Sorry, but can I do a "what car" (confirmation)?

[down4whatever]

Sorry for the boring thread, but i'm frustrated by the lack of enthusiasm for my ideas, so wanted some backup. My Mum/her partner want to spend around £5000 on a car. They live in Greater London (Isleworth) & it will be their only car, used for urban transport, holidays to France, and a once a week motorway commute to Taunton. Due to my influence, my Mother (who will ultimately have the final say, probably), is insisting on a petrol engine, and manual gearbox :-) They also want something "fun/interesting" The car must also be able to carry 3 people, the third being my 13 year old half-brother, although due to my mothers "eclectic" car history (Classic Mini, MGBGT, XJ6, E30 325i & Consul Capri), rear seat comfort is not a priority (& rightly so, I just had to put up with the cavity in the back of their chosen car, so why shouldn't he?). After my suggestions of Focus ST170, 205Gti, 306 Gti-6, 944, 200sx, E36 328i were rubbished, her partner decided he wanted something newer (2005 onwards) and "reliable". So I want to know, can they realistically expect to get the VAG 1.4 TSI in a Seat/Skoda/VW at this price point, and is my latest suggestion of an Audi A2 (I know it's not quite so new) a silly one? It's quirky, well priced, and also quite "PH" in a sort of "best of a bunch of hatchbacks" sort of way due to the aluminium construction etc.
Anyway, sorry for the long winded but, I hope, straightforward, easy to read, well spellded [sic] and grammatically correct post. I look forward to your replies & thank you in advance.
Peace motherfkers ;-)

[XJSJohn]

The Audi is a great little car (i have run 2 of them), and perfectly capable of the occasional motorway jaunt / euro tour but if they genuinely do Iselworth to Taunton every week, i would say that the A2 or any hatch is probably not ideal.

some alternative ideas based on your mum's pervious car choices....
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2856850.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2751053.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2781514.htm

[down4whatever]

Thanks very much for the reply at such an unsociable hour :-)
I'm glad I had at least one vote in agreement for the 944 :-) unfortunatley I don't think thats going to fly :-( her partner is a long term Londoner & not a petrolhead so he's fixated on a small hatch (I can't make him understand that frugal in town isn't necessarily frugal on the motorway) but he is easily swayed by trinkets & the opinions of his (non petrolhead) 23 yr old daughter, so the Cooper S is a really good shout-I hadn't realised they were in budget, I'm definitley going to suggest these. Unfortunatley it seems like the situation a lot of us are familiar with, in that they ask the person they know that is into cars for advice, but then take little notice, or are swayed by "my neighbour knew someone who once ran a Model-T and it broke down, so don't get one of those internal-combustion engine cars" type thing :-S
Thanks again mate.

[Stu R]

Up the budget and haggle hard

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2857030.htm

[down4whatever]

At the risk of sounding rude, I couldn't think of anything more dull than an A3 (and I know that's rich when suggesting other VAG products), but, y'know. Meh.
Sorry mate, and thankyou.

[Stu R]

Doesn't bother me, I think, like most VAG econoboxes, they're toss personally - but they fit the criteria and then some, 2.0 FSI is a peach too.

What about something like a fabia VRS?

[Hudson]

I dont get the hate about the A3, i think they look quite smart.

I know they're driven by cocks most of the time, but what isnt?

anyway back on topic, my other half has a 1.4 A2, which she loves to bits. Good seating position as they're quite tall, but motorway driving can be a bit unpleasant as they're so light, so crosswind, potholes etc are really "felt".

[elanfan]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2774113.htm

out of left field!

[Stu R]

elanfan said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2774113.htm

out of left field!

Assuming the sunlight currently trying to melt my macbook's screen isn't deceiving me, that's a cracking wheel / colour combo.

[XJSJohn]

Another leftfield one - Suzuki Swift Sport
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2801122.htm

The Sport is a nippy fun little car, so great around town but also i have driven a few up to KL (about a 400KM trip) and they are surprisingly comfy nice places to be on the long runs too!!

Gives them something a bit newer if age has become a requirement.

Make sure its the "Sport" though.

[down4whatever]

Another good suggestion from XJSJohn, thanks.
I don't know what it is about the A3 that attracts bile more than other VAG hatches when, as has been said, they're all ditchwater. It's not so much the driver demographic, more the knowledge that they're built with no intention of being "fun", and they have an air of smugness with all their grip & competence, but no finesse. I dunno.
I'm not sure about the economy of the T5 for urban driving & long motorway commutes-I have a feeling it will need to meet "perceived economy" criteria which that engine probably can't match. Cheers anyway.

[ludicrous speed]

Celica?

Don't know much about them, looks like it fits the criteria though, and must be a lot more fun than some vag p.o.s.