Car suggestions?

[SimonsMerc]

Heyas,

My sister needs a new car. She's after the following:

- Not too big (5 door hatchback type ideal)
- Ideally 2004 or newer
- "nice" (women get to say things like that and mean them)
- Automatic (she's sick of manual, hard to do make up while changing gears)
- £3-4k
- Small economical engine (1.2-1.6L)
- Not astronomical mileage

What do folk suggest?

-simon

 

[Howard]

Honda Civic ...... all the way

 

[Mudster]

I'd gravitate towards anything Japanese on grounds of reliability.

 

[alanuk400]

+1

 

[Mudster]

Just had a quick look on Autotrader and £4000 will get you a nice '03 Toyota Corolla Auto with circa 60K miles, they just don't get any more reliable than that...

Or a Mazda 323 GSI auto....

 

[W210 Fan]

Honda Civic ...... all the way

Déjà vu...!

 

[bigyin1]

only one choice, Civic.

 

[BTB 500]

Civic or Jazz. The smaller Jazz (which is still a 5 door) is surprisingly spacious inside, and the flip-up (and fold down) back seats make it very flexible. Nippy but very economical. Winner of many 'car of the year' awards, and rightly so. Not sure what the auto is like though ... we had a manual.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Your sister isn't going out with Donza is she?

 

[ms500]

Ford Focus? I wouldn't have one because I find them too bland, but I've heard a lot of good things.

 

[Dryce]

Ford Focus? I wouldn't have one because I find them too bland, but I've heard a lot of good things.

Ford Fiesta and Focus automatics are not great IMHO. Fiesta 1.6 is IMHO to be avoided at all cost - quite horrible. I've had three different ones for several days at a time and they were all equally nasty so I didn't accidentally get a bad one.

VW Polo 1.4 auto is not that much better.

Honda Civic and Jazz tend to be pricy. Jazz is a CVT and quite a good little town car. Previous model Civic is traditional 4 speed auto but very smooth.
If you're even thinking of a Jazz then you must get a test drive to check driver comfort - I just couldn't get a comfortable long distance driving position in any Jazz I have driven. Previous model Civic is very practical and spacious but relatively noisy inside when cruising and while people go on about quality/reliability I thought it felt light and flimsy and cheap.

Nissan Note 1.6 auto is actually quite good IMHO but was only introduced a couple of years ago. So not that many old ones about.

Corolla mentioned elsewhere is OK too. Bland but nothing untoward.

Megane 1.6 auto is also OK - apart from being a Renault. I had one for a couple of weeks and had no real complaints. I prefer the feel of it to the Civic or Corolla. But I suspect erliability goes more to the Corolla and Civic.

If you're looking at smaller autos. Current model Clio is OK. Current Corsa is not quite as good (it's got a MB type pressure point in the accelerator which is less precise and takes practice to use well). Nissan Micra 1.2 is too underpowered - Micra 1.4 is OK but feels quite diferent to the Clio or Corsa. Out of these my favourite is the Clio.

 

[ms500]

Ford Fiesta and Focus automatics are not great IMHO. Fiesta 1.6 is IMHO to be avoided at all cost - quite horrible. I've had three different ones for several days at a time and they were all equally nasty so I didn't accidentally get a bad one.

Ah right, I missed the bit about her wanting an Auto.

 

[pint6x]

A quick look at autotrader for automatics up to 3 years old for under £4k turned up quite a few cars. Including:

2005 VAUXHALL ASTRA 1.6i 16V Enjoy 5dr Auto Hatchback (trade)
13,990 miles, 5 Door Hatchback, Black, Petrol, Automatic, 3x3 point rear seat belts, ABS, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Audio remote control, Body coloured bumpers. £3,500.

2005 FORD FOCUS 1.6 Zetec 3dr Auto Hatchback (trade)
33,000 miles, one owner,ford service history,aircon,full electrics,rcl (2 keys),alloys,front fogs,3 x 3 rear seat belts,colour coded bumpers,cd player etc,looks & drives absolutely as new £3,895

Lots of french cars as well which I would be wary of (possibly excepting the Renault Clio) - nothing by Honda or Toyota in this price band/age/spec

I think if she looks at the Astra and Focus and chooses one of those she won't go far wrong. If she wants something smaller, there were a number of Corsas and Fiestas in the same price band. Some Fiat Puntos as well, though try before you buy.

 

[vijilants]

Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla ...might be a problem getting post 2004 on that budget but even pre 2004 what you will get will be ultra reliable, low mileage and you can get one that is fully loaded.

If you want a site that gives you a review of the models you are thinking of buying try www.honestjohn.co.uk

 

[LeighW]

I've bought my girlfriend a Mitsubishi Colt, ours is a manual model but they also come with an auto.

I managed to pick up a 1.1 Mirage, which comes with 16" alloys, climate control, decent stereo with steering wheel controls, trip computer, electric sunroof, remote locking, traction control... basically fully loaded. It's a 55 reg one owner car, 19k with full dealer history, £3995. Bargain. We've had it for a month, it returns 40+mpg around town, a cracking little runabout.

 

[Donza]

Your sister isn't going out with Donza is she?

lol....

To the Original Poster, i'm in the same predicimant. She has her heart set on a Mini. But the honda jazz is still in the reckoning..

These are an absolute steal. Great reviews on the Jazz also..

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...AZZ&min_pr=3000&max_pr=4000&max_mileage=20000

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...AZZ&min_pr=3000&max_pr=4000&max_mileage=20000

Ah, i just re-read your post. She wants a manual...pity

What about this? Mitsi Colt..

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...OLT&min_pr=3000&max_pr=4000&max_mileage=60000

 

[bigstuff]

had a corolla for the wife & cant fault it now have a civic more fun but i find that i notice the road noise on the motorway more

 

[timskemp]

For an auto - I'd avoid anything french (to be fair, I'd do that for a manual also).

Nissan Micra, or if you can stretch to it a Nissan Cube. Perfect.
http://www.cube-cubic.co.uk/gallery.html

 

[The G.F.P]

lamborghini LM002

or maybe an Audi A3

 

[SimonsMerc]

Thanks for all the suggestions folks, I'll certainly pass them on.