Okay. I'm looking to buy a car in a few months for around 5k and just wondered which car people would suggest and why.

Also, how does the fabia vrs compare.

Also, try and be unbiased :P

Thanks.

Edited 6 January, 200917 yr by panbot3000
Added another car into the mix

They are both very different in terms of build and purpose.

One is a lightened hot hatch desgined for fun and good handling, the other is bigger and heavier car desgned for good pace and comfort.

So what do you need from a car?

**EDIT**

I'm assuming you drive a 1.0 corsa because of your age/new driver?

Have you got insurance quotes on either of these cars under your own name yet?

Octavia. As for why, I've driven Skodas and Renaults, and Renaults are a good advert for "buying something else"; not as good as Vauxhalls are but getting there.

Avoid the frog. It'll fall apart.

< Ex Clio owner.

Yeah. I have the 1.0 corsa as a first car for cheap insurance but now i have a years no claims my quotes have halved so although both would be costly they are what i would see as acceptable.

I mainly wanted something cheap that was fairly quick and good fun to drive though I know the octavia offers alot of luxury compared to the clio, plus i like skoda's.

I'm assuming you drive a 1.0 corsa because of your age/new driver?

Have you got insurance quotes on either of these cars under your own name yet?

My first new car was a Clio 182. As soon as i picked it up it had probs with the revs to low. Then soon as the warrenty run out 3 years down the line i had so many electrical problems. It seemed as soon as the wrrenty ran out the car fell apart. At least with a octy you know it will be built well and will last.

As stated above have you checked insurence as they are both high grouped cars, think they are both group 16 or 17. Have you thought about a Fabia vRS? Its only a group 9 on the insurence. Yeah its only 130bhp and the Clio is 182bhp i have owned both and for me the Fabia vRS wins every time.

I too would suggest a fabia vRS. I got mine as a second car with one years NCB. It only cost me 400 quid fully comp after an internet search. You cant beat it for the money and the running costs, returning over 50 MPG average, the clio won't touch that! Plus the frog is only 5 speed, one of my firends has the 192 and wishes for a 6th gear, no problem in the fabia! In the current buyers market you should be able to get a good deal, maybe even pick up a cheap SE if you want some leather too.

Oh and before I forget to say, the torque it produces is AMAZING! Go diesel.

Renualts are truly dreadful cars (they are getting better, but still a long way to go)

After all it's French

I had considered a fabia but was unsure if it would be as quick as i expected.

To be honest though I am not interested in full throttle 0-60 stuff and (after watching many police programs and seeing the consequences of 100mph+ driving) cant see myself speeding on the roads.

I mainly want something that has effortless power and be able to prove a point if you understand my meaning.

I would though use acceleration and handling on b roads and slip roads etc where it is possible to push the car a bit without risking points.

Tha Fabia vRS is great for B road driving. Its got some great power behind it. I was truley suprised when i took mine for a test driver. I had never owned a diesel before the Fabia and was worried if it would be as fast, fun, and good to drive as my old cars, but its better and the MPG make it an amazing little hothatch.

My old cars were: xR2i :(, Clio 182 , Z3m and the Fabia vRS is the best yet!!!

Will prob get an Octy when i have kids but for now the Fabia is just right and think it might suit you better too

As a leftfield choice, have you considered a Panda 100hp? Only group 5 insurance but more kit than the Octy and 100bhp in something that weighs less than a tonne with go-kart handling and reasonable economy (40+mpg is attainable without too much trouble). Its ideal stomping ground is fast A and B roads.

A quick look on the Trader shows low miler 56-plate ones are available for a snip above budget...

Auto Trader UK - FIAT PANDA 1.4 16v 100HP 5dr Hatchback

Chris

I voted Clio, but then I'm strange. I'd go for a Trophy

Then I saw Chris's post and thought, yep, I think that is a sensible suggestion, especially when you look at running costs.

Learn to drive and it will be quicker than a lot of stuff on the road

ooh, the Panda is a good idea, but what about a late mk1.5 Focus (1.8 or 2.0)? not super quick in straight line terms but fairly low insurance group, a nice drive and good through the bends out of the box with scope to improve things in the future

I have a little clio at the moment - It's perfect for my current situation for insurance £300 (I'm not even 21 yet!) tax bracket is low and really cheap to run!

The cars you are looking at are totally different in my eyes. I would look at the Fiat Panda also if you want a cheap car to insure that has some power. It maybe worth getting a few insurance quotes before you do anything else.

I would suggest a Skoda Fabia vRS instead of the Octy tho! If the insurance is too much - I suggest you look at Jasons White 1.4 SDI... It's made to look like a vRS! This thread may help you:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/white-fabia-vrs/130765/3/

I've had some quotes and for the clio theyr are around 2300 to 2700 depending on excess and whether its the 172 or 182.

For a fabia vrs its around 1500 and if i heavily modify it its 1700.

As for the octavia i assume its gonna be about the same as the clio due to them being similar insurance groups.

Obviously this might come down a bit as i turn 20 soon.

My only problem is i'm a bit impatient and i could afford to pay for the clio in about 4 months whereas i would be looking at another few months on top of that for the octavia or fabia as they seem more expensive.

3500-5000 for a clio as opposed to 5000 onwards for a fabia or octavia with about 20,000 more miles on it. Obviously this is only from a recent search so other cars may become available.

Also, if i did decide to remap a fabia what sort of power would i get and would i need to look at uprated clutches etc to ensure reliability is mainitained?

Also, if i did decide to remap a fabia what sort of power would i get and would i need to look at uprated clutches etc to ensure reliability is mainitained?

170bhp - 180bhp and like most who have done it you will probably need to do the clutch soon after.

Here you go

PARKWAY MOTOR GROUP. : SKODA FABIA VRS 130 BHP D

Not sure what sort of mileage your going to be looking at for 5K?

I sold my modded Octy VRs a few months back for under 5K & 50,000 miles so you can get a good bargain but you need to do some searching around.

I had been looking for around 30-50k, the lower the better obviously. I plan on keeping the car for quite some time :P

Also, i love the underdog status of the skoda's and so i am leaning towards a vrs.

It depends what you want fro the car really?

The Fabia VRs is a bit bigger than your Corsa but the Octavia is a lot bigger and has a MASSIVE boot

If your an A to B driver I would say Fabia if your doing motorway then Octy.

Think about fuel also as the Fabia will return 50+ I would think but the Octy is more 30+

I'd go for the Skoda if I were you.

My last car was a Clio. It was nice and comfy and I enjoyed driving it, but in terms of reliability a nightmare (the ECU failed) so I wouldn't recommend them based on my experience.

I'm one of the few that voted for the Clio. I had a 172sport & boy do I miss it, fun & it handled. I only sold the Clio due to my wife expecting our first child. I had small problems with it, nothing major, but I have also had problems with my Slowda Oct vRS.

With your age & insurance costs it probably would be worth looking at the Fabia vRS, if your wanting a cheaper alternative hot hatch.

its a difficult one. I used to have a vrs and my brother had a 172, we both had a drive of each others cars and could see the merits of each.

I would say vrs out of your 2 choices. Dont forget the 172 runs on premium fuel where as the vrs runs perfectly well on standard fuel

If your an A to B driver I would say Fabia if your doing motorway then Octy.

There are some that would say that an Octy is quicker point to point than the Fabia, me being one of them. In my experience a Fabia is more likely to end up on its roof when trying to keep up, something to do with the shorter wheelbase And the Octy is quicker, no ifs buts or maybes

Thanks for all the replies. It puts things into perspective a bit for me. I think i'm probably getting a bit carried away.

My dad's last two cars have been a 2.0tfsi octavia vrs and now a 55 plate 2.5 impreza wrx and because ive seen how quick these are ive wanted something similar.

Really though a fabia vrs would seem incredibly fast to me after a 1.0 corsa, plus it'd be much better to live with than the clio and a bit cheaper than the octavia. I also think the torque would be something that would really appeal to me

Edited 7 January, 200917 yr by panbot3000
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Go for the octy mate, really well built car and will last longer than the Clio and the old 1.8t will put a smile on your face mate everytime you drive it.

If funds allow get a fabia vRS, top little car, good miles to the gallon even if you do thrash it and still got that well built feeling the octy has!