What car would you buy with £8k?

JoeyEmma

We had an old Bravo a few years ago and reliability was certainly an issue! Fiat= fix it again tomorrow. It constantly needed new clutches/ gear boxes etc. It rattled and rattled. The highlight was when the steering gave up on a tiny fell road in Cumbria, as we were going downhill fowards a sharp bend over a bridge with a little gorge below. I would never have a Fiat again. I knew a few people with Bravos that thought the same. I've heard similar nightmares with Citreons from several people.

motorguy

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Too big to drive? They're only a few inches larger than your Clio.

If it were up to me, I'd force all learners to be taught in a Volvo 940 estate.

Why would you possibly be pushing someone to drive something than they feel comfortable with??

A Mazda 6 is a full three feet longer than a clio.

michaelvintner

Kia Rio, not the best looking car in the world but not the worst either. Has had a bit of a facelift and now comes with 7 year warranty.

Hyundai I10. I have never driven one but having looked at one in the showroom it is a lot bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside and my first impressions were very good. Did not look or feel cheap. I would definitely have a look at this. Surprising amount of space in side.

Suzuki Alto, looked and felt cheap. Buy this only if you want want be reminded you could not afford a mor e expensive car. Interior felt and looked like it was made out of yogurt pots. Nissan Pixo, same car.

Skoda Fabia is a good car but like you said bloody ugly. I never liked the original one in terms of looks and they made the newer version look even worse. Mind you having driven a couple they are not bad to drive.

http://www.kia.co.uk/New-Cars/Range/Compact/Rio.aspx

Mind you plenty of very good second hand cars out there for 8 thousand.

moggylover

I would add my vote for the Kia Cee'd. We bought one last year on the scrappage scheme (and got the estate) because of one or two recommendations on MSE and the length of the Warranty.

It has been superb, and has done about 8K miles now without any problems (and there we go, now I have said it it will probably go up the creek:D) and very good service from our dealer.

Not a bad looking car, VERY roomy with lots of room for both a 6'4" driver and a 6'4" BIL (we took them both along to make sure there really was space) to sit front and back in-line:D. Not many cars that we tried (and we tried a lot both new and second-hand) could brag that. Also has reasonable headroom above so that you don't feel as if the roof is on top of your head when in it:D

Has the same couple of blind spots that a lot of modern estate cars have on the back - but not a major problem! I'm really pleased with it, and the only car I have ever had that was better was my Renault Savanna 7 seater some years ago.

We paid around 12K for ours which was the estate and the diesel and not the basic model, but the saloon is a good bit cheaper and the dealers are still doing some very good prices on cars so find prices on line and then haggle like mad:D

moggylover

moggylover wrote: »

I would add my vote for the Kia Cee'd. We bought one last year on the scrappage scheme (and got the estate) because of one or two recommendations on MSE and the length of the Warranty.

It has been superb, and has done about 8K miles now without any problems (and there we go, now I have said it it will probably go up the creek:D) and very good service from our dealer.

Not a bad looking car, VERY roomy with lots of room for both a 6'4" driver and a 6'4" BIL (we took them both along to make sure there really was space) to sit front and back in-line:D. Not many cars that we tried (and we tried a lot both new and second-hand) could brag that. Also has reasonable headroom above so that you don't feel as if the roof is on top of your head when in it:D

Has the same couple of blind spots that a lot of modern estate cars have on the back - but not a major problem! I'm really pleased with it, and the only car I have ever had that was better was my Renault Savanna 7 seater some years ago.

We paid around 12K for ours which was the estate and the diesel and not the basic model, but the saloon is a good bit cheaper and the dealers are still doing some very good prices on cars so find prices on line and then haggle like mad:D

Found the Kia Rio and bit small for a family car (and the junk one ends up carrying with little ones) and the Skoda Fabia is only cheap if you have the one with a 1960's interior: but it did go surprisingly well! Octavia was very nice and roomy, but ended up a lot dearer with any decent level of interior trim than the Kia Ceed.

Audi A4 Estate was sadly lacking in interior space for such a long looking car and I believe the saloon has a very small boot.

Kia may not have the "kudos" badge that the Golf and the Focus have - but I rate it a much better "car" if you want a family vehicle not a boy-racer-mobile:D

flyingscotno1

JoeyEmma wrote: »

We had an old Bravo a few years ago and reliability was certainly an issue! Fiat= fix it again tomorrow. It constantly needed new clutches/ gear boxes etc. It rattled and rattled. The highlight was when the steering gave up on a tiny fell road in Cumbria, as we were going downhill fowards a sharp bend over a bridge with a little gorge below. I would never have a Fiat again. I knew a few people with Bravos that thought the same. I've heard similar nightmares with Citreons from several people.

Aye old Fiats were fun. Fiat really has managed to improve reliability no end, shares a decent number of parts with GM inc engines but unfortunately really only moved to relatively good as opposed to poor.

I really like a lot of the new Fiat range too

KonkyWonky

Ford Focus is a good practical choice.

If you want something a little different (only a little mind you) then your budget should stretch to a 08 or 58 plate Seat Ibiza 1.4.

They are very well built cars and the 1.4 engine gives great fuel economy, its not going to win you any drag races but they look fairly funky and are only insurance group 4.

emmell

My nephew has had a 'T' reg Focus for 8 years it's now got 105,000 on the clock and never been any trouble (apart from him righting it off 2 days after he bought it). He bought it off the insurance and had it repaired to a high standard and his girlfriend has commuted 40 miles each day and it has never let her down. They are just about to change it as it is a 3 door and she finds it awkward getting the baby seat in and out.
So although I've never owned a Focus my nephew would recommend them, but get a 5 door so you won't have to change it when the kids come along.
ML.

mark5

I would be thinking mk5 Golf 1.6 FSI se or Focus 1.6 zetec, 5 doors with maximum of 40,000 on clock and full service history.

flyingscotno1

KonkyWonky wrote: »

Ford Focus is a good practical choice.

If you want something a little different (only a little mind you) then your budget should stretch to a 08 or 58 plate Seat Ibiza 1.4.

They are very well built cars and the 1.4 engine gives great fuel economy, its not going to win you any drag races but they look fairly funky and are only insurance group 4.

The problem is a lot of the Seats go for the 'sport' feel which translates to uncomfortably hard suspension in some models.

Problem with Focus at the moment is the base model list is now £17,500 which is insane and will reflect on used values although Focus has big difference.