Need help choosing car

BoozyBabe

Sorry to bombard you with threads today....., but here it goes!!!

I'm trying to decide on a car to buy.

I have a Focus & want rid ASAP, I HATE it
(Like driving a big boat, a SLOW boat)

Anyway,
What I currently have in mind is the following & I'd like you to tell me to run a mile from them, say yip, good car, or advise on other similar cars

1. Fiat Stilo (though I know the Fix It Again Tomorrow), does that still apply? Is the car heavy, nippy, etc, etc, etc....

2. Peugeot 307. Riddled with faults though, aren't they. Quite like the look of them , though the novelty would fast wear off if it kept breaking

3. Toyota Corolla (new model), what's it like? My only problem is that it's much more expensive than the rest

What about less established brands? Opinions?

Basically, most important to me is price, then how nippy it is on the road, toys as standard, reliability, oldest year probably 02 & low mileage for the price (cos I do A LOT of driving) Oh, & only interested in h/b version

All advice / opinions welcome

natnif

whats your budget?
what engine size is the max?
what engine is your current focus?

Kersh

you're gone motors mad today, arent you..

Ford Foci!! are the best midsize car in the market, so you wont better it without moving up to a bigger class of car. Having worked in car hire for years, trust me when I say this.
If you could stretch , then why not consider a Volvo s40. Yummy.

maidhc

Focus with a bigger engine?

It is a far superior car than everything else except perhaps the Corolla, and it isn't worse than that either, just better in different ways.

BoozyBabe

Yip, wee bit motor mad, no 1/2 measures with me, once I get something in my head!!!!!

Yes, main problem with my Ford Focus is that it's only a 1.4:- thus being the lack of power problem, but I wouldn't want a 1.6 now, I just hate it too much, practically everything about it (& like I said, once I decide on something.....)

Max engine:- 1.6
Max budget:- about €12k, but would actually rather spend much less if there was something decent on offer

mondeoman

FOCUS RS:D

Kimbot

Get a Toyota Levin!! 1.6 nice coupe there and really reliable!!

crosstownk

Personally, I'd go for the Corolla. Reliable and has a good resale value.

natnif

well if its too slow then it has to be a 1.6....so decent choices would be:
1 - Audi a4 - http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=399084
2 - VW Golf - http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=379525
3 - a slightly older bmw maybe.
apart from that it'd be jap, so maybe a civic, corolla, impreza??!!!
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=415726

maidhc

crosstownk wrote:

Personally, I'd go for the Corolla. Reliable and has a good resale value.

The engines are probably the best out there too. It is a nice car, although I much prefer the grille on the facelift models.

BoozyBabe

jonny24ie wrote:

Get a Toyota Levin!! 1.6 nice coupe there and really reliable!!

No, year is also important to me, 01 would be as old as I would go, hopefully atleast a 02

Thanks anyway

BoozyBabe

natnif wrote:

well if its too slow then it has to be a 1.6....so decent choices would be:
1 - Audi a4 - http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=399084
2 - VW Golf - http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=379525
3 - a slightly older bmw maybe.
apart from that it'd be jap, so maybe a civic, corolla, impreza??!!!
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=415726

Not necessarily, it's the weight of the Focus that lets it down. Before that I had a 1.4 98 Polo & it was more than nippy enough for me!!!

Kimbot

BoozyBabe wrote:

No, year is also important to me, 01 would be as old as I would go, hopefully atleast a 02

Thanks anyway

No problem!

natnif

oh I was figuring you wouldn't want to downsize...didn't even think of a smaller car!

joe2005

http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=454081&ID=722967&NumPics=3&Make=Seat&Model=Leon%20Sport&frmFilter=All#
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=436185

BoozyBabe

joe2005 wrote:

http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=454081&ID=722967&NumPics=3&Make=Seat&Model=Leon%20Sport&frmFilter=All#
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=436185

God I must be a right fussy oul b!tch!!!:o , I don't really like the look of the Seat Leon, looking very dated at this stage.

Want something a bit more modern looking

Sorry:o

Kimbot

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=232379

maidhc

Skoda Fabia 1.4 16v?
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=434005

joe2005

BoozyBabe wrote:

God I must be a right fussy oul b!tch!!!:o , I don't really like the look of the Seat Leon, looking very dated at this stage.

Want something a bit more modern looking

Sorry:o

How about an Alfa?
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=418647&ID=682290&NumPics=1&Make=Alfa%20Romeo&Model=156%201.6%20TS%2016V&frmFilter=All
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=449551&ID=718679&NumPics=1&Make=Alfa%20Romeo&Model=147%20Lusso&frmFilter=All

BoozyBabe

Yea, I like the Fabia too.

But with the Fabia, Stilo, Corolla, 307, does anyone here drive them, driven one, know someone who does, that can tell me if they're actually any good, common faults, complaints about them etc, etc.....??

I bought the Focus cos I liked to look of it, but ended up hating driving it.
I don't want to make the same mistake again, so it's more recommendations on experience I'm looking for.

Thanks for all your suggestions

BoozyBabe

joe2005 wrote:

How about an Alfa?
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=418647&ID=682290&NumPics=1&Make=Alfa%20Romeo&Model=156%201.6%20TS%2016V&frmFilter=All
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=449551&ID=718679&NumPics=1&Make=Alfa%20Romeo&Model=147%20Lusso&frmFilter=All

No, don't like those much. Think I heard bad reviews too (could be mistaken though)

Kimbot

Alfas are not really reliable, aswell as that parts are expensive!!

307, don't know much about them but I do know a few people that have complained about them!!

I drive a Corolla and know a few other that have had them and they are great cars!! Reliable! Nippy enough for a 1.4 (Hatch) And over all to get it serviced is not that dear!

mondeoman

what about-http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=433517&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Ford%20Cougar%2C%20Year%3A%202000%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=5897571&CFTOKEN=53711920

or -http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=385176&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Ford%20Puma%2C%20Year%3A%202002%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=5897571&CFTOKEN=53711920

mondeoman

or -http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=311924

or maybe -http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=418274

cargrouch

I wouldn't recommend a Stilo. The later model Bravo that it replaced was a good car IMO (with a few niggles), but the Stilo has more electronics that can go wrong.
If a 1.4 Focus is too slow for you, then a 1.6 Volvo will probably just seem like a bigger slow boat. You're talking Corolla or Golf here really. Although the devil's advocate in me would suggest you test an Alfa 147 1.6 - you should see a big difference to a 1.4 Focus!!

colm_mcm

HOw about a Seat Leon (not a 1.4 obviously)

peasant

How about that:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=364263

slighly older (and cheaper ones) are also available

BoozyBabe

mondeoman wrote:

what about-http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=433517&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Ford%20Cougar%2C%20Year%3A%202000%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=5897571&CFTOKEN=53711920

or -http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=385176&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Ford%20Puma%2C%20Year%3A%202002%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=5897571&CFTOKEN=53711920

Nope, my 1st car was a Fiesta. After that I said I'd never buy a Ford again. During the time in between I'd heard good reports on the newer Fords, so I said I'd give them a go again.
I'm now reverting to my original stance:- I'm never buying a Ford again!!!:D
Plus, I think the Puma is a very ugly car (no offence to anyone who drives one)

BoozyBabe

peasant wrote:

How about that:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=364263

slighly older (and cheaper ones) are also available

Polo's are great, but that's what I had just before the Focus, so want to try something different.
They're not exactly head turning to look at, & the newer model with the different lights is uglier.
For the same reason I'm not really that pushed on the Golf (except the brand new model, which I'll be able to afford in about 10 years!!!:D ).

So it's looking like the Corolla then.

Incidently, someone there mentioned the Bravo replacing the Stilo

The Bravo has been around for years, but the Stilo's I've been looking at are from the 02-03 range

unkel

BoozyBabe wrote:

I have a Focus & want rid ASAP, I HATE it
(Like driving a big boat, a SLOW boat)

You're confusing me. The Focus is as good a drivers' car as any other car in it's class although the 1.4 is under powered. Do you want a car a size smaller? or do you want a faster car in the same class?

maidhc

BoozyBabe wrote:

I'm now reverting to my original stance:- I'm never buying a Ford again!!!:D

How come? Why do you not like the focus apart from it being underpowered?

Are you going to get the 1.6VVTi Corolla then? Although it will definately be more lively, i'm not sure the difference between a 1.4 Focus and Corolla is chalk and cheese.

How about a diesel? definately the way to go if you do a lot of driving on main roads. The power available for overtaking is fantastic and there is also the matter of being more efficient than a 1.0 petrol.