Car for parents Part 2

knightstyle

Following my earlier thread asking for advice which got sidetracked. Looking for a Focus sized, 4WD, automatic, 5 door hatch, not too big or with seats high off the ground? Budget around £8k. Have looked at lots of earlier recommendations but they don't seem to come with all the above, unless they buy a Cube or something from Japan and import it!

Lum

Like I said in the last thread, VW Golf GT TDI 4Motion with the DSG gearbox is about the only Euro car that meets these requirements. It's a 2 litre diesel that makes 140bhp. They are rare but they do exist.

Other than that you are looking at Japanese imports as many JDM hatchbacks come with a model targeted at residents of Hokkaido who kind of need the 4WD. They tend not to get imported over here though, except for the sports models and 7 seaters.

knightstyle

Lum, as I have just posted on the other thread that car does not exist!!!!!!
According to VW the only 4WD auto Golf was the "R" model unless you know different.

Lum

Sorry I didn't see your post in the other thread yet. All I know was the hire car I had in 05 said 4motion on the back and had 4WD and a diesel engine. I guess my memory must be failing me (actually quite likely)

A3 Quattro isn't available with an auto either.

Only other think I can think of is sillier than importing a Cube, 1998 Suzuki Samurai as there is a kit available to turn it into a 4 speed auto. A lot of money/effort to spend on a 13 yr old offroader though.

MX5huggy

knightstyle wrote: »

Following my earlier thread asking for advice which got sidetracked. Looking for a Focus sized, 4WD, automatic, 5 door hatch, not too big or with seats high off the ground? Budget around £8k. Have looked at lots of earlier recommendations but they don't seem to come with all the above, unless they buy a Cube or something from Japan and import it!

Wait 5 years for a BMW X1 to come into price range.

scheming_gypsy

C3 4x4 ? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/CITROEN/28003.html


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-C3-4x4-SX-Automatic-/280107182219?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4137b0688b

knightstyle

MX5huggy, don't think dad has 5 years! scheming_gypsy the autotrader article is for a 4x4 LOOKALIKE, it is not 4WD, I think the Ebay add is for one of these as well but will ring tomorrow. Bit worried as 7 years old and only 28k miles.
Thanks for trying though.

scheming_gypsy

aye i did see that but missed where it said it was mechanically identical to the standard. I saw the eBay one first and then googled for pictures / articles.

scheming_gypsy

Diahatsu Terios? apparently they're a compact SUV, automatic, 4x4 - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-Daihatsu-Terios-Estate-1497cc-Petrol-4-wheel-drive-/120795329219?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c1ff672c3

gilbert_and_sullivan

Subaru Forester, estate car not a hatch, maybe slightly bigger than a focus but far higher quality in every resoect.

Good car but likes a drink, could be worth keeping an eye open for an LPG'd model, might be in budget about now.
Subaru were offering dual fuel options some years ago.

Hintza

I think you will need to drop one of your criteria, the car you are lookng for I'm afraid doesn't exist (thesedays). Change one of the following:-

Size
Auto
4wd


Size wise you would need something like a CRV, RAV4, Sedici/SX4 (might not have auto), etc to meet the other criteria

Auto:- Is always a problem on smaller cars and my reading of semi autos etc is that they take a bit of getting used to.


4wd: If you can do without auto the Panda 4x4 is probably ideal.

The Panda 2wd can be had as dualogic box and is pretty good go anywhee car as a 2wd drive version.