An unapologetic What Car thread!
Discussion
I make no apologies for this because it is a car forum on a car website so if you don't like it then don't read it 
Right, Mrs.NCoT is currently driving a 2002 Ford Puma 1.7 which is a great laugh to drive but with a new addition to the family we are thinking of changing. The car seat won't fit safely in the back, but even with it in the front (no passenger airbag), the boot aperture is not big and it has a very high lip meaning lifting of prams into the boot is not the best. We will persevere, but a change is on the cards.
So, to the criteria. It has to be half decent to drive as she has been spoiled with the Puma and my old MX-5. Not dog slow either as she has got used to a reasonably turn of speed (so around 8-9 secs to 60). Obviously 5 door with a reasonable boot with a low lip, but not too big (Focus sized). Reasonable level of kit (a/c a must), good reliability, and the budget is £3-3.5k.
Considered so far:
Focus - the obvious choice. However there seems to be a woeful choice of engines in the Mk.1 - even the ST170 gets very mixed reviews, and there is Ford build quality and rust
Mk.2 is in budget - what are the engines like?
Seat Leon - the Mk.1 looks ok - don't know much about them but a little long in the tooth. Would the non-R Cupra be expensive to run?
Citroen C4 - quirky looks but looks a bit gutless, any good?
Golf Mk.4 / A3 - too expensive for what they are
Megane - electrical problems.
Octavia - more Mondeo sized.
Really liked the idea of an e46 3-series Compact but they are 3 door only.
What have I missed? I am totally open to suggestions!
Right, Mrs.NCoT is currently driving a 2002 Ford Puma 1.7 which is a great laugh to drive but with a new addition to the family we are thinking of changing. The car seat won't fit safely in the back, but even with it in the front (no passenger airbag), the boot aperture is not big and it has a very high lip meaning lifting of prams into the boot is not the best. We will persevere, but a change is on the cards.
So, to the criteria. It has to be half decent to drive as she has been spoiled with the Puma and my old MX-5. Not dog slow either as she has got used to a reasonably turn of speed (so around 8-9 secs to 60). Obviously 5 door with a reasonable boot with a low lip, but not too big (Focus sized). Reasonable level of kit (a/c a must), good reliability, and the budget is £3-3.5k.
Considered so far:
Focus - the obvious choice. However there seems to be a woeful choice of engines in the Mk.1 - even the ST170 gets very mixed reviews, and there is Ford build quality and rust
Mk.2 is in budget - what are the engines like?Seat Leon - the Mk.1 looks ok - don't know much about them but a little long in the tooth. Would the non-R Cupra be expensive to run?
Citroen C4 - quirky looks but looks a bit gutless, any good?
Golf Mk.4 / A3 - too expensive for what they are
Megane - electrical problems.
Octavia - more Mondeo sized.
Really liked the idea of an e46 3-series Compact but they are 3 door only.
What have I missed? I am totally open to suggestions!
NiceCupOfTea said:
I love the 147 but Mrs.NCoT is not keen on the looks and is worried about reliability. Have looked at Mk.4 Golfs but the boot doesn't look terribly huge and I wonder if they are a triumph of marketing over function. I find them a bit boring to look at too!
I don't think the 147 is too bad reliability wise, I know a couple of people that have had no issues with them.How about something like this?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Willy Nilly said:
If you can find one an EP2 (?) Civic Type S. 2.0l 160hp, dead practical, dead reliable, stealthy. What's not to like?
What he said, 38mpg, rock solid build quality, loads of room in the back, 160 bhp, climate control, its also a chain driven engine, so no cambelts to worry about:http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Honda Accord - 2003 onwards.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Dead easy to fit and access a rear child seat - we done it with the other half's nephew.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Dead easy to fit and access a rear child seat - we done it with the other half's nephew.
NiceCupOfTea said:
Must confess to finding both the Mk.5 Astra and Civic desperately dull, but can't fault either of them in filling the criteria. Will look into those, thanks.
Surely that means a 147 could be a good compromise then 
It is a lot of car for the money, can you not persuade your better half with a car like this?!
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
billzeebub said:
Saab 900T16S Aero
LOL - she's driven mine and likes the power but not the size or the "oldness" She really wants something she doesn't have to worry about. The Puma for all its driving ability has been a pain in the arse as I'm always having to do little jobs on it - "they all do that sir"!. Tried to tempt her with a nice LPT convertible a while back but nothing doing 
Accord is too big I'm afraid although I think I did see a flicker of interest in e36/e46 3 series saloons if the rear seats fold. If you can find me a Bentley in budget that's Focus sized I suspect it has been in a multiple pile up
I already looked at that Alfa and tried to tempt her but she doesn't like the front
What are the Civic & Astra like to drive? As good as the Focus? Like the kit levels of them - Civic seems to have cruise and climate.
vryes said:
Willy Nilly said:
If you can find one an EP2 (?) Civic Type S. 2.0l 160hp, dead practical, dead reliable, stealthy. What's not to like?
What he said, 38mpg, rock solid build quality, loads of room in the back, 160 bhp, climate control, its also a chain driven engine, so no cambelts to worry about:http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
NiceCupOfTea said:
billzeebub said:
Saab 900T16S Aero
LOL - she's driven mine and likes the power but not the size or the "oldness" She really wants something she doesn't have to worry about. The Puma for all its driving ability has been a pain in the arse as I'm always having to do little jobs on it - "they all do that sir"!. Tried to tempt her with a nice LPT convertible a while back but nothing doing Accord is too big I'm afraid although I think I did see a flicker of interest in e36/e46 3 series saloons if the rear seats fold. If you can find me a Bentley in budget that's Focus sized I suspect it has been in a multiple pile up
I already looked at that Alfa and tried to tempt her but she doesn't like the front
What are the Civic & Astra like to drive? As good as the Focus? Like the kit levels of them - Civic seems to have cruise and climate.
NiceCupOfTea said:
LOL - she's driven mine and likes the power but not the size or the "oldness" She really wants something she doesn't have to worry about. The Puma for all its driving ability has been a pain in the arse as I'm always having to do little jobs on it - "they all do that sir"!. Tried to tempt her with a nice LPT convertible a while back but nothing doing
Accord is too big I'm afraid although I think I did see a flicker of interest in e36/e46 3 series saloons if the rear seats fold. If you can find me a Bentley in budget that's Focus sized I suspect it has been in a multiple pile up
I already looked at that Alfa and tried to tempt her but she doesn't like the front
What are the Civic & Astra like to drive? As good as the Focus? Like the kit levels of them - Civic seems to have cruise and climate.
I've only ever driven a 1.6 version of that Astra, and to be fair it wasn't too bad dynamically. The 2.0 Turbo featured in the advert would be more interesting I'm sure. She really wants something she doesn't have to worry about. The Puma for all its driving ability has been a pain in the arse as I'm always having to do little jobs on it - "they all do that sir"!. Tried to tempt her with a nice LPT convertible a while back but nothing doing Accord is too big I'm afraid although I think I did see a flicker of interest in e36/e46 3 series saloons if the rear seats fold. If you can find me a Bentley in budget that's Focus sized I suspect it has been in a multiple pile up
I already looked at that Alfa and tried to tempt her but she doesn't like the front
What are the Civic & Astra like to drive? As good as the Focus? Like the kit levels of them - Civic seems to have cruise and climate.
Never had much to do with these but another Japanese hatch to add to your list!
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff