Small-ish car recommendations please, fairly new, £10-14k ?

[grayg1]

Might sound strange now that you are looking at a Z4 but, have you considered a Fiesta Zetec S? Starting price is around £12k which means you could buy one new, good safety rating, nippy car around town and you can choose between 1.6 petrol or 1.6 diesel.

[Vimeous]

Funny how no-ones mentioned a TT (not fun enough?)

Though the ommision of the Boxster S is a surprise.

[dave87]

Unfortunately the only Boxster S that are likely to be available in his budget will be old slow ones (the pre facelift 3.2) or Cat C/D repaired

[kalniel]

Funny how no-ones mentioned a TT (not fun enough?)

I don't think he's a hairdresser

[Vimeous]

Unfortunately the only Boxster S that are likely to be available in his budget will be old slow ones (the pre facelift 3.2) or Cat C/D repaired

112 Boxster S's between £1k and £15k on Autotrader

[schmunk]

112 Boxster S's between £1k and £15k on Autotrader

And the number of those with <60,000 miles and up to 5 years old?

3

And they're all at &#163;15,000.



One's bright yellow.

The next has been accident damaged, and actually gives its mileage as '1 mile', so is likely to be actually a large number.

The third's an automatic, which has also been accident damaged...

[Vimeous]

And the number of those with <60,000 miles and up to 5 years old?

3

And they're all at £15,000.



One's bright yellow.

The next has been accident damaged, and actually gives its mileage as '1 mile', so is likely to be actually a large number.

The third's an automatic, which has also been accident damaged...

Ok so I forgot to check the other criteria .....
Agreed it'd be nearer £20k to meet the other criteria

There's been so many good suggestions I just love finding more.
So my final gamut, with a fair slice of owner compromise is:

Morgan Plus Four

Any yes before you point fingers about criteria (£14k @ 5yrs unlikely) I still think it's a superb choice for the Islands and would tickle the fancy of a particular kind of driver.

Besides all that what's wrong with yellow?

[matty-hodgson]

as mentioned earlier in the thread, the Fiesta Zetec S.. my dad had 1 of those before getting the Focus ST and it had absolutely no guts at all, handling wasn't very smooth and it just makes you look like a hairdresser from outside..
and all that's just from me being a passenger, my dad had it 4 months and just couldn't live with it any longer!
wouldn't recommend 1..

Besides all that what's wrong with yellow?

the only car that should be yellow is a Ferrari..
and even then you're making a bad choice with the 'Ferrari Red' looking 3000000000x better..

[schmunk]

the only car that should be yellow is a Ferrari..
and even then you're making a bad choice with the 'Ferrari Red' looking 3000000000x better..

Or a Caterham. A Caterham'd look good in yellow, I reckon. What does anyone else think? Shad?

[dave87]

I think Shad might agree with you somehow, given his current car.

Though I don't think he dislikes red either, given his previous car...

[Howard]

I like Shad's car. I want it. It accelerates quite fast. Stupid G-tech meter got it wrong

[bigblue]

Might sound strange now that you are looking at a Z4 but, have you considered a Fiesta Zetec S?

I mentioned earlier that we'd hired one, and very nice it was to drive too, fairly nippy and handled well. But the interior was pretty poor. Great fun for a hire car, but I wouldn't want to have one long term. We thought maybe it was a rental spec, but have since found out they're all that like. Plastic a go-go.

Boxster

We'd looked at Boxsters too, but they were just out of out price range, even in the CI. Mileage wasn't an issue over there though, as the cars don't really have far to go! Most cars only do 3000-4000 miles p/a, and most "prestige" cars do even less. A lot of families have a posh car for pose value and a mini or something for zooming about in.

We'd looked at TT's too, but not for us. New one is nice, old one looks poorer to us by comparison.

And a Caterham ? I'd love one, but the missus is worried about a Z4 not being practical enough, so she'd scrub that idea straight away

I'm not too worried about getting something speedy over there, as a friend in the tuning biz has promised some laps at a track in something stupid if I feel the need, the need... sorry, I'll stop

[bigblue]

Right, the move is now definitely on, so i now need to get a decision made !

The BMW 1 series and Z4 are still candidates. Went to see them, both very nice, missus wants 4 seats, I'm happy with 2. She says that if friends want to come over, a 2 seater is impractical (God, I hate when she uses that word with regard to cars ), I say if they're real friends they'll shell out £20 for a hire car !

The Alfa GT was very, very lovely too, but Shad's sighting of one being attended to by the AA seems fairly common! Last two we've seen have both been on the back of tow-trucks Despite me pointing out to the missus that they were both on motorways, and that we'll be doing under 40, if we see another one broken down anywhere I think she'll veto it !

The Merc C Coupe was actually very nice too, especially the recent models that have the slight refresh. I know it's not meant to be that great to drive, but it's looks pretty good, and the Panorama roof is a winner in the missus' eyes.

Decisions, decisions

[Howard]

The 1 series and Z4 will be a lot better to drive than the Alfa, as long as you don't mind the Marmite looks of the 1 Sod four seats... Get the Z4 3.0 And enjoy it seeing as you're buying it as a luxury

If friends want to come over, they'll drive or make their own way there

[dave87]

If you want 4 seats I'd look at the 3 series. Unfortunately they are rather popular, and as such, more expensive. Given your location in the Channel Isles though, you may be able to pick up a bargain.

[Howard]

Agreed, but he thinks they're too big. The 1 series is the next logical step though