SWMBO needs to get shot of her BMW 116i.

It's only a 2010 with 35k on the clock but is running rough, weird clunk on startup, needs 4x disks and pads and got a bunch of other warnings from BMW at last service and a  recommendation for £3500 of work.

 

Unfortunately she has champagne taste but a shandy budget and is pretty much of the belief that BMW should just take her old car and give her a new one for £5.

She drives about 10miles a week with a longer run (maybe 100mi every other weekend). Is terrified of snow, doesn't look after her car, cant judge distances and is a terrible badge snob. Ideally will never need tyres or serviced coz that like unacceptable and the car should just last natch!

Needs 4 seats. Convertible would be a dream.

 

I reckon her Beemer is worth £5-6k as trade-in and her budget would be up to £12k.

 

What she usually likes (changes daily) -

 

BMW 1 series

BMW X3

BMW X5

Audi A3 (coz her Dad has one)

Audi A1

Nissan Qashqui

 

What she likes sometimes -

 

Honda CRV

Mazda 3

Ford Fiesta

 

What I've pointed her at but she doesn't like -

 

Honda Jazz

Nissan Leaf

Any Mini

Toyota Aygo

Citroen DS3

Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.6l V8 HEMI

 

What she will never touch -

 

Anything Fiat (brakes fell off her first Uno therfore all are cursed forever)

Anything Renault (She had a Clio didn't like it. Her Dad has one of them too but that doesn't seem to count the same as the Audi and lets just not mention the Nissan links)

Anything Skoda, Korean or USA (see badge snob comments)

 

Her ideal car is therefore a convertible BMW X5 that does 60mpg, £30 VED and needs serviced once every 5yr.

 

Any leftfield suggestions?

Edited 28 July, 201510 yr by Aspman

She drives about 10miles a week with a longer run (maybe 100mi every other weekend). Is terrified of snow, doesn't look after her car, cant judge distances and is a terrible badge snob. Ideally will never need tyres or serviced coz that like unacceptable and the car should just last natch!

Needs 4 seats. 

 

Any leftfield suggestions?

 

A bus pass sounds ideal for her 

What about a Mini?  Or, given the lack of care for her vehicles, a Land Rover Defender.

Fiesta ST

What about a Mini?  Or, given the lack of care for her vehicles, a Land Rover Defender.

 

Ah well reminded, doesn't like minis.

 

Defender would be ideal, I'd like it too. But can't see her going for the agricultural vibe

Fiesta ST

 

Yeah I had been thinking of that, had a quick look and they're all at the top end of her budget, but yeah maybe.

Looks like a Honda CRV with a Sun Roof, or maybe a Skoda Yeti with the correct tyres will do.

I like the simplicity of a Nissan Qashqui because the Plastic bits are Black and unpainted.

 

An Audi A1 can be had in the budget, (plentyful used ones sitting on Motormile Perth) very comfortable and easy to park.

Beats a Mini Hands down and suits the lady who likes to lunch.

We have a Fiesta ST with Mountune and its a fight over the keys in the morning haha

Ah well reminded, doesn't like minis.

 

Defender would be ideal, I'd like it too. But can't see her going for the agricultural vibe

Sounds like shee needs a few weeks on public transport.  She'll accept anything then!

 

VW Golf or Polo?

What about a Mini?  Or, given the lack of care for her vehicles, a Land Rover Defender.

 

 A Digger, if SWMBO gets into a hole she can dig herself out of it

Plenty of these....petrol or diesel

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507155210534/sort/pricedesc/radius/1500/latitude/53.59624044805872/longitude/-1.404808427194562/make/AUDI/price-to/12000/page/1/usedcars

Private plate it so no-ones knows what year it is

Winter tyres for the bad weather

I'd prefer her to get something like an Aygo since she could get one nearly new for next to nothing + the 5yr warranty + there would hardly be anything to depreciate for the time she'd have it.

My workmate is married to the local Toyota dealer manager so we'd probably get a reasonable offer. But nah not impressive enough

 

She wants people to go 'Oooh nice car' in the car park.

Then she'll moan to me about how much it costs to run. FFS

Edited 28 July, 201510 yr by Aspman

See if he can finder her the last of the Toyota iQ, 

One with Leather, 1.0 or 1.3 CVT, more space in the Front than in an Audi A3.

What about a Toyota IQ? if she is a real badge snob swap the bits over and called it a Aston Martin Cygnet!!

Any leftfield suggestions?

 

A new missus tbh.

A new missus tbh.

 

Slight problem there:

 

budget would be up to £12k.

 

 

Somehow I think the ‘cost to change’ may fall a bit short on that one 

New shape Smart ForFour - tell her it's a Merc, well it is really.

 

This one below has an electric folding soft top, quirky, people will definitely talk about it!

 

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507085031505?postcode=le673aw&make=smart&search-target=usedcars&channel=cars&model=forfour&sort=pricedesc&radius=1501&page=1&price-from=500&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&logcode=p

If she like the qashqui what about Kia sportage very nicely finished off and lots of kit name is getting better with the 7 year warranty I have 2 friend who have bought them and are very impressed.

I was forgetting,  how about a Citroen Cactus.

Meets many of her requirements, and you will get a Demonstrator in budget.

I was forgetting, how about a Citroen Cactus.

Meets many of her requirements, and you will get a Demonstrator in budget.

They are absolutely dreadful! Looks like it's been prepped with body armour ready to go to war.

Exactly.  Supermarket Car Park Wars.

What about the new shape suzuki swift?

Get her one of these...:

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/fiat/126/postcode/da100ey/radius/1501/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/sort/default

 

A REAL HEAD TURNER...

 

EVERYONE WILL TALK ABOUT IT.

Badge snobbery rules out many options above.

 

Cactus would probably be a good choice. She's picked up a few door dings at the work car park. Not her fault.

She'd like a A3 drop top but won't take anything with a fabric roof in case the roof gets cut open. told her if they want in they'll just smash a window but nope, drop tops must be folding hard tops.

 

But she's not fussy, nooooo not fussy at all.

Edited 28 July, 201510 yr by Aspman

From what you've said, I think a Renault Twizy with Ovlov badges on it would be ideal!