New (for me) car advise required

Jhadur · 14-09-2008, 20:16

OK we're now looking for a new car as the Laguna is busy dying.

We have about 2k to spend and I'm currently torn between fun car and sensible car.

It will be used mostly for commuting (12 miles each way) with the occasional long trip to meets and to see friends in Manchester.

Here's a quick list of things I've considered so far.

Fun Cars:
FTO/GTO

MR2 (mk2)
Beemer of some variety (not sure on MPG rates for them so they may go in sensible section)

Sensible Cars:
Ford Ka
Fiesta or Focus
Basically several other small cars.

Any thoughts on ones listed (I know not many) and any other suggestions that I could look at would be greatly appreciated

Thanks guys.

Piggymon · 14-09-2008, 20:23

Only thing I can add is as I advised the FTO will most likely be a complete money pit

They're awesome cars but drink petrol and can be very expensive to fix should something go wrong. Not much space in the back for passengers but boot space isn't too bad.

Focus on Mondeo might be better options although not as fun !

Haly · 14-09-2008, 20:29

I loved my Ka and it was very good on fuel, but I wouldn't recommend it if you plan to ever put anything in the back or the boot. The boot's not bad considering it's such a tiny car but the back's a right pain to easily access. To me, it seemed like a better car for one person rather than two people which wasn't a factor for me but would be for you.

I'd probably go for a Focus or Mondeo in your case, even if that is a bit of a dull answer

Zirax · 14-09-2008, 20:53

You should have said at Swansea, you could have hurled my Focus around for a while

Good thing going for the Focus is that it costs peanuts to keep on the road. I'm doing around 500+ miles a week in the Focus and its fine. I will honestly say that the suspension has generated a creak, but bar that just general pads, discs and tyres is the only thing its needed in 4 years. If you do get the Zetec then you can drive like a hooligan around roundabouts.

Beemers around that price I wouldn't touch with yours. I would consider a Volvo or even a SAAB.

TBH throw a GTO out the window. I've popped the bonnet on a few and they have far far too much electrics to break. Cracking when they work, but mega money when it breaks.

Paging Phil and Vix ........... you really want a mk1 over a mk2

Take a look at my thread, I got a lovely mk1 for £1100 which had lots of addons.

Matblack · 14-09-2008, 21:01

If you haven't got a lot of spare cash most of the time then you won't go far wrong with a Focus/ Mondeo or Fiesta, only buy a fun car which might be expensive to repair or have to go to a specialist if you know you'll have spare cash when you need to get it fixed or it isn't a daily driver and doesn't have to get you to work every day.

MB

Zirax · 14-09-2008, 22:25

I agree with Matt. Just to throw a spanner in, what would Clio's be like around that money? Don't know that much about them, but you can certainly throw those around.

jmc41 · 14-09-2008, 22:38

My issue having a focus is that everything is electronic which means if it does go wrong (aka speedo and electric windows on mine) it costs a bomb to fix.

That said, it still moves okay even after a number of bumps and being hit by a bus (which STILL hasn't been sorted out 6.5 months later)

leowyatt · 14-09-2008, 22:47

Mic, Andy who we play COD4 with got himself a focus last year and swears by them. I'd say focus and fiesta are the way to go. My escort only needed new brakes and discs in the 3 years I had it, till some daft cow wrote it off.

cheets · 14-09-2008, 23:00

Its a buyers market, I would go for something newish that is going to hold up (hopefully) and something that does not guzzle gas.

Stan_Lite · 15-09-2008, 08:43

Fun wise, I'd have to be biased and say a MK2 MR2 (Turbos are best

) - I love mine but I wouldn't recommend it as a daily driver tbh. I'd be more inclined towards a Focus - nice, dependable little car.

14-09-2008, 20:16	#1
Jhadur Peter Pan Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Lost Inside My Head Posts: 1,068	New (for me) car advise required OK we're now looking for a new car as the Laguna is busy dying. We have about 2k to spend and I'm currently torn between fun car and sensible car. It will be used mostly for commuting (12 miles each way) with the occasional long trip to meets and to see friends in Manchester. Here's a quick list of things I've considered so far. Fun Cars: FTO/GTO MR2 (mk2) Beemer of some variety (not sure on MPG rates for them so they may go in sensible section) Sensible Cars: Ford Ka Fiesta or Focus Basically several other small cars. Any thoughts on ones listed (I know not many) and any other suggestions that I could look at would be greatly appreciated Thanks guys. __________________ "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

14-09-2008, 20:23	#2
Piggymon Lara Croft Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: PigmoPad - Braintree Essex Posts: 8,604	Only thing I can add is as I advised the FTO will most likely be a complete money pit They're awesome cars but drink petrol and can be very expensive to fix should something go wrong. Not much space in the back for passengers but boot space isn't too bad. Focus on Mondeo might be better options although not as fun ! __________________ BF% 28/08/08 - 21%

14-09-2008, 20:29	#3
Haly Do you want to hide in my box? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,941	I loved my Ka and it was very good on fuel, but I wouldn't recommend it if you plan to ever put anything in the back or the boot. The boot's not bad considering it's such a tiny car but the back's a right pain to easily access. To me, it seemed like a better car for one person rather than two people which wasn't a factor for me but would be for you. I'd probably go for a Focus or Mondeo in your case, even if that is a bit of a dull answer __________________ Halycopter

14-09-2008, 20:53	#4
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	You should have said at Swansea, you could have hurled my Focus around for a while Good thing going for the Focus is that it costs peanuts to keep on the road. I'm doing around 500+ miles a week in the Focus and its fine. I will honestly say that the suspension has generated a creak, but bar that just general pads, discs and tyres is the only thing its needed in 4 years. If you do get the Zetec then you can drive like a hooligan around roundabouts. Beemers around that price I wouldn't touch with yours. I would consider a Volvo or even a SAAB. TBH throw a GTO out the window. I've popped the bonnet on a few and they have far far too much electrics to break. Cracking when they work, but mega money when it breaks. Paging Phil and Vix ........... you really want a mk1 over a mk2 Take a look at my thread, I got a lovely mk1 for £1100 which had lots of addons. Last edited by Zirax; 14-09-2008 at 21:09.

14-09-2008, 21:01	#5
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	If you haven't got a lot of spare cash most of the time then you won't go far wrong with a Focus/ Mondeo or Fiesta, only buy a fun car which might be expensive to repair or have to go to a specialist if you know you'll have spare cash when you need to get it fixed or it isn't a daily driver and doesn't have to get you to work every day. MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

14-09-2008, 22:25	#6
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	I agree with Matt. Just to throw a spanner in, what would Clio's be like around that money? Don't know that much about them, but you can certainly throw those around.

14-09-2008, 22:38	#7
jmc41 Absinthe Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,070	My issue having a focus is that everything is electronic which means if it does go wrong (aka speedo and electric windows on mine) it costs a bomb to fix. That said, it still moves okay even after a number of bumps and being hit by a bus (which STILL hasn't been sorted out 6.5 months later)

14-09-2008, 22:47	#8
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	Mic, Andy who we play COD4 with got himself a focus last year and swears by them. I'd say focus and fiesta are the way to go. My escort only needed new brakes and discs in the 3 years I had it, till some daft cow wrote it off. __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

14-09-2008, 23:00	#9
cheets Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 442	Its a buyers market, I would go for something newish that is going to hold up (hopefully) and something that does not guzzle gas.

15-09-2008, 08:43	#10
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	Fun wise, I'd have to be biased and say a MK2 MR2 (Turbos are best ) - I love mine but I wouldn't recommend it as a daily driver tbh. I'd be more inclined towards a Focus - nice, dependable little car. __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode