Does such a car exist....
02 March 2007, 08:58 AM
#1
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Does such a car exist....
I am after replacing the Rover 214 the Mrs has that I also use. Its a great car but I can not drive it any longer as there just isn't the head room in it and its now affecting me driving it and can't find any replacement adjustable seats for it from another Rover. It does 240 miles from £24 of fuel and is cheaper to run than my Fireblade and never let me down yet 
What I am after is a car that meets the following:
reasonable insurance for someone in their early/mid twenties (the Mrs)
fun to drive (good handling/good engine)
cheap to run (tyres and servicing/parts)
must have 4/5 seats so kids can get in the back (preferably 5 door)
good fuel economy if driven sensibly
upto £2500 maximum, no if you can stretch to £4k examples please
must be suitable for motorway driving (ie well built for withstanding impact so I have ruled out Peugeot 106 Ralleye
)
As near to 60k miles or less as possible as I hate buying anything above that figure as I have the 100k phobia that any car will die when it hits it
I am actually considering the Rover 200 vi as its a 1.8 VVT engine with 143bhp standard and dirt cheap to buy (£1200) but still need to worry about the chocolate head gasket issue (my 214 had mine already replaced). Seems a bit of a sleeper with 143bhp in such a light car.
Cars considered so far:
Rover 200vi (chocolate head gasket)
Rover 600 series - heavy on fuel and powerful ones expensive on insurance for the Mrs
Rover 75 - like the toys and space for the kids but not very fun to drive by all accounts and could be heavy on fuel
Peugeot 106 Ralleye/GTI (too tin can like for the motorway)
Ford Focus Zetec (wasn't too sure as had bad expeiences with Fords - Escort/Orion before)
Anything Nissan always sems expensive to fix
The other option is I spend some cash on my 214 Si on changing the seats/tyres (scary handling in the wet currently with massive understeer) but my last option really as it still wont be fun to drive which I really miss.
What I am after is a car that meets the following:
reasonable insurance for someone in their early/mid twenties (the Mrs)
fun to drive (good handling/good engine)
cheap to run (tyres and servicing/parts)
must have 4/5 seats so kids can get in the back (preferably 5 door)
good fuel economy if driven sensibly
upto £2500 maximum, no if you can stretch to £4k examples please
must be suitable for motorway driving (ie well built for withstanding impact so I have ruled out Peugeot 106 Ralleye
)As near to 60k miles or less as possible as I hate buying anything above that figure as I have the 100k phobia that any car will die when it hits it
I am actually considering the Rover 200 vi as its a 1.8 VVT engine with 143bhp standard and dirt cheap to buy (£1200) but still need to worry about the chocolate head gasket issue (my 214 had mine already replaced). Seems a bit of a sleeper with 143bhp in such a light car.
Cars considered so far:
Rover 200vi (chocolate head gasket)
Rover 600 series - heavy on fuel and powerful ones expensive on insurance for the Mrs
Rover 75 - like the toys and space for the kids but not very fun to drive by all accounts and could be heavy on fuel
Peugeot 106 Ralleye/GTI (too tin can like for the motorway)
Ford Focus Zetec (wasn't too sure as had bad expeiences with Fords - Escort/Orion before)
Anything Nissan always sems expensive to fix
The other option is I spend some cash on my 214 Si on changing the seats/tyres (scary handling in the wet currently with massive understeer) but my last option really as it still wont be fun to drive which I really miss.
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 02 March 2007 at 09:03 AM.
02 March 2007, 09:13 AM
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Never owned one but I understood Primeras were a good bet -- cabbies round here are only just starting to phase them out, which usually means they're reliable and cheapish to run.
An early Focus would be good too, the 1.8 Zetec is a pretty good motor and they do handle nicely.
I wouldn't rule out a Mondeo either -- for a family / rep barge they really do handle and are likely to be cheaper than the Focus.
An early Focus would be good too, the 1.8 Zetec is a pretty good motor and they do handle nicely.
I wouldn't rule out a Mondeo either -- for a family / rep barge they really do handle and are likely to be cheaper than the Focus.
02 March 2007, 09:56 AM
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The Nissan Almera GTI was supposedly a good drive, 5 doors, not sure how much they go for though.
02 March 2007, 04:58 PM
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Pug 306, nowhere near as tinny as the 106, more entertaining handling than pretty much anything on your list (only the Focus/106 are even really comparable). Anything short of a GTi-6 is seriously cheap to insure. Get a good TD/HDi with a couple of tweaks (adjust the fuelling on the TD for £150 you get 110bhp, or chip the HDi for £500 and a bit more still), they're good on fuel and adequately brisk. Also a couple of decent petrol engines in the later ones IIRC, I was mildly surprised/impressed with the 2.0 16v my brother had in a 306 cabrio for a bit . . .
02 March 2007, 05:06 PM
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the primera up to 99 plate gets my vote its what car mechanics like to drive never need to lift the bonnet. has excellent handling and sits quite low as standard both ride height and inside the cabin sit quite low.
dont bother with rovers you know theres better out there.
i would avoid the 200 vi seen alot of posts about headgasket failures.
dont bother with rovers you know theres better out there.
i would avoid the 200 vi seen alot of posts about headgasket failures.
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02 March 2007, 05:21 PM
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the primera up to 99 plate gets my vote its what car mechanics like to drive never need to lift the bonnet. has excellent handling and sits quite low as standard both ride height and inside the cabin sit quite low.
dont bother with rovers you know theres better out there.
i would avoid the 200 vi seen alot of posts about headgasket failures.
dont bother with rovers you know theres better out there.
i would avoid the 200 vi seen alot of posts about headgasket failures.
You could get a sub 60k Octavia for that. Good reliability record, which must be a factor in a relatively cheap car.
02 March 2007, 09:29 PM
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You seem to like your Rover's. The best Rover is the 75 but if you were to get one get a diesel, you get good fuel economy but most important the Diesel engine is made by BMW, so it is far more reliable than the petrol ones.
My neighbour has one and loves it.
My neighbour has one and loves it.
02 March 2007, 10:56 PM
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Only because i've got a 214 bubble and think its the bargain of the century for me, cost me £770 with 66k on the clock and a showroom condition interior and is less to run than my Fireblade going to London and back 
Since buying it and looking at the prices of all the models I think they are hard to be beaten on what you get for the price. The 75 looks another bargain with all that comfort and toys for so little money. I absolutley love the 620ti's but could never get sensible insurance on one for the Mrs and not cheap to run either.
I'd like to use my Octy vRS all the time but don't want to put the miles on it so need something thats already done its depreciating and can't really lose any more money on it.
The Honda Civics have got me intersted but then started looking at the Accords and Preludes as have always liked those but they are not keeping to my criteria, especially the Prelude I fancy that coupe look. I do have a thing for Honda engines, they are absolutely bullet proof in the Honda motorbikes i've had.
My heart is desperate for a sporty car but my head keeps over ruling on cost and practicality.
Thanks for all the replies so far, keep them coming
Since buying it and looking at the prices of all the models I think they are hard to be beaten on what you get for the price. The 75 looks another bargain with all that comfort and toys for so little money. I absolutley love the 620ti's but could never get sensible insurance on one for the Mrs and not cheap to run either.I'd like to use my Octy vRS all the time but don't want to put the miles on it so need something thats already done its depreciating and can't really lose any more money on it.
The Honda Civics have got me intersted but then started looking at the Accords and Preludes as have always liked those but they are not keeping to my criteria, especially the Prelude
I fancy that coupe look. I do have a thing for Honda engines, they are absolutely bullet proof in the Honda motorbikes i've had.My heart is desperate for a sporty car but my head keeps over ruling on cost and practicality.
Thanks for all the replies so far, keep them coming
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