Car Advice Needed

[Fatmas]

Right I could use some advice/sounding board.

Me and the other half currently own (well she owns) a Peugeot 107 1.0L jobby (59 plate, 10,000 miles. still worth £5-6k cash/part ex).

In my new job I'm doing around 300 miles a week. The 107 can handle this no problem as I only have to refuel it every week and a half. However I'm finding it a bit gutless and on the 45 minute each way journey, it's a bit rattley and noisy (Maybe that's just the A420).

I've been thinking about changing it for something else so here is the thing. My other half currently owns it outright, she bought it for her commute to Oxford, but since I've started this new job (near Abingdon) I just drop her off at her lift share in Swindon (where we live) and drive the rest of the way myself so she doesn't use the car at all. She hates driving anyway.

I feel guilty that she paid for the car out right yet I'm the one using it. I put forward something where by we part ex the 107 and then we go in 50/50 on something else.

Now the background is out of the way, here is the point: What should we look at?

Conditions: Economical - It has to be able to do about 350 miles a tank (average about 48mpg ish)

Has to be fun/comfortable to drive for a 45 minute each way commute.
Preferably less than 2/3 years old.

I REALLY like the new Fiat 500 twin airs. They are quick, comfortable and fun. My other half however hates the look of them (pfft). - Also, I don't like the idea of buying a brand new car, seems like a waste of money.

Something like a 207? Fiesta? Mazda 2? etc..

Any ideas?

[CPLTD]

Fiat 500 Abarth....fun, economical and they pack a punch!

I saw it reviewed on top gear (other car review programmes are available to view) So I booked a test drive at our local fiat dealer at the time just to see what they were actually like first hand and I have to say they were really very good indeed. Give it a try Fatmas.

Hope it helps.


Chris

[Fatmas]

Other half's parent's friend (phew) has an Abarth, apparently the suspension is really firm and isn't very comfortable. Also don't they start from about 16k? They are doing a twin air Abarth soon though. Bit out of my price range.

I was thinking under 10k if possible, I don't want a brand new car really

[DJ-Jonesy]

What about a Golf TDI Blue motion fantastic on fuel ecomeny and cheap on tax £30 -£50 a year looks cool extremely reliable probelry towards the top end of your budget and can aslo be fun to drive too.

[Fatmas]

What about a Golf TDI Blue motion fantastic on fuel ecomeny and cheap on tax £30 -£50 a year looks cool extremely reliable probelry towards the top end of your budget and can aslo be fun to drive too.

They do look great but they cost about £18k I think. A Blue Motion Polo looks good though even if it's only a 1.2l with 60bhp.

[DJ-Jonesy]

yeah the blue motions are more expensive but the normal tdi will give you 50+ mpg on that journey check out here, really spot on cars never had a problem with these Used Cars for Sale from FOW - The UK's 1st All Makes Car Supermarket

[cpjitservices]

sluggiesh ?? try some redex

[Fatmas]

Yeah if I had the budget I would definitely consider it. Apparently to pay off the difference the better mpg gives you it would take quite a few years. I'll have a look on that site, cheers mate.

[cpjitservices]

the new fiestas are nice and the new astras - reliable cars! the new golf is quite high on insurance apparently, but then which golf isnt . Theres always the Jag XJ lol

[kevbaz]

MK2 golf gti

[laptopsandspares]

echoing sentiments about the golf tdi's however, if you don't mind going back the Mk4 and can get a good spec Pd version it's £125 a year road tax. I get between 52 and 60 mpg out of a 192,000+ miler on 35mile a/b road trip to work and back and averaged 55 on a 800mile round trip to the lakes last weekend, without missing a beat. I get about 550 between fill ups.

I'm quite old now but fully comp this year with 3 points was £200 with legal cover.
Mine's a 130 pd version and it's reasonably pokey (there's a 150bhp version too), comfy and you can find them with lots of extras. Cheap to fix with 3rd party parts and you'd have so much change from your budget you could get a caterham/mini cooper for the weekend

(It is a bit old now but the PD was sooo much better than the newer direct injection golf diesels)

[Fatmas]

Because of my age (23) and only being a named driver on policies up until now (zero no claims even though I've never had an accident) insurance for myself and other half on a 500 twin air is £550 a year, £450 for a 107. Disgusting considering I don't drive like a nutter.

[mo_vigilante]

I drive a MKIV golf GT TDI 150 and they are awesome cars! I travel to work and do journeys to other sites both on motorways and on A roads. It does me upto 45mpg on A roads but on motorways I can do upto 55mpg generally speaking and the car pulls as well.

This one is quite old but you can purchased a Mark V gold GT TDI 170 which is quicker and same MPG consumption. They're quick, lots of torque, and good on mileage and also very reliable cars! I'd consider a Mark 5 if I were you.

[mac_shinobi]

What would insurance on a 1.5 or 1.7 diesel be like for you fatmas ?

Just thinking as far as MPG might be better, as far as makes Vauxhall, Honda, Nissan, Mazda or Toyota are the ones I would be looking at. But thats just me lol

[laptopsandspares]

for research purposes, insurance, mpg etc when you draw up a short list of options, i find the "Honest John" website to be quite useful. In fact, every car i've ever bought has devleoped every common fault they listed against the model on there so I can vouch for the accuracey