Suggestions on a new car

[echeats]

A sad day approaches guys, i have decided to part exchange my Peugeot 206 GTi for a new or nearly new car.

Main reasons include boredom, aswell as some annoying problems that i know will never be solved, and that whole earth strap problem going on worrying me...

Anyway.

Im looking for a new car. Now basically i wouldnt mind sometime quite nice on finance, i dont want it to be mental on speed (reduced risk of speeding! ) so i dont mind going down-sized on engine spec, but i would like it to look respectable and be as good as poss on fuel consumption. Preferably a hatchback.

Thoughts so far:
New mini(?)
Sporty clio?
MG ZR (probobly just a 1.4)
the smart fourfour (really not sure, but they got sum gadgets)

Im not sure where to start, price range PREFERABLY not over 10,000£ but could be a little over...should get 5 or 6,000 for my GTi so wouldnt be a huge price increase...

I need your help and opinions on cars, decent, reliable, value for money, cars. Cheers guys and gals

Seriously - any help at all!

[chi_chee]

echeat, sorry to hear that your giving up the 206.....but heres my list of cars that are a possibility for you to get.

renault clio, maybe 1.2 16v or 1.4 16v dynamic, tho the engine size is small, it is very smooth and it pulls really well, i have not heard much probs with them and i personally like driving them. also cheap insurance group too, so will save you few bob on the front. prices are roughly £8k-£10k for new model but you should be able to haggle down.

a mini is gonna cost ya and if you do find one in your price range, chances are it will only be a mini one and not one of the better models (cooper/cooper s) but you can try coz they introducing the new mini soon (with new headlights and some other things) but aint sure when, but the older model will go down in price.

MG zr looks like a nice car but my mate had one and the turbo or something went within 11 months so i dont rate it for reliability!!

seat ibiza (new), i think are pretty cool cars, the standard sound system is very very good, its a polo with a seat badge so is cheaper but you still get the same build quality. you can go for the FR with the turbo or just a TDI, they are quality.

a VW golf (aka seat leon) should be within price range for a new nearly, a demonstrator model if poss, best discount at the same time, you get the most goodies included.

how bout a toyota corolla? they good to drive and never ever break down! the beauty of a jap car.

well thats all i can think off at the mo but will update if i think of anymore.

hope it helps.

[melayyat]

I agree with chichee.
If you want more status and resell value go for the Golf. If you want to forget about how the car works and spare parts and every thing but little fuel...... go for the Corolla of course.

Good luck in your choise.

[BigOL]

I nominate one car:

Citroen C2 VTS - 125hp, 0-60 in 8 secs. Air con and same goodies as a GTi, 1 years FREE insurance

Loads of mods out there that make it look smart and can take 18" with no modification - I have seen it with my own eyes at my local dealer who was souping one up for a customer, and with induction got 130hp rr confirmed.

[Muzzy]

For the money i would buy a 2002 ibiza cupra r 1.8 20v Turbo .
VW golf-esque but lighter with better reliablity and a stonking engine rated up to 300bhp with standard internals.

There's only about 100 Ibiza Cupra R's in the country and they come as standard with BREMBO's ;D ;D ;D

Check out this website for tuning one

www.revotechnik.com/uk/ukrevo.html


Stock bhp 180 up to 206 bhp
Stock Torque 175 up to 235

= very low 6's 0-60

All for 499 quid.

........Unbeleivable

[echeats]

Thanks guys, i really appreciate it- i noticed noone even mentioned the Smart ForFour...which i was looking at again and its actually pretty hot looking, definately got potential- anyone have any opinions? Cant imagine there would be alot as they dont even start selling them until tommorow! Problem with that of course being that deals will be non-existant...and problems yet undiscovered....

To be honest youve given me exacty what i needed, suggstions on cars i never even thought of, and i completely forgot about citreon!

Ill have a look into all the ones suggested, and let you know how i get on in search for my perfect new car- its great the fact that this is a 206 forum, but your all so bloody helpful i knew it would benefit me to post here and ask you all!

[chi_chee]

but muzzy the budget dont stretch to an cupra r, but will def recommend if price was no option!!!!
no worries echeat we are all here to help each other, otherwise therz no point in this forum!!!!!
because the smart car itself is such an untried car i cant comment on it, but my company has them and i have driven them and there dont seem to be much probs with them (at the end of the day they are cheap MERcs options) i think the handling in the smart car is a bit suspicious and the turbo lag is really bad, it takes ages to build up bit when it does hit then the fun begins.

[Mullet]

My mum and dad got a ForFour when they went to Germany about four months ago, as it was only available to business/trade at the time everywhere my dad parked a crowd of people had gathered on his return (he thought something had happened to the car at first! ) and were checking it out (as they were only just starting to be advertised for the general public over there). Anyway he only had the 1.1 but said it was a very nice drive and he personally didn't notice it was a 1L going up the many hills he drove round. The interior was good and he liked the styling of the car. I believe they all come with those 'sky lite' glass roofs (the ones that are like black tinted glass from the outside but when you're in the car you can look up as though it has no roof!) which is pretty cool. I personally prefer the look of the higher spec model (with the nicer 4 spoke alloys).... Although i don't exactly rate it much in terms of looks anyway, it is after all a 'fun' car rather than a serious car and the way it looks like it's made of plastic (as with all smarts) is a big downside for me but if you can stand the looks then it is (by all accounts) a great car.

[Muzzy]

Or just a Standard Ibiza Cupra 1.8 20valve turbo.
Should pay between 6-8k for a 2002 reg with about 30k on the clock.
Same power and torque figures as cupra R after being chipped.

Stock bhp 156 up to 206 bhp after revo chip
Stock Torque 156 up to 235 after revo chip

chip=£499

Cheap to insure too.
Same price as pug for me.

[colonel-shoe]

yeah i wouldnt say no to the cupra T (180bhp) although im sure the insane cupra r (225bhp) would be fun too .
You had a GTi so youll have to get another sporty car, so new mini is out of the question, because the only one worth gettin would be the supercharged one and that aint cheap.
Clio sprts are wicked. Rover (sorry MG ) ZR im not keen on. The smart fourfour, i cant comment on really, i dont like the shape and the even the 1.5 aint gonna be that fast.
Verdict: KEEP THE PUG ;D

[chi_chee]

just a comment i thought i'd add to this debate......
.......i drove the seat leon 1.9TDi 130 today and it was wkd, bit out of your budget of 10k at 14k but if you can stretch your budget then its def worth gettin or you can opt for the smaller ibiza 1.9TDi 130, same performance but in smaller car.