eliot

I wondered if anyone has any suggestions for a new car for my girlfriend - she has had a nightmare with 2 (yes 2) Alfa 147's. The Alfa dealer is now going to refund the money for the car and she wants either a very sensible Golf or an "I want a baby" A-Class Merc!!
I suggested a Scooby - funny that - but she says its a bit too powerful for her...bless!! - I then suggested a Clio Sport 172 - its got a bit of poke to it.

I just wondered if I had missed something special - please remember that some power is wanted as I will drive it if i can't be ar*ed to get mine out of the garage.
Thanks

JoeyDeacon

Being female I am surprised she hasn't rushed out and ordered a MINI Cooper. We test drove one last month as a potential cheaper replacement for the Impreza and my girlfriend absolutely loved it.

All this talk of 4 month waiting lists is absolute rubbish. If this was the case why are BMW advertising the car so hard? I was told that if I ordered one I could have it in 6 weeks.

Adam M

seat leon.

cupra

made by vw, great quality and 180bhp.

otherwise 172 or civic type r

MarkJackon

Go on then, Ill swap a new car for your girlfriend

not original but I thought I would save someone else the bother.

Dont get the merc, pile of poo, you dont drive it you operate it, the A pillar is over 3 foot thick. It was designed wrong in the first place cos it fell over so they fixed it with electronics. Funny how many they sell, the Germans get it wrong a la A class, TT and they get away with it and sell loads anyway, Dont think Rover would get away with it somehow.

Jza

Theres only one car i'd go for (which is on order as we speak!!).

Mini Cooper. But im waiting for the S (power to weight its on a par with the clio).

Class build, looks great, and handles like a go cart.

Jza

Adam M

have to agree with jza here.

friend has just bought fully specced cooper in tottenham colours. It is stunning and has leather and aircon.

Not fast really, but isnt about that. Not sure if it is worth 15k but if I was in the market it would be the one for me.

DrEvil

Civic Type R?

RobinSherwood

Availability of the Mini Cooper depends on the spec you want. If you are fussy then you have to wait. We ordered ours at the NEC Motor Show last year and the most recent delivery date we have been quoted is 5th Jan 2002.

I'm sure though if you take what comes as it were you can get them more easily!

Robin

wilf

If you want slow but a great drive practical cheap to run and with good residuals try an Audi A2. Had one of these for 2,000 miles this summer in Italy, fantastic.

devils_ad69

Avoid the A class at all costs. Very unstable in windy weather.

ChristianR

iTrader: (1)

if no kids, then I would recommend, what my girlfriend has, a PUG206CC ... very nice indeed.

Pictures are in the members g....

robby

MGZR160 - 160bhp from 1800cc, handles as though its on rails and looks that turn heads

Rob

eliot

Thank you for all of the help - i think the Civic Type R, the Clio Sport 172 and the Audi A2 are the front runners at the moment - test driving them before Xmas so I will let you all know.

Eliot

druddle

Eliot

I have had a 172 for 5 months now and love it. Would recommend one, as i had a my01 WRX before and had to get rid of it due to a job change, and it has not disappointed compared to the WRX.

Also look at the Civic Type R, its a beast, but lead times are looong on them (so i've heard).

If the wants a Golf, what about the TDI 150 ? Bit pricey, but HOW MUCH TORQUE ???

Dave

JoeyDeacon

RobinSherwood,

You are having a laugh aren't you with regard to waiting times?? I went to the BMW dealer in Kingston 3 weeks ago for a test drive and when I asked about waiting lists he said I would be looking at a January delivery date and this was for a car which I had specified not for the first one that comes along.

Think the alleged waiting lists are all hype. If this car is selling so well that there are massive waiting lists and you can sell them secondhand for more than you paid for it then why are they advertising this car so hard?? You can't even watch telly, walk along the street or open a magazine without seeing an advertisement for the MINI.

Like I said I have driven one and I think the car has been massively, massively hyped.

Adam M

Robinsherwood,

Don know what has happened to you.

I went to the shop in early november where we were told if you order specifically it woul be february, but they had some compromises in stock already. They decided to order specifically, and due to some funny stock situation picked it up last week.

Max spec, blue white roof (no sunroof as the black ruins it) leather and climate etc.

bdrought

A-Classes are not unstable in windy weather at all!! Nor are they prone to falling over at the sight of an Elk!

Personally, I'd get her an S2 Elise. Lotus are doing cracking finance deals at the moment.... might be worth giving them a ring.

Bri

Richard Askew

Ideal car for your bird??

Ford Transit

why?

Plenty of room for giving you and ya mates a lift back from the pub....and plenty of room for all the shopping ie pizza's, beer, ciggies etc etc

TaviaRS

Octavia RS? Yep and you can upgrade them. Mines now at 218bhp and 330nm. Lots of room, it is different. Nice.

JoeyDeacon

Thing is I am sure the Octavia Ownership is brilliant until the second you come to sell it. What is depreciation on these things like?? If it is as scary as I think it is then you will be better off buying something more expensive which has a better residual value and will cost you less in the long run.

Jza

You honestly believe a woman is going to buy a Skoda ???????

No chance mate.

Go for the mini cooper!!

Jza

Norman D. Landing

How about a 206gti, new for £11995

or a VW golf GTI 1.8 Turbo, new for £14195 for 3 door or an extra £300 for 5 door.

From WWW.ALLIANCECARIMPORTS.CO.UK, cars are in stock now.

I have no alliance to the company (pun intended) apart from I bought a VW Golf GTI 1.8 Turbo from them last March, good company, even bought me an RAC gold warranty when VW argued in october that mine was out of date cos PDI date was start of warranty.

Alternatively, threaten her with a Smart car

TaviaRS

Depreciation? Whats that? I drive high mileage so basically I reckon its worthless within 12 months, whatever I have. I've had it 9.5 weeks and done 12750 miles! Luckily its a 3 year, unlimited mileage warranty and they look on tuning with benign amusement.