NotoriousREV

We currently have a Clio 1.6Si (8 valver) but she now wants something with 5 doors that can accomodate a pram in the boot

The Clio is worth around £3500 tops so I want something around the same price.

Must be:

as quick as the Clio
fun to drive
baby friendly
fun to drive
not so big that she won't drive it

I already have a couple of things in mind, but I'll let your imagination roam untainted

r4_rick

If you can persuade her to go with something older, often not easy with the fairer sex...how about an Golf GTI, MK2 - IMHO superb to drive, either 8V or 16V, but in oak green. Still some nice ones around either in VW mags or on the web. Another idea maybe a 318i BMW, again nice to drive with RWD, but the boot is not that big.

BlueBoy

The Rover 400 series a good car for the money and plenty of good ones for not much cash around (I'm sure you'd like a Puma if you could convince her against the extra doors, squeeze the pram in and find an older one for the money)

The Pug 306 might be a good buy here, 1.9TDI is a nice engine, nicer than the 1.6 (I had a 1.8 in it and loved that, but the TD is more pokey), of course if you can find yourself an XSI like: this thread in the "for sale" section then your sorted IMO I think they made them in 5-door options as well, so have a look around.

A Fiat Brava might also be an option with the 1.8 engine, not bad to drive. Last one would be a Renault Megane (I had the 2.0L once and loved it) - these 2 actually fit the 5-door requirements as well