Driving - opinions please

[BatchFile]

Left field choice: Dodge Caliber. They've got the 140BHP 2.0TDI out of a golf in them IIRC....

 

Errr... Smaller car, less mass, better mpg. Typically. The Top Gear excesses duly noted.

 

I'm currently running a 1400 Jazz, but that is soon to go. I'm heading towards a circa 2l oil-burner again. Similar MPG, but I want the comfort of my Citroen Xantia back. The Jazz is SO noisy! Did 450 miles in it yesterday, and my head is still ringing.

 

The choice is between the C5, and a Skoda Octavia. I think...

[teejay]

Had a test drive in an Alfa Giulietta at the weekend with their 1.4 turbo multiair engine, haven't stopped smiling since. The multiair gives it an amazing amount of low end torque, bit like a diesel really, but doesn't have the lag of the diesel or sound like you're driving a tractor and goes like a bat out of hell...

Very, very tempting, if it had a german badge on it I'd snap one up straight away, but with an Italian badge I'm a bit reluctant. Saying that, everyone should own an Alfa once in their life ;-)

[sted]

as long as its appropriate its not that bad whatever size engine. Because i do a lot of motorway miles i think going for a 1.6tdci fiesta was a bit of a mistake a 2.0tdci focus would of been better (6 speed box if nothing else) though it does get similar mpg to my 1.9 tdi ibiza (awful car i would never buy a vw based car again with that and the problems other i know have with vags even citrons are more reliable i n my experience). i currently get about 58 mpg from that my previous car a 2.0 focus st170 would do 40 on a good day and was much more fun to drive (like a civic type r i=the engine had 2 "modes" pootle below about 5krpm and turbo nutter bloke above)

[solitaire89]

At the moment we've got access to a VW Passat BlueMotion (the 2 litre diesel version), which despite being a big bertha goes like poo off a shovel! I know people will shout me down, but it easily was on a par with the BMW 525 petrol I had the privilage to drive recently. And it came as quite a shock when I got into my Mother's BMW 116, and I had need to "put one's foot down" to get out the way of a nutcase (ok, so it was a nutcase in a police car with blues and twos blazing...), and IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE! So I'd go for the bigger engine given half the chance, but that is a want not a need, especially considering that I don't own a car at all!

Oh, and the Passat also has the added benefit of averaging 75mpg on the motorway

[CHR1S]

Currently driving (and loving) my BMW 123d M-Sport. 2L Twin Turbo Diesel - 204bhp 300ft/lb - real world 40mpg (50+ for grannies) 138g/km of CO2!

 

I would never buy a car with less than 170bhp or a huge wedge of torque again, but thats just my preference; easy, refined driving is more me than thrashing a lower powered or N/A car

[rad]

I have a diesel Focus estate. Love the car as it does about 50mpg, (1.8) why have i got it, for towing mainly. I had a `1.8 petrol focus and can't work out why you would want a petrol over diesel as the fuel economy is the most important factor with anyone driving.

[arwen]

I preffer bigger engines aswell. My wee 1.2 Clio does struggle quite badly on some of the hills around here, even when its dropped down a gear or two, still struggles. So glad its normaly just me in the car, dread to think what it would be like if I have a passanger or two!

 

When this cars time is up I'll poably be looking at a 1.6-2.0 desiel, for more comfortable driving and not having to will it up hills! (And I will proably get better mpg aswell!)

[DAZZD88]

Well I today Have confirmed to myself at least that I believe small cars are just as good as bigger ones, at least for most peoples needs. How? Well Seeing as Jennings Ford seem to have lost my new Fiesta and I no longer have insurance or tax on my Astra (due to being told numerous times that my car would arrive on such n such a day) I asked them to arrange a courtesy car. There courtesy car waiting list is two weeks apparently but they gave me an Aygo that had been traded in...I think it's an amazingly fun little car. Reminds me of when I had my old Mini except it has a higher centre of gravity.

[Fatmas]

The Aygo/C1/107's are very fun little cars to drive. Their 1.0l engine struggles with four people but it can be quite spritley in town.

[DAZZD88]

Also when you get higher in the rev range they sound like sporty cars...only a little bit though.

[Fatmas]

I've been told the 107 sounds almost like a Jag C type, almost.

[JPS]

MPG, CC, BHP, they're all numbers, I drive because its fun, I change my vehicle regularly as I like a bit of variety. I am a supporter of the noisier the better! Just agreed a trade in this weekend of my Mazda3 2.0 for an MX5 1.8. Pick up saturday morning and cant wait for some rear wheel fun! I think this ensures an increase in road tax and a decrease in MPG but what the hell.

[djm968]

With a sensible head on I would say that a blown oil burner (turbo diesel) of around 1.8 to 2.2 litres would be the best all round option.

 

Plenty of low down torque and power (for your hills) and will still return 40+ MPG even if you feel the need to drive like a t****.

Having said that my Saab 2.0 turbo petrol leave most diesels behind when they hit their 4500rpm limit and if I drop the roof everyone can see what a t**** looks like!

[sted]

The Aygo/C1/107's are very fun little cars to drive. Their 1.0l engine struggles with four people but it can be quite spritley in town.

 

really? I had a 107 as a courtesy car when i was having the paint on my focus touched up and i though it was the worst car i had ever driven it was nasty esp on the motorway it just diddnt feel stable

[DAZZD88]

i though it was the worst car i had ever driven it was nasty esp on the motorway it just diddnt feel stable

 

I have this little Aygo on the dual carriageway briefly and it felt fairly decent. Maybe you just got a previously abused model? I would definitely advocate little cars. There's a couple of steepish hills on my way to work and this morning, the car managed just fine in 2nd gear. BTW for a little car the gearbox seems to have fairly long gearing. Despite that it seems fairly nippy for a 60bhp car.