Don't laugh - spec me a motor!

Alexrose1uk

Alexrose1uk

Alexrose1uk

Soldato
Joined
26 Apr 2004
Posts
9,853
Location
Milton Keynes
Hi Guys,
I'll say first off, I'm not a big car guy, so having just had my old Focus Titanium TDCI declared essentially RIP due to the cost of work needing done being more than the value of the car (fuel pump went, killed the injectors, entire thing needs cleaned out once replaced etc) I'm at the point of scrapping and needing to start afresh, and I'm a bit lost on where to look!!

My last few cars have all been Fords, Fiesta followed by 2x Focus, so I fancied a change.

My primary requirements are:
- Budget will be around £5-6K tops I reckon, so really looking at a 5+ year old car, with reasonable mileage.
- Reliable (so had been looking at the Japanese and other Asian brands as heard a lot of good things)
- Don't want anything too big, but not too small either, I'm 6'3, so I'm looking something Focus sized or slightly smaller.
- Economical, so nothing with a 2L+ engine.
- Good stock audio system, my Titanium sounded pretty good for a stock mid-ranger, my wife's Juke Tekna is pap by comparison(!). I previously replaced head units in the focus and fiesta and speakers in the Fiesta so decent music playback is pretty much a must.
- My wife really wants me to get an automatic so she can drive it
- Not massive mileage so petrol/diesel is fine, although as above would like good performance:economy ratio for longer runs, especially if situations change and I start driving more.

What can you suggest?
I'd been looking at things like the Honda Civic, but no automatic models seen so have had to count this out, also considering things like the Toyota Prius/Avensis/Auris although heard the Prius' audio is a bit so so! Had also been considering other similar cars like the Hyundai I30s etc.

Anyone with a bit more experience got some advice? :)
 
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Ok thank you very much for the suggestion :)
I'm not expecting best of the best super duper mega 50 speaker 6000000 watt audio system, but I do want something half decent. The Focus TDCI Titanium 2007 (with Sony) audio system had decent range and midrange once setup. By comparison the Juke Tekna 4WD my wife has is awful, especially given the fact hers is much newer and the Tekna is meant to be a premium model!

Budget might be slightly flexible, but really trying to get the best bang for buck I can!
 
You can always change the stereo and speakers quite easily. Most cars don't have amazing stock ones anyway :/

Anyway, a bigger engine doesn't necessarily mean less economical. Some small engined, low powered cars are not much better in the real world due to having to be worked much harder (and struggle to go up hills) :D
 
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Skoda Octavia should fit that bill well. It looks like a bigger car, but really, it's based on the Golf, so similar to the Golf / Focus.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=1

Or could go A3...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=1



As said, you can always change the stereo pretty cheaply. I put a pair of Focal speakers in the front of my Alhambra, and for £60 it made a huge difference. If you couple that with a new headunit with bluetooth and the like, doesn't need to cost much more than £150, but should have bigger amps built in, and should make it all a LOT more pleasant for around £200.

I suppose you could go for one of those horrible Honda Civic things too...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...Nearly New&onesearchad=New&model=CIVIC&page=1
 
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xs2man said:
Skoda Octavia should fit that bill well. It looks like a bigger car, but really, it's based on the Golf, so similar to the Golf / Focus.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=1

Or could go A3...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=1



As said, you can always change the stereo pretty cheaply. I put a pair of Focal speakers in the front of my Alhambra, and for £60 it made a huge difference. If you couple that with a new headunit with bluetooth and the like, doesn't need to cost much more than £150, but should have bigger amps built in, and should make it all a LOT more pleasant for around £200.

I suppose you could go for one of those horrible Honda Civic things too...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...Nearly New&onesearchad=New&model=CIVIC&page=1
Click to expand...

I can't advise enough to not get a civic of that era horrible terrible cars compared to a focus or golf.
 
andythelandy said:
I can't advise enough to not get a civic of that era horrible terrible cars compared to a focus or golf.
Click to expand...

Ha ha. That was what I was thinking about them too, but just included it as he did say Jap stuff, and I suppose that falls into the category of cars he is considering.

There is also the Seat Leon worth considering. But most of the good petrol ones that I have seen are Leon FR's with the 2.0T engine (or you could go diesel, but I guess that depends on how many miles you are doing, or at least what kind of miles you are doing). And while I would ALWAYS go for the 2.0T engine personally, it'll probably "only" average around low 30's mpg wise. If you can put up with that though, I do love that engine in my Golf.

As said above, you're likely to get the best bang-per-buck from the focus. But then you probably already know that, hence the last 2 being exactly that. And I can sure understand the want for a change.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys!

Mentioned Honda Civic but reality is no good as they don't come in auto as far as I have seen and realistically looking at the Asian cars as the reliability feedback is usually good.

I honestly would look at another Focus but after 3 Ford's I fancy a change and also a few of the garages I had contact with in the death of my previous car weren't entirely very complimentary about the Ford diesel engines or the faults they see on them!
I've seen a few design defects on the Ford's hence another reason for just fancying a change.
 
Alexrose1uk said:
Thanks for the suggestions guys!

Mentioned Honda Civic but reality is no good as they don't come in auto as far as I have seen and realistically looking at the Asian cars as the reliability feedback is usually good.

I honestly would look at another Focus but after 3 Ford's I fancy a change and also a few of the garages I had contact with in the death of my previous car weren't entirely very complimentary about the Ford diesel engines or the faults they see on them!
I've seen a few design defects on the Ford's hence another reason for just fancying a change.
Click to expand...

The Civic I linked is an Auto???

Is it a diesel you are wanting then? Because every link here so far is a petrol.
 
xs2man said:
The Civic I linked is an Auto???

Is it a diesel you are wanting then? Because every link here so far is a petrol.
Click to expand...


Ah ok! I'd read previously they didn't come in auto! Wierd! That said if I'm being advised away from that age range of Civic I'll take that on board! I've been out and about so have to admit I've not had a full look over the links yet.

Was there a particular era the Civics were bad, the new ones seem to be quite well reviewed and look pretty modern?

Petrol or diesel is fine, diesel is great for long runs but am wary of a repeat of the focus :)
 
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MORE SPEED said:
I think I'd be quite disappointed if I'd spent £6k on an A3 and ended up with that engine tbh.
Click to expand...

Why ? Millions of 1.6 engines are sold in family movers for the masses.
Its not an engine i would want either but must be one of the most popular sized engines sold and it seems to fit the bill for what the op says .
 
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