Best (Nearly)New Smallish Car for around £6000...? Opinions

anewman

AdrianHi wrote: »

I recall all too well the 1998 Skoda Felicia 1.3 I once had as a loan car. It had an old push rods and tappets engine under the bonnet. The previous time I had an engine like that under the bonnet was when I had a 1977 Ford Escort over 10 years earlier. Slow and thirsty at 33mpg.

There's no doubt the VW engines (appart from the V6) are better than the original Skoda engine, but it's not all that bad. I can get 45mpg out of my old Skoda 1.3 engine. I find it to be quite fast from standstill, but if you want to move you have to stick your foot down and use the low gears. But still it's quite impressive given it is essentially based on the older engines, and the design hadn't changed much in 20 years. Not the best engine out there but still good for it's time. Even ford used an old push rod engine in the Ka. The pushrod Skoda engine was used with slightly increased cylinder sizes in the 1.4 8v Fabia.

Apparently Jeremy Clarkson even gave the Skoda Favorit a thumbs up, and you know his outspoken thoughts on Ladas. Here's mention of that, but I've never seen the video myself http://z3.invisionfree.com/skodaforum/index.php?showtopic=8849

kaja86

Thanks for this help. I'm still looking and searching the internet!!!
Gonna look at cars on Friday so want to go prepared.

adamtoyne

Did you go look on Friday? Made a decision yet?

kaja86

Yes,ordered a Fiat Grande Punto.
Looked at loads but it was defo the best I've seen!!
V excited now!!

Inactive

You obviously ignored the good advice given on here then...:rolleyes:

Best of luck with the Fiat.

adamtoyne

Which engine? How did you choose which one to go for?

kaja86

I chose 1.4 Eleganza. A little more expensive than first planning but it has lots of extras and I really love it.
However many reviews and opinions you read on here or other boards it is always down to the individual and I fell in love with it the moment I sat in it! I looked at loads of cars that people on here had told me about and read all the good/bad points but it is a very personal choice. When you are spending that much money it has got to be YOU that likes the car not someone else on a forum. (Rant over)
I got a great deal on part ex aswell and was very fairly advised at a great garage in York that I would highly recommend after being in lots of very dodgy/pushy garages over the past month.
Good luck with your purchase Adam! Please tell me what you end up getting?

adamtoyne

Yeah we had a look around some showrooms last night and the Grande Punto is really nice. Very few had golfs and the ones we saw seemed very expensive. We'll keep looking but like you, were very impressed with the Punto... Especially the sporty ones!

Inactive

kaja86 wrote: »

I looked at loads of cars that people on here had told me about and read all the good/bad points but it is a very personal choice. When you are spending that much money it has got to be YOU that likes the car not someone else on a forum. (Rant over)

Well it was you that asked for opinions on this forum:rolleyes:

But you still went and purchased a Fiat of all things.

Oh well, to each his/her own as they say.

movilogo

If you were so interested in Fiat, you could have opted Brava - which now offers 5 yrs warranty