Cars - Advice/Opinions needed please!

[Stevepage]

I'm in the same boat. I was looking at getting a Fiesta ST but, with fuel going up in price as it is and having a higher insurance group it would cost me too much even though I absolutely love it.

Vauxhall Astra's do quite well on diesel. Around the 57 mpg mark, but they're not quick (about 0 - 60 in 14 seconds) but you can get an Astra's that'll do 0 - 60 in under 10 seconds and get around the higher 40's low 50's mpg mark.

[ToneMonkey]

The wifes Yaris is really good on fuel. It's a 1.3 petrol and has 100bhp, so fairly nippy day to day.  I've got a diesel Astra Sporthatch (150bhp version) and the Yaris has much more room inside (and in the boot).

I don't usually give cars names, but we call this one The Turdis as it's massive on the outside and tiny on the inside.  I'd avoid Vauxhall in general, but don't get a sport hatch.

Let me know how the A3 goes.  Personally I'm not into them (had the chance of getting one).  I don't think I could live with the ride quality.  My mate who works for the tuning company thinks they're the worst car built on that platform (Golf, Leon etc).

[_tom_]

Focus feel nice and solid, and the boot space is massive! I almost got one but had a go in the Fiesta and it was so much more fun to drive :P Wasn't the sensible option though, since the Focus was meant to get about 55mpg and tax was only around £60 a year I think!

[Stevepage]

My Focus costs £63 for 6 months tax Tom. 1 year is £130 which is still cheap compared to similar cars.

[ToneMonkey]

Vauxhall Astra's do quite well on diesel. Around the 57 mpg mark, but they're not quick (about 0 - 60 in 14 seconds) but you can get an Astra's that'll do 0 - 60 in under 10 seconds and get around the higher 40's low 50's mpg mark.

Ha ha, didn't see this post before I made mine.  I've got the fast Diesel Astra (only the VXR is faster) and get around 43mpg on average.  I don't drive slowly, but I don't drive like a dick either.

They're typically Vauxhall.  Decent engine mated to a gear box with the wrong ratios and a shoddy car around it.  Mines an 08 plate and I've had it from new.  It was delivered with a bit of trim hanging off and some of the seats are becoming unstiched.  The handlings a bit iffy too, feels like you have to stop it parking up a tree if you have to break hard.

For a while I had the 5 door version that was a petrol auto.  It drank more fuel that the 20 year old auto BMW that I have (which I need to sell to go on holiday.  Only got 60,000 on the clock and was definately the best car I've ever had).

EDIT
Make that 44.1mpg. Just checked it on the way back from the Docs.

[Brow]

Cheers for the new opinions :)

My current car is £245 a year tax, but only about £500 on insurance as I have to go to a modified insurer as a previous owner put a big exhaust on it and tinted the windows  :lol:

The 2.0 TDCI Focus and the 2.0 TDI A3 Sportback are both £125 a year road tax but both are over £600 insurance from a 'normal' insurance company even though they're less powerful and lower insurance groups than my current car.

I guess it's down to the fact that they're 07 and 08 plate cars whereas mine is a 54 plate?

[ToneMonkey]

I'm being forced to sit here very still, so I thought I'd have a browse of Auto Trader.  How's this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201103377456716/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/10000/make/honda/page/1/postcode/le94jf/radius/1501?logcode=p

Might have to buy this one myself, it's amazing what 10 grand gets you:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201103377391215/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/price-to/10000/fuel-type/diesel/model/brera/make/alfa_romeo/page/1/postcode/le94jf/radius/1501?logcode=p

I like this game:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201041370394469/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/10000/model/lancer/make/mitsubishi/page/1/postcode/le94jf/radius/1501?logcode=p

[Davey]

i vote for the Ti focus.

my mom has a c-max, which is the retarded cousin of the focus and
a: it drives surprisingly well (even after i stuck it in a ditch, roof down)

b: it pretty much never goes above 7.5l/100km (strictly town cycle) .. my alfa does that on the motorway. if you run the ford on the motorway it drops down to 4.7 (it's a 1.6 TDCI)

c: it's REALLY roomy, in the front, in the back and you can get a halfstack AND two guitar cases minimum in the back, without folding the seats down

d: It's a ford and pretty much never goes wrong (even if you're an idiot with it), where a renult will.. that's why the spare parts are a dime a dozen.


P.S.
Dont buy an Alfa Romeo :D .. unless it's built after 2005 :D

[38thBeatle]

I get around 55 mpg from my Peugeot 308 HDi.

How are those to drive?

I learnt to drive in some of the smaller Peugeots but haven't been in 1 since.

Quite nice actually6- good roadholding and the steering is nicely balanced.The engine is superb and acceleration between 50 and 70 is good. I agree with Ratty that changing headlamp bulbs is a bit fiddly but I haven't had to do that on this one.

[Brow]

I'm being forced to sit here very still, so I thought I'd have a browse of Auto Trader.  How's this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201103377456716/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/10000/make/honda/page/1/postcode/le94jf/radius/1501?logcode=p

Might have to buy this one myself, it's amazing what 10 grand gets you:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201103377391215/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/price-to/10000/fuel-type/diesel/model/brera/make/alfa_romeo/page/1/postcode/le94jf/radius/1501?logcode=p

I like this game:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201041370394469/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/10000/model/lancer/make/mitsubishi/page/1/postcode/le94jf/radius/1501?logcode=p

Thanks for the links :) The Civic is 1 I've been unsure about tbh and is 1 I've never looked into. I've looked into some car mags and they all say the engine in the Civic is the best most reliable diesel engine in this size hatchback, which is a good sign I guess! I've added it to the list to check out more in person.

i vote for the Ti focus.

my mom has a c-max, which is the retarded cousin of the focus and
a: it drives surprisingly well (even after i stuck it in a ditch, roof down)

b: it pretty much never goes above 7.5l/100km (strictly town cycle) .. my alfa does that on the motorway. if you run the ford on the motorway it drops down to 4.7 (it's a 1.6 TDCI)

c: it's REALLY roomy, in the front, in the back and you can get a halfstack AND two guitar cases minimum in the back, without folding the seats down

d: It's a ford and pretty much never goes wrong (even if you're an idiot with it), where a renult will.. that's why the spare parts are a dime a dozen.

P.S.
Dont buy an Alfa Romeo :D .. unless it's built after 2005 :D

The Focus is definitely the favourite of the 2 I've driven so far. I'm hopefully trying the A3 and a Civic at the weekend so I'll see how they compare to the Focus :)

Quite nice actually6- good roadholding and the steering is nicely balanced.The engine is superb and acceleration between 50 and 70 is good. I agree with Ratty that changing headlamp bulbs is a bit fiddly but I haven't had to do that on this one.

Thanks for the info. I'll keep an eye open over the weekend and see if I see any around to check out.

[Matt77]

I have a DS3. Just big enough to fit my gear in with the back seat down.
0-60 in about 11 and 75 MPG
you'd need to find a 2nd hand one though to fit your budget and they are about as manly as an MX-5. (My previous girl car)

I'd go for a diesel Focus if I were you

[Davey]

I WANT A DS3 !!!!



oh ..

resume :P

[Brow]

I have a DS3. Just big enough to fit my gear in with the back seat down.
0-60 in about 11 and 75 MPG
you'd need to find a 2nd hand one though to fit your budget and they are about as manly as an MX-5. (My previous girl car)

I'd go for a diesel Focus if I were you

I'd never heard of the DS3 before so had to google it. I like a bigger car than that tbh, but glad you like yours! :)

The Focus is still the leader at this moment in time although I am now considering the Civic a bit more!  :lol:

Let me know how the A3 goes.  Personally I'm not into them (had the chance of getting one).  I don't think I could live with the ride quality.  My mate who works for the tuning company thinks they're the worst car built on that platform (Golf, Leon etc).

Sorry, only just read this properly  :?

Yeah I'll post back what I think if I get the chance to try 1 :)

[d1dsj]

Another vote for the Focus here mate. The VFM is excellent, loads of "extras" as standard, superb build, good performance/ economy and they hold their value. We have an 05 petrol Ghia and when I can I'm going for the Focus Ti TDi too. The only reason I'm in no hurry is because ours although just over 5 years old has only done 27K from new as it only really gets used by my better half.

[Ratrod]

Never buy a Diesel Alfa. Not because they're not good or anyting but because it's blasphemy.