Current car - 54 Vauxhall Tigra 1.4 sport.

Slow, thirsty, rattles like a bag of spanners, horrible to drive. She loves it.

But it feels like it is aging quickly and we've not got a huge amount of confidence in the electro-pneumatic roof lasting for many years. It's had the occasional gremlin from new.

Currently she's doing quite high mileage. 500 a week. This might continue for 6 months but probably no more than that. After she'll be down to 200-300 a week (depends when we move and how close to her work).

She want something with 5 seats.

Economical (+40mpg)

Faster than the Tigra (say sub 11 sec 0-60)

Doesn't need to be new

Priced under £10k but she could go quite a bit above that if it was worth it to her.

She is not the best driver so rwd probably not an option (i.e. 1 series BMW).

Needs to be easy to drive, park etc.

Options are not important, she doesn't even use the a/c.

Needs to appeal to her shallow label loving side.

Things she likes -

3dr Rav4

BMW 1 series (see^)

Honda S2000

Nissan Quashqui [sic]

A3

VW Golf mk4/5

Things she hates -

Minis

Skodas (for some reasons she keeps asking for a shot of my VRS though?)

Fiesta

Clios

Civics

Some of my suggestions -

Rav4

Suzuki Swift

Suzuki SX4

Fiat Grande Punto JTD

Fiat 500

Fiat Sedici JTD

Older VW Golf 1.9 (130)

Polo TDI

Kia Ceed

Input appreciated.

I said on another thread..

1.6 TDCI (110PS) ford focus MK II.

Can be had at a year old for £9k, drives well is quiet and currently somebody who isn't trying is getting "only" 50mpg around town and a short D/C run.

Mate has the nissan and it's MPG is shocking, the tax band is IIRC E, which is shocking for a TD.

Tax band B, and handles well too.

I wouldn't worry too much about her ability in a 1 series as even the 118/118d has the DSC (ESP) function on it which should help her out a bit.

Ford would make sense as it's one of the few franchises near her work. I have a feeling she's looking for something a bit less common.

She might change her mind ofter she's driven one.

Are the controls light? She's not keen on the weightier feel some diesels have.

Are the controls light? She's not keen on the weightier feel some diesels have.

I liked it and thought they were pretty good.

IMHO of the dervs:

- 1.4 TDCI is under powered

- 1.6 TDCI(110PS) is a cracker

- 1.8 TDCI is actually a real let down

- 2.0 TDCI (136) is a great engine but less economical than the 1.6

I think the only way to really be sure is to have a drive of it. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised when I had to collect one for a relative.

You can get nearly new Focii for that budget , but I'd probably have a Grande Punto myself

Polo Dune?

A bit different.

That reminds me , I saw a Citroen C2 fake-offroad thing yesterday.

Most odd, it was.

My brother's had a 1.5 Suzuki Swift and now has the Sport version, he's very impressed with them and I think they're nice car. But the initial wants list cries out for a Fabia vRS.

What about the Fiat Panda 100hp?

I pass a white one on my way to work and it looks the mutts

Another vote for the Focus as well.. not that I'm biased or anything

She really does need a Fabia vRS but a Focus will fit the bill.

Current car - 54 Vauxhall Tigra 1.4 sport.

Slow, thirsty, rattles like a bag of spanners, horrible to drive. She loves it.

But it feels like it is aging quickly and we've not got a huge amount of confidence in the electro-pneumatic roof lasting for many years. It's had the occasional gremlin from new.

Currently she's doing quite high mileage. 500 a week. This might continue for 6 months but probably no more than that. After she'll be down to 200-300 a week (depends when we move and how close to her work).

She want something with 5 seats.

Economical (+40mpg)

Faster than the Tigra (say sub 11 sec 0-60)

Doesn't need to be new

Priced under £10k but she could go quite a bit above that if it was worth it to her.

She is not the best driver so rwd probably not an option (i.e. 1 series BMW).

Needs to be easy to drive, park etc.

Options are not important, she doesn't even use the a/c.

Needs to appeal to her shallow label loving side.

A3 is too expensive. I had one, but changed to Fab vRS as couldn't stretch to lateish, low mileage replacement. Can't you persuade her with a Fabia vRS? It ticks the boxes. Maybe a Polo TDI, but that will cost more.

Golf 5 will be all the money as well, and the MkIV isn't as young as it was...

I wouldn't worry too much about her ability in a 1 series as even the 118/118d has the DSC (ESP) function on it which should help her out a bit.

Having driven a 120 (the only even slightly powerful RWD I've driven), I'd agree. If anything, the ESP is too invasive- I kept wondering where all the power went. If you turned it off it went very nicely sideways.

Howver, the same as applies to the A3: it will cost ££££. And everyone hates you if you drive a BMW, rightly or wrongly.

We had a look round at the weekend.

She's still keen on the Nissan but it's £15k (the stated budget seems to change regularly - womans prerogative) for a 1.5 derv. I used to have that engine in a Clio and it was ok but a ton and a half mock 4x4?!?

As a joke I suggested getting the same as me and she did suggest a Skoda herself.

I think she'd like a Fabia VRS if I could get her in it and she pressed the loud pedal hard.

Her folks are keen on the nissan too and generally what they say is gospel

I reckon it's a bad one. Renault build quality and it's going to be nissan's main car for a while. So it's dear and new now but in 2yr it'll be common as muck and worth sod all.

I think this might drag on for a bit.

Mate has one (the Nissan Skateboard), seriously even with the big derv it is slow as **** and drinks the fuel :(

Is it too late to sue V@*xh@11 for false advertising over the Sport badge on the T19r@?

As others, try and get her to actually drive a Fabia vRS.

Is it too late to sue V@*xh@11 for false advertising over the Sport badge on the T19r@?

Heh. Aye it's shocking. She's got to shift down to 4th for hills on the motorway.

There is next to no improvement with the 1.8, leather seats and more fuel drunk but no faster.

Now if they stuck the new 1.8vvt, 2.0T or even the 1.9dervs in it they'd get somewhere. But it's still being sold with old generation engines.

It's a horrid, horrid car. But she loves it.

I did look for after market warranties for it but they won't cover the roof. I would bet money on it breaking soon after the warranty is up. Probably due to one of the many micro switches getting furry.

What about a new Tigra?

I really don't rate the Fabia VRS as a long term ownership car as things seem to start going wrong a lot outside of warrenty and they are not exactly cheap to fix as a car.

She's still keen on the Nissan but it's £15k (the stated budget seems to change regularly - womans prerogative) for a 1.5 derv. I used to have that engine in a Clio and it was ok but a ton and a half mock 4x4?!?

If she's keen on getting a Nissan, how about looking at an Almera instead of the Qashqai? Proven reliability/build quality, people tend to overlook it so it's pretty cheap to buy, and you can get the 2.2dCI 134bhp unit in it which will average 47mpg and do 0-60 in 8.9s...as such, it should satisfy all criteria.

Or, if she doesn't need something the size of an Almera, how about a Micra? Even the 1.6 petrol unit can easily return 45mpg on a run, and should satisfy performance requirements, ease of use, reliablity (check out their score on the reliability index website), and you could probably negotiate a brand-spanker for around the £10k mark. Plus it looks girly like the Tigra...

Rob.

She wouldn't get an Almera or a micro. Not good enough in the car park (bangs head off desk).

She would get another Tigra but hers being a 2 seater is a regular PITA.

She's mumbled that the Focus is alright. There are some cracking deals on the 1.6 diesel about right now for 6-18mth old cars. I think I'll be steering her in that direction.

And something which posesses neither style nor substance, like a Cashcow or what ever it's called is?

That reminds me , I saw a Citroen C2 fake-offroad thing yesterday.

Most odd, it was.

they dont make a c2 off road thing :confused:

they do make a c3 with similar body extensions as the roomster scout though, was that what you saw?

Is it too late to sue V@*xh@11 for false advertising over the Sport badge on the T19r@?

As others, try and get her to actually drive a Fabia vRS.

lol did a vx technican steal your lolly pop as a kid or something?? seriously though, its a 1.4i with all the roof im surprised it moves at all!! lol!!

what about a seat ibiza? slightly more exciting to look at than some cars, but shares all the nice VAG parts?

Mitsubishi Colt (We have one) Great car!!

OR

Suzuki Swift (Possibly next time)

OR

Theres always the Honda Civic

Suzuki Swift 1.5, or the diesel if she's doing lots of miles.

Reasonably fast (10sec to 60), comfortable, fun to drive, nice looks, good economy on a run. 15" wheels as standard, but easy peasy to pop 17" on instead if you want that look.

Or look at the 1.3 Attitude special that is currently out, has a bit of bodykit and 17's as standard.

Swift Sport is quicker, but short gears mean high revs on the motorway and it's not economical enough for the stated requirement

lol did a vx technican steal your lolly pop as a kid or something?? seriously though, its a 1.4i with all the roof im surprised it moves at all!! lol!!

what about a seat ibiza? slightly more exciting to look at than some cars, but shares all the nice VAG parts?

Agreed on the Ibiza, you could get a 1.4 TDi Ref Sport for 10k brand new or an ex demo / year old 1.9 Sport, FR or Cupra. We have a Ref Sport in silver at work and it's quite well equipped and looks the part.