Thinking of a new car for my mum...

[Adam230K]

Hi guys,

I'd like to pick your brains about what car you think would be suitable for a middle-aged lady.

I'd want it to be a diesel and an automatic if possible. So far i've considered the A class 170cdi 2002 models, golf 1.9 tdi, audi a3 1.9 tdi (bit expensive), and thats about it really.

What do you guys think? I know that A class is generally slated and i've never heard anything good about them, and they can be expensive to run. Dont know a great deal about the others but i'm suspecting the golf will probably the best idea.

Share your thoughts!

 

[LTD]

What sort of driving does she do and what are her wishes ?

 

[d w124]

Just a though but how about you give her your BM and you get another Merc?lol

 

[x332race]

What do you mean when you say "middle-aged"?

I would say CLK convertible woudl suit a "middle-aged" lady just dandy!

 

[wemorgan]

what's your budget?

Citroen C2 with Sensodrive
Honda Jazz CVT

 

[renault12ts]

As X asks...what's middle aged...be very very careful how you answer...

My own mother drives a C200...she's 76.
My dad...a 997...he's 83 on Jan 1st...

 

[Adam230K]

she doesn't like big cars, and the budget for us is around £2.5-3k, not much!

she's a tad over middle-aged... in her early 50's!

 

[renault12ts]

^ What age is she??

 

[Smiley]

why diesel? does she do lots of miles? If not petrol will be cheaper to buy and maintain esp with an auto. If I were on a tightish budget and wanted a small auto I would go for a Toyota Corolla or aYaris or a Honda Civic or Jazz. Your budget will get a very nice low mileage previous bug eyed (ugly) Corolla; it will never go wrong.
As for the A class you know the answer already; VAG Tdis are excellent engine wise + economy but VAG autos are not the best reliability wise and VAG dealers are some of the worst for customer service that I have ever dealt with.

 

[Mark300SL]

Earlier in the year I "upgraded" my mum to a Civic Auto and she loves it

They are pretty much bullet proof, mileages of over 200k are common though I got a very tidy one owner 1600cc version with just 60k on the clock for peanuts
Also consider an Accord - DorianT got an 1800 runabout fully loaded executive auto on an X plate as a runaround for £1500, it has all the toys inc heated electric leather/climate/Bose/alloys and is a truly astonishing car for the money. 100k on the clock but it looks and drives like it has only 20k on it!

This is not my Honda blinkers here either - all the Honda lads think I am MB blinkered

 

[orangeboy]

Seat leon?

Basically a golf, but a bit cheaper.

 

[lynall]

Its got to be a Honda.

Bloke at work used to work for Honda and said it was really boring as all they ever did was servicing as so little went wrong.



Lynall

 

[Ted]

Mrs Ted is, according to your definition, older than 'middle aged'

She drive a SLK.
I think it's an excellent choice.

 

[Ted]

Its got to be a Honda.

Bloke at work used to work for Honda and said it was really boring as all they ever did was servicing as so little went wrong.



Lynall

Mercedes used to be like that.
Seriously.
I worked at a Mercedes garage late 70's early 80's. The mechanics were for the most part rubbish as all they ever really did was servicing.
At the British Leyland garage I moved to after that, the mechanics were some of the best I have ever known.

 

[abecketts]

I'd suggest a mini cooper S that's what my mother treated herself to for her 70th goes like stink and puts a smile on her face, it also comes with a button called sport which turns it into a bit of an animal. Whatever you get her make sure it keeps her young.

 

[x332race]

she doesn't like big cars, and the budget for us is around £2.5-3k, not much!

she's a tad over middle-aged... in her early 50's!

If that's her budget and she is not really into cars, Skoda Fabia's seem to be very popular.......my mother (74) has just bougth a good 2nd hand one for that sort of money and loves it!!

Just had to sell my Father-in-law's Fabia...put it on at the price suggested by Parkers and sold it within 24 hours.....had many phone calls and could have sold it 5x over!! Obviously very popular and probably for good reasons!

 

[Adam230K]

Fabia and ibiza's are something i didnt consider, so thanks for the suggestions.

The reason we need a diesel auto is because everyone in the house is insured on her car as it is, its the family run around (hence alot of miles), the auto is her preference as she hasn't driven a manual for over 7 years.

The thing is, we've had her Corsa for those 7 years and it has never once gone wrong. I've replaced the exhaust system, £60 and serviced it regularly myself and tyres/pads, but apart from that there's nothing else i've spent on it. Its a good runner, but a full tank of petrol (£40) struggles to give us 230 miles and i'm starting to wonder if its worth having it, since we're filling it once a week.

 

[thebook]

My wife has got an A Class on an 04 plate (so slightly above your price spread) and it has been no end of problems which has cost me dear personally I wouldn't go near one from that era.

New shape are better, apparently but a bit more than you want to spend.

PS anyone wanna buy an 04 A class?

 

[lynall]

I'd suggest a mini cooper S that's what my mother treated herself to for her 70th goes like stink and puts a smile on her face, it also comes with a button called sport which turns it into a bit of an animal. Whatever you get her make sure it keeps her young.

Before you by a mini google mini gearboxs problems

Of course they wont be any worse than the mercs in that respect

My foremans got a focus diesel estate 02 plate just clicked over 100k and hes had it from nearly new, a couple of rear wheel bearings and a door lock set and i think thats it, its the tddi one before the tdci version.



Lynall


Lynall

 

[James Rothwell]

Fabia and ibiza's are something i didnt consider, so thanks for the suggestions.

The reason we need a diesel auto is because everyone in the house is insured on her car as it is, its the family run around (hence alot of miles), the auto is her preference as she hasn't driven a manual for over 7 years.

The thing is, we've had her Corsa for those 7 years and it has never once gone wrong. I've replaced the exhaust system, £60 and serviced it regularly myself and tyres/pads, but apart from that there's nothing else i've spent on it. Its a good runner, but a full tank of petrol (£40) struggles to give us 230 miles and i'm starting to wonder if its worth having it, since we're filling it once a week.

Fabias are good cars.

Check the rear door seals on earlier cars. The 16v 1.4 is a better engine but has a cambelt that needs doing every 4 years the older MPi 8v 1.4 has a chain rather than a belt. See if you can get yourself a 1.4 16v Comfort (make sure it has AC) or see if you can get an Elegance model. If it has to be diesel don't bother trying to find a 1.4TDi just go for the 1.9TDi much more plentiful.