Bangernomics car of the week/day - Part II

Gonna have to change in the next couple of weeks, if I want to keep the Corolla going I'll have to spend some money on her in the next week or two so looking for suggestions!

Would like something with a little more rear leg room than the Corolla, performance isn't really a concern as I'd rate a good MPG far higher at the moment, do about 15k a year of mixed driving and would have a long motorway spin at least once a fortnight so a diesel could make sense but wouldn't be a necessity, wouldn't want anything larger than a 1.6 in a petrol engine (i.e. can tolerate the higher tax if I'll be saving on fuel but wouldn't want both), four doors is a necessity, would lean more towards a manual than an auto, Current NCT and a good Service History are essential.

If it looks nice, great, but unless it's a bright pink multipla, I'm unlikely to get put off. Can stretch to 2k but would rather stick to under 1,500 and keep the few quid to tax it and sort out any niggles.

I wouldn't think so either, my point was that my drive to and from work is mixed driving (some suburbs and half the M50) so it'd be getting motorway every day and a good 1 hour plus run on a motorway once a fortnight or so which I'd have thought enough to keep a diesel from some of the problems they can face when only used for city driving...

I'm thinking something like a 1.6 Avensis, 1.4 Almera etc. is probably my best bet but would hate to miss out on a good 156 or the likes...