Need a small car

Tdh1987

Tdh1987

Tdh1987

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Joined
20 Oct 2002
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Selby
My Mum's looking to change her 2003 Landrover Freelander 2.0 TD4. Her finance runs out in May, and the remaining balance to pay is £9,000. So thats how much she has to spend.

She only needs a car for short town journeys, no motorways or dual carrigeways.

I suggested to her a new Ford Fiesta.
I took her down to the local Ford dealer and she loves the Ford Fiesta Zetec S.
The salesman reccommended she goes for the TDCI version over the petrol.

What are the other options? I can only think of a Vauxhall Corsa or VW Polo. But I don't think they compare to be honest.

Also I'm going to be insured on it (19 in June) old so nothing to rapid
 
Does it have to be new, or can it be second hand?

Not sure what the TDCi units are like compared to the 115/130 ones, I'm sure they're not that bad. Personally I'd have the Fiesta over a Corsa, but I've not driven any of the VW variants, so I'm not sure how they line up.

You could get a Skoda Fabia vRS for around £9,000. That's probably what I would go for personally, as they're good for fuel, and they're also quite 'nippy' too.
 
Tdh1987 said:
The salesman reccommended she goes for the TDCI version over the petrol.
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I don't see how the diesel would be better over a petrol, given what the car would be used for?

The list price however, is about £1000 dearer for the TDCI, and salesmen do work on commission...

A Fiesta is a fine choice IMO, but then again so would be a Focus?

Are you looking new or nearly new?
 
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Ignore all the Punto's and Fiestas - this sort of money can get you a nearly new Mk2 Focus 3 or 5 door on a 54 plate, better car than a Punto, Corsa, Fiesta etc.

Something like a nice 1.6 Zetec will do the job just fine.
 
POB said:
Grande Punto

http://www.fiat.co.uk/grandepunto/
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That has to be the worse recommendation I've seen :(

I took a 1.4 Dynamic out for a test drive on Monday and it was horrible. The 1.4 felt slow and lifeless, the interior space seems somewhat cramped, comfy for the driver though (you get better rear legroom in a Corsa than the Punto, and that is with the driver seat set comfortably for a 6'1" driver like myself).

Interior design is also horrible, feels extremely cheap and still using a similar format from MK1 Punto days.

[TW]Fox said:
*snip*
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Agree with Fox, get a Focus... though you might want to have a look at some 05/55-reg New 1.6 Astra "Design" models as they are well equipped and very comfy. It has the looks too.

Corsa would be a car I would recommend (for obvious reasons), they are easy to drive and very cheap once depreciated. A fairly new 05/55-reg SXi model would at most set you back at £7500 though for that budget, get a Focus or Astra.
 
tzang said:
they are easy to drive
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Right, sorry to go off a tangent but please explain what you mean here. I see this phrase all the time and I just don't get it.

I have driven cars from a Corsa 1.2 8v to an 06 BMW 530d and an 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee and none were what could be described as hard to drive. They all go fowards when you push the accelerator, stop when you use the brake, and turn corners when you use the wheel (Well, maybe not the Corsa :p).

What is 'easy to drive' and why is it an advantage of anything else thats similar?
 
[TW]Fox said:
What is 'easy to drive' and why is it an advantage of anything else thats similar?
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"Easy to drive" is a term used loosely :p All cars are easy to drive as long as you've adapted to it but not everyone can sit in a car they are not familiar with and drive off straight away.

Corsa has extremely light steering for city driving (feels pretty much lifeless) which puts it at an advantage for OAPs and such. Easy to park for those who can't park or have difficulty handling large vehicles. It is also a car that is kept simple fairly simple, you push a button it does one thing (unlike e.g. iDrive in BMW, which I personally have no problems with but many do :confused: ).
 
tzang said:
It is also a car that is kept simple fairly simple, you push a button it does one thing (unlike e.g. iDrive in BMW, which I personally have no problems with but many do :confused: ).
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I cannot think of a single car like a Corsa where this is not the case.

Glad you realise they have lifeless steering though :p
 
[TW]Fox said:
Glad you realise they have lifeless steering though :p
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Wait till you get understeer in a Corsa or drive on ice, it is hard to tell in a Corsa (understeer in particular) unless you see it happening (when that big tree is approaching fast) or have experience (I doubt many Corsa drivers do have experience :p).
 
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Thanks for the advice. It doesn't have to be brand new. Anything after 04 should be alright.

Whats the VRS like for insurance?
 
Tdh1987 said:
Thanks for the advice. It doesn't have to be brand new. Anything after 04 should be alright.

Whats the VRS like for insurance?
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Group 9 I think. As a named driver, you will add about ~£300 on the policy I would imagine. This will obviously depend on both your circumstances.

9 grand will get you an 04 or 54 plate vRS, there's also a thread here somewhere about them.
 
Hmmm. The VRS is very tasty.(just been reading a review on Parkers) I'll suggest it to her. It seems like a much better deal than a Fiesta

How much are we looking for a decent spec Focus. She likes them to look sporty.
 
Ford do a 'Sport' model, which basically looks a bit prettier I think.

For 9k you'd have pretty much your pick of the old shape ones, 1.6 or 1.8 ans the 'Sport' model. You'd also get a newer shape one 05 maybe even 55, not sure if you'd get a 'Sport' one though.
 
The old one is out of the question, I think the interia is rubbish compared to the new one. And not to mention there are about 30 billion of them on our roads.
 
Tdh1987 said:
The old one is out of the question, I think the interia is rubbish compared to the new one.

The interior was the weak link on the old model - the new model has a much improved interior. It'd definately be my choice of small car.

And not to mention there are about 30 billion of them on our roads.
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Soon, there will be 30 billion of the new ones as well. It's Britains best selling car for a reason - it's one of the best. You can't make a mass market car designed to sell in their thousands, make it brilliant, and then nobody buy it.
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Your right Fox. Thats another thing to consider.

I suggested the Skoda to my Mum and she replied "Eughhhhh. I'm not buying a SKODA!!" Despite it being a fantastic car.

What are the chances of picking up a resonable spec mk5 Golf for £9000

And what about mk5 Astra's, any good?
 
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