Please help me in selecting a car.

Wollwead

Calling on all of you knowledgeable motoring forum frequenters!

My sister is in the market for a car upgrade. Herself and her husband have 2 kids aged 4 and 6 and they currently have a Renault Scenic (old shape) 1.4ltr petrol.

They are finding it a tad bit heavy on the petrol so they think a change is in order as they've had it a few years now.

They only need the car for city driving mostly so they prob couldn't really justify a diesel (as well as the higher tax cost for a larger diesel engine).

Obviously they are looking for a good reliable motor that's not too heavy on juice either.

So they are looking at the following options, please let me know what you think of the following all of which I think are available in 1.3/1.4 petrol. They are looking at 2005/2006 models:

• Mazda 3
• VW Golf
• Skoda Octavia Ambiente
• Ford Focus

I was leaning toward the mazda or the VW due to them being a little bit lighter than the skoda hence maybe cheaper on fuel and maybe similar reliability. Don't like the focus personally but maybe you might have other ideas!

Any advice would be powerfully appreciated;)

Bob Cratchet

I'd say you'd be fine with any of the them, except the Mazda, the resale value won't be as good on it as it gets older.

Ardennes1944

looking at prices of mazda 3s on donedeal they seem to be making, or the owners are at least asking for, good enough prices. my parents have had one for 4 years now and seriously, not one thing has went wrong at all. couldnt fault it. get the touring spec, much nicer interior too

-Corkie-

Deutschlandfürimmer7 wrote: »

looking at prices of mazda 3s on donedeal they seem to be making, or the owners are at least asking for, good enough prices. my parents have had one for 4 years now and seriously, not one thing has went wrong at all. couldnt fault it. get the touring spec, much nicer interior too

Mazda or Focus for me anyday. The 1.4 VAG engine is a bit of a disaster TBH.

Nice ninja editing on the oil thread BTW..:p

Ardennes1944

id get the 1.6 mazda if possible though. a facelift mazda 3 saloon would be a good reliable and nice looking car imo.


obviously not good enough

chinwag

I changed from 1.4 Opel Astras a couple of years ago to 1.4 Golf (all petrol).
I like the Golf although it's not as nippy as the Opel Astra - also Golf gets slagged on Boards a lot (rather unfairly IMO).
Astra has better MPG than Golf. It doesn't bother me too much as I am a low mileage driver.
Surprised Renault not good on petrol.
Perhaps you should look at at wider range of cars on the market to suit your particular needs.

T2daK

vw petrols traditionally a bit juicy would everyone agree mazda prob most economical? u cant go wrong with a jap petrol they should probably get a corolla hatchback

chinwag

T2daK wrote: »

vw petrols traditionally a bit juicy would everyone agree mazda prob most economical? u cant go wrong with a jap petrol they should probably get a corolla hatchback

Doubt if difference in mpg is that much different in focus, mazda, golf.
I've read crazy negative stuff on boards about Golfs - OTT!