Since we're all talking about cars... which should I buy?!

Ok, so far I've driven a car 4 times - my boyfriend's 1.6 Toyota Corolla (which I REALLY like), and a new diesel Clio (which I didn't like so much).

So obviously a new learner (though I was trundling around some private roads today quite happily, didn't hit anything and did five 3 point turns in a narrow road - go me! Dead proud of myself).

Fiesta? Peugeot 106? Micra? Punto? Is it insane to think about leaning in something a little bigger if I can afford it?

Do you have your license? If yes... why have you only driven four times, if no why do you want a car?

No. Want to learn, and I've started, had a couple of lessons and BF's taught me the basics, so I've already done reversing and some parking and main roads and whatnot and my BF can teach me now he's been driving 5 years... and I'll have to buy a car anyway, so why not buy my own and finish learning in that?

The other problem is that his is a company car, so insuring me on that could be difficult or we'd just do it that way.

as far as picking out a car for you what are you looking for your car to have and what is your price range

And I've recently stumbled into a decent chunk of money.

... I won't ask. lol. But I'd suggest a fuel economy car. Gas prices suck. Especially more for you since you are in England. What are they at now, the Equivalent to $8.50 a gallon? (We are at like 3.50 - 3.75 USD in Minnesota the passed week)

everything skahead mentioned is pretty frugal, more so than most cars here ogacon.

i wish we had some of those cars here in the us, i'd drive a vw polo in a sec.


i will say ska, a little bigger won't make much of a difference. there's little you could probably find for a decent price there that would get decent milage or that you would even want to drive, that will make learning any harder.

are you looking new or used?

Around £5.04 for a UK gallon, £4.26 for a US gallon.

I'm tempted to get more of a hatchback... something with enough room for the dog in the boot.

Used - I'm not that rich!

Get a VW Golf. I have one and I love it.

are your vdubs built in germany? how's the quality?

in the us most of ours are built in mexico. i'm wondering if our poor quality is a result of location or design...

How about a focus diesel? They are really nice and handle really well. Also you can look at something like a SEAT Leon, or the equivalent vw golf. Can't go wrong in the hatch realm.

Range Rover

a Prius. or a Acura TSX

i drove a focus svt (st 170) for a couple of years and it was a great car no major problems and it was a good size when you fold the rear seats.

I have a ford focus just now and its fairly sensible, i had a Golf GTi last year and it was FUN to drive!

Once ive paid off my focus ill be looking for something mroe fun again!

If I had to go out an buy a car today, I think I'd get a VW with a turbodiesel. At 50+mpg, it's beats the heck out of any hybrid! Plus you don't have the price premium of a hybrid and you can run it on biodiesel and used cooking oil you can collect from restaurants for free. The Jetta TDI should be available in the US by the end of the year (from what I've read).

fleurya said:

The Jetta TDI should be available in the US by the end of the year (from what I've read).

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of course that helps her in england. ;P

i'm pretty sure turbodiesels are widely available in the uk.

^^ oops. I guess I should pay better attention. She's in a much better position for good cars, being in the UK.

eric said:

are your vdubs built in germany? how's the quality?

in the us most of ours are built in mexico. i'm wondering if our poor quality is a result of location or design...

Click to expand...

Golfs are all built in Wolfsburg. Jetta's are built in Mexico. Eos in Portugal That's all I can remember, except their mini-van coming out this fall that's a rebadged Dodge

Oh and the rabbit, is a golf. FWIW I LOVE my mk5 Golf (current one). What's not to like about a quick, fairly agile car that'll get 27-30mpg depending on how idiotic you drive? Even rated highest by consumer reports for it's class. Second runner up with the Subaru.


OH! were I still in Europe I'd go with a Polo diesel if I wanted efficiency, or a scirocco out of VW.. Course, I'd also be tempted by a turbo diesel 1 series BMW