Which car!?! ?

[Leemcd]

Hi all,

Apologies for the long winded first post! Anyhow my dilemma is as follows:-

I have been driving a rather unappealing and very burgundy rover 45 for the past 18 months, on the whole it has been reliable and dare I say ok to drive. It is however the butt of jokes at my work/ in laws!

I am now in the position of having around 3.5k to spend on a car, but I don't know what?!? I have looked at:-

Audi a3 2.0 fsi or diesel
Golf - either petrol or diesel
Astra 1.8 sri (exterior pack) or 1.7 cdti (not 1.9 too many issues)

And the usual constant auto trader searches!!
Cover about 40 miles a day, I know diesel is more economical however issues with turbos, dmf, egrs put me off!

Are there any owners of the above who could give feedback or indeed any other suggestions on a suitable new car!!

[Fleckers]

If you are worried about turbos, dmf, egrs etc then its petrol

if you dont know whihc to get I would get a picture of each and what ever you like the look of the best get that

if it were my money

Astra SRi

[430T]

Astra.

[JREwing]

For me it'd be the Astra.

[Leemcd]

Thanks for the responses guys, the astra is decent looking with the xp kit and the nice wheels as standard

[HustleRussell]

The Focus is a more entertaining car to drive and you'll get a later one for your money than you would on a Golf or A3.

[Leemcd]

True, the a3 and golf option is all high miles 2003/ 2004. Very tempted by diesel just with a simple petrol engine this surely cuts back on things going wrong. Which is how I arrived at the astra 1.8 sri, no turbos etc to worry about. Famous last words

[HustleRussell]

The Astra 1.7 diesel and 1.8 petrol engines are old now. I had the 1.8 in an Insignia and it was dog slow and ridiculously thirsty.

[clockworks]

What's wrong with the 1.9CDTi engine? I had one in a Vectra (SRi 150), and I still think it's the best 4-pot I've ever had. It was a company car, and I did almost 120k miles in it over 3 and a half years. Easy to average 50mpg, plenty of power, and totally reliable - apart from the manifold problem it came out of the factory with.

[LuS1fer]

Diesels kill your soul when you drive them. Soon you believe they are good and your life is over.

[Willy Nilly]

If the only problem with the Rover is you getting a ribbing you should just grow a pair. If it is reliable, keep looking after it and run it until it drops and keep saving your money. £3.5 grand might buy you a whole pile of trouble.

[JREwing]

Actually, the option presented by Willy Nilly is the one I'd choose personally.

[Leemcd]

Problem with the 1.9 cdti is, inlet manifold, gearboxes, and quite a lot more, a friend had this and a big bill, constant problems!

And the issue with the rover is the head gasket has started to go (k-seal had temporarily sorted this) and I'm sick of driving it to be honest! And if I don't spend it on a car the mrs will only spend it!