More recommendations advice please!

fallen01angel

Hi,
I need to change my car as she's getting too unreliable and too old unfortunately. Currently have a 03 petrol 1.6 focus.

My budget is 20K and what I am looking for in order of importance :
Something with a bit of pep.
Reliable.
Stylish.
Hatchback.
Lowish road tax.

Now the other thing is,I'm not a car changer so I'll probably aim to have the new purchase as long as I had the last one (10+ yrs!!)

I really fell for the look of the V40 but the fact Volvo won't be making anything but hybrid starting 2019/20 has made me discard that car.
Also the Mazda3 is a nice looking car,but I don't know anything about their reliability.

Looking for other ideas,options please!!!

chicorytip

The latest version of the Focus (2015 onwards) is certainly stylish and has a range of new petrol and diesel engines which seem to be well regarded particularly the 1.0 litre Ecoboost model.

Atlantic Dawn

How many miles/km's a year do you do?

fallen01angel

chicorytip wrote: »

The latest version of the Focus (2015 onwards) is certainly stylish and has a range of new petrol and diesel engines which seem to be well regarded particularly the 1.0 litre Ecoboost model.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. To be honest I'm looking to change from the focus,it was a great car to be fair,but fancy something different this time round.

fallen01angel

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

How many miles/km's a year do you do?

Approx 12-15k Most of it motorway/dual carriage driving

fallen01angel

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

How many miles/km's a year do you do?

Approx 12-15k Most of it motorway/dual carriage driving

colm_mcm

I really fell for the look of the V40 but the fact Volvo won't be making anything but hybrid starting 2019/20 has made me discard that car.

Most manufacturers will have to change the way they make cars. Diesel and petrol cars will eventually be phased out as electric technology evolves.
By the time you're getting your next car after whatever you get now it'll all be different.

But back in today, you buy what's available

I wouldn't bother with a Mazda3, they look nice but I can't see you getting 10 pain free years out of it.

Would you consider an Auris hybrid?

bazz26

Seat Leon 1.4 tsi:


http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1596438&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D78%26o%5B%5D%3D673%26f%3D1%26b%3D2%26yn%3D2015%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0

Nuw

colm_mcm wrote: »

I wouldn't bother with a Mazda3, they look nice but I can't see you getting 10 pain free years out of it. 

As far as I was aware the petrol Mazdas were pretty much bullet proof, do you have another experience Colm?
Auris hybrid should indeed be on your list OP, give it a try. 
Considering you'll be keeping the car for a good few years, depreciation shouldn't be a worry, I would then strongly consider an Alfa Gulietta, with the right engine (petrol turbo) it's an absolutely cracking car to drive, the latest range from Alfa is the most reliable ever from them and on par (if not actually better) with the Germans in that department.

fallen01angel

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far!!! I have considered the Seat Leon,but to be honest they seem a little basic on the inside. Haven't even considered a hybrid car......didn't think they'd have much power to be honest.
In my head I was thinking of the 2.2 diesel Mazda3 or the 2L Volvo V40 .......would I be an awful fool for investing in either of them???? I don't know anyone who drives either of those models,almost on the verge of approaching randomers in car parks to ask their opinions!!!!

Idbatterim

I dont think the 2.2L diesel mazda engine has the best reputation...

Nuw

I wouldn't put my money towards a diesel these days tbh (or at least not that much), there are talks about banning them from certain cities, and the general consensus (in governments, not saying it's right or anything) is that "it's harmful, so let's get rid".

The toyota hybrid is a decent powertrain, it's not what you'd call brisk, but it does the job smoothly and sips fuel (if driven right). 
A slightly used lexus IS300h (a new one will not fit your budget) might also be an option (hybrid with a punch).

Meeeee79

Not sure if size matters (no pun intended!!) but something with a bit of pep would definitely recommend a Mini Cooper. Secondly Honda Civic? some nice sporty models of those around or Skoda Octavia, RS versions are nice to look at and have serious poke

I currently have a Focus too and am seriously tempted by the new ST Line styling available on the 2017 models

colm_mcm

Nuw wrote: »

As far as I was aware the petrol Mazdas were pretty much bullet proof, do you have another experience Colm?
Auris hybrid should indeed be on your list OP, give it a try. 
Considering you'll be keeping the car for a good few years, depreciation shouldn't be a worry, I would then strongly consider an Alfa Gulietta, with the right engine (petrol turbo) it's an absolutely cracking car to drive, the latest range from Alfa is the most reliable ever from them and on par (if not actually better) with the Germans in that department.

The skyactiv g is still a relatively new engine, its direct injection and high compression. If I was planning on keeping a new car 10 years I'd probably go for something with proven mechanicals. The 1.8 in the Auris is out a long time now and is well proven. I'd probably sky away from a small turbocharged petrol too rightly or wrongly.

bazz26

fallen01angel wrote: »

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far!!! I have considered the Seat Leon,but to be honest they seem a little basic on the inside. Haven't even considered a hybrid car......didn't think they'd have much power to be honest.
In my head I was thinking of the 2.2 diesel Mazda3 or the 2L Volvo V40 .......would I be an awful fool for investing in either of them???? I don't know anyone who drives either of those models,almost on the verge of approaching randomers in car parks to ask their opinions!!!!

Not sure what Leon models you have been viewing upto now but the FR I posted above has a pretty decent enough spec for that class of car.

Regarding hybrids, your information seems a bit inaccurate or outdated. The electric motors have instant torque so are nippy enough at moderate speeds, gearing takes a little getting used to alright.

fallen01angel

So I did a bit of looking yesterday, I've ruled out the Auris hybrid,the extremely nice and surprising honest salesman told me that it wouldn't be suitable for my driving requirements(open road driving as he called it) so I think I've narrowed it down to 3 options:

•Focus ST.

•Seat Leon.

•Renault Megane.

Has to be a medium size hatchback.......is there any other models I should be considering???

Shefwedfan

fallen01angel wrote: »

So I did a bit of looking yesterday, I've ruled out the Auris hybrid,the extremely nice and surprising honest salesman told me that it wouldn't be suitable for my driving requirements(open road driving as he called it) so I think I've narrowed it down to 3 options:

•Focus ST.

•Seat Leon.

•Renault Megane.

Has to be a medium size hatchback.......is there any other models I should be considering???

Golf would be the main one missing from list, of the list I would rank it a good few notches above them

The Seat is a cheap version of it. The Renault is well a Renault.

The Ford would be the pick of the bunch but I have 3 Fords and I am tired of the interior

I have 151 eGolf, it is exact same as Golf in terms of interior/exterior but it is electric. The inside is a pleasure to drive in. If you can pick up a Golf with a couple of extra's you wont regret it...as mine is eGolf it comes with all the extra's(auto, self parking, cruise, speed limiter etc etc)

Also doesn't matter how long you keep, at the end you will always find a buyer because they are solid as a rock.

I would go for Highline, something like the followin might suit: http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2015-151-volkswagen-golf-hl-1-6-louth-fpa-8396723715588884128

Also not sure why you would discount the Volvo based on engine moving forward. Most vendors are moving away from petrol/diesel so you will see a massive shift in next few years but they will not be dropping the old customer in the mean time. If you keep an eye on news you will see VW, Toyota, Renault, Nissan, Volvo are all moving towards renewable. As VW are moving then so will Seat, Audi, Skoda as they are all part of VW.

If you are doing motorway driving majority of the time then Hybrid is not for you. Hybrid should be bought by people doing city driving and not doing motorway driving.

It might be a better guide if you said what you commute if per day to work etc?

bazz26

fallen01angel wrote: »

So I did a bit of looking yesterday, I've ruled out the Auris hybrid,the extremely nice and surprising honest salesman told me that it wouldn't be suitable for my driving requirements(open road driving as he called it) so I think I've narrowed it down to 3 options:

•Focus ST.

•Seat Leon.

•Renault Megane.

Has to be a medium size hatchback.......is there any other models I should be considering???

Hybrids are not really designed for long distance motorway type driving and there maybe some truth in what he was saying but did this extremely nice and surprising honest salesman happen to have a hybrid model for sale or just diesel models of the above? I find that sales people in general not just car dealers, tend to want to sell you what they have at times rather than what you want. That's their job at the end of the day.

BTW I'd say it's a Focus ST Line rather than a ST that you are looking at.

fallen01angel

bazz26 wrote: »

Hybrids are not really designed for long distance motorway type driving and there maybe some truth in what he was saying but did this extremely nice and surprising honest salesman happen to have a hybrid model for sale or just diesel models of the above? I find that sales people in general not just car dealers, tend to want to sell you what they have at times rather than what you want. That's their job at the end of the day.

BTW I'd say it's a Focus ST Line rather than a ST that you are looking at.

Truthfully, I was surprised myself,he didn't have a hybrid for me to test drive,but he had a delivery coming in on Monday,he didn't have any diesels in the Auris,he just told me straight out that their commission is higher on the hybrids but he just didn't want to deal with people finding them unsuitable.....
And yes,sorry it's the ST line I'm considering.