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Chat => Sports, Hobbies & Motors => Topic started by: funkychicken9000 on November 19, 2006, 13:49:47 PM

Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: funkychicken9000 on November 19, 2006, 13:49:47 PM
Currently have an N-reg 1.3 Encore Fiesta.  Its slow and poo.  Parents want a new hatchback thats still relatively economical and cheap to insure me on, theres a couple of requirements:

*Automatic (nooooooooooooooooooooooo!)
*4 doors
*Possibly a diesel

Theyre thinking of going a bit more "upmarket" than the last one but still second hand.  They were thinking Golf or maybe mini teritory (although the latter only has 2 doors so apparently thats been discounted now).

So what you reckon?  Seat, golf, something french?  I dont want any stupid "Get a 2.0T astra" or anything like that, its got to be relatively cheap to insure a 21yr old guy on some how.

Oh, and green is apparently this seasons colour.
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: Binary Shadow on November 19, 2006, 14:29:22 PM
well its not a hatch back with 4 doors :P

Vectra 1.7TDi or the newer larger CC DTis tbh lol

Its a proper sized car
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: funkychicken9000 on November 19, 2006, 14:34:19 PM
Youre such a gimp.  You were candidate no.1 for completely ignoring the requirements, and you did it admirably.

Any sensible suggestions?
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: Shaun on November 19, 2006, 14:53:17 PM
The Ford Focus is the best driving car of Golf size, the diesel isnt to bad to drive. but Im not sure if they do a automatic diesel?
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: funkychicken9000 on November 19, 2006, 15:01:54 PM
Yeah, seems like auto diesels are a lot rarer than I thought theyd be...
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: Binary Shadow on November 19, 2006, 15:29:48 PM
your right, up untill recently you couldnt even get an auto derv, and what did i miss when i suggested the vectra? i insured one when i was 20 and they come in green and auto flavour, if you want a "hot hatch" you never mentioned it
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: maximusotter on November 19, 2006, 18:26:02 PM
What about any of a multitude of Japanese superminis, that are fuel efficient, have 4 doors, decent autos, and quite fun to drive? Heck, even the Kias arent that bad to toss around the road. The stateside auto press has been gushing over the Nissan Fit (versa) with a 1.8L petrol engine and CVT with "simulated shift points".

Overseas, Id personally deffo think about getting a Skoda Fabia with a 1.9TD. If its the same VW auto tranny they put in the ones over here, its quite decent. Im assuming you can get it in a five door hatch.
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: funkychicken9000 on November 19, 2006, 18:58:23 PM
I was thinking fabia, yeah.  Dont think they do the diesels in auto though.
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: maximusotter on November 19, 2006, 19:05:56 PM
Site shows the auto offered for the 1.4 only. Im not a power geek, but drive a VW with the 2.0 petrol engine and an auto, and its barely adequate considering the mass of the car. Worth a test drive at least. Nice safe cars.
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: redneck on November 19, 2006, 19:14:31 PM
is your old dear limiting you to the use of an auto box? because it adds a lot of  weight and also sucks power like a bitch.
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: funkychicken9000 on November 19, 2006, 19:16:11 PM
Yep, fraid so.  Has to be auto.
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: DEViANCE on November 19, 2006, 21:34:03 PM
The Rover 25 or Streetwise would be quite a good choice imo.

(http://www.parkers.co.uk/imagecache/file/320/archive/Rover/25%20(99-04)/31089-d-mgr.jpg) (http://www.parkers.co.uk/imagecache/file/320/archive/Rover/Streetwise/BMR-0803-1302-.jpg)

Not bad lookers imo.
Well specd and nice to drive. Only do the automatic on 1.6 and 1.8 though, both are CVT(No Gears) and feel very nice to drive.

Both are IG7 so pretty low, do 36-40mpg and get to 60 under 10s so not slow either.

Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: Pete on November 19, 2006, 22:17:21 PM
Green + auto + diesel = taxi please!

Forget the diesel part, who cares if you save 2quid a week on fuel?

Ford Focus Ghia
1.6L auto petrol
Group 6 insurance (1.4L is grp4)
35mpg


VW Golf
1.6L auto petrol
Group 6 insurance  (1.4L is grp4, 1.9D is grp8 )
33mpg

   
Renault Clio
1.6L auto Petrol
Group 5 ins (1.4L is grp 4)
36mpg


tbh Id think about getting a car each. Dunno what your budget is but you could get a decent runaround for a couple grand.
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: Mark on November 19, 2006, 22:32:22 PM
petrol car, gas conversion = no brainer.

I got the activa converted for Ã,£1300 + VAT and even though it does 19mpg its still cheap(ish) to run - comparable to a diesel, but a LOT faster.

Next on the list is the 9mpg BX
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: funkychicken9000 on November 19, 2006, 22:41:36 PM
Quote from: DEViANCEPredictable rover fanboy ravings

:lol:

sdp, some good suggestions there!  Ive come to the conclusion that an auto diesel is gonna be seriously limiting.  And I hate green, but im not paying so I cant really complain :D
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: Pete on November 19, 2006, 22:49:28 PM
Theres probably tonnes you can choose from, I just picked a few off parkers.co.uk

The Golf and the Clio both look ok in green, the Focus in a different colour would be my choice, unless I could pick up a streetwise :D.

Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: maximusotter on November 19, 2006, 23:13:20 PM
Howsabout a Golf with a 2.0TDI and 6spd DSG transmission. :D
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: Pooface on November 19, 2006, 23:26:23 PM
Quote from: maximusotterHowsabout a Golf with a 2.0TDI and 6spd DSG transmission. :D
Or a Seat leon which is 95% the same car but a  few grand cheaper :D
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: DEViANCE on November 20, 2006, 17:17:31 PM
 :roll:  i might be a fan of rovers but i posted two cars that meeted your requirements spot on. no need to be a prick about it.
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: funkychicken9000 on November 20, 2006, 17:21:09 PM
Humble apologies.

Im still not driving a rover though  :mrgreen:
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: DEViANCE on November 20, 2006, 17:23:46 PM
Quote from: funkychicken9000Humble apologies.

Im still not driving a rover though  :mrgreen:

fair enough, they dont appeal to all (most :P)
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: Chuck Norris on November 20, 2006, 19:45:59 PM
Bit expensive new but how about Audi 2.0 TDi DSG?  Or BMW 120d Step Auto.  

Edit: Second hand audis start at about Ã,£13K and BMWs start at Ã,£11K, give it a year and there will be a few that are ex-fleet if youre buying ex-fleet cars.
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: funkychicken9000 on November 20, 2006, 20:30:40 PM
Im thinking 1.4 5dr Yaris automatic.  At least theyre not fugly like a micra :(
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: Chuck Norris on November 21, 2006, 14:31:41 PM
I didnt like the auto Yaris at all when I drove one.  If its what you want buy it, but I would definiately think carefully about it.
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: maximusotter on November 21, 2006, 17:52:02 PM
Shame that the Yaris has won all of those awards and is consistently rated at the best quality car in its class. [cue shrieking violins] I hope you can live with such a monster!
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: Norphy on November 21, 2006, 20:42:40 PM
He said he didnt like the version with the automatic gearbox. He didnt say that the Yaris was a bad car :|

Anyway, its all a matter of taste. I like VWs, Deviance likes Rovers, Binary Shadow likes Vauxhalls. Each to their own I say.
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: maximusotter on November 21, 2006, 20:48:46 PM
Whats not to like? Toyota automatics are splendid. You do have to "learn" to drive each one as they can feel pokey if you dont know where the "kickdown" and such occurs.
Title: Which hatchback?
Post by: Norphy on November 21, 2006, 21:26:56 PM
Not having driven a Toyota auto (or any auto for that matter) I wouldnt know. However, like I said before, its a matter of taste. Different strokes and all that....
Title: Re:Which hatchback?
Post by: Chuck Norris on November 22, 2006, 10:36:39 AM
I like the 1.5 VVTi