Alright guys.

i've decided that the time has come to change the Fabia.

I've got a new job which is a 5 minute walk down the road so my milage will be cut drastically from my current 40 mile a day commute, so no longer see the need for a diesel.

Also, I've started to get a little bit of clutch slip in 5th, so rather than shell out 1k for a new clutch i figure I might as well trade it in and go back to a petrol?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm aiming to get about 4k trade in for the Fabia (04 plate, 60k, FSH, good nick) then I'd be willing to add another 2k to that but ideally less.

Requirements:

- Nippy (sub 9s to 60 as a benchmark) petrol

- Big enough to fit a babyseat in the back

- Reliable

- Not too high mileage

- Less than Group 14 insurance but ideally less than group 10

I'm open to anything really.

All I've thought of so far are:

- Corsa SRI 1.8

- Toyota Corrolla 1.8 T-SPORT

Edited 28 February, 201016 yr by ultra_joel88

I was going to suggest a Leon Cupra R until I got to the insurance group bit...

Previous shape Astra GSi is insurance group 15 and is reasonably pokey with more room than a Corsa.

Or there's the 2.2 SRI which is group 13.

Focus ST170 is group 15.

Edited 28 February, 201016 yr by Schern

1.8T Ibiza FR?

Mitsubishi Colt CZT

Fiat Panda 100BHP

Ford Focus ST170

Seat Ibiza FR

Vauxhall Astra SRi (04 onwards)

Renaultsport Megane

Renaultsport Clio

Mitsubishi Colt CZT

Fiat Panda 100BHP

Ford Focus ST170

Seat Ibiza FR

Vauxhall Astra SRi (04 onwards)

Renaultsport Megane

Renaultsport Clio

Cheers for suggestions guys.

Yeah Leon Cupra would be major insurance rape-age.

Colt CZT... not sure on the looks and a bit small possibly.

Ibiza FR 1.8T could be a good shout but pretty similar to a Fabia really?

Fiat Panda 100hp I like but again maybe too small.

Focus ST170 may look into that but aren't they unreliable?

Astra SRI, the petrol engines are pap.

Renaultsport Megane, do they do a non-225?

Clio- too small.

A 1997 Golf VR6? 7.10 to 60, 186bhp... can comfortably "have" a Clio 182? Supprisingly cheap insurance, too

A 1997 Golf VR6? 7.10 to 60, 186bhp... can comfortably "have" a Clio 182? Supprisingly cheap insurance, too

Really? Really really? Same power, lower weight...

Probably too small, but Suzuki Swift Sport?

Really? Really really? Same power, lower weight...

That's what I thought.... but I've seen Renault "over-estimate" the power of their cars on a few occasions!

Get a new clutch fitted and keep what you've got, you'll only be swapping it for a worse car. http://www.vwspares.co.uk/fabiaclutch.php

Astra SRI, the petrol engines are pap.

I disagree... the 2.2 is a absolute gem of a engine! creamy smooth like a v6

you'll only be swapping it for a worse car.

Completely, I always equate low insurance group with boring. If its a 10 or less, i wouldn't bother.

Why not just get a higher insurance group, and cut the annual mileage down?

Me, i'd save £1k extra for insurance, and get something really stupid. A tatty M3, a high mileage impreza, an old Porsche, theres soo much to choose from, all of which would warrant the extra insurance cost....

Completely, I always equate low insurance group with boring. If its a 10 or less, i wouldn't bother.

Can fun really be measured by the insurance group? I can show you Gp15-20 cars that are pretty boring and dull to drive. And conversely a load of sub Gp10 cars which are a hoot to drive, all imho.

Chris

The Panda 100HP was going to be my replacement to the Vectra..but I couldn't find one and every dealer I called couldn't offer me a testdrive as they are simply too rare. They were however prepared to offer some good deals, but I wouldn't buy one without driving one.

Apparently the Panda is quite roomy, and I had similar requirements (Baby seat etc)

The Panda 100HP was going to be my replacement to the Vectra..but I couldn't find one and every dealer I called couldn't offer me a testdrive as they are simply too rare. They were however prepared to offer some good deals, but I wouldn't buy one without driving one.

Apparently the Panda is quite roomy, and I had similar requirements (Baby seat etc)

The Panda is surprisingly roomy and thanks to the upright seating in the back, it'll comfortable seat 4 adults. Plenty of room in it for a standard stage 2/3 child seat, although my daughter now insists on travelling in the front

I was also surprised recently to find how few there are available to test drive as my Mum's just bought one and she ended up buying without driving one. Fortunately she loves it

Chris