New car choices. HELP!

jock156 · Post by **jock156** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 9:20 pm

My darling wife requires a new car.

In the running are........

Mini Countryman
Alfa Guiletta
BMW 1 Series
Merc A Class

In that order

Budget 10K cash + £1500 trade in.

Around town driving, loads of short trips, economical.

Any comments/ votes/ avoids?

TIA

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 9:27 pm

For that money Jock, I would highly recommend one of these:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... e-delivery

The sport nav has all the kit, PDC front and rear and rear camera, Bose stereo, HUD, sat nav, auto everything, keyless entry and go and is a good little car to drive too. £30 RFL. I bought one exactly the same as the one in the link (even the same colour) and it's brilliant.

2L n/a petrol but detuned to 120bhp. 45-50mpg.

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 9:29 pm

Pondrew wrote: ↑Mon Oct 31, 2022 9:27 pm For that money Jock, I would highly recommend one of these:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... e-delivery

The sport nav has all the kit, HUD, sat nav, auto everything, keyless entry and go and is a good little car to drive too. £30 RFL. I bought one exactly the same as the one in the link (even the same colour) and it's brilliant.
2L n/a petrol but detuned to 120bhp. 45-50mpg.

Jock, looking at your wife's shortlist she obviously has taste, so ignore this input.

jock156 · Post by **jock156** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 9:51 pm

Good shout Pondrew

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 10:01 pm

Probably older than what you'll be looking at for that budget but Mrs Tidy bought a new R50 Mini One in 2003, got invited to the R56 launch and ordered her December 2006 Mini Cooper that she still has 60K miles later! It's a better car in every way, better ride, cheaper Road Tax and more economical, plus more fun to rag around when I got to drive it on my own!

The next generation F56 Minis had a 3 cylinder engine (other than the Cooper S). I had a Cooper as a courtesy car once and didn't like the engine much - it sounded like a diesel and was very high-geared so to get it moving I had to wring its neck!

I had a 2007 123d E87 for over 6 years and 80K miles and really liked it, but started reading about cam-chain issues on some N47 diesels so I sold it and bought my first Z4.

But then a diesel wouldn't suit the sort of use you describe. The petrol 4s can have problems, but that may not put you off!

Don't know anything about the other options but an Alfa Giulietta might be fun.

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 10:09 pm

Pondrew wrote: ↑Mon Oct 31, 2022 9:27 pm For that money Jock, I would highly recommend one of these:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... e-delivery

The sport nav has all the kit, PDC front and rear and rear camera, Bose stereo, HUD, sat nav, auto everything, keyless entry and go and is a good little car to drive too. £30 RFL. I bought one exactly the same as the one in the link (even the same colour) and it's brilliant.
2L n/a petrol but detuned to 120bhp. 45-50mpg.

Agreed we love our Mazdas.

These are worth a look too and nippy enough to embrace quite a few alternates.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 4ty&page=1

Bottom · Post by **Bottom** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:44 am

Can you stretch the budget a bit?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... posit=true

Absolutely brilliant little cars, great fun to drive, zero tax, very cheap servicing (don't go to BMW!) and decent range (about 120 miles easily). Kevlar body shell so no car park dings to worry about, my wife's had hers 6 years now and still adores it. Faster to 40 than a Z4M too...

jock156 · Post by **jock156** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 3:00 pm

Its her car & her choice, I'm just trying to get her hassle free motoring. Thanks for your suggestion "Bottom" but thats been dismissed.

M1k3yC · Post by **M1k3yC** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 4:53 pm

jock156, what car is your wife getting rid of? What she's currently used to will make a difference.

I have had two Minis - 2007 R56 Cooper S and currently a 2018 F56 JCW. I have also had two BMW 1 Series - 2007 123d Coupe and a 2016 M135i 3-door hatch. The Minis are fun, but both 1 Series were objectively much better cars and a lot more comfortable on any sort of longer journey.

jock156 · Post by **jock156** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 5:43 pm

We’ve got Grand Vitara (from new) which we needed with 3 young kids and all the paraphernalia that entails. Now time to downsize

We haven’t driven any on the list other than the Merc. We both like the 1 series, BUT, I’ve heard stories about the turbos going around the 100K mark

M1k3yC · Post by **M1k3yC** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 5:58 pm

jock156 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 01, 2022 5:43 pm We both like the 1 series, BUT, I’ve heard stories about the turbos going around the 100K mark

I wouldn't know - never had one to that mileage. If it's a common problem, suggest you cost up the fix then either put the money to one side or go BMW Approved Used and extend the warranty, whatever is the more economical choice. We all know that water pumps die on Z4s but we suck it up and deal with it one way or another - unless it's a completely uneconomical repair and frequent failure, I wouldn't let it put me off completely.

Big Andra · Post by **Big Andra** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 10:52 pm

Her indoors currently has an A class and in my merc specialist mate's words, they're pish. I have to agree with him. Can't comment on the others on your shortlist though.

jock156 · Post by **jock156** » Wed Nov 02, 2022 3:48 pm

Cheers Andy, but why pish?

jock156 · Post by **jock156** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:51 am

Seeing this on Saturday

www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211111581526

Thoughts?

Stevo1987 · Post by **Stevo1987** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 11:18 am

jock156 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:51 am Seeing this on Saturday

www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211111581526

Thoughts?

I doubt economical. Tax is high.

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