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Another new car advice thread
Slimy38 - 18/3/14 at 09:06 AM

Sorry guys, you're probably fed up of them now, but I thought I'd give it a go. Missus needs a new (to us) car, the Almera needed welding to get it through the MOT so I consider that to be sign of expiry. We have;

3.5K max to spend.
Petrol only car, at least as fast as a 1.5 Almera.
57 plate or newer (I realise this and the price limits things substantially)
Comparable size to an Almera.
Not a Focus (don't ask, I think they're a perfect choice but there's no persuading her). Oh and not an Astra, I hate the bl00dy things!
Oh, and five door, although we're finding that most hatchbacks come in five door models.

The front runner for us at the moment is the Mazda 3 1.6, so I would appreciate any opinions on that if anyone has owned/driven one, as well as other thoughts.

jossey - 18/3/14 at 09:40 AM

I generally use auto trader to see what's about

Seat Ibiza?
Just found this SEAT IBIZA via Auto Trader http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201403152543420?atmobcid=soc4
£3300 2011 car 13k miles
Great cars driven lots

Pug 207
Just found this PEUGEOT 207 via Auto Trader http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402211958501?atmobcid=soc4
£3950 2010 48k
Don't like them myself but the electrics seem a lot better

Mazda 3. As you mentioned
Just found this MAZDA MAZDA3 via Auto Trader http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402121738880?atmobcid=soc4
£3000 2009 59k
Like the mazda 3 but not fun as the Ibiza

Lacetti
Just found this CHEVROLET LACETTI via Auto Trader http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201403152543538?atmobcid=soc4
1.6 £3300 2010 35k

Food for thought... I like the Ibiza a lot

[Edited on 18/3/14 by jossey]

Slimy38 - 18/3/14 at 10:23 AM

Thanks for that. I also like SEAT (I'm biased though, I own a Toledo!), I was just a bit wary of the boot space in the Ibiza. A Leon may be more compatible with the amount of stuff that two young kids need to have carted around with them.

jossey - 18/3/14 at 10:35 AM

Ye but depends on how much she is gonna cart kids on her own. Obviously you would use yours on a weekend etc.

The Leon's are nice too.

I would get the seat over the mazda myself. The mazda has zero personality. Sorry to anyone reading who has one lol

Slimy38 - 18/3/14 at 10:47 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jossey
I would get the seat over the mazda myself. The mazda has zero personality. Sorry to anyone reading who has one lol


Bear in mind she drives a Nissan Almera, the Mazda 3 is a Golf GTI in comparison!!

She does the school run during the week so that's the main use. The joys of living miles away from any decent school!

Mr Whippy - 18/3/14 at 01:19 PM

Yeah my Almera needed a whole new front end due to mental rust, very poor design and rust proofing (still have it as the engine is bomb proof)

Missus now has a focus cmax and it's vastly superiour

Honda jazz is a great little motor, was thinking of getting one myself, gets really good reviews

[Edited on 18/3/14 by Mr Whippy]

Slimy38 - 19/3/14 at 12:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Yeah my Almera needed a whole new front end due to mental rust, very poor design and rust proofing (still have it as the engine is bomb proof)

Missus now has a focus cmax and it's vastly superiour

Honda jazz is a great little motor, was thinking of getting one myself, gets really good reviews

[Edited on 18/3/14 by Mr Whippy]


She doesn't want a Ford, which is quite frustrating. I think a cmax might be a bit big but a Focus would have been great. I looked at the Honda's, and while they are brilliant up to a few years, I was scared off by some really bad reports of the older ones starting to get big problems. By the sounds of it anything over 5 years are just not worth having? Honest John has things like this on the Jazz;

quote:

Servicing is expensive because of the need to re-shim solid lifters and because the engine has 8 special spark plugs.