Mitsubishi ASX 2wd

Audi Q3 2wd (not sure if it's out yet)

Honda Accord 2.2d (has that been said?)

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0JTD

Peugeot RCZ 2.0d (and sod the pasengers?)

Honda CR-Z Hybrid

The ASX has been added to the list - it certainly looks good on paper and in the metal. The emissions are a bit high but not stupid and the top spec is in budget. Thanks

The Q3 is nice but I'd only be able to afford a base model and I'd prefer a cheaper car with more toys.

The Accord is like an Avensis - very capable but dull (and out of budget).

The Giulietta is basically a posh version of my Bravo - probably a no.

The RCZ would mean shoving a 12 year old in the boot.

CRZ is neither economical or quick and fails at being a hybrid and a sporty car

I' a bit confused (doesn't take much I know) you state:

I would need to buy something that can comfortably seat four adults, it must be a diesel or hybrid and 4x4s [1] and convertibles are out.

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[1] So a 2WD Yeti would be fine but a 4x4 Superb wouldn't be. [2]

[2] Yes, I know that doesn't really make much sense but it's not my rules.

So it has to be big enough for four adults ... for any length of time or just every now and then?

Must be 4x4 ... but now you are considering 2WD cars, so is the 4x4 a MUST or "I would like?" do you drive off road regularly enough to NEED the 4WD capabilities?

If seating for 4 adults comfortably is high on the list then there is ONLY 1 ... Superb (estate preferably, purely on aesthetics) 140CR Elegance, more toys than you can shake a stick at, not exactly slow and comfort levels are in a different league to the rest.

You're reading it wrong. Must be a four seater and be diesel. Must not be 4x4 or convertible.

Told you it didn't take much

I'm not quite over the fact that you bought a Fiat Bravo with your own hard-earned

I'm not quite over the fact that you bought a Fiat Bravo with your own hard-earned

awaits rebuttal

I'm not quite over the fact that you bought a Fiat Bravo with your own hard-earned

Almost 30% off list price (bought at the start of the credit crunch) so it was a hell of a lot cheaper than another Octavia. It's well specced, looks decent, drives ok and is cheap to run at 55mpg (true) , £30 to tax and £300 to insure. Its also not matched the build quality stereotype Over three years I'll have saved a decent chunk of cash out of the car allowance I've been paid. It isn't as good a car as the Octavia, and I've never claimed or expected it would be, but it's done what I needed it to.

Almost 30% off list price (bought at the start of the credit crunch) so it was a hell of a lot cheaper than another Octavia. It's well specced, looks decent, drives ok and is cheap to run at 55mpg (true) , £30 to tax and £300 to insure. Its also not matched the build quality stereotype Over three years I'll have saved a decent chunk of cash out of the car allowance I've been paid. It isn't as good a car as the Octavia, and I've never claimed or expected it would be, but it's done what I needed it to.

Has the turbo ever blown?

I drive a few hire cars and the best of the recent bunch was a Toyota Avensis estate for a trip to Fort William. Not everyones cup of tea but a comfy , well equipped and decent mile muncher. No idea about co2 'tho.

Focus does the business but is run of the mill. Today's chariot was a Kia cee'd - UGH!!!!

Has the turbo ever blown?

Nope, unlike my mk2 Octavia. There were some very annoying DPF issues at first which was a pain but that was an issue that affected lots of fiats and alfas, vauxhalls and saabs using the new 1.6 and 2.0 multijet engines and has since been sorted. Since then it's just had fuel and scheduled services, some tyres at 40k and a headlight bulb.

Just be sure to check planned co car tax rises for next year.

Mines risen a lot thanks to a more expensive car.

Just be sure to check planned co car tax rises for next year.

Mines risen a lot thanks to a more expensive car.

Yep, by the time (if) I get one it will be on the 2012/13 tax rates so 119 carbons will be 17% instead of 13% - quite a jump!

I hope my earlier post wasn't taken as a dig as it certainly wasn't intended.

I've only just sold my 12 year old 'French' Peugeot 306 and have had cause to defend the brand on here a few times as it was 100% reliable. I've nothing against Fiat but was curious to understand what influenced your decision. I'm surprised how Skoda owners can be so critical about brand perception!

When looking for its replacement I went through a similar process to you, weighing up all the options, some weeks my head would rule my heart, other weeks it would be the other way round. You wouldn't believe the amount of time I spent on eBay, Autotrader and the manufacturer’s sites!

In the end though Skoda kept coming back as the sensible choice. We have two Octavia's now, a Scout as a family wagon and a vRS for me, The best of both worlds.

I know it has already been suggested but if I had £25K (I only had £10K so had to go used) then a Skoda Superb would (after many months of browsing) always end up being the best choice.

Good luck

I think the Yeti is out - you can only get the 1.6 Greenline or 2.0 110bhp diesel in 2wd. The sunroof isn't available on the greenline and the 2.0 is a lot more expensive on tax but no quicker.

The Superb would be good in many respects but I'd need to look at tax costs as again there's no sunroof on the greenline so it's 2.0 with 140 or 170bhp - lots of toys to play with, but I really don't think it would fit on the drive.

The Citroen DS5 looks interesting but I can't find a price list for them yet.

They've just been published:

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/02/citroen-puts-price-on-all-new-ds5-in-uk.html?

Peculiar looking things. I sat in quote a few at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year and they have bits inside that clearly come from the same company who makes the lowest most invisible parts for the Citroën C1........ oh dear. And if you thought a MINI dash was something to tire you out, try sitting in one of these for five minutes!!! At least the rear windows can be lowered unlike the 100% fixed affairs in the Citroën DS4.

I'm baised (and I know you've now discounted them) but the Yeti is perfect. Quirky, scarce and VERY short to fit in that driveway of yours!

So in post 1 you mention the Hyundai i40..... Any further thoughts on that? Or the Kia Optima being launched from tomorrow? Decent spec in both for about the dough you are mentioning.

Hmmmm, a mid spec ds5 with the small diesel is in budget and would be worth a look as an interesting alternative to an A3.

Based on what I've seen online and quick glances the i40 is looking good - top spec estate with low emissions and just on budget. I'll have a nose at the Optima too though thats not quite as good on paper. The emissions aren't quite as good as its a bit longer and they don't do a "green" version like the Hyundai yet. It's also slightly more pricey with the saloon costing the same as its estate cousin. Both have a cracking spec and reviews are favourable. I feel like I ought to test drive a Pious as well just as its so cheap to run, but it would take something really special to make me drive one.

I added a new car to the short list today - a top spec 2wd qashqai 1.6 diesel. 130bhp and 119 carbons beats the yeti, and the list of toys is very impressive including a huge glass roof and it's just in budget.

what about a superb elegance

I think the Yeti is out - you can only get the 1.6 Greenline or 2.0 110bhp diesel in 2wd. The sunroof isn't available on the greenline and the 2.0 is a lot more expensive on tax but no quicker.

The Superb would be good in many respects but I'd need to look at tax costs as again there's no sunroof on the greenline so it's 2.0 with 140 or 170bhp - lots of toys to play with, but I really don't think it would fit on the drive.

Have they stopped putting the excellent 1.2 tsi Skoda engine in it then, or do you mean in the deisel versions?

I added a new car to the short list today - a top spec 2wd qashqai 1.6 diesel. 130bhp and 119 carbons beats the yeti, and the list of toys is very impressive including a huge glass roof and it's just in budget.

The Nissan is generally agreed to be no where as dynamic to drive as the Yeti. I've only driven the 1.8tsi but I was amazed at just how good it was!

How about another Fiat product?

Dont know about is CO2 but the Chrysler Delta might be worth a look?

How about another Fiat product?

Dont know about is CO2 but the Chrysler Delta might be worth a look?

It's a Bravo beaten with the ugly stick!

I added a new car to the short list today - a top spec 2wd qashqai 1.6 diesel. 130bhp and 119 carbons beats the yeti, and the list of toys is very impressive including a huge glass roof and it's just in budget.

Have you driven one yet? I've never been in a car in which I felt a roof so close to my head as in a Cashcow - and I'm no gaint. No matter what you do to the seat the roof is right on top of you with your eyes seemingly just below the sunvisors. Look next time you see a Cashcow pass you where the drivers' heads are in relation to the roof... Awful gearbox too and tons of creaking of trim from the boot area (on a second hand demo that was about 9 months old since the salesman could not be bothered to give us a drive in his parked in new demo). They do look good though (from outside).

As to the fixed fishbowl roof: never in a million years will I get that. The beauty of a sunroof is that when you park in the summer heat you can leave it on tilt. As the car heats up the heat rises and escapes through the opening without heating the car up. The Yeti/Superb also has a rain sensor so should it start to rain (which also means it is not really warm enough to leave the roof on tilt to begin with!) then it will close it for you in your absence. The temperature difference is amazing and believe me I curse myself if I had forgotten to leave it open and get back to the car on a hot day. With these fishbowl contraptions you get all the heat gain (regardless of what fancy glass they use believe me or if you had closed the blind) yet you can't get rid of the heat. :no:

agreed there is not much head room in the cashcow i am 5'11,i used to build the blighters the interior is very compact probably nearer a Fabia inside than a Yeti.

The cashcow is one of those cars that looks bigger on the outside than the inside the Juke is the same.

The cashcow is a great success story for Nissan and sunderland so its great they sell like hot cakes keeps my girlfriend in employment,but i wouldn't ever buy one over a Yeti.

It will only be a matter of time before the new cashcow is announced.

Bmw 316d is less than £25K my Dad has one as a company car and it's actually not as slow as i thought it would be,also build quality is excellent.

Edited 6 February, 201214 yr by seagull

Volvo V60 R-Design 115 bhp diesel estate eDrive.

Fastest 1.6 diesel with only about 119 grams CO2

Looks good in R-Design spec too.

Fastest 1.6 diesel with only about 119 grams CO2

Unless you look at the offerings from BMW

Chris