Awkward car choice

[kalniel]

Love my current Astra to bits, so this is a bit theoretical at the moment, but one can't help but muse at possible replacements in case the worst happens and I'm finding it a bit of a dilemna.

Basically I want something about the size of the mk4 Astra, comfy for motorway journeys but needs to have very good feel for the hairy country roads I travel on more regularly. Don't mind which fuel it takes, though I don't want to pay more than 200 in tax a year if possible. Has to cope with steep hills too.

The new Astra is too small. The Octavia is probably just a bit too big on the outside (for the country roads and meeting lorries the otherway). A Focus probably has the right handling characteristics but the boot is too small. Mondeo is too big on the outside.

Budget would be 4-6k, so can anyone think of other models I should keep on the radar? (Ones just out of budget would be fine, if they're likely to drop in in a year or two).

Maybe something like the Focus saloon or Fabia estate if they could be found second hand?

[Howard]

If the boot in the Focus hatch is too small (what are you putting in it, out of interest?), a saloon will be less practical surely? How about a Focus Estate? Decent all round cars

[kalniel]

Just luggage type stuff most of the time - not usually anything very big individually, but quite a lot of it and it's always nice to keep the rear seats up. I thought the saloon boot was bigger, just with a smaller opening?

How well does the estate handle? According to parkers the boot space is actually smaller than the saloon.. probably a mistake.

[Howard]

It'll handle as well as you'd expect from such a car - it'll be fine across B roads. Better than an Astra or a Golf (or an octavia or Fabia)

[99Flake]

The saloon Focus has a 'larger' boot in that it is deeper, in fact it is quite cavernous, I know I had one. It is more practical for things like suitcases and the like but is useless for large items like bikes and furniture, although the rear seats do split and fold.

Oh and the saloon handles better than the hatch.

[Howard]

Makes sense, the saloon will be stiffer at the back. Sounds like it's the one to go for

[GAteKeeper]

156/159 Sportswagon, not as wide as you think they are.

GK

[Vimeous]

..... GRR damn back button .....

Gist being:

Focus saloon - cheaper than hatch so
Even new Jazz has bigger boot than the current Focus hatch!

Is the current Astra smaller than its predicessor? Hadn't realised - certainly looks bigger.
Will you go pre-2001 tax change for more fun?

Suggestions so far:
Civic Type-S (Band I - £210 in 2010)
Leon Cupra TDi (Band F - £125 in 2010)

[mmh]

BMW 3 series... pre march 2001

cheap tax, any engine u want, and i went from my mk4 astra to it and it was perfect

[kalniel]

156/159 Sportswagon, not as wide as you think they are.

GK

But less space than the hatch right?

..... GRR damn back button .....

Gist being:

Focus saloon - cheaper than hatch so
Even new Jazz has bigger boot than the current Focus hatch!

Is the current Astra smaller than its predicessor? Hadn't realised - certainly looks bigger.
Will you go pre-2001 tax change for more fun?

Suggestions so far:
Civic Type-S (Band I - £210 in 2010)
Leon Cupra TDi (Band F - £125 in 2010)

Yes current Astra has a much smaller boot - hate the shape too.

Pre-2001 would rule out Focii (nice ones anyway), and I'd prefer something a little newer in terms of milage and creaks and groans. Wouldn't rule out something exceptional though. Cupra and Civic would no doubt cope with the backroads, but what is their boot space like?

BMW 3 series... pre march 2001

cheap tax, any engine u want, and i went from my mk4 astra to it and it was perfect

Yeah that's another possible - right size I guess. Only problem is the badge and ability to get one in good condition for the age.

[mmh]

Yeah that's another possible - right size I guess. Only problem is the badge and ability to get one in good condition for the age.

theyre dropping like stones in price

i bought mine 6 months ago for £6k (coupe) and the same car now would go for about £4k :'(

saloons are a bit cheaper than the coupe, and there are lots of nice examples out there, just need to look for a bit?

[kalniel]

Yup. Any things to watch out for?

I've decided I'm obviously living in the wrong country - the new Fiesta Saloon and Mazda 3 saloon both look great to me, but they're not going to be sold in Europe

[mmh]

with BMW 3 series (E46)... theres a few common problems to look out for...

subframe/mounting damage being the primary concern... most others are not too bad and worrying...

if the rear suspension creaks on a test drive, probably best to walk away...