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.

well its not a hatch back with 4 doors

Vectra 1.7TDi or the newer larger CC DTis tbh lol

Its a proper sized car

Youre such a gimp.  You were candidate no.1 for completely ignoring the requirements, and you did it admirably.

Any sensible suggestions?

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?

Yeah, seems like auto diesels are a lot rarer than I thought theyd be...

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

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.

I was thinking fabia, yeah.  Dont think they do the diesels in auto though.

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.

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.

Yep, fraid so.  Has to be auto.

The Rover 25 or Streetwise would be quite a good choice imo.



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.

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.

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

Quote from: DEViANCEPredictable rover fanboy ravings

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