Considering a replacement car for my g/f

Standard requirements are:

Good levels of standard equipment (a/c, pas, etc)
Five door
Not a supermini - prefer Focus/Astra/Golf sized vehicle
Not Italian, French or Spanish
Up to two years old
No point in diesel because she only does low miles, but would take one at the right price
She is not a driving enthusiast, so the car's features and ease of driving outweigh other considerations

She likes Vauxhalls

I've heard good reports about the new Astra

I lean towards the Focus (what's a Fusion?) and the last shape Civic

Also heard that the Signum is good value - but don't know anything about that car - is it a bigger Astra or something?

So I would like to hear about EXPERIENCES of anyone running a car that meets the above criteria

Not opinions thanks

Or any suggestions if I'm missing a make/model or ultra depreciator

 

Go look at a Focus Titanium - excellent VFM, good chassis and loads of toys including auto dipping mirror, auto head lights and auto wipers as well as MP3 CD player and half leather seats.

Not a stunning looker or an petrol heads dream, but reliable, cheap to run and service.

Wifey has one and loves it.

 

Pity that you've ruled out a 147

 

I've got a Golf and had plenty, they're good.

But you are right on the new Astra. I would def go and look them up. I had one on hire for 3 months from work, excellent car. I swore I would never buy a Vauxhall but the new Astra changed me.

Go and test one. I am sure you could get a high end one for good money. I would probably get one in front of the Golf thinking about it again.

 

BTW wifey liked it coz its really quiet (can't here the engine at all), easy to get in and out of, good visibility for parking and a nice high driving positon.

 

Focus
Old shape ones are now going for peanuts and are very good cars. Mine is a 99 car and has cost me less to run than tax over the last 16 months. You can also get late registered ones so a sub 2 year old car should easily be possible. The 1.8 is a good engine with a decent trade off of economy/performance.

The Signum is an unloved car and unloved cars mean bargains
They are a bigger cars though and the 2.2Tdi is the most desirable.

 

just had quite a shock looking at the lease costs for cars

the sort of thing we are talking about here is well under

 

Parents have an EU Civic slushbox.

Excellent car, practical, utterly reliable.

Easy, but boring, to drive.

 

easy is a key criterion Nick

bet you can't tell me a modern that ISN'T easy to drive anyway

 

Yeah but you could pick a 2004 Focus up for 6k or less for cash.