[Jim]

I'm after a hatchback to replace the recently written off ford focus by some guy who cant tell the difference between red and green, 1.2-1.6l petrol engine and preferably 5 doors.

[slackline]

Ouch, hope you and no one else were injured.

I'm sure you know but red-green colour blindness is sex-linked and between 7-10% of males[/url are affected (although its no excuse really because there is a definite order and relative positions make them hard to misinterpret).

[Jim]

yes, all fine thanks. only a big dent in the door and sil but cost more than the car to put right.
Actually the guy said he was looking at the wrong set of lights to be fair to him

[slackline]

Just a dick then!

Always amazes me that cars seem so easy to damage and make them "uneconomical to repair".

[Wipey Why]

The general standard of driving on the roads is pretty piss poor. It's not even the minority of people who actively drive like knobs who are the problem, but more that majority people don't understand that you need to pay attention to what the fuck you are doing when you are behind the wheel of a vehicle and not the phone, stereo, pedestrian in the short dress etc... As such their skills are low/non-existant and then accidents occur.

This all isn't helped by the fact manufacturers seem intent on taking away any level of skill/understanding to punt a motor vehicle along. The rash of "safety" aids just means the average person seems the dash light up a bit more when the grip levels are lower and probably don't even know what stability/traction control and ABS do. When things eventually do go wrong, which inevitably could have been avoided if they understood you need to break earlier in the snow or you can't lift off sharply mid bend or the thing will oversteer etc... they do not have the prerequisite skills required to avoid accidents. 

...and rant over 

[Wipey Why]

*Back on topic*

What's your budget Jim?

[Jim]

3k

[cofe]

You'll get a lot of Almera for that Jim. Not very desirable, or indeed fast, but big inside and great boot. Pensioners only put low miles on them too, and service the shit out of them.

[Adam Lincoln]

Doylo might have one for sale soon. 

[tomtom]

Honda Civic? again, grandad car, but well put together..

[Fultonius]

I'm after a hatchback to replace the recently written off ford focus by some guy who cant tell the difference between red and green, 1.2-1.6l petrol engine and preferably 5 doors.

Erm, ford focus? Still the best driving cheap hatch around...

[Wipey Why]

All of the above are good shouts, particularly if performance and badge are not an issue.

£3k should get you lots of car and if you want even more for your money try something a bit less obvious (like the Almera suggested by cofe) Thinking a Leon or an Octavia, but I haven't actually looked at how much they go for at the moment.

I would seriously recommend avoiding the last generation Megane, the ass car as my girlfriend calls it. They are chronically unreliable.

(Unless of course it is a Renaultsport one, preferably a R26.R, but getting pads to fit past the roll cage might be difficult)

[shark]

My wife's car is a 4 door Yaris that we where thinking of replacing. Think its an 06. Been very reliable and economical. Smaller than a Focus though. I'll get the full details if you are interested.   

[Jim]

Cheers shark, I really need to get something this weekend.
Definately not buying a renault

[Paul B]

Looked at Fabias (maybe you're wanting something smaller)?

I know mine is the sportier model but it seems well put together, made from the VW parts bin etc. and its not a pain in the arse if a bulb blows they're nice and easy to get to (unlike my past Fiats).

We also get stupendous MPG (@ an avergae of 64mpg over the last 40,000 miles).

[dobbin]

Eco are always banging on about how good the Suzuki swift is. Might be worth a punt? Possibly too small.

But an s3 Jim!

[tommytwotone]

a bit of a leftfield choice, but it's smallish and a hatchback!

Always wanted one myself but blimey, it'd be a right old money pit...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190684693447?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

[Wipey Why]

a bit of a leftfield choice, but it's smallish and a hatchback!

Always wanted one myself but blimey, it'd be a right old money pit...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190684693447?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

Lift off oversteer-tastic!!!

Have a wad point!

[Bubba]

Yeah, lift-off oversteer saw me roll one of those 3 hours after I bought it. Not clever.

[tommytwotone]

Just found this article about owning a Pug gti...for every fanciful ten minutes I've spent thinking about splashing a grand out for that red one, I remember this!
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Community/Car-Magazines-Blogs/Guest-Blogs/A-CAR-readers-love-hate-affair-with-his-Peugeot-205-GTI/

[Wipey Why]

Just found this article about owning a Pug gti...for every fanciful ten minutes I've spent thinking about splashing a grand out for that red one, I remember this!
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Community/Car-Magazines-Blogs/Guest-Blogs/A-CAR-readers-love-hate-affair-with-his-Peugeot-205-GTI/

You can never own something like this as your only car. I would love to have a Clio Williams/DC2 Integra Type R/205 GTI [insert whatever old drivers car you like here] but they will NEVER be reliable and will require work and money. The only way I would seriously contemplate it is if I had run around for the daily stuff and used it as a toy I can put away. If I ever have the time and money for a second car it might as well be stupidly impractical and only be there to put a massive grin on my face



 
   

[tommytwotone]

Yeah, lift-off oversteer saw me roll one of those 3 hours after I bought it. Not clever.

3 hours - impressive!

Made me think of this that I read earlier in the week...see caption on the third photo down:

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=25744

[Jim]

I haven't the time or money for an old classic, certainly had no love for the 205, they were like driving a boat on the open sea.
But have been inspired, just quickly had a look on autotrader for a 350z but 4.5k for cheapest is a bit beyond my budget.
Any ideas for anything relatively new, fairly quick, reliable and sub 3k?

[tommytwotone]

Hatches - I'd be looking at Clio 172 / 182 Sport or a Civic Type R?

Know deposit's been taken on this one but it's bang on the budget and seems to tick the boxes:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Clio-2-0-16v-Renaultsport-182-/261032863872?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cc6c56880

What about German luxo-barges? Plenty of meaty Audis / Beemers out there at that money.

[Oli]

Old style Leon Cupra?

[Bubba]

3 hours - impressive!

Made me think of this that I read earlier in the week...see caption on the third photo down:

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=25744

I was overtaking a car so went from throttle to lift-off + brakes on a damp, tightening corner.  We were pretty lucky really; it was on that bend just above the Gardoms crossroads (coming from Sheff) and we left the road sideways on the wrong side of the road going over 50mph.  Luckily slid along the verge, completely missed the drystone wall.   A passing 4x4 who happened to have a winch pulled us back on the road and the car was totally drivable afterwards...just one whole side was badly dented and the door couldn't be used. 

Never fixed it and kept it for at least a year, then some crazy cut and shutter bought it off me for pretty good money.  Got stopped by the cops in Scotland and they told me it had already been written off. I was young and naive then and didn't bother with an HPI check before buying

[Jim]

Hatches - I'd be looking at Clio 172 / 182 Sport or a Civic Type R?

Know deposit's been taken on this one but it's bang on the budget and seems to tick the boxes:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Clio-2-0-16v-Renaultsport-182-/261032863872?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cc6c56880

What about German luxo-barges? Plenty of meaty Audis / Beemers out there at that money.

Already got an audi. Wouldn't get a clio as renault use the same stuff to fix the cars together as 5-10 use to stick the boots together

[Wipey Why]

Hatches - I'd be looking at Clio 172 / 182 Sport or a Civic Type R?
...
What about German luxo-barges? Plenty of meaty Audis / Beemers out there at that money.

I really enjoyed my old 182, but I would avoid the Renaultsport/Type R unless you enjoy working the engine up into the rev band. They are fun when you are on it, but can be tiring on a day to day basis. Also the Clio is a bit small for pads etc.

A luxo barge might be a good idea (but can be pricey if/when they go wrong)

Old style Leon Cupra?

This might be a good idea. Enough torque for day to day driving and big enough for pads.