Looking At Buying Small-Mid Sized Family Car. What To Get?

[Audio]

Hey Guys,

We are looking for a car to replace the trusty Laser. We know we want...
a) Second hand
b) Hatch
c) Economical
d) Reasonably modern
e) Roomy
f) Manual
g) Four door

Looking at cars like the Mk5 Golf, Polo, Lupo, Fabia. So we are in favour of European obviously. But if there's a great Japanese car then sure.
What do you guys think?
Diesel or petrol?

Cheers

Luke

[SteveC]

there is a big difference in room inside between a Golf and a Polo, particularly the Polo has a much smaller boot, so you do need to be clear about how much space you need, a Golf is closer in size to a Laser

[BB]

I got a beaut mitzi lancer here for you, she's a 91 and has new rings and big end bearings, new head gasket and valve guide seals etc, new cambelt and seals bearings etc, brand new radiator. Very economical! Manual, Hatch, roomy, reasonably modern..... well no but its a good cheap motor. Top of the line model this one;)
 $1400 ono

[HaNs]

there is a big difference in room inside between a Golf and a Polo, particularly the Polo has a much smaller boot, so you do need to be clear about how much space you need, a Golf is closer in size to a Laser

Ahh the polo doesnt have a boot 

Go for a mk5 golf

[Audio]

there is a big difference in room inside between a Golf and a Polo, particularly the Polo has a much smaller boot, so you do need to be clear about how much space you need, a Golf is closer in size to a Laser

Alright then scrap the polo and lupo

[Audio]

I got a beaut mitzi lancer here for you, she's a 91 and has new rings and big end bearings, new head gasket and valve guide seals etc, new cambelt and seals bearings etc, brand new radiator. Very economical! Manual, Hatch, roomy, reasonably modern..... well no but its a good cheap motor. Top of the line model this one;)
 $1400 ono

Haha I'll keep it in mind

[Ssom]

Focus Zetec or Astra CDX/CDXI would be my recommendations

[slowmo]

what's the budget?

[Audio]

what's the budget?

Around $20k

[BB]

Focus Zetec or Astra CDX/CDXI would be my recommendations

 That would be my worst choice.

[typ53]

We've had a Focus in the family for 3 years and it's been a great car.  Admittedly it was the base model and we bought it as an ex-demo runout model with 1,000kms on the clock, but we paid (I say we, but really it was She) $20k on the dot for it with 3 years warranty and roadside assist, etc. 

The only hassle we had was a dodgy water pump that died.  It was fixed under warranty, no damage as it went into limp mode and shut itself down.  Oh, and a set of front brakes including rotors only lasts about 40-50,000 kms. 

Apart from that it drives well, goes well, the rear seats fold up like a mk2 golf's and you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in it when you want to.

[Ssom]

That would be my worst choice.

Why?  The Focus drives better than a Golf for much less price, while the Zetec adds some very nice touches.  Plus it'll cost less to fix and probably break less than a Golf.  A top tip for the Focus is to look for the 2007 model just before the facelift, there was a mild spec reshuffle that led to a much nicer sound system.  A 2007 Zetec in manual should not cost more than $20k. 

The Astra doesn't drive that well, but it's incredibly stylish and even the base model CD is well equipped.

I love VW's, but find the base Golfs too hard to recommend over the Focus et al.

[Audio]

Hmm, yeah we were looking at a Focus aswell. What about if we stretched for a GTI, would you recommend that over a Focus Ssom?

[Ssom]

Definitely, there's no comparison between a 147 Kw Turbo hatch and a 108 Kw sporty hatch. 

[AngleBox]

What about the trusty Honda Accord Torneo Euro R? Not a hatch back but roomy, dead reliable, cheap and sporty.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=202413208