Which car for the wife?
Discussion
Afternoonn,
I've been trying to decide on cars for the wife today. Since I got my 160 Rallye, she has been talking about trading her car in or selling it and getting something a little more sporty. She changed jobs last year, and her mileage has now been reduced quite significantly, from 50 miles a day to about 8.
She is after something fun and sporty.
The car must be:
1) Around £4000 or less.
2) Relatively cheap to run. No sub 20mpg monsters. Cheap servicing would be a good thing too.
3) Somewhat fun.
4) ???
As you can see, I am needing some inspiration here. She really likes the mk1 Audi TT. I'm not quite so keen, having had one in the past that was a real stinker. But you see enough of them on the road to make me suspect that they probably aren't all that hard to keep running. Mine was probably just a turkey. If we were to go for one of those, it would be a 225 like my old one. It's a good front runner at the moment, though I still have my reservations because of their piss poor VAG build quality.
Other than that, she quite likes the Mini Cooper S. Would an earlier supercharged one fall into our budget? I'd probably sooner have the Cooper S than the TT, if I am honest. I would have to drive it on occasion. They can be a bit unreliable themselves though, no?
What else can I get? Something that will appeal to the woman, but won't leave me wretching.
I've been trying to decide on cars for the wife today. Since I got my 160 Rallye, she has been talking about trading her car in or selling it and getting something a little more sporty. She changed jobs last year, and her mileage has now been reduced quite significantly, from 50 miles a day to about 8.
She is after something fun and sporty.
- She doesn't want a two seater or a convertible. I suspect she might be moved for the right two seater, but a convertible is probably off the cars. She remembers getting a soaking off the roof when she got into my MX5!
- RWD is probably off the cards. Her commute involves a choice of two very short, but very steep hills that will make mincemeat of most RWD cars, even just in frost. The alternative would be a lengthy round trip, again, not ideal in conditions that would make the other two hills impassable.
The car must be:
1) Around £4000 or less.
2) Relatively cheap to run. No sub 20mpg monsters. Cheap servicing would be a good thing too.
3) Somewhat fun.
4) ???
As you can see, I am needing some inspiration here. She really likes the mk1 Audi TT. I'm not quite so keen, having had one in the past that was a real stinker. But you see enough of them on the road to make me suspect that they probably aren't all that hard to keep running. Mine was probably just a turkey. If we were to go for one of those, it would be a 225 like my old one. It's a good front runner at the moment, though I still have my reservations because of their piss poor VAG build quality.
Other than that, she quite likes the Mini Cooper S. Would an earlier supercharged one fall into our budget? I'd probably sooner have the Cooper S than the TT, if I am honest. I would have to drive it on occasion. They can be a bit unreliable themselves though, no?
What else can I get? Something that will appeal to the woman, but won't leave me wretching.
For small and fun I think the Cooper S and Fiesta ST are both quite good contenders and in budget.
Suzuki Swift sport is a good shout and great on fuel but when I drove one I felt it had more grip than power, thus losing some of the fun appeal. Great for girls though.
My Mum had an Audi TT 225 for years and not a single thing went wrong it so maybe you just a lemon? I'm not really a fan of the TT as it didn't feel that fun, but I can't deny that with a quick remap you have a lot of car for your money!
How about an EP3 Civic Type R? Not amazing on fuel but I think it falls in the same category as the TT other than practicality.
Suzuki Swift sport is a good shout and great on fuel but when I drove one I felt it had more grip than power, thus losing some of the fun appeal. Great for girls though.
My Mum had an Audi TT 225 for years and not a single thing went wrong it so maybe you just a lemon? I'm not really a fan of the TT as it didn't feel that fun, but I can't deny that with a quick remap you have a lot of car for your money!
How about an EP3 Civic Type R? Not amazing on fuel but I think it falls in the same category as the TT other than practicality.
The Swift Sport is a good shout. I spent most of 2008/9 driving one and I really liked it. She drove it once too and quite liked it. They are a good little car, not hugely fast but a good handler and with a nice revvy engine.
I still feel as though she is leaning towards the Audi. I am not hugely struck on the Mini. The thought of having to sit in that interior doesn't help. It's really a car I'll be driven about in more than anything. If I was driving I'd just take the Rallye. So maybe the TT is a better shout. I love Civic Type R's but I suspect she will think they are too 'boy racer-ish'.
I still feel as though she is leaning towards the Audi. I am not hugely struck on the Mini. The thought of having to sit in that interior doesn't help. It's really a car I'll be driven about in more than anything. If I was driving I'd just take the Rallye. So maybe the TT is a better shout. I love Civic Type R's but I suspect she will think they are too 'boy racer-ish'.
I don't think a diesel will fit the bill. She doesn't drive far enough day to day to warm a diesel engine through. And then when it starts going wrong in an expensive way like diesels are inclined to do, she will hit the roof. Also, I have to drive it too, on occasion, any I'd do anything to avoid a diesel!
Willy Nilly said:
Is the 8 miles, 4 there and 4 back. What about a decent bicycle? Cheap and you would have a really trim wife in no time 
Yes. 4 miles there, 7 or 8 hours at work and then back again. Obviously trips to the shops are slightly longer and we do the occasional trip to the Lake District or Scotland too, usually in my car though. I can't see any point in diesel on those sorts of journeys. Better to enjoy the cheaper to run and better to drive petrol. The Lupo GTi seems like a fair bet too. If I could find a tidy, unmolested one I am sure she would warm to that. We need a hot hatch household! If only she would have a 306 Rallye...!
Gaz. said:
UK spec Integra?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/h...
Meets all three of your points, not RWD, not VAG and you'll both enjoy it.
My brother suggested that last night. At first I thought 'no way', but now I am considering proposing this. In all likelihood she'll think it's horrible, but it's a better steer than the Audi TT!http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/h...
Meets all three of your points, not RWD, not VAG and you'll both enjoy it.
The Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 T Spark looks really good. Surprised I didn't think of that, I saw one the other day and gawping at it. I had considered buying one myself, on more than one occasion! I was looking at the V6 though.
So, if I were to get a GTV for the missus, would it leave me ruined and broke (and her hating me for getting her a s
tty car)?
So, if I were to get a GTV for the missus, would it leave me ruined and broke (and her hating me for getting her a s
tty car)?Baryonyx said:
The Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 T Spark looks really good. Surprised I didn't think of that, I saw one the other day and gawping at it. I had considered buying one myself, on more than one occasion! I was looking at the V6 though.
So, if I were to get a GTV for the missus, would it leave me ruined and broke (and her hating me for getting her a stty car)?
I'd say the GT Coupe is a tad more practical than a GTV. It'll be a JTS though not T.Spark.So, if I were to get a GTV for the missus, would it leave me ruined and broke (and her hating me for getting her a s
tty car)?Depends on whether you wife is a woman or a lady.
If she's a woman then a wide range of cars, mini, BMW, Golf, Mazda, all will do... let her take her pick.
But if she is a lady, then it must be an Alfa Romeo. Alfa's suit ladies....
Driven by a gentleman there’s a slight and appealingly caddish quality about an Alfa and the driver. But driven by a lady, well, then there’s the suggestion of the seductress and the dangerous. You know that here’s someone who sees beyond the mechanical, the leather and the metal. Rather this is a lady who can sense the romance and who feels the passion of the car's heritage. A true lady has an air of class about her. This class also applies to Alfa Romeo as a brand and a product: a Countess would drive an Alfa; a reality TV celebrity would drive something far more vulgar.
For true, hot blooded males, a glance at a lady driving an Alfa is a sensual pleasure. Should eye contact be made then it becomes an almost flirtatious act. But be in no doubt chaps, the lady knows what you’re thinking. And since Alfa Romeos have a soul so does her car.
p.s. My wife drives an Alfa Romeo. She is a lady. I don’t know whether that makes me a gentleman or not
If she's a woman then a wide range of cars, mini, BMW, Golf, Mazda, all will do... let her take her pick.
But if she is a lady, then it must be an Alfa Romeo. Alfa's suit ladies....
Driven by a gentleman there’s a slight and appealingly caddish quality about an Alfa and the driver. But driven by a lady, well, then there’s the suggestion of the seductress and the dangerous. You know that here’s someone who sees beyond the mechanical, the leather and the metal. Rather this is a lady who can sense the romance and who feels the passion of the car's heritage. A true lady has an air of class about her. This class also applies to Alfa Romeo as a brand and a product: a Countess would drive an Alfa; a reality TV celebrity would drive something far more vulgar.
For true, hot blooded males, a glance at a lady driving an Alfa is a sensual pleasure. Should eye contact be made then it becomes an almost flirtatious act. But be in no doubt chaps, the lady knows what you’re thinking. And since Alfa Romeos have a soul so does her car.
p.s. My wife drives an Alfa Romeo. She is a lady. I don’t know whether that makes me a gentleman or not
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