My car shortlist

[c00ky83]

I'm starting a new job soon and can at last afford a decent car! I'm after a 3-door medium hatchback, less than 5 years old and my shortlist consists of Focus, Golf, 206 and Corolla. I currently have a 9 year old Corolla, but it's only a 1.3 and would prefer something more meaty. Any opinions/recommendations on those, e.g. engine size, petrol/diesel, insurance groups? Also my mechanic says to avoid French/Italian models!

[rsd2525]

one of the best diesels ever produced is the peugeot HDI surely? i sold dozens of renault 25's (petrol) for cabs years ago and at least 7 went past the million miles. obviously your mechanic will have to work on it so keep him happy but dont forget cc/road tax

[paddy_36]

rsd2525's suggestion sounds like an excellent one to me. If you want something a bit bigger for your money, I would go for the Golf - again, a sportier diesel like the TDi but you won't go wrong with a 1.6 petrol either, if you want something a bit meatier! Dearer road tax than a 1.4 though, depends what your priorities are.

[rsd2525]

you say less than 5 years old.dont foget up till march 1st 2001 road tax was up to 1549cc, one price, over that another. After 2001 its on emissions so dont forget that

[spaced]

I'd go Japanese - best engine durability

[c00ky83]

Just spotted the irony - I don't want French, but fancy a 206! Of course, I was referring to Citroen and Renault!

[Bravo Girl]

Have you thought about a Skoda Fabia, say 1.9 TDi - basically a VW with a Skoda badge or the Skoda vRs - fantastic bit of kit (I was about to buy one but then inherited my lovely Fiat Bravo Trofeo, result = no mortgage!). The Skoda's are really worth looking at now, totally different cars since VW took them over.

I guess you've already done the "wants & wishes" list to have come up with your choices. You can't go wrong with a Focus and it's got a nice high driving position - good visibility all round but there are so many of them around (probably a good point for spares though). If you don't want to be one of the crowd, then the Skoda is better value than a Golf but the badge thing might be important to you. The Peugeot 206 looks quite cute but it is an old engine design now. Don't know anything about the Corolla, but given it's 4 stars by Parkers - pretty good.

Have you taken any for test drives ? Good hunting.

[spaced]

Im a fleet manager and I also test drive cars, I must say that I totally agree with Bravo Girl, Skodas are FANTASTIC cars. Taken over by VW in 1989, Skoda are getting better and better. I didnt mention Skoda or any other new car as I thought your budget may not stretch to this. But with �9,000-�10,000 you could get yourself a Fabia, if you can stretch a little more I would go for the Fabia or Octavia VRS. Have test drove the Octavia VRS - man that thing flies!

[Bravo Girl]

See what I mean ? Even guys who have to drive for a living rate them. One small problem I found though - I couldn't actually get hold of a 2nd hand Skoda vRs, nobody wanted to get rid of them (one salesman actually laughed when I said I was looked for a nearly new vRs, he said "what's one of them then?")

[c00ky83]

Some good advice, thanks. Of course, I know all about Skodas and wouldn't mind one of their vRs models, but like said, they're not too common on the used market. Image isn't everything...but as a 22 year old bloke it is something, so hadn't considered your bog standard Skodas. I realise that's an immature attitude to motoring, but there's plenty of time to be mature!

[r4zorb4ck]

I would go with Honda or japanese. A Honda Vtec engine has never broken down.

[Bravo Girl]

Now careful, c00ky, you don't want to be mature when motoring ??? You're only in charge of a lethal machine that could kill.... behave... Mind you, I wish I was 22 again. I would take an advanced driving course, get lower insurance, be the envy of my mates cos I could drive properly and be in control of the lethal machine, and be admired by young ladies cos I didn't do daft stuff that scared them.... Seriously though, keep the juvenile stuff for the pub/party/off the road and be grown up on the road (as I am sure you are). Sorry to sound like your mum....

[Furby]

Have a play with a Skoda Fabia vRS. I did, and still love it 14 months later. Brilliant bit of kit, quick as you like, frugal, totally reliable and not a lot about. Will eat 3-series for breakfast if I'm in the mood and it's safe to do so, of course. So impressed by FAbia that we're now going to buy a new Octavia 2.0 TDi Estate to keep it company.