So ladies and gents, time has come to sell up my Fabia Mk1 Vrs SE or has it?

I don't really need a diesel anymore, work round trip is 8 miles, girlfriend lives within 3 miles of my house, so do I have any real need for a diesel anymore?

I just need some help on next options, i'm looking hatchback, currently checked the following:

VW Golf 1.4 tsi 170

VW Golf 1.4 tsi 140

Skoda MKII Vrs

BMW 118i M Sport

BMW 120i M Sport

Mazda 3 sport

Honda Civic Type S

I don't want anything stupidly quick, so what do you reckon people?

Personally, I would discount the golf. It's just not special. Are we talking the new BMW 1 series or the old one? The Mazda feels a bit cheap inside, and there is a new civic out soon (if not yet) which means either wait for the new one or you get big discounts on the current shape. With the skoda, its quite different from the rest. Smaller, faster than most (if not all) so make sure it can do everything you need.

Hope this helps

Tbh I'd stick with what you got, but maybe modify it . That way you get all the pleasures of cheap running costs with high performance.

On that list a mk2 Fabia vRS or a BMW 120i

The BMW will win on driving dynamics and fun everday, but despite it's 184bhp the Fabia would prove the quicker road companion.

Depending on your budget, if it's the difference between buying a used BMW 120i M Sport or putting finance on a new mk2 Fabia vRS then i would probs go BMW 120I if fuel ecomony isn't so important.

The Fabia will be FAR FAR more spacious compared to even a 5dr BMW 1 series, so really it depends on your needs.

if fuel economy isn't important any more and your girlfriend lives 3 miles away i'm gonna 'Assume' you don't have kids so why not spend about 7-8K on an 03-04 S2000, you will have ALOT of fun in it and also very low maintainence costs, definately lower than the BMW probably alomost on par with your current diesel vRS.

Edited 27 October, 201114 yr by Sonner

i agree that the mazda 3 feels cheap and the Golf's aren't special.

The Civic type S are good, but i like my speed so BMW and mk vRS tick all the boxes. don't touch a 118i, it's got the same 2.0 bmw engine and only give about 2mpg extra but you lose around 40bhp, it's not a worthwhile trad imo considering they cost the same used!

Edited 27 October, 201114 yr by Sonner

work round trip is 8 miles, girlfriend lives within 3 miles of my house

I don't want anything stupidly quick, so what do you reckon people?

Have you considered cycling?

Civic is old and a new one is out next year. 120i is nice if you can afford it. Everyone has a Golf and it'll cost you a bomb to spec up. Although still a good car. MKII vRS...well....:p

I think they all look good apart from the 118i - same engine as the 120i but it just feels weedy.

How about an older 130i for the same money?

Not sure why the Mazda is on the list unless you want a 2.2D or the MPS.

The sport has a lot of kit but the 2.0L petrol is probably not up there with the turbos or the BMW engine.

I know a lad I worked with had or maybe still has, a Mazda 3MPS. Beautiful inside and out and rapid as well. Although if petrol wasnt an issue I would definately get a nicely spec'd MK2 VRS! :p

Okay, thanks for all the help so far, think we can cross off the 118i, mazda 3, civic type s, both golfs. Leaving us with a bmw 120i and a mkII vrs. I've checked the bmw 130i, just don't seem worth it for the money and the S2000 also, due to the governments tax bandings. My next question would be, is there room to haggle on the MkII vrs? Also what realistically MPG are people getting, tried searching but nothing concrete

Well if your after a hatch with say only maxidot specced and you don't mind waiting till after december then you should get one for 15k.

the current Skoda No VAT deal excludes the vRS, i spoke to James at Allams, and he said they hopefully will put the vRS back on the deal in a few months once the waiting times have gone down.

so basically pay full 17k for one now and get it in 6months or wait till after christmas and get the no VAT deal and pay 14k and wait only 3months hopefully(that's if the waiting times play out how skoda wants them too)

With the amount of well maintained used 120I out there i kinda think it's not worth purchasing new, depending on what age car you want and your bugdet.

a few examples

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201143423854229/sort/priceasc/usedcars/body-type/hatchback/seller-type/trade_adverts/price-to/16000/fuel-type/petrol/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/quantity-of-doors/3/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/maximum-age/up_to_4_years_old/transmission/manual/price-from/8000/model/1_series/make/bmw/postcode/tn401ns/radius/1500/page/2?logcode=p

or something a bit more

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201139418705309/sort/priceasc/usedcars/seller-type/trade_adverts/fuel-type/petrol/quantity-of-doors/3/body-type/hatchback/price-to/18000/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/transmission/manual/model/1_series/make/bmw/postcode/tn401ns/page/1/keywords/120i/radius/1500?logcode=p

personally for me i prefer this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201140419283714/sort/priceasc/usedcars/body-type/coupe/fuel-type/diesel/make/bmw/keywords/123d/postcode/tn401ns/page/4/radius/1500?logcode=p

i've driven the AWESOME 204bhp twin turbo diesel and it's brillant, very fast but low road tax, economy is 60mpg driven sensisbly, more like 35mpg if ragged! i've wanted one ever since

I'm not a huge fan of brand new cars, been looking round and I've seen various decent Fabias for 13k and the 1 series i'd be looking at around 11k for a decent low mileage second hand one

I'd be thinking -

MX5

petrol A4 quattro.

But part of me would be thinking about what my mate calls "massive c'ck cars".

S500 Marc

Monaro

TVR Cerbera

I'd perfer a hatchback. Always think the Audis are overpriced considering you can get a skoda built in the same factory for a few grand less

Get a Mk1 Focus 1.6 petrol and have a couple of holidays on the change.

If you're not driving much is it really worth spending a lot on it? Money down a drain really.

What else do you use the car for besides commuting and visiting your GF?

I only do 8k most years, and my commute is 11 miles, ~15 minutes, so why do I drive a diesel? I like the big wads of torque low down, and besides commuting, I do 6 to 12 200 miles+, ~4 hours+ trips a year, and the ability to cruise at 60mph, 2000rpm, 50mpg so I'm not ever forced to look for a fill-up en route is worthwhile for those.

Theres the usual shopping trips, seeing mates, go to a fair few football matches, think its definately between the 120i and the mkII vrs, just very different types of cars, although the figures are almost the same

Well after much research and a couple of test drives, ive decided against a hatchback and I'm going to get a Octavia MkII Vrs Petrol, comments welcome

TBH you'll probably find you've picked a car that does just about everything you'll need.

I'd suggest getting an older one just because they are good value for money. Mine is just over 4yr old and with 52k on the clock still feels like new, never missed a beat in all that time.

Get one at 4yr and haggle over the timing belt most will be needing it done.

Edited 2 November, 201114 yr by Aspman

ive been looking about 4 years old, seem to be some good ones about at the minute, should have one sorted soon