Unisex Car

crossvilla

Hi

For one reason or another I can't drive for at least the next year and had to sell my Passat. My other half drives an Alfa 147 that's on its last legs and we would like to upgrade to a car that both of us would be happy to be seen in. Requirement are:

Hatchback or small saloon
Petrol
€8-10k
Both manly and girly!

Any help appreciated.

djimi

What kind of mileage are you doing?

Have you any more specific preferences in terms of year, make/model etc? What Id spend 8-10 grand on would probably be very different to what most people would buy...!

_Kaiser_

crossvilla wrote: »

Hi

For one reason or another I can't drive for at least the next year and had to sell my Passat. My other half drives an Alfa 147 that's on its last legs and we would like to upgrade to a car that both of us would be happy to be seen in. Requirement are:

Hatchback or small saloon
Petrol
€8-10k
Both manly and girly!

Any help appreciated.

Another Passat? Ford Focus/Mondeo, Avensis, BMW 5, Audi A4? Getting a petrol may be tough though these days!

ABajaninCork

crossvilla wrote: »

Hi

For one reason or another I can't drive for at least the next year and had to sell my Passat. My other half drives an Alfa 147 that's on its last legs and we would like to upgrade to a car that both of us would be happy to be seen in. Requirement are:

Hatchback or small saloon
Petrol
€8-10k
Both manly and girly!

Any help appreciated.

Golf
Polo
Focus??

biko

Alfa 159

Red Kev

VW Golf. High Spec.

A respectable car for anyone and everyone, blends in everywhere so you won't be noticed.

BMW E46 Coupe

billie1b

BMW 1 series, black in colour, cant go wrong

crossvilla

The 3 cars that were mentioned so far is a Golf, Astra and a Volvo S40 (same size as a Focus saloon as far as I can see).

Mileage is 9,000 miles maximum per year. The Passat, Alfa 159, A4 were discussed and considered too big by my other half.

Looking at cars between 2007 & 2010.

She would like 3 door but I want 5 door ... trying to find some balance!

Scortho

What about an alfa brera?

Having driven the 2.2 I'd go for it over the 3.2 v6. The v6 in them is a total let down.

_Kaiser_

5-door Golf or Focus hatchback so but the vast majority of these since 2008 will be diesel so your selection may be limited, or you could go North or to the UK

Tea 1000

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Civic/1.8-TYPE/37013825249054160/advert?channel=CARS

crossvilla

Would ideally like to keep it under 2 litre. The Brera is definitely not as bad as the latest Alfas (Mito and Guilletta) which are very feminine cars. The old tax regime rules that one out.

She would love a 1 series, am I wrong to think these are cars for women only?

A sporty 5 door golf seems to tick most boxes, is there anything that can rival it as a unisex car?

djimi

crossvilla wrote: »

She would love a 1 series, am I wrong to think these are cars for women only?

Its a ridiculous way of looking at cars in fairness. If you like a car then go for it. You cant peoples perceptions rule your life.

I drive a white Japanese import performance car. Do you think I care if someone thinks I look like a boy racer?

billie1b

crossvilla wrote: »

Would ideally like to keep it under 2 litre. The Brera is definitely not as bad as the latest Alfas (Mito and Guilletta) which are very feminine cars. The old tax regime rules that one out.

She would love a 1 series, am I wrong to think these are cars for women only?

A sporty 5 door golf seems to tick most boxes, is there anything that can rival it as a unisex car?

The Golf in my opinion is a womans car, I know a few hairdresser friends and they all drive Golfs, few girls in work have them, most Golfs I see on the road are being driven by women, where as any 1 series I see is being driven by men. I also personally think the 1 series looks a lot better than the Golf, better shape and lines, looks more masculine

crossvilla

I drive a white Japanese import performance car. Do you think I care if someone thinks I look like a boy racer?[/QUOTE]

I understand point above. I've only driven a big dirty diesel saloon since I've started driving and I'm a bit peed off that I can't drive for at least 12 months if not longer. I'll be paying for the car and even though I'll be chauffeured by my other half I'd like something that will suit both our tastes.

corsav6

The golf is a nice car and fairly well built, it also holds its value fairly well. The focus is a lovely drive, maybe the best in its class but certain engines can be troublesome so do your homework. The astra, which we own is a great little car, a lovely solid drive and also well built. Personally I would give the above 3 a test drive and go from there.
The other half drives a 1.3 diesel astra and despite what others say about lack of power it can easily manage steep hills in 6th, and its a bike on juice. My old astra has been with me 7 years and has 225k on the clock, apart from a crank sensor and a clutch its never let me down.

toyotaavensis

Corolla or civic

crossvilla

The following have been ruled out by herself:

Corolla
Focus
Civic
Mazda 3/6

Following in the mix:

Golf
1/3 series
Astra
A3

Now it's test drive time! Just have to find the best petrol examples of those cars. Looks like anything from Germany.

Tea 1000

billie1b wrote: »

The Golf in my opinion is a womans car, I know a few hairdresser friends and they all drive Golfs, few girls in work have them, most Golfs I see on the road are being driven by women, where as any 1 series I see is being driven by men. I also personally think the 1 series looks a lot better than the Golf, better shape and lines, looks more masculine

The 1-series is pure kak looking in fairness.

crossvilla wrote: »

The following have been ruled out by herself:

Corolla
Focus
Civic
Mazda 3/6

Following in the mix:

Golf
1/3 series
Astra
A3

Now it's test drive time! Just have to find the best petrol examples of those cars. Looks like anything from Germany.

Why is a 3-series OK but anything else that size too big?

billie1b

Tea 1000 wrote: »

The 1-series is pure kak looking in fairness.

Why is a 3-series OK but anything else that size too big?

No in fairness its much better looking than the golf, the golf is like postman pats van

djimi

billie1b wrote: »

No in fairness its much better looking than the golf, the golf is like postman pats van

Each to their own, but the 1 series is probably (in my opinion anyway) the worst looking car that BMW have released in a long time. Its basically a saloon with the back chopped off, and looks shockingly out of proportion.

Im not fan of Golfs, but bland as they may be they are not dreadful as hatchbacks go.

crossvilla

We were in Munich a couple of years ago and went to BMW World, she has liked Beemers since then and would be willing to perfect reverse parking if a 3 series were considered (yet she won't if it's an S40!).

The Golf in terms of a hatchback in my opinion looks better than the 1 series. I hate paying over the odds for Golfs in Ireland.

billie1b

djimi wrote: »

Each to their own, but the 1 series is probably (in my opinion anyway) the worst looking car that BMW have released in a long time. Its basically a saloon with the back chopped off, and looks shockingly out of proportion.

Im not fan of Golfs, but bland as they may be they are not dreadful as hatchbacks go.

Yeah I agree, each to their own, I just prefer the 1 series over the Golf, always have, test drove them both before I bought the 1 series, to me the BM was much more comfortable, not as harsh on the revs, lower driving position (long legs), much better at road holding and conering than the Golf.

djimi

billie1b wrote: »

Yeah I agree, each to their own, I just prefer the 1 series over the Golf, always have, test drove them both before I bought the 1 series, to me the BM was much more comfortable, not as harsh on the revs, lower driving position (long legs), much better at road holding and conering than the Golf.

Im sure the BMW is a lot nicer to drive than the Golf; Im only judging purely on looks!

whippet

sounds to me that a nice 2008ish MKV Golf GTi is the best option .. 3 door or 5 door

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

billie1b wrote: »

Yeah I agree, each to their own, I just prefer the 1 series over the Golf, always have, test drove them both before I bought the 1 series, to me the BM was much more comfortable, not as harsh on the revs, lower driving position (long legs), much better at road holding and conering than the Golf.

PM sent. :pac:

OP, if you're looking for a neutral car, out of the list you have given, I'd be looking at a Golf or a 3 series. My OH used to drive a 3 door Astra and I've never seen anything other but girls driving them, I didn't particularly like driving it anywhere myself. Nice looking car though.

Tea 1000

billie1b wrote: »

Yeah I agree, each to their own, I just prefer the 1 series over the Golf, always have, test drove them both before I bought the 1 series, to me the BM was much more comfortable, not as harsh on the revs, lower driving position (long legs), much better at road holding and conering than the Golf.

Don't get me wrong, if I had to own one or the other it'd be the 1-Series, with a decent engine, not the 1.6 lark. But I'd never love it for it's looks!

galwaytt

Ford Focus ST - sensible and mad simultaneously.

Saw one for €7995 in Howth at the weekend.

cplwhisper

08-12 Kia Pro'Ceed is highly recommended

I have one for 2 years and would part with it.

Zubeneschamali

All cars are unisex.


Problem solved.

Supergurrier

Sounds like the OH will have the final say so thread is moot

At least it will be a snazzy colour !

Donnelly117

I drive a Mini Cooper S and I have been tempted lately to pick up an MX5 (either an old NA/NB as a second car or an NC by moving on the Cooper). Both of which are considered girls/hairdressers/gay cars blah blah... Do people take the piss? Probably! Any I bothered? Not in the slightest. Buy a car that you like, not one that people tell you you should like!

crossvilla

We are in test drive mode and hope to view a few cars this Saturday. Her Dad has convinced her to test drive the Alfa 159 so I'm glad it's back on the potential list.

It really comes down to what size car she would feel comfortable reverse parking.

_Kaiser_

crossvilla wrote: »

It really comes down to what size car she would feel comfortable reverse parking.

Or factor in parking sensors to the cost

Though be warned.. they do make you lazy!

Scortho

crossvilla wrote: »

We are in test drive mode and hope to view a few cars this Saturday. Her Dad has convinced her to test drive the Alfa 159 so I'm glad it's back on the potential list.

It really comes down to what size car she would feel comfortable reverse parking.

Sounds like her dad is an alfa head!:)
I know the tax is a bit higher, but the brera 2.2 is such a lovely car. It's a piece of art.
You'd also get one a lot cheaper than the equivalent spec golf or 1series, so that saving could offset the tax.