c. £5k to spend on a car

[Rumble]

What about a Fiesta ST? Would need to be 5ish years old but still some low mileage ones around? Anyone had one? Fuel consumption maybe not too bad with a gentle right foot?

 

[lewis1641]

tdi audi a3 or vw golf is where my money would be given your requirements

 

[suburbanreuben]

The 100hp Panda has a very choppy ride, so even if you get the missus in it, she'll be very unimpressed.

I'd buy a 70's Skoda and still have a couple of grand left over for replacement bits,but then i'm a little odd i've been told.

al.

Two bags of sand!
To put in the boot!

 

[Andy B]

Seat Ibiza FR TDI130?

economical (avg 40mpg in town/dual carridgeways & has done 500 miles on a 45 litre tank of fuel)

quick & cruises well at 80 (it will go over 120mph & is a great car to overtake in with so much torque)

cheap to insure (group 8 IIRC)

drives well for a fairly heavy diesel with it's stiffer suspension & wide tyres give plenty of grip.

Here's mine with it's roof bars and carriers


P1000332 by Andy.B., on Flickr

You'll certainly get one for under £5k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used ... ype/diesel

 

[drcarlos]

Seat Ibiza FR TDI130?

economical (avg 40mpg in town/dual carridgeways & has done 500 miles on a 45 litre tank of fuel)

quick & cruises well at 80 (it will go over 120mph & is a great car to overtake in with so much torque)

cheap to insure (group 8 IIRC)

drives well for a fairly heavy diesel with it's stiffer suspension & wide tyres give plenty of grip.

Here's mine with it's roof bars and carriers


P1000332 by Andy.B., on Flickr

You'll certainly get one for under £5k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used ... ype/diesel

Or the Skoda Fabia vRS, I've got one and it's more of a looker than the Seat I think and more reliable on the whole, but shares the Chassis and Engine and I think it's a bit quicker.

Carl.

 

[moffyr72]

Corsa 1.4

 

[Andy B]

Same 130bhp PD engine in both the vRS and FR (05 year model)

Ibiza
1.9 TDi FR 3d
9.0 secs 0-60
129 mph max

Fabia
1.9 TDi PD vRS Special Edition 5d
9.2 secs 0-60
128 mph max

The vRS Fabia is slightly slower in those figures by a gnats cock & higher insurance (group 9)

But in reality there's nothing in it

 

[jax13]

1.6 bmw 3 series 'compact'
fabia vrs (old one, not current shape - its a polo with some different body panels)
3 door golf / a3 / leon 1.9tdi

my own personal choice if i was after something small-ish would be a last shape civic. I had an older one (1998 model year) a couple of years back (1.8 dohc vtec estate) and in over 2 years of absolute abuse (red lines at 8k, quicker than a golf gti & can fit equipment & food to do a bbq for 200 people or 3 dogs & a lot of shooting gear! I don't know why i sold it!), 110k on the clock when i got it & only ever gave it 1 oil change & it only ever cost me tyres & brakes!

you can pick up cracking examples of the 1.7 diesel on autotrader for £3.5 - £5k depending on spec, mileage etc.

 

[Rumble]

Hmm, hadn't thought about seats, ibiza or leon could work. The older fabia's already been ruled out on the same grounds as the fiat, not pretty enough.

 

[unkleGsif]

I was in EXACTLY the same situation recently, having decided to give up on my beloved old Saab 900 Turbo on the grounds of economy and new commute, but mostly because SWMBO didnt like it

after much procrastination, and several likely candidates being identified, we now roll around in a VW Lupo 1.7sdi, which, while being a far cry from the 250hp, growling, burbling A road blasting joy that the Saab was, is now delivering a solid 65mpg that I am starting to bond with

Well built, full of character, a bit thin on the ground so you dont see many of them about, and a good following online so knowledge and parts are easy to come by if needed

In preference however, I would get the 1.4tdi
Head says you should go with a Honda tho

Good luck
G