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

[Howard]

Ugh.

Which engine are you considering for the Merc, Bigblue?

[hitman67]

That fabia looks smart, and of course is running on gods fuel.

[Offtopic] There's an R8 Diesel coming out next year, really can't wait to see the boot lid with "TDi" on one side [/offtopic]

Dervs are good for fun driving, bags of torque low down means you ain't constantly chasing it through the gears!

[bigblue]

Nah, but I got lost on Jersey

Eh? Really ? How ? Alcohol must have been involved.

Thanks for the other suggestions, but it's definitely, absolutely down to the 2 Beemers, The BMiniW, and the C. Until we have any other bright ideas. On Minicherished at the mo, the Cooper S has more poke than I thought.

Which engine are you considering for the Merc, Bigblue?

Anything 200K and up really. I've heard the small engines are pants. Well, more pants than the bigger ones

[Ben_]

A mini is a good shout actually.

The cooper-s is a very good car, as is the cooper for what you would need.

The boot is not too bad really. But its really like sitting in a little spaceship when you are in a new mini. I had a cooper for about a year, and loved it. Went ok too.

Cooper s with a nice sport exhaust- job done

I like the blue, and get the works if you can its very good. I had one of these breifly afterwards

[bigblue]

Thanks Ben Couple of q's if you don't mind?

-The boot does look tiddly, do you need to put groceries and stuff on the back seat?
-Are the back seats cramped? Or really cramped?
-Is the Works kit a bit bone-rattling?
-How annoying is the speedo?

Ta!

[Ben_]

Thanks Ben Couple of q's if you don't mind?

-The boot does look tiddly, do you need to put groceries and stuff on the back seat?

If I bought a weeks shopping for me and g/f or two weeks worth it would go in the back. If it was for a small family then it wouldneed to go on back seat I shoudl think.

-Are the back seats cramped? Or really cramped?

They are ok, tbh I am 6.1 and providing the person in front is not the same kind of height I could sit comfortably for a decent amount of time.

-Is the Works kit a bit bone-rattling?

Really depends, it is firmer,but it was ok I took the extra stiness hooning around, and the extra pace is great worth it imo.

-How annoying is the speedo?

Not at all, its one of the best features, its big bright and has everything you coudl want around it. You really get used to it being central. After a month you wont think anything of it

May I also reccomend you look in here New MINIs it will be full of FAQ's from current owners and people that owned them longer than me. By all accounts a great little car for a couple or single guy,also hold its value well

[bigblue]

Appreciated, cheers

[staffsMike]

If you are considering the mini I'd deffinatly take a look at the suzuki swift sport. You just need a quick go in one to see why it was considered for EVO's car of the year

It's really well put together for a jap car, roomy inside, nothing looks too cheap, there are none of the usually squeeks and rattles. It's not the quickest of cars but it's no slouch either. It's happily returning 38 to the gallon and thats not being driven like a granny.

A brand new one is well within budget too

[dave87]

The new Swift is a fantastic car, however I don't feel it could compete with the likes of a BMW or Merc interior.

Way ahead of the Fiesta, yes, still not in the league of a BMW, BMiniW or Merc though..

[staffsMike]

Perhaps wouldn't go as far to say it's in the same league as those, although I think the mini interior is down to personal taste because I hate them however well put together they are. Still the swift interior is a nice place to be and the steering wheel is fantastic, sort of the like the leon curpa R's was

Not a big fan of BMW's interiors anyway. I've not been in the Z4 though so I can't comment on that.

[Ben_]

The mini interior is nothing like any other BMW really

[dave87]

The mini interior is nothing like any other BMW really

In terms of design, you are most definitely correct.

However, in my limited experience of Minis, it seemed to be as well screwed together using reasonably high quality plastics, as you would expect to find in a BMW, Mercedes, or Volvo.

I will, however, defer to your greater knowledge. I only looked because I was considering a Cooper if I went for a car instead of a new bike.

[Ben_]

I meant in terms of style.

They are obviously done on a tighter budget than the bulk on bmw's. But I didnt mean to say it was poor, it was well bolted together thats for sure

[bigblue]

Suzuki Swift is a great recommendation thanks, it's a very nice car, and I've heard it's a hoot to drive, but it's not for us. Ta anyway!

We're kinda running out of time to make a decision, as it seems like we'll be able to shift the 6 quite quickly, so it's really down to the Mini, Z4, 1 series, and C.

I like the 120 in Sport/M trim, but obviously as these are a bit harder to find, they command a premium, and it's not quite as good a buy. In boggo trim I really don't like it at all. The more I look at them, the less I like them, kinda depends what side of the bed I get out of.

The C is still a safe bet, as I really like the ones with the panoramic roof, and it has enough room for my golf bats. Meant to be the poorest drive out of the 4 we have short listed, but... 40mph... meh.

The Mini is really growing on me, and we're going to take a look at a nice CooperS in Navy/black at a stealer on Monday.

Z4 is still my favourite, but missus isn't really budging on the practicality aspect. We're over there house hunting in a few weeks, I'll need to hire a convertible to try and sell her it on the lifestyle aspect

[dave87]

Golf bats....oh dear oh dear. I didn't think the island was big enough?


Dad has the same affliction regarding the desire to impart velocity on a tiny round object, and found the Boxster boot is wide enough for all but the driver/some 3 or 5 woods.

C - whilst it may be the safe bet, out of the list so far, it would only be on my list if the missus would divorce you if you didn't get one.

Mini - nice, but you'll struggle with the bats. Absolute hoot elsewhere though, and satisfies the missus' demand for 4 seats.

For me, personally, I'd be set on the z4 or the 120i/d, but that is from my outlook on life (single/unattached/distinct lack of interest in golf) so probably not the same in terms of ranking that you are considering them in.


In all honesty, despite the pot shots I'll take at the C, all 4 are good cars, just in different regards. Choose the one you and the missus can agree on, and you won't regret it.

Hope this helps

[bigblue]

Golf bats....oh dear oh dear. I didn't think the island was big enough?...Dad has the same affliction regarding the desire to impart velocity on a tiny round object...

Yeah, it's a disease There's half a dozen or so courses there, a couple of them are pretty decent.

I'll probably spend more time surfing and mountain biking though, is that a bit more socially acceptable? I'm not even contemplating moving a board though, it'll just need to be stashed somewhere

Hope this helps

Indeed it has, along with the other stuff you've contibuted. You've been a great help