Octavia would be too big. The Audi A3 I wouldn’t mind, but gf doesn’t like the image of Audi’s. Kia isn’t bad looking but I’m not sure I could bring myself to do it...!

I did also think about Volvo, although not an obvious choice. Defo agree on the Dacia - tough to downgrade from your 330.

[Darren93]

mightymolecule said:

Darren93 said:

If you really liked the Polo GTI get one, there's a few out there for under 11k from dealers and some private too. Not a great deal over budget, quite easily justifiable with some man maths and bound to be more fun that some of those vanilla options.

I actually meant the Golf GTi but didn’t think about the Polo GTi. Good suggestion. Any idea how they compare?

I think they're just like a slightly smaller golf to be fair, I'm not the kind of person to be miffed about how hard the plastic is on the bottom of a door car either so I don't really buy into the "German quality" so I wouldn't be put off the smaller car.

The polo is available 3/5dr and manual or DSG so plenty of options and quite well speced too. I believe cruise control and auto climate are options which are important to me.

Engine is the same EA888 as the golf GTI, perhaps a smaller turbo. I believe the block is identical but the stroke is smaller to achieve the smaller engine size. It's a good engine with great torque, there aren't many issues with the EA888 gen 3 as far as I'm aware either.

I personally prefer the Fiesta ST in that segment, it's a bit more fizzy but it's not for everyone. The polo has the reputation of being a more mature choice.

Definitely worth a test drive I'd say if you like the golf, again more fun that a standard mid size German hatch.

[DoubleD]

Do some insurance checks before you change car as her insurance might be quite a lot when she passes her test.

[dhutch]

mightymolecule said:

Yeah, I’m kind of tempted by a 1 series because I’ve never had a BM. I drove one when they first came out and it was underwhelming but was also a base model. I hear good things about the M sport 1 series.

I would consider a Focus if new enough. The Skoda Octavia would be too big. The Audi A3 I wouldn’t mind, but gf doesn’t like the image of Audi’s. Kia isn’t bad looking but I’m not sure I could bring myself to do it...!

I did also think about Volvo, although not an obvious choice. Defo agree on the Dacia - tough to downgrade from your 330.

Yeah, noy spent much time in it but my uncle has a Ceed as well as more classical interesting cars.

It would be the fiesta we would be replacing, the 330 has just done another mot and I love it too much! Four years in, first fail yet, in part I've been busy with the house. One front controlarm/wishbone, back box, rear brake hoses. Not too bad for 19years and 170k.

Daniel

[Mr Tidy]

I have an E90 3 Series as my daily, and to be honest for the very few occasions I carry rear seat passengers I would prefer a 1 Series as it is just so much more wieldy (I had one 10 years ago) so I can see a learner possibly feeling a bit daunted by a 3 Series.

If VWs are an option why not add the Seat Leon/Ibiza to your list?

[jontbone]

How about a Seat Leon FR? There’s quite a few available for £9-10,000 circa 2014.
Looks nice, quite nippy, not too big either

[ZX10R NIN]

Kia Ceed/Pro Ceed GT Tech & it'll still have 2 years worth of warranty:

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

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

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

Ceed

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

Alfa Giulietta Sportiva/QV Line

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

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

Astra Elite Nav

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

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

[mightymolecule]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Never considered the Leon FR but that’s very much in the mix now. My thinking at the moment

Polo GTi - nice/fun but not sure I want another Polo

Golf - would be my sensible/default option but not as nice spec as others within my budget

Leon FR - performance appeals, looks great, lots of interior extras, ticks a lot of boxes.

Kia - I’m not sure I can see past the badge and I don’t know anything about their reliability etc

Alfa - love Alfas (so does gf) but have never owned one and reliability concerns would put me off.

On a side note, Gf is easily sold on Golf, Seat and Alfa. I’m still considering the BMW 1 series and encouraged to hear feedback that the 1 is in some cases preferable to the 3.

The list so far:
1. Leon FR
2. Golf
3. Alfa G (with heart not head)
4 BMW 1 series

[ZX10R NIN]

mightymolecule said:

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Never considered the Leon FR but that’s very much in the mix now. My thinking at the moment

Polo GTi - nice/fun but not sure I want another Polo

Golf - would be my sensible/default option but not as nice spec as others within my budget

Leon FR - performance appeals, looks great, lots of interior extras, ticks a lot of boxes.

Kia - I’m not sure I can see past the badge and I don’t know anything about their reliability etc

Alfa - love Alfas (so does gf) but have never owned one and reliability concerns would put me off.

On a side note, Gf is easily sold on Golf, Seat and Alfa. I’m still considering the BMW 1 series and encouraged to hear feedback that the 1 is in some cases preferable to the 3.

The list so far:
1. Leon FR
2. Golf
3. Alfa G (with heart not head)
4 BMW 1 series

You can pick the Alfa with your head to their as reliable & robust as any of the other cars on your list, the only let with these are the main dealers as some are good & others rubbish.

As for the Kia I'd say at least test drive one after which you may just find you can get past the badge.

Also look out for the 308 GT they're hard to find but are a good steer & a very good amount of go:

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

Astra GTC 200 Limited Edition

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

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

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

I'd be looking at these with handling spec mileage & performance in mind.

Alfa Giulietta Sportiva

Kia GT Tech

308 GT (if you can find one)

Astra GTC Limited Edition 200 (very underrated)

Leon FR (I'm not a fan of the interior)

[culpz]

jontbone said:

How about a Seat Leon FR? There’s quite a few available for £9-10,000 circa 2014.
Looks nice, quite nippy, not too big either

That's the best shout IMO. Good choice of engines too to fit your criteria.

The Scirocco is a personal favourite but I would not recommend the other half learning to drive in one and the only engine to really have is the 2.0 TSI, which might be a bit overkill.