help me choose a car!

[anderlee]

Hi. I want to get a new car before the end of the year. Im a working mum so dont need a big, powerful car. Just something roomy, reliable and wont cost the earth for repairs etc. I like ford focus, toyota yaris and V W golf (but arent they expensive?)
Please can you tell me your experiences of these cars or should i look at something else?
thanks

[ChuckFickens]

personally from the selection you gave I'd go for a focus.

I have driven several different ones other the last few years, mainly company pool cars so not well cared for pampered examples and in 5 years and probably well over 100'000 miles have only had one minor breakdown that was quickly and cheaply repaired by the main dealer.

They are comfortable for long distance driving having spent entire days driving them with no aches at the end. and they are fun to drive if you do feel like throwing them about a bit.

Steer clear of the 1.4 ones though, unless you don't mind driving a car with acceleration on a par with glaciers.

As I said just a personal view, sure you will get other recommendations.

[Dr Wu]

Hard to advise really without knowing your budget, are you buying new or used?

Agree with the above poster that the Focus is a good car, 1.6 petrol seems especially well-loved, the mk 1 is cheap and plentiful now and spares are also cheap.

The Golf is expensive for what it is and VW's are not as reliable as people think they are (dealers don't always give the best service either)

The Yaris is a good wee car (cheap on the second hand market now and reliable) Don't forget thought that despite the trick rear seat it is still a small car.

Don't discount the Skoda Fabia or even the Nissan Almeira. The Almeira has no image but is cheap, roomy reliable and surprisingly nice to drive.

The French cars (Megane/ Pug 307) are cheap, safe (esp the Megane) and nice to drive but very patchy on reliability.

The folks in the back room on this forum are always willing to pass on knowledgable advice too:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/index.htm

[TWR]

Hi, with respect to the other answers I would go for a Peugeot 307 Depending what you have to spend they are Good on fuel, the 1600cc is better than the 1400 as the 1400cc is sluggish for the size of the car, you have plenty of room, a Hatchback, plenty of room in the front & back with the rear folding seat gives the car a very spactious boot, There are trays beneath the seats for bits, All around vision is good, It has Air Con, Peugeot Alarm, Do your home work as regards the price, If you are not well up on cars, Take someone with you that will check them out and also BARTER, and BARTER like hell, there ae many cars out there that the dealers are trying to get rid of, but the one thing byeing off a dealer you have COMEBACK in other words they cannot to a point mess you about. Good Luck.

[Annlinda]

My ford focus was dreadful, worst car I've ever had it was a 2005LX 1.6 auto...drank petrol like no tomorrow...glad to get rid of it. sluggish.....digital display kept going wrong....

[Jules001]

if you are buying used, something else to bear in mind when choosing, is as from April 1st next year the road taxes will change and so taxing some older, smaller family cars will cost more. Might not be an issue, but best to be armed with all of the facts as these cars will possibly then be harder to sell so you may be faced with a potential bargain price which will be a bit of a white elephant in the long run.

[weggiewabbit]

How roomy does it have to be?

I�d say go for a Ford. I don�t know anything about the Focus, but I�ve got a 1.6 Escort M reg which cost under 300 quid 3 months ago and it�s been great. Very economical on a long run (44 mpg) and not bad at all on short runs (about 23 mpg with 2-mile journeys mostly).

If you can make do with a smaller engine, then a Fiesta is your best bet because they can�t be beaten for reliability and cheapness to fix if anything does go wrong - I�ve had 4 of them and never had any major problem.

I�d avoid anything French or German. Maybe it�s prejudice, but all �foreign� cars cost more to insure. I had an old Citroen AX once which was OK, though.

[msemma]

Rather than making the step up to the Golf, you'd be better off with a VW Polo. Better VFM, and plenty of room inside

Also, similar is the Honday Jazz, which has lots of room in the back.

Both of these cars hold their value well.

[Panic Button]

I can't believe no one has said get a Vauxhall Astra.
Great cars.

[weggiewabbit]

I forgot about the Astra - never owned one but I believe they're very good for reliability too.

I wouldn't recommend a VW Polo - maybe I was unlucky, but I had an old one not long ago which turned out to be a dog.

[Panic Button]

Polos aren't built in Germany you know.

[Fairie]

I'm a working mum of 3 and have a Focus 1.6. It has been an excellent car and is used as a taxi running kids around everywhere, my son plays rugby and so his matches are all over the place. It has never let me down.