We've been looking at cars for Mrs Witchfinder. At the moment, the list of possibles is:

Ford Mondeo

Honda Civic

Nissan Primera

Skoda Octavia

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Passat

We've been through lots of cars and these are the models she's interested in. There's no point trying to suggest any others. For one reason or another, this is as big as the list of possibles gets.

I have been, for obvious reasons, pushing for an Octavia Elegance. With our

I would personally definatly go for the Passat. It is very spacious, and I would only get the 1.9 TDI one though. These engines are VERY reliable, and the car is very very well built. However, with a budget of around

why are they all so big when you already have an octy?

I've never been a fan of the 2.0 8v lump. The 1.6 is only just down on power and is smoother, quieter and more economical. There's also reports of the 2.0 liking to use oil. Take the TDI - if you want a gruff sounding engine might as well make it a diesel.

Golfs are expensive and is essentially the same as the Octavia but with a nicer interior. The Passat loses value quickly compared to the Golf so you get more for your money.

If you want a certianty of a bulletproof car, go for the Honda.

Otherwise the Octy 1.9 TDi ( 90bhp) , the current owner of my previous octy has put over 40K miles in 16 months ( total of 80K miles in 4 yr 4 months) and he said there were STILL no rattles & the engine is just as good as when he bought the car 2nd hand.

why are they all so big when you already have an octy?

She needs a bigger, more comfortable car. Her job is going to require that she starts doing more mileage. We both have jobs and errands that require larger cars; frequent at the same time. Her Fiesta just doesn't cut it any more, and even something Fabia-sized would not really be big enough.

I've found the Fabia fine for doing several hundred mile trips, but I can appreciate you may want the Octy if you are also after a lot of boot-storage for say travel gear and/or demo equipment. The Fabia has a decent boot size for the size of the car, but it's nowhere near as big as the Octy one

Mondeo or octavia.Probably similar prices.1.9tdi if increased mileage.

Golf is obviously buying a smaller version of the octavia probably paying more too.Not experienced Honda but understood parts and insurance were unusually high.

Do like passats but again on the first two I reckon you will get far newer and better specced cars

Well, in the end, we bought her a 1.8 Focus Zetec. Absolutely gutless (although admittedly I'm comparing it to a Jabba'd vRS), but handles and steers like a dream. Nice little car!