What Car? 6K, Small, Refined?

[Aiten]

Morning all.

Me and O/H have been discussing replacing her car.

At the moment we have a '09 1.2 KA as the only car in the household. She walks, I drive the 40 miles to work everyday, the majority of which is dual carriageways and motorways

I am finding the noise is getting on my nerves (I measured it at 70-80db), but quiet normally comes with larger cars. Our driveway is tiny and goes on to a public path - we just about fit the KA on it.

We could park on the road, but I know the O/H is stubborn and won't drive a car if it is too big (and if we p/x the KA, it'll still be her car).

We've also been talking about driving around France for a holiday adventure, and I don't think either of us will enjoy a long trip in the KA.

So the criteria is:
- Up to about £6k (if more, we'd have to postpone to save up)
- Something with a little poke as I am driving it 9/10 times (0-60 sub 10s?)
- About the same length as a KA
- Quiet
- Reasonable running costs

Options I can think of are:

Panda 100hp - Reports of it being noisy at speed.
Abarth 500 - Pushing the budget
Twingo GT/RS - Guessing will be noisy/rattly
A1 - Out of budget
197 Clio - Too long
172/182 Clio - Too noisy
Fiesta - Too long

I know the choose 2 rule, but I wonder if I am missing any options?
I've got the feeling we'll have to stop using the drive and get a larger car, or buy some ear plugs.

[GAjon]

Mazda 2 sport

[littleandy0410]

MINI Cooper?

Suzuki Swift Sport?

[skyrover]

There are no cars which meet your criteria. Small city cars by their very nature are unrefined due to the short wheelbase and minimal room for sound deadening.

Realistically you are looking at vw golf or focus sized vehicles as a starting point.

[wiliferus]

Volvo C30. Second hand bargains!

[va1o]

Current shape Polo offers best in class refinement and comfort. Look for one of those with the 1.2 TSI engine (6-speed manual) which is quiet at speed and offers good performance. Just about do-able on that budget but will be high miles e.g. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[VF7]

Lupo GTI

[Miglia 888]

2005-2008 Mercedes A200?

[va1o]

Miglia 888 said:

2005-2008 Mercedes A200?

Forgot about those, that's actually a really good call. We had an A150 Avantgarde in the fleet for a few years and it was a relaxing car over long journeys. Just as long as you stick to the petrol engines (diesel too noisy) it should meet the criteria nicely. Only 3.8M long.

[Ten Four]

Best I could do OP

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

^Keep you very very happy with that peach of an engine, rwd, spec list / history...


Or the more sensible (boring) option?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-1-SERIES-120d-SE-5dr...

[Aiten]

I missed lots of options apparently! I like the look of that Polo. I'm surprised at the power the squeezed out from a 1.2.

Thanks all, very useful.

[DAmiJO]

Bmw 1 series?

How can ford fiesta be too long

[Pesty]

wiliferus said:

Volvo C30. Second hand bargains!

This

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Edited by Pesty on Saturday 22 March 12:25

[Pesty]

I suppose it's all relative I thought they were compact. Somewhere between fiesta or focus.

As somebody put above tiny doesn't really fit with refined.

[ImpossiblyDaft]

The Fiesta is too big? I know it's a foot longer than the Ka, but you're not going to find much that's any smaller. Virtually all cars in that category (Clio, Polo, etc.) are around 3.9m now.

[Pesty]

Ten Four said:

Best I could do OP

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

^Keep you very very happy with that peach of an engine, rwd, spec list / history...

Ooooh I like that

[MattyB_]

Try a 9n3 Polo GTi.

It's dull, but the 1.8T is pokey enough, options like heated leather, parking sensors, climatronic are available. It's fairly refined, easy 30+ MPG around town. Well screwed together and I've yet to have any issues with mine.

Like I say, it's not really a GTi in spirit, but it's a solid, comfortable, good little commuter car. Like this (Although no options on this one):
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

[Aiten]

ImpossiblyDaft said:

The Fiesta is too big? I know it's a foot longer than the Ka, but you're not going to find much that's any smaller. Virtually all cars in that category (Clio, Polo, etc.) are around 3.9m now.

Ideally, We'd like to keep parking on the drive. I just measured the drive and wall to path is 3.3m. I can see the reality is that we'll probably have to get a bigger car to get the refinements and park on the road.

[Jim AK]

Pesty said:

Ten Four said:

Best I could do OP

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

^Keep you very very happy with that peach of an engine, rwd, spec list / history...

Ooooh I like that

You won't when it goes wrong........... And it will.

I have just paid £1200 for repairs to idrive system on 1 of same vintage.

[Axionknight]

wiliferus said:

Volvo C30. Second hand bargains!

This, I had one for four years, anything with the 1.8 petrol or bigger will be fine.