First Car for the Missus

Cosmic Penguin

Hi All,

Longterm lurker and have taken some great pointers off the various threads so I hope you can help.

My wife is currently preparing for her driving test, and once passed (fingers crossed) we will be looking at a car for her.

With a buget of around €5K, preferably a hatchback,engine of 1.4 - 1.6 Litre, and as there will be some long trips, I'm thinking something in the Focus class, but open to suggestion. So far, my thoughts are:

Alfa 147 ( Everybody has to own on once =-))
Citroen C3
Ford Focus
Ford Fusion
Kia Cerrato
Nissan Almera
Pug 307
Megane
Golf (Overpriced?)

Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated.

(Main car is a 2L 152 BHP RWD machine and that is what she driving at the moment)

Cheers,

CP

Drummerboy08

YOu cant be too far wrong with a focus IMO. Good, reliable car, good handling, and good to drive.

It'l be a good first impression of driving!

Captain Slow IRL

2nd the focus! You should also consider a '01-06 honda civic - they're getting very cheap now.

Seillejet

Megane and Alfa would be my choice for your criteria from the list you gave.

An Audi A3 possibly. I know it's a little higher litre wise Cosmic but Ive a weak spot for the Audi's.

TestTransmission

Seillejet wrote: »

Megane and Alfa would be my choice for your criteria from the list you gave.

An Audi A3 possibly. I know it's a little higher litre wise Cosmic but Ive a weak spot for the Audi's.

If OP thinks a golf is overpriced (which it is),he wont be buying a A3

Cosmic Penguin

Thanks folks. It'll be fun in any case - No better way to spend a few Saturday mornings

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

2nd the focus! You should also consider a '01-06 honda civic - they're getting very cheap now.

I did suggest the Civic ealy doors but was shot down on looks. I expect a number of the list above to be ruled out on a similar basis, leaving really, the Alfa, the Focus, the Citroen and the Pug but we'll see.

Drummerboy08

Seillejet wrote: »

Megane and Alfa would be my choice for your criteria from the list you gave.

An Audi A3 possibly. I know it's a little higher litre wise Cosmic but Ive a weak spot for the Audi's.

A 1.6 A3?


Bllllleeeugggghhh.

Alanstrainor

I'd definitely go for the focus out of that list. Great car, the 1.4 is far from quick, but it's grand. It's a nice car to drive too, so it'd be a good start for a learner.

ninty9er

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

YOu cant be too far wrong with a focus IMO. Good, reliable car, good handling, and good to drive.

It'l be a good first impression of driving!

The 1.4 Focus is slower than the 1l Corsa...honestly, if you're getting a Focus is HAS to be at least a 1.6.

I'd suggest an Astra, Almera or a Fiat Stilo if you're just looking for something to get from a to z.

biggus

Let her Drive the "main" Car and get yourself and MX5/ MR2 convertable for 5k (or a coupe of some sort). i always had the missus and the kids in the big Car. I can't understand people having there beloved in the smallest car possible(charade etc) , however a Focus is a great choice

Cosmic Penguin

Thanks for the feed back - It's looking like Focus vrs Alfa for us

I've driven the Focus and they're great. I learnt in a Focus and the feedback you get from the wheel taught me a lot about how to handle a car.

On the other hand an Alfa is an Alfa. Finding a reliabla Alfa will be a challenge though.

The old model A3 is out based on looks, as now is the Almera and Megane

Cosmic Penguin

biggus wrote: »

Let her Drive the "main" Car and get yourself and MX5/ MR2 convertable for 5k (or a coupe of some sort). i always had the missus and the kids in the big Car. I can't understand people having there beloved in the smallest car possible(charade etc) , however a Focus is a great choice

Interesting concept - No kids tho

Eoin

Cosmic Penguin wrote: »

On the other hand an Alfa is an Alfa. Finding a reliabla Alfa will be a challenge though

If that's what you think, then maybe you should just go for the focus.

Cosmic Penguin

eoin wrote: »

If that's what you think, then maybe you should just go for the focus.

Maybe it is the most sensible choice, but Alfa is Alfa.

It'll be her chioce at the end of the day, but I like a car that will make me smile every morning before even opening the door.

Thanks again,

CP

asmobhosca

If you can find a nice 147 with a service history that has already had its belts done already then go with the alfa.
My sister bought one about 3 months ago and she loves it, and i must say I do like borrowing it, i love those t-spark engines.
Much more fun than a bog standard focus, better looking too.
She picked up a 03 for 3.5k.
Keep it full of oil and serviced and it should be fine

emurphy

ninty9er wrote: »

The 1.4 Focus is slower than the 1l Corsa...honestly, if you're getting a Focus is HAS to be at least a 1.6.

I'd suggest an Astra, Almera or a Fiat Stilo if you're just looking for something to get from a to z.

Do NOT buy a 1.4 ltr focus. They are dreadful machines. Very underpowered so much so that when you want to pass you have to drop gears to any pull at all. Has to be at least 1.6 IMO.
Lovely car to drive other than that would definately be a nice first car. Mine was a 1.3 ltr fiesta 1996. It got me from A to B and occasionally C... just about.

The Cordoba isnt a bad auld car either. Get a 1.6 in it and its quite quick. Good quality without the price tag and the coupe is nice. I owned one for about a year. Was sorry to sell it actually got a company car. Wish I held on to it now I think of it. I know people will think thats a silly thing to say but I liked it.

ps not a fan of almeras very tinny cars. Engines seem to go forever though.
Not a notion bout Fiat.