Which car?

I'm in the process of buying a new car and would like some second opinions as ive got down to a final few I am interested in and neither of them stand out as the one I really want.

Any opinions on the cars and reasons to buy or not to buy them would be great. Please dont just vote the Fiat option because this is a Fiat Forum. I would like an unbiased opinion if possible.

What I'm looking for in the car is somethings thats cheap(ish) to insure but quick whilst being fairly good on fuel. Big enough to fit 4 people ok. Petrol or Diesel really. no preference. Budget is 3k but would prefer Photos are an example of the shape, not the specific car im after.

Honda Civic 1.4/1.6 hatchback

My opinion - Good looking, nippy and reliable. Nice interior. A safe choice I think but insurance higher as its "sporty" apparently. Easy to afford within the budget and could get a low milage tidy example.

VW Bora 1.6/2.0

My Opinion - Love the look of these and the interior. Right as the top of my budget so will likely have to have a "higher" milage example (70kish). Low insurance groups for both the 1.6 and 2.0 engines!

Skoda Fabia 1.4 16v

My opinion - Exterior is a little boring but still looks good. I love the interior on these. Nice and modern. Well build (its a VW underneigh) with a nippy yet economical engine and cheap insurance. Only problem being that the 1.4 16v fetches good money so will be tough to get a decent milage example within my budget. Other option would be to go for 8v but im not as keen.

Fiat Punto JTD mk2

My Opinion - Had one of these before so I know what they are like. Quick and very economical and good on insurance too. Not that keen on the interior. A little old fasioned now.

VW Lupo 1.4

16v is a little too pricey but I could afford a 1.4 8v. Ive loved these for years but im thinking it might be just a little too small now. Not THAT keen on the interior with the painted metal doors showing. Might not be that nippy but cheap to insure and run.

At the moment these are my main options but im open to pretty much anything. I would be interested in a big saloon but insurance still has to stay low. The lower the better but I still want something quick (like a 1.4/1.6). So any other suggestions would be great!

Cheers!

you havnt said if the jtd will be remapped or not? cos there pretty slow standard... if keeping standard id go with a civic 1.6 esi i think there called.

Remap isn't essential. I'm not buying the car to mod so its possible i'll remap it in the future but probably wouldnt bother. They arent slow as standard. Just not as fast as a remapped one.

Bora or Punto. But they both totally different so depends what you really need it for.

If you're doing lots of miles then the Punto, if you need lots of room then the Bora.

Bora

Boura or Fabia tbh

Bora in diesel if you can get one in your price range

Having experienced the Fabia, I'd not recommend one to anyone - it's biggest problem is it has "VW reliability"

Civic or Punto for me....

Chris

punto for me

the only skoda i'd ever buy would be the on from the fabia advert. the cak on

what ever happened to the bushboy i used to know

a £3k budget is loads to play with, double what i've ever spent on a car.

so, we're looking for;

insurance has to stay low.
something quick (like a 1.4/1.6)
good on fuel
Big enough to fit 4 people ok
Petrol or Diesel

i really dont know where to start. the world is your oyster.

i guess the first thing that comes to mind is a mk1 focus or a mk4 astra, about 1999-2002 reg. there's loads of choice, and either would tick all your boxes. you could probably get a 1.8 focus or astra because the insurance is so reasonable.

you could also go for a mk2 306, they look nice but interior isnt as good as focus or astra. one great thing about the 306 is the TD engine.

personally, all things considered, i'd probably go for a 3dr astra 1.6 or 1.8 sport (the sxi trim before it was called sxi). the 1.6 sport is only group6 insurance, and the 1.8 is only group7, so neither is expensive. both are nippy cars with a good spec.

i cant be bothered to find a pic, you know what a 3dr sport looks like

E36 BMW is the way, get a 325tds if possible or a 318tds, if not a 318i
petrol is a nice compromise, like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-R-BMW-3-Series-318i-SE-1-8-MANUAL-4-doors-Saloon_W0QQitemZ150232302341QQihZ005QQcategoryZ983 7QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

3k is a load of cash and my mate swapped from a 306 XND to a 316i with only a 50 quid difference in insurance and the other models arent much more, especially diesels.

You could get a fairly late one in mint condition, with leather, climate and all the bits for maybe 2/3rds of that, or for the whole lot maybe an E46 like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-318i-1895c...QQcmdZViewItem


Obviously engines a little large, but what you could save buying you could spend on other things, fuel, insurance etc even though they are actually from personal experience quite frugal on fuel, especially at high speed.

I probably shouldnt have bothered putting a Fiat in the poll as it was obvious that people would just tick it without reading my requirements.

Jug, Ive looked at astras and focus'.

The astra im not so keen on. Never liked vauxhalls. Always found the engines a little lifeless and boring to drive. Plus Babz has told me I cant have one

The mk1 focus I do like. They are nice looking and nice inside too. Ive read that the 1.6 16v is basically the ultimate practical car. It does everything you could want in a family hatch blah blah blah etc. I have read its a little long in 5th so feels lifeless on the motorway but is good on fuel when crusing at high speed as the revs are low. I have considered a 1.8 but tbh I forgot to add them into this thread when I wrote it.

The Bora is probably my favourite out of the lot with the focus or civic close behind. The fabia is on the list because the 1.4 16v is fairly nippy and good on insurance and fuel and I love the interiors. Ive been driven in a tdi (Duncs) and thought they were very nice indeed. Plus being a VW in disguise, they are reliable and easy to get parts for etc. Plus they hold value fairly well. (not as much as a VW but still better than alot of other brands). Only problem is I dont think I can stretch my budget for the 16v and im not interested in the 8v 1.4.

I have kind of ruled out the 3 series. In my experience the Insurance isnt cheap and ive heard the 1.6 really isnt worth buying as its an out dated engine design and not really all that powerful for a big car like the E36. I would consider a 318 but then the insurance comes into play again. Anything higher than that and insurance gets stupid so its not worth it.

the punto ticks all your boxes
fits 4 people
low insurance
good on fuel
quick enough