Need to replace the wifes tin-top (Been busy at work, but i now need to sort this asap)

Needs to be a Petrol 1600cc 5 Door Hatchback (she only does around 4k miles a year)

Budget upto £4500

In the frame so far are: Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Mk 4 VW Golf



Anything else that i've forgot or you lads would recommend ?



Thanks in advance

Cheers
Perksy

Focus for real value. Really not worth paying the extra for a VW that will be more of a problem.
Honda a wise choice, but prices are often strong.

VW polo.. lighter than the golf! (or the seat alternative that uses the same platform, cant remeber its name though!)

Honda , Focus , Golf , in that order.

Alternative is the astra. For 4.5K you could get an 07 motor pretty easily, that or a focus similar money. Go to higher mileage (50k) and 08 reg stuff is available.

quote:

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Originally posted by rusty nuts
Honda , Focus , Golf , in that order.

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Seat Leon, seat ibiza. astra

Seat abrath, or vw lupo seems good but not sure if they come in 5door models

Dare I mention Skoda's they again share the same platform as the Golf. IIf your thinking diesel the VW range evertime, virtually indestructable engines and widely tuneable increasing MPG and power. If your looking at initial outlay and future sevicing costs I would say the Focus

Thank for the comments so far



Hadn't thought of a SEAT tbh, might have to put that one in the mix aswell


Keep them coming, Any advice appreciated

Diesels are making me very twitchy these days. Too many stories of injectors, DPF's and so on playing up at massive costs to rectify. Let alone the DMF problems
VW seem to have real issues with ABS ecu's too, again eye-watering. Have a peek at the Honest John site, can be a bit fussy but gives you a good idea of what does regularly go wrong on the cars. The fact they recon Golf's are best avoided is a strong clue.

Just to throw another in the mix maybe a Fiesta? They're not as small as I thought (I can sit comfartably in the back..)

Civic definatly. Every man and his budgie has a golf or focus, nothing special about them at all and worth next to nothing when you come to sell.

If you're after something different how about a Lancer?

If you want different, what you want is a Citreon or an Alfa. A C4 should be fairly easy to find for your budget and you'll get the benefit of all kinds of cool gadgets and a really smooth ride. On the downside, most of the buttons will have worn blank so you won't know what does what and theres a good chance bits will fall off.

Another outside choice, how about a BMW 1 series? Auto trader has 4 or 5 5dr examples in you budget from 04 to 07 including one with a 1.6. I'm not really to keen on them myself (Except the Coupé) and I've got a feeling they'll become popular with boy racers very soon but it is a very up market car and it's RWD and would have cost alot more new than a Civic or Golf.

Seat Leon...job done

A mate of mine has a 1.6 5dr Astra (55 plate) and as much as I wouldn't admit it to his face, it is a very nice and well equipped vehicle. Much nicer feel to the interior than a Focus.

Toyota, Mazda, Kia, Hyundai or Ford

Forget VW group (Excessively complex drags down reliability) Honda (like VW over complex not what they used to be) , Vauxhall, Peugeot/Citreon , Alfa & Fiat.

Doing a quick check 4K will find a very decent 2008 or 2009 Kia Ri0



[Edited on 26/9/11 by britishtrident]

quote:

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Originally posted by phelpsa
A mate of mine has a 1.6 5dr Astra (55 plate) and as much as I wouldn't admit it to his face, it is a very nice and well equipped vehicle. Much nicer feel to the interior than a Focus.

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Thanks everybody

Some good info there