Well my Clio defiantly isn't going pass its next Mot so I need to start looking at replacements. I am in my twenties so I figure now is probably my best opportunity to get something fun to drive before I have a family and a mortgage etc to pay for. I have about 6000 - 10 000 to spend, I would prefer a manual diesal and something which is economical but with some bite, mid range kind of size, 5 doors sporty looks. Just looking for some recommendations maybe of your own car or a friends, also I have been looking at some hire/purchase deals does anyone have any experience with these also. Thank you
Okay, I've picked the sensible makes in your realistic price range, and chosen a few highlights an best of 5 doors mid-size hatches for you. I'd like to give an honourable mention to the FIAT 500, it's a top car, doesn't really meet your needs, but worth taking for a drive (just avoid anything that looks vaguely like a speed bump in one - they are horrendous with bumps!). I've left out MINIs as I'm not a fan. They are for rich parents to buy their daughter, or for 40 year old men picking up those daughters. Not to mention that if you can finder a mini cooper that does over 35mpg I'll buy you a pint! FORD: The car of the moment in that price range is the newer model Fiesta http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/fiesta-2008/ The new models of KA are great little run arounds and can be great fin with a bigger engine, assuming you can get over the shock of owning a KA, and that you don't mind that the ignorant masses will think its the plastic bucket of crap it was a few years ago. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/ka-2008/ VW: A 2009+ new model golf (Mark 6) is very good as is the slightly older Mark 5, but unless your a brand lover, golf's simply aren't what the used to be. Every man and his dog will recommend a Golf down the local pub, but the truth is the last two models have performed woefully in reliability terms and 'buying German' is no longer synonymous with quality. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volkswagen/golf-vi-2009/ Polo's are probably the way to go now if you're set on a VW and not too worried about what the man on the street says. That said VW seems to have stayed still and trade on their old rep and brand, while a lot of other makers have moved on, so going VW at all at the moment is questionable/ Interesting the new UP! looks like a winner for a tiny city car, but doesn't meet your needs. HONDA: The Jazz is a fantastic car, but isn't pretty and isn't really very fun. If you;re after practical, reliable and good MPG it's a clear winner, but honestly I couldn't live with it in my drive. The Civic has been out done and dated for a long-time, there's a new 2012 model that looks very promising, but you'll be far better off in the second-hand market, so we'll skip it. Citroen: The C1 is a good little car, nothing special and not what your looking for. It's been a bad few years for Citroen, so we wont be looking here. Hyundai: A real bench mark setter, the C1, C2 and C3 are all very decent cars, well priced, good looking and sensible. Tend to have all the gadgets and mod-cons as standard too. Definitely worth a look. There'll be new models this year again, all given a sharper/meaner look. KIA: New boys on the block. The Ceed and the Pro Ceed are both excellent value cars. Given your specs the Pro Ceed is worth a look, tough to pick up second hand, but they're fun, reliable and not bad looking. Build quality and finish leave something to be desired, but that#s reflected in the price. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/kia/pro_ceed-2008/ MAZDA: A personal favourite of mine that also meets all your criteria is the Mazda3, it's an excellent car and certainly looks the part. But it will certainly be knocking on the door of the top end of your budget. The Mazda 2 is a more sensible idea, still great, and looks nearly as good. Defiantly the lookers of the bunch. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/3-2009/ SEAT: The Ibiza is a good care, fun to drive. But very common, there's a lot of them about and it just doesn't feel at all special. The LEON is a personal all-time favourite of mine, fantastic care based on the Golf - but much better handling and loads more torque. It's very dated at the moment, so probably too old for your needs, but I'm told a new one is coming in 2013 (I'll be in line to try it). http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/seat/ibiza-iv-2008/ SKODA: I've possibly saved the best to last. The new Fabia (3) is an excellent all rounder, it's got plenty of options to keep it updated and special (Monte Carlo model is very nice, and I drive a Blue Line myself). The real cream of the crop for you however might be a VRS, named the best value sports car for the last 2 years running, can compete with a lot of higher end cars, but can also function very happily as a normal 5 door hatch. It looks good, without looking like a boy racer. It out performs a Golf but costs much less and gives very decent mpg, particularly on a diesel engine. If you can live with a Skoda badge, then the VRS is my pick of the bunch. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/skoda/fabia-vrs-2010/ (oh and anybody that tells you a Fabia is just a poor man's Polo...be sure to point out that the Polo actually uses a Skoda designed and built engine and has done for the last few years...not the other way around). Peugeot, Renault, Toyota & Nissan haven't been at the races in the decent mid-sized car market for a long time - don't get me wrong, they've got some astounding little cars between them and some great sport numbers. But no 5 doors hatches that are worth mentioning here. Thew...
Can give a vote to the new fiesta Got the 1.4 diesel, Its a brilliant thing. As for a hire scheme I am on one with a company called Hitachi My dad found them, am paying about £220 a month for the car, insurance, MOT, Tax, breakdown cover, The works all i get is fuel. Can highly reccomend them
I've just got a 12 plate Seat Leon FR 140 Diesel (Pics in the what car do you drive thread), having test drove a multitude of cars this year, New Focus, New B-Class, New C4 and the DS3 D-Sport+ among others, I certainly wouldn't say the outgoing facelift Leon looks dated, in fact I've had nothing but positive feedback, led tail lights, hidden rear door handles etc, puts this up there with any other euro box out there, and the handling is unreal. I would say, if you go for a VAG based diesel, either the 140 or 170, they both can be mapped to stupid levels with none of the remapping drawbacks from the likes of Vauxhall etc (dmf flywheel failure fun! ). If you want a car in which everyone stops and looks, try and have a test drive of the old Citroen C4 Coupe, we owned one for a couple of years, the quality inside was pretty decent, handling was ok, but the thing that stands out, is this car is a REAL head turner, and I lost count of the amount of people that used to come up an ask about it whenever it was parked up. Or you know, you could go for a Focus
The only fun car suggested so far. Why do you want a diesel? Unless you do lots of motorway miles a petrol very often works out nearly the same cost (higher initial purchase price on a diesel, even used) and are often more fun, which is the objective. In my experience a fun diesel ends up being neither - the suspension is too hard to be comfy through normal trips, then it's just not fun when you want to play. They always serve up impressive torque, but I've never thought "wow" in a diesel. For your budget I'd consider having two cars - something along the lines of a diesel Mondeo, something comfy and a mile muncher for the week, then a stripped-out fast road blaster for the weekend (e.g. E30 325i stripped, caged and with some proper suspension - you could even get a welded up diff for some dab-of-oppo action).
Leon cupra tdi plus remap. Friend had a clio, drank fuel, wasn't as fast as his previous golf... Also, it's French, so they only come broken or pre-breaking
My wife's cooper clubman is averaging ~47mpg, & she treats the throttle like an on switch. Pint of export please? Sadly, I also have a mini (not a clubman, nor a cooper), am over 40 and do not have any daughters.....but moot in context of OP as he asked for 5 doors! They are actually fun to drive though. Re the Jazz, lots of electrical problems, MIL had one & it was awful to drive, poor handling & didn't feel like it would take any knocks. SHe traded it in for...a mini cooper convertible, autobox. I'm fairly sure she's getting a tad over 40mpg.... 6-10k would pick you up a decent age BMW 1 or 3 series, just remember you don't get let out at junctions with that badge on the bonnet. You'd also get a fairly mint 04 plate TD5 Discovery, but I suspect that's a different kind of sport to the one I think you mean when you say Sporty looking!
I disagree completely, a friend has just recently purchased the new Corsa VXR Nurononenooburgerburg edition, you only have to look at it funny and it pisses fuel away, don't get me wrong, it's incredibly fun and quick but my god you need a direct line to to shell. Where did the suspension comment come from?, if anything I've found diesels to have a slightly more spongy setup
One word... Torque. Seriously, Leon cupra tdi with a remap.I drive a tdi and the difference in economy between flooring it all the time and driving like a normal human being is minimal. Ps. The suspension comment is a bit strange... Depends on the model you buy. You buy a sports model, it's going to be different to the Eco version... You can't just say they have spongy suspension. Because "normal" models always do have sub par suspension and body roll.
I'm looking for something along the same lines as you at the moment, settled on a diesel Skoda Octavia VRS to replace my current 1.4 petrol fabia which is getting a bit long in the tooth. Having test driven one I'd highly recommend them, the diesel is fast and fun but you can get good mpg on the motorway. Bit bigger than you might be looking for, but I know you can get a 2007-2008 one with around 40k miles for 10 grand.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Just answer the question about why I want a diesal, I often drive between Nottingham and Chester at least 2 times a month and this will continue for the foreseeable future. I will also be driving back and forth daily to Liverpool soon as well as visiting clients etc so I am looking for excellant Mpg for those long journeys but hopefully a bit of bite for some fun down the back roads etc. Also my dad has a local buisness with a fuel card which I can use as long as its diesal. Seems to be alot of love for the SEAT leon here It looks a great car but a little niggle what are the wipers like if I recall there different to other cars and the suspension sounds a little iffy. Skodas I have driven an Octavia not really a fan tbh its a little big a Fabia instead sounds interesting, friend of mine has one so might see if I can give it a go. Not intrested in a MINI I get mocked enough for the Clio at the mo (no offense) BMW not really my thing although the new 5 door Audi A1 looked interesting but no doubt over priced. Krikkit I wish I could afford to insure and tax two cars, thats another thing cheaper tax on a diesal. Clio V6 I do like the car but I am looking for more room not less. Driven the new fiesta, visibility inside is pretty bad and its hard to know where the bumbers are so not a fan. Will have a look at some Mazdas and Hyundai to. Cheers guys.
Sorry I have to disagree here - not with the V6, but rather the phase 2 (if you mean this shape) the best V6 shape was the MK1 clio (not the V6 model, picture just for illustration) however finding them these days is just imposible
Don't get me wrong, I love the LEON, just don't like the newer models quite as much as the older ones. But a whole new model next year, so, as I said, I'm sure i'll be switching back The VRS and LEON look like winners so far, I strongly recommend a VRS test drive, it's such a lot of car for the cash and the insurance isn't at all bad for a car with it's power either.
I'm going to put a vote in for the vRS as well, Mum's got the Octavia verion, and boy can it shift when you give it some beans.
Just noticed the OP sig...Architecture student.... You do know SAAB residuals have just taken a massive knock, right? I thought it was mandatory for all architects to have owned a saab at least once in their lives. Kinda like the old saying that you're not a true petrolhead till you've owned an Alfa (coincidentally my first car was a Guillietta, and I'd only recommend that particular vehicle to someone I don't like much). Funny thing about the BMW Mini, yes, they get lots of slagging off by folk that have never driven one, but take a look at the residuals on them. There's a reason for that. But as already said, 5 door not an option so it's moot.
I'd go for the Fabia VRS or the Leon Cupra. Skodas er basically VW's for cheaper money and the Leon Cupra is a GREAT drive.
Does it have to be new? My parents have always bought second hand cars as you get so much more car for you money. New cars depretiate in value so rapidly. For that amount of money you can get a audi A3 or A4. I my self prefer BMW's but I have to say audi's are very solid, they never brake down and you hardly never have to replace any parts. Own a 99 audi A6 only thing we have replaced is turbo and brake pads, and it has done 200,000 miles, and it is still solid as ever.
