What to do..

[kieranblenk]

Hoping the wisdom of PH can offer some guidance here.

So, the situation. Currently I have a 2 year old Fabia Monte Carlo, it's a very good car but despite the body kit and stripy seats it's fairly humdrum VAG standard stuff. I've had a settlement on the finance and I'm more or less Even Stevens between the settlement and the current value, so I've been looking to change for something else, ideally a bit more fun but still fairly sensible (Mini Cooper S is top of that list currently).

At the same time, my nan has recently hung up the keys at the age of 76 and has offered me first refusal of her pristine 04 plate Micra SE automatic which she's cherished for over 11 years and has less than 44,000 miles on the clock. This car has a huge amount of sentimental value so I'm sorely tempted to take her up on the offer, use it as a runabout and buy something sportier to replace the Skoda. The alternative is to help my nan sell it on to a good home.

Should I choose to take the Micra, the sticking point would come with what to do with the Skoda. I'd be looking at buying or leasing something a bit more fun to run alongside the Micra. We also have a 65 plate diesel Clio which is my partner's car.

I've been looking at spending around £10k, or up to £250 amortised on a lease/PCP. The requirements are as follows;-

-Whatever I buy needs to be automatic.
-Needs to be sensible insurance as I'm only 22, max 2.0 engine and 200bhp really.
-I'm not bothered about outright performance, I'd rather have a decent chassis.
- I'm 6ft 2 so needs to accommodate me comfortably.
-I'd prefer something as new as possible really
-Would like something reliable and reasonably cheap to run
-Cabrio would be nice but not essential

The options I've considered so far are:-

Mini Hatch/Coupe/Roadster - great value and I like the looks
Abarth 595 - love these but a little cramped inside
Abarth 124 lease - tempting on the current deals to be honest but insurance is on the high side
SLK - insurance is hefty
1 series Coupe/Cabrio - 50/50 on these
Audi TT - not a fan plus high on insurance
MX5 - not keen
Peugeot RCZ - I like these but autos are hard to find.

Sorry for the long post, just looking for some insight on anything I've missed out please! I'm 50/50 on the Micra currently, I know it's just a Micra to most people but it is a big part of the family.

[gman88667733]

I quite like a Micra automatic. My grandparents have one and it's been faultless in the years and years they've had it. Seems quite peppy too actually, all things considered.
I say go for it, it won't set the world on fire, but hopefully it'll be nice cheap motoring!

[ZX10R NIN]

The fact that your looking to buy another car to run alongside the Micra kind of tells you that it should go, isn't there anyone else in the family who could take it.

My first pick would be the Giulietta in Veloce/Sportiva spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...