Help choosing new car

[Eifion]

Hi-need to change wife's car, Mini Cooper. I use this about 50% of the time so want something that we both like but I do lots of miles 2 and from work so need something fairly comfortable but also fairly economical (boring i know but I'm not made of cash).

Want something faster that the Cooper (but have ruled out newer Cooper S as we want a change) so I'm considering turbo diesels, like the Leon Cupra R/FR. Only thing is wife hates this car in particular the inside although it ticks all the boxes otherwise. Any other suggestions?

Just looking at 0-60s etc for diesels is that the right thing to do or are they more about torque and overtaking power etc? Only diesel I drive is my bosses occasionally, Audi A6 2.7 tdi, don't want anything that size though, Leon's as big as we want to go, somthing small as we already have a big motor for the kids etc.

Hope you can help??

[OnTheOverrun]

Buy whatever you like best by distracting her with a new pair of shoes.

[Emsman]

Skoda fabia vrs.

Had a go in the new one, it's a great car if you can get past the badge

[Eifion]

Has taken ages to convince her to part with Mini so new shoes won't do I'm afraid-she quite likes her motors too.

[chrisispringles]

Golf GT TDi, BMW 330d, Skodia Fabia vRS diesel. If not one of these what about a Volvo S60 D5 or Mercedes C320 CDi. All of them are relatively cheap and economical and pretty quick too.

[ewenm]

Mini D - as she already likes the car
Volvo C30 2.0d - lovely interior, not a bad drive.

Edited by ewenm on Wednesday 11th August 22:52

[Eifion]

Volvo C30-not thought of that one, nice looking car too...don't think Fabia will be pretty enough to please the Mrs though, had thought about that one briefly.

Thanks guys, I think I might take a trip to myu local Volvo dealer (never thought I'd say that!).

Might also take a look at the Mito TB.

[anonymous-user]

Eifion said:

Volvo C30-not thought of that one, nice looking car too...don't think Fabia will be pretty enough to please the Mrs though, had thought about that one briefly.

Thanks guys, I think I might take a trip to myu local Volvo dealer (never thought I'd say that!).

Might also take a look at the Mito TB.

All the Mito engines are very econmical and the new Cloverleaf is a good drice! If you are looking for somthing with a bit of style to keep the wife happy what about a Citroen DS3? Has some very good magazine ratings.

[300bhp/ton]

Eifion said:

Hi-need to change wife's car, Mini Cooper. I use this about 50% of the time so want something that we both like but I do lots of miles 2 and from work so need something fairly comfortable but also fairly economical (boring i know but I'm not made of cash).

Want something faster that the Cooper (but have ruled out newer Cooper S as we want a change) so I'm considering turbo diesels, like the Leon Cupra R/FR. Only thing is wife hates this car in particular the inside although it ticks all the boxes otherwise. Any other suggestions?

Just looking at 0-60s etc for diesels is that the right thing to do or are they more about torque and overtaking power etc? Only diesel I drive is my bosses occasionally, Audi A6 2.7 tdi, don't want anything that size though, Leon's as big as we want to go, somthing small as we already have a big motor for the kids etc.

Hope you can help??

What sort of budget?

Personally I can fully understand the Leon thing, next to a MINI it's dull, boring and rather drab. Inside and out. I also highly doubt it'd be as much fun to drive either.

0-60mph is a stat, but it's a bit meaningless overall. Diesels have a very different character, some like, some hate.


While I hate to point the obvious, I do think another MINI might be the answer.

Sadly speed is likely to cost though.

The new Dooper (Cooper D) with a re-map is quite spritely. And of course a Cooper S. The R56 is also much better on fuel than the R53's, although arguably not such a good drive.

Fiat 500 is quite funnky, although the 1.4 isn't fast but the Abarth is.

Corsa VXR, gets good reviews.

Alfa Mito.

Or if you don't need 4 seats how about something like a Mazda MX-5 or even a Daihatsu Copen for some open air thrills.

[10JH]

Reanaultsport Megane got some impressive reviews.

Not too hardcore for everyday use either.

[ewenm]

Eifion said:

Volvo C30-not thought of that one, nice looking car too...don't think Fabia will be pretty enough to please the Mrs though, had thought about that one briefly.

Thanks guys, I think I might take a trip to myu local Volvo dealer (never thought I'd say that!).

Might also take a look at the Mito TB.

We were impressed with our C30 right from the start of the test drive (in stark contrast to the BMW 1-Series we tested before that) and were very happy with the car over the year we had it. We only changed it because the boot really is small and we're expecting a baby - some friends of ours (same ante-natal class) are keeping theirs but we couldn't be bothered with every trip becoming a logistical packing challenge. Apart from that, great car.

[_Batty_]

ewenm said:

Eifion said:

Volvo C30-not thought of that one, nice looking car too...don't think Fabia will be pretty enough to please the Mrs though, had thought about that one briefly.

Thanks guys, I think I might take a trip to myu local Volvo dealer (never thought I'd say that!).

Might also take a look at the Mito TB.

We were impressed with our C30 right from the start of the test drive (in stark contrast to the BMW 1-Series we tested before that) and were very happy with the car over the year we had it. We only changed it because the boot really is small and we're expecting a baby - some friends of ours (same ante-natal class) are keeping theirs but we couldn't be bothered with every trip becoming a logistical packing challenge. Apart from that, great car.

congrats mate!

[ewenm]

_Batty_ said:

ewenm said:

Eifion said:

Volvo C30-not thought of that one, nice looking car too...don't think Fabia will be pretty enough to please the Mrs though, had thought about that one briefly.

Thanks guys, I think I might take a trip to myu local Volvo dealer (never thought I'd say that!).

Might also take a look at the Mito TB.

We were impressed with our C30 right from the start of the test drive (in stark contrast to the BMW 1-Series we tested before that) and were very happy with the car over the year we had it. We only changed it because the boot really is small and we're expecting a baby - some friends of ours (same ante-natal class) are keeping theirs but we couldn't be bothered with every trip becoming a logistical packing challenge. Apart from that, great car.

congrats mate!

3 weeks to go! But she has said I mustn't sell the Caterham

[edo]

123d?