c. £5k to spend on a car

[t-stoff]

I wouldn't discount Alfas.

Your 5k will buy you a very pretty car, and they are much more reliable and frugal than given credit for.

Besides, it's an Alfa!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Alfa...5875807?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item337035565f

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Rome...4192743?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item336c8820e7

147s are a good choice and ages nicely in terms of design... I love my 156.... its just a beauty to look and to drive. The only flaw is prly the turning circle ;p I usualy drive my girlfriends 2002 leon and i reckon its a good and sturdy car, but it lacks the feel and the sound (mine is a jtd but the sound is great..)
cant help it i have to post two pics of it ;p

 

[zigzag]

Was looking at cars myself after unexpectedly visiting a field in my MX-5 (let's NOT offroad).

On my list was Fiat Panda 100hp (which you've already discounted, although I'd still vote for a test drive) and previous gen Honda Civic S-Type - cheap, decent amount of poke, utterly reliable, practical and decent fuel consumption for a petrol.

And I'll second the vote for an MX-5 - more practical than you think (Saris Bones on the back, room for two bikes), boot will swallow a weekend's camping gear for two (and I'm not talking bivvy bags), useful bit of room behind the seats when you need additional storage space and a hoot when not driving it through fences.

 

[Chute55uk]

ive got an alfa 156 and its not let me down. wouldn't say economical but it is a 2 litre, the smaller 147 is a v nice car

 

[legrandefromage]

dodgy dmf for VAG group is a bit of a myth.

now Ford dmfs...

 

[weeman_mtb]

dodgy dmf for VAG group is a bit of a myth.

Totally agree, people carry on driving with worn out slipping clutches and the rivets score the flywheel.

Golf MK5 2ltr SDI for my 2 pence worth, £130 tax/year, insurance group 6, 50+mpg.

 

[Awkward Kid]

Has to be a Honda. Touch wood I've had mine over a year. Put a job lot of miles on her, av 33mpg driven sensibly, 6th gear, 0 revs... VTEC 2.4 7 and a bit grand on the rev counter and its a monster, handles well and fits the kids and wife in. Not so good for the bikes but its proving bullet proof. Oh and great spec. Its what the plod used to use for the high speed driver training. Driven hard it drinks the juice, be warned!

Type S Accord