Lorry fancied the side of my car, as a result, new car time! - need help choosing

Mayhs · 10 Jun 2010 at 22:54

So basically my car had a crash with a lorry and is beyond repair. So now I need a new one but I have no clue what to get. My car was a Peugeot 306 LX edition but I don't fancy another one.

So maximum budget is £3000

My requirements are:
5 Door
Has to be economical, good MPG
Has to last a while and be reliable
Has to be good!
I want it to be quite safe too

I was thinking a Golf? Or a Clio? What would you guys recommend?

Lum · 10 Jun 2010 at 22:59

That's a pretty contradictory set of requirements there. Remember the golden rule: Fast, Cheap, Reliable. Pick two. If it's French then pick one and it can't be the last option.

jpmonkey69 · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:01

How about a skoda fabia?

Mayhs · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:07

Lum said:
That's a pretty contradictory set of requirements there. Remember the golden rule: Fast, Cheap, Reliable. Pick two. If it's French then pick one and it can't be the last option.

Hmm, well the Peugeot was purchased for around £2.5k (2/3 years ago) and was reliable (had 40k miles and 'died' with 80k and only required a bit of work done on it), cheap and quite economical around 35-40mpg I guess, so just thinking that now £3k gets you more than it did a few years ago so a car that would outdo it in those respects would be good.

Oh and fast isn't a requirement atm. This is simply a small run around car in the family, we have other cars.

jpmonkey69 said:
How about a skoda fabia?

I know Skoda's are good, but I don't want a Skoda

thepeteh · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:08

I know the normal trend is mondeo, but would laguna be in with a shout? 50mpg, always does well in euro Ncap (I know it doesnt always relate to real world crashes)

But really, isnt this mondeo money?

Mayhs · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:09

thepeteh said:
I know the normal trend is mondeo, but would laguna be in with a shout? 50mpg, always does well in euro Ncap (I know it doesnt always relate to real world crashes)

But really, isnt this mondeo money?

Mondeo, I was considering it but seeing as I am young I don't want a Mondeo either.

Sorry for being picky guys!

edit: Laguna seems a good shout, my cousin just got a nice one and it drives quite well, and is safe too...

Lum · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:10

Focus?

Eliot · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:14

Focus indeed

or puma 1.7 they are cools IMO

[FnG]magnolia · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:17

OP, just to confirm that yes, the next 25 posts will either be 'Focus' or 'Mondeo'.

thepeteh · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:21

Eliot said:
or puma 1.7 they are cools IMO

He wants a 5 door.

Mayhs · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:21

Lum said:
Focus?

Yeah, that is a good shout too

Eliot said:
Focus indeed

or puma 1.7 they are cools IMO

Puma, haven't seen one of those for around 5 years lol

[FnG]magnolia;16728024 said:
OP, just to confirm that yes, the next 25 posts will either be 'Focus' or 'Mondeo'.

Haha! Well I wanted a Golf really, is it reasonable to expect a good one for £3k?

Shortlist at the minute is:
Golf, Clio, Focus and Laguna.
Anymore suggestions? Which one is the best for £3k?

Eliot · 10 Jun 2010 at 23:33

3k could get you a nice Clio from before the current gen 1.4 16v isn't bad

Irish_Tom · 11 Jun 2010 at 09:08

You're considering a Laguna but have discounted the Mondeo? As an ex-Laguna owner I know which one I'd rather have.

Saytan · 11 Jun 2010 at 09:54

the laguna is a disintegrating pile of awful, screwed together by shoulder-shrugging, gauloise-toting gallic strike-monkeys, who are too busy trying to get into the boss's secretary's knickers to actually bolt the car together properly.

jpmonkey69 · 11 Jun 2010 at 10:37

Mayhs said:
Hmm, well the Peugeot was purchased for around £2.5k (2/3 years ago) and was reliable (had 40k miles and 'died' with 80k and only required a bit of work done on it), cheap and quite economical around 35-40mpg I guess, so just thinking that now £3k gets you more than it did a few years ago so a car that would outdo it in those respects would be good.

Oh and fast isn't a requirement atm. This is simply a small run around car in the family, we have other cars.

I know Skoda's are good, but I don't want a Skoda

I was going for the cheap / reliable... at your budget you are unlikely to get all your prerequisites!

iaind · 11 Jun 2010 at 11:08

What's wrong with being young and having a Mondeo? At this money you cant afford to be fussy

Begbie · 11 Jun 2010 at 12:24

A Gold at 3k is going to be pretty shabby in comparsion to a 3k Focus or Mondeo.

I know they are said all the time on here, but there is a reason for it. They are both, well made realiable cars. Plus they are acctualy quite fun to drive, well the focus can be.

iaind · 11 Jun 2010 at 12:39

The Mondeo can be pretty good fun too, for a big car it handles really well!

Begbie · 11 Jun 2010 at 12:55

iaind said:
The Mondeo can be pretty good fun too, for a big car it handles really well!

Only had a quick play with the auld mans, Ghia X (2.2tD?) and it is fairly nice to drive.

I just don't like the power delivery of the diesel, its horrible.

eatcustard · 11 Jun 2010 at 13:28

Focus
Ticks all your boxes